Cupcake Marathon Progressive Virtual Race Report

Cupcake Marathon

It's Like A Marathon
But With A Cherry On Top
The Green Girl ran in her first Cupcake Marathon progressive virtual race.

The Cupcake Marathon went from Monday, March 14th through Sunday, March 26th. The requisite 26.2 miles could be run over the course of the two weeks.

Sunset at Mile 1.5 of the Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k

I started off the Cupcake Marathon with the Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k.

As I ran, I reflected on the victims and survivors of the both the Canterbury earthquake last year and the recent Christchurch earthquake.

Along with Sole Runners, Barb and Miyuki, I dedicated the St. Patrick's Day Half Marathon to the Run For Japan challenge.

Sole Runners dedicating their St. Patrick's Day Half Trail Marathon to Run For Japan.

I paid homage to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami as I ran.

I thought about how the Japanese culture teaches perseverance with patience and dignity - a philosophy known as gaman がめん.

I enjoyed visiting the Run For Japan site and seeing the pictures of all the runners who participated across the globe.

The Green Girl with Jay from Tri2Thrive at the LA Marathon

I even managed to squeeze in some mileage from a real marathon when I ran with Jay from Tri2Thrive at the wet and windy LA Marathon from the Sole Runners aide station at Mile 18 to the finish line of his first marathon.

I was honored to be able to run with Jay - first marathons are such a special and memorable event.

Even I was surprised when the last couple miles of my Cupcake Marathon were on a treadmill at the new gym at my work.

The Green Girl at the Cupcake Marathon Finish Line

Since Mr. Green Garmin drowned in the LA Marathon rain, I don't know what my official Cupcake Marathon finish time was.

Thank you so much to Jason from Cook Train Eat Race and Christel from Silly Girl Running for dreaming up and putting together the Cupcake Marathon!

St. Patrick's Day Trail Half Marathon Race Report

On Saturday, the Green Girl dedicated her St. Patrick's Day Trail Half Marathon to the victims and survivors of the Japan earthquake and tsunami by participating in the Run For Japan challenge.

I ran the race with two other Sole Runners, Barb and Miyuki. It was the first time the three of us had run together since the Athens Marathon.

I love low-key races like this St. Patrick's Day Trail Half Marathon because they are fun and hassle-free. The race started at 7 am so we left Long Beach at 6 am.

When we arrived, we chatted with the race director, Charlie, and his wife, Debbie.

Shortly before the start, the runners gathered around as Charlie gave the race directions.

The course was on horse trails in the gated community of Coto de Caza in Orange County.

Sandbags were strategically placed across the trail to prevent rain erosion. We leaped over them like mini hurdles.

Rain was initially in the forecast but the sky cleared up for us and it was a surprisingly beautiful day.

Although it was the final day of Winter, the air was filled with the smells of Spring.

We saw a bunny hopping through bushes and ducks congregating beside a man-made pond.

As I gazed out over the shades of green carpeting the rolling hills, I reflected on the fragility of our planet.

We saw orange trees overflowing with fruit - to the point where the weight had burdened some of the branches to the ground.

I recalled a Japanese phrase my grandparents would frequently repeat, shikata ga nai 仕方がない. Loosely translated, it means 'there's nothing you can do about it'.

To me, this quote exemplifies the Japanese philosophy of gaman がめん. To the Japanese, gaman means perseverance with patience and dignity - no matter how unbearable the circumstances.

When I hear of the strength and stoicism of the Japanese people in the aftermath of this devastating event, I am reminded of their gaman.

With our run, we paid homage to Japan.

Run For Japan 日本のために走ろう

Tomorrow, the Green Girl will be dedicating her St. Patrick's Day Trail Half Marathon to the victims and survivors of the Japan earthquake and tsunami by participating in the Run For Japan challenge.

I will be doing this along with two Sole Runners, Barb and Miyuki.

Run For Japan's goal is to cover the circumference of the earth, 24,901 miles, in 28 days.

Run For Japan is asking runners to dedicate one run to the people of Japan and donate at least one unit of their home currency per mile. The hope is that there will at least one run dedicated from every country in the world.