So I DID IT!! I am ready for more! Wildflower Triathlon is next! I am still fundraising and almost there!

On March 24th I completed my First Triathlon:0.9 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride, 6 mile run. Since Pictures can speak louder than words here are some shots of this awesome event!

Arrived to beatiful Hawaii. Not to make you jealous but this is where I was for two weeks!

Friday before the Race - My team (over 100 of us) I picked up our bikes! It was so good to be reunited! This is my Tri BFF Laurie & I

Saturday 6:00am Day Before Race

Head Coaches going over Transition techniques, nutrition and did an open water swim!

Sunday March 24th RACE DAY! 5:00am

Got my Number marked, chip strap on my foot, pumped air in my bike tires & set up my Staff in transition area

Warm up Swim Before Race! Excited!

THE START

The swim started by waves per age group with different swimming cap!

Off we go! Hearing the Gun Shot start was super exciting! Swimming was rough with nasty current but i saw a TURTLE it was awesome!

0.9 mile Swim DONE! Coming out of the Ocean, running on sand, barefoot on concrete to the transition area to get my bike!

After the swim most people were gone :( but this race was all about having fun!

Dried my feet, put on my shoes, my sunscreen, the helmet, gloves and off I went!

I enjoyed watching the PROS in their COOLTRI bikes. I SOoooo want one!

25 miles in Bike here I come!

From the Bike to RUN! The easiest Sport to me. 6 miles in 80 degree humid heat. Survived it putting in lots of ice cubes inside my shirt and shorts! LOL

TRIATHLON DONE!!

I gave up alcohol for a month so this beer at the finish line was so refreshing!celebrated like a CHAMP! :)

Beyond LAVAMAN....

My experience with Team in Training has been nothing but AWESOME. Best coaches, fun teammates and made new incredible friendships. Thank you for supporting me both fundraising and my sport crazyness of signing up to everything I can.

Since Lavaman I have completed my third Half Marathon (13.1 miles), ran over Golden Gate Bridge for the San Francisco Rock & Roll this past April 7th.

Since Lavaman the Boston Marathon bombing happened.. My swimming coach Nancy finished that marathon just 5 minutes earlier! so thankful she is ok but sad of the other athletes and families affected by this non-sense cruel act. That day I came home thinking how sports, athletes and supporting good cause such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society have a purpose and we just can't stop!! Let's continue!

From Hawaii Triathlons + Lavaflows/Mai Thais to San Francisco Golden Gate + Mimosas! Excited for more to come!

My 2013 Events so far:

• March 24th, Lavaman Triathlon, Hawaii
• April 7th, Rock & Roll Half Marathon, San Francisco,
• • May 5th, WildFlower Triathlon, San Antonio Lake, California
• • June 2nd, America's Most beautiful Bike Ride, Lake Tahoe
• • Aug 4th, Giants Half Marathon, San Francisco

BRING IT! :)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!

I am very excited to be days away to participate in my first triathlon (0.9 mi swim, 25 mi bike, 6mi run) the LAVAMAN tri in Hawaii on March 24, 2013, an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.

Sat 3.16.13 My family had a carne asada and cake for me it was sweet of them.

Check out this cake my sis Atzimba got me!

Prep & Packing for Race day!

My race number is 464, I am in wave # 4 starting at 7:35am, my age group swimming cap is Purple! yeih perfect to match my Team in Training Tri top! The youngest person in the race is 16 the oldest is 73!

Today Sunday 3.16.13 the team (over 100 of us) and coaches are meeting at Ocean Beach in San Francisco to go over logistic stuff and a 30 minute run.

Checking out the course maps I am getting really excited! check them out

LAVAMAN TRIATHLON

March 24th, 2013

Swim 0.9 Mile

Run 6 Miles

3.11.13 My Bike was Shipped to Hawaii!

Sports Basement Removing the pedals off bike

I got a new pair of swimming googles at Sports Basement. Aqua Spheres, 180-degree field of vision so I can view Marine life, suppose to be leak resistance, anti-fog and scratch resistant lenses. Hope the anti-fog works or else I will spit in them, a tip my mentor Barb gave me! hahaha

New Aqua Spheres pair of googles for Open water Swim

One of my teammates posted a transition area pic on facebook and is a LOT smaller than I thought!

Transition Area & I got too much crap for that little space!! LOL

Excited to soon be running next to this blue ocean!

View from Mile 5 of run

My Honoree Scotty Williams

I also connected with Vanesatoday and she told me the great news that Scotty, my honoree just got out of the hospital yesterday and is now in remission. I am so happy to know this! this race is for you Scotty and for all the people that are fighting Leukemia or Lymphoma. I am proud the funds my team and I raise are for research, medications that prolong people's lives and for patients to make their lives easier as they complete treament. I can't wait for Scotty to receive the card my team signed for him!!

LAVAMAN HERE I COME! BRING IT!!!

I am very excited to be training to participate in my first triathlon (0.9 mi swim, 25 mi bike, 6mi run) the LAVAMAN tri in Hawaii on March 24, 2013, an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training

3 Weeks away! Countdown begins!

Highlights of my weekend:

Saturday 3/2/13. Felt sick, tired, had a headache and slept for so many hours! I missed the bike ride with my team and also missed the SF Color Run, basically was missing out from the outer world beyond my room and bed! Later in the evening I felt better and went for a swim: 400 yards warm up & drills, and 1,000 yard swim. I am trying to get enough rest, sleep, and avoid getting sick as I am only 3 weeks away!

Sunday 3/3/13. Swim-Run brick.

I feel proud of myself I swam the whole race day distance 0.9miles. Swimming has been difficult to me, but I finally got a pace I can stick to on race day. The whole team transversed from one end of the pool to another but through every lane. I lined up in the back because I am a beginner swimmer and slower. We did that 3 times and a half. Usually I am the last one to finish but not this time! Training is harder and adding longer distance! training us harder than what Race day will be!!

The run was fun, and beautiful through College of Marin. I completed my longest distance as part of the Tri team.

Sunday 3/3/13. Honoree Potluck.

I am amazed on how individuals like our honorees are training for marathons, triathlons even as they have a lot of physical pain due to their illnesses and also the emotional distress of what they have to overcome! It is inspiring to be part of an amazing group of people and support a great cause. Today we signed a few cards to those that are our honorees, to some their relatives. I had my whole team (over 100 of us) sign a card for Scotty, my honoree, he is in his third & last chemo treament a difficult one and I have been thinking a lot of him and his wife. I keep them in mind during my training. I can't wait for both to get the card specially Scotty.

LAVAMAN & Beyond

Having so much fun that I signed up for a couple of other events:

4/7/13 Rock & Roll Half Marathon, San Francisco

5/6/13 WildFlower Triathlon Relay, San Antonio Lake (Near San Luis Obispo)

Running Leg (13.1 mi), my friend Lori Chen the Bike & Meghan Lewis the Swim.

Saturday 2/23/13. Tire Changing Clinic

Yup, I learned how to change a tire all on my own. A necessary skill on race day or anytime as needed! I took a video of my coach but has been too large to upload will try Utube next.

FIRST TRIATHLON Practice. (75% distance of Race Day)

Sunday 2/24/13, 8:00am

Paradise Cove Beach, Tiburon

Photo Credits: Mariana Maya

I was really nervous I couldn’t even sleep the night before my First Practice Triathlon. We started by setting up our transition area, talk about lots of staff: sunscreen, towel, water bottles, snacks, hat, glasses, biking gear, deodorant, chap stick, you name it, is there ready waiting for transition between sports. First was the wetsuit, that thing is so hard to put on but once on I forget is on! It was a sunny lovely day!

The Cause. One of my teammates shared his friend Margaret is looking for a bone marrow donor and there isn’t much hope. He cried and it was heart breaking but I know him and myself and those in my team kept Margaret in our thoughts throughout our training that day.

The Swim. Tiburon is beautiful. The swim was difficult and the bay was really cold. I couldn’t leave my face in the water long. I only did 1 loop when I should have done 3. I felt mad at myself but I knew I would put more effort in my swimming during the week to overcome the open water swim. Here are some other shots before jumping in the water!

The Bike Ride. Then off to the bike! The ride was fun, two loops around Paradise Cove, the side facing San Francisco had breathtaking views of the Golden Gate, I couldn’t help to stop and take a picture. It was hilly, narrow, a busy road with bikers, runners, walkers, and lots of cars! Distance: 17.4 mi

I swear I am not texting nor on facebook. I am getting app "Strava" ready so it can trackmy ride!

Went around this Loop TWICE.

Photo Credits: Mariana Maya

The Run.

From bike to run! This part was the easiest for me, I actually passed up quite a few people, and ran 4.25mi at a steady pace of 10 minutes :)

First Open Water Swim. 2.10.13

San Francisco Aquatic Park

My Team in Training teammates.

Highlights of my weekend! 2.11.13

FRI. 2.8.13 Completed 2,300 Yards Swimming this is my longest swim work out!

(includes drills)

SAT. 2.9.13 Bike Ride in San Rafael was SO beatiful! tried cage pedals. My first Fall off the bike. For some reason I felt good afterwards! big bruise on my butt! Glad it helped LOL

MY Main Fundraiser: Made 750 tamales!! woho! hope to get closer to my fundraising goal!

SUN 2.10.13 My first Open Water Swim in the San Francisco ocean! less than 50 degree water, tried my wet suit for the first time! swimming in the ocean was harder than I thought. Took more breathes in between strokes, water is super salty, looking down is dark! Hawaii will be nicer and more clear :)

My First Wet Suit!

On Sunday 2.10.13 I will be jumping into the bay for my first ever OPEN WATER SWIM!

Spirit Award

1.27.13

My Team nominated me for the Spirit Award of the week! it was so awesome! I was so humbled and honored. They selected me for having creative fundraising ideas, for dedication to training and for showing improvement! I got this Hawaiian White Shirt, white so I can draw on it something that inspires me during my training. I keep in mind Scotty, a friend of my coworker George who is in his mid 30s (almost same age as me) who was recently diagnosed with leukemia and has been going through treatment. Although I never met Scotty I am inspired of his spirit to be a fighter! His wife Vanessa and I write to each other and she sent me a pic of Scotty doing abs and seat ups even as he is in the hospital going through treatment! running, swimming, biking in his honor gives my training so much more purpose. I also feel great fundraiasing for a cuase that funds research and also drugs that allow people with Leukemia be able to live! and live a normal life just like any of us! I added to the shirt "Keep Fighting Scotty" and also added HOT Tamales! I simply LOVE food! This training is no joke itmakes me be so hungry all the time! I always look forward to brunch with my teammates after the coached work outs! tamales is my main fundraiser so it is a memorable cultually motivated idea helping me get to my fundraising goal!

Swimming

1.16.13

Heather Farms, Walnut Creek

Swimming is getting easier for me. However it is still the most difficult sport.

The work out for this week is 2,300 yards Twice this week. Wish me luck! my favorite pool is Heather Farms is 50 meters long, spacious, clean oh and their locker room is so nicely heated! my back up pool is 24Hour at San Ramon is allright lots of people and I hate sharing lanes. I want it all for myself haha.

Swim-Run (1,600 Yards - 4.5miles)

1.19.13. Walnut Creek

15mile Bike Ride. 1.20.13 Canada Rd @ Hwy 92

Transition Clinic

January 13, 2013

Biking shoes ready, socks, running shoes, sunscreen, sun glasses, helmet, bike, a small towel to dry up, snacks, hat, googles, cap (provided by Lavaman race, water bottle, it helps to have a bag where all can go inside, watch, chapstick, bracelt Emergency ID (optional), deodorant.

With tri BFF Laurie and I at the Team in Training Celebration

January 15, 2013 at Jillian's, San Francisco

Fundraising

My teammates from Team in Training and I are not only training 6 times a week but also fundraising funds that benefit the Leukeima & Lymphoma Society. It is all a juggling act but all for a great cause!!!

I AM TAKING ORDERS for home Made tamales. Mostly local (East bay or SF)

Tamales will be ready on Sunday FEB 10TH and Monday FEB 11th

Pricing is as follows:

UNO: 1 Tamal $2

MAS: 1/2 Dozen $10

MUCHO: 1 Dozen $20

Options:

• Chicken with Green Sauce, OR
• Pork with Red Sauce

We make them mild not as spicy. If you order more you can freeze them and enjoy them later! they are good for breakfast, lunch or dinner!!

Send your order via e-mail: marimex@gmail.com

Payment: Make a donation on my page or pay cash

TAMALES is my Main Fundraiser. I have an excellent cook: My mother Margarita who makes the best Mexi food in the world. Her food is tasty, with a spice quick to it! My mom has been fundraising making tamales at church ever since I can remember. Her most recent fundraiser was making 1,000 tamales and raised funds to send to Guatemalan residents after the big earthquake hit that town this past year.

Any of my friends and coworkers know that her food is amazing, and I am not just saying this because she is my mom, but her food won't dissapoint you!

Gracias. Mariana

I am also happy to anounce thanks to my talented Sister Karina my second fundraiser is cake pops! These are delicious small sweet treats!! check the info below and send me any orders! we wil me making them throughout the duration of my fundraising, and can arrange getting them to you.

The Cause

I joined Team in Training because I knew I would get quality coaching, mentoring to prepare me for my first triathlon, meet great people and to also support a great cause. Today we had our Honoree Potluck after our coached training. Team Honored Teammates are people who have had or who are currently battling one of the blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.) They shared their story and experience with the rest of the team. They are amazing people and the reason why we train and raise funds. One of the speakers today shared he was diagnosed at age 32 with Leukemia and he had no idea it also affected young adults. His treatment sounded intense and difficult, he is now ok, but will take this one drug for the rest of his life. He said “all of you here are not only helping people like myself and help with research but also help create lives” he has a one year old boy. His story reminded me of my coworker’s friend who was just diagnosed with Leukemia very recently is in his mid 30’s and going through treatment. I was pleased to hear from our honoree members how they are cancer free, how research and treatments, funded by Team in Training funds made a difference and is REALLY saving people’s lives. Fundraising isn’t easy, I don’t like asking people for money but I want to thank all my donors THANK YOU!! Please know that I am training next to individuals that have benefitted from all the funds that Team in Training raises and that I am raising. Your support is going directly to people with Leukemia or Lymphoma.

Becoming a Bone Marrow Donor

When people with blood cancer have no type of medication they can take or a treatment to be part of then a bone marrow transplant is necessary. Another girl, “Molly” who is young maybe in her late 20’s, shared during the Honoree potluck how during one of the team in training events as a Team in Training participant signed up to the bone marrow registry by giving a swab of cheek cells. She got a call years later that she was a match and actually went through the process of donating her bone marrow to another woman and saved her life! I personally joined the Bone Marrow Registry in 2008 during my first season with Team Training because I learned that only 3% of those in the Bone Marrow Registry are of Hispanic descent. This is very low considering that Blood cancer can affect anyone. Racial and ethnic heritage are very important factors. Patients are most likely to match someone of their own race or ethnicity. Today, there simply aren't enough registry members of diverse racial and ethnic heritage. Adding more diverse members increases the likelihood that all patients will find a life-saving match. If I ever get a call and I am match I am ready. Here are some links to help you be more informed:

National Marrow Donor Program

Team in Training

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

ABC 7 news Video on "Minority bone marrow donors needed"

Swimming is so hard

I am pretty athletic but I have to say Swimming is the hardest sport to date that I have had to do. During the week I went three times to the pool and didn’t complete the workouts although I was there doing drills, and swimming. I simply was stopping at wall too much, was hard to swim continuously, just too much water going through my nose (Yuk!) and feeling out of breath. One time I was so frustrated I just got out and headed to treadmill instead. I e-mailed swimming coach Nancy and today Sunday we had a swimming clinic with other beginners, did a ton of drills: sculling, side kick, catch up, then we had a work out with the rest of the team. We also practiced swimming with crowds, and swam with 4 people in one single lane. She also made us practice looking up ahead since on race day we need to look ahead. I bought a nose plug and oh my goodness it made such a difference! I also got a lap clipper so it can keep count of how many laps I am doing. Today’s swim was great! I actually enjoyed it more than other ones. I still get really tired but I am becoming more comfortable. Slowly but surely preparing for that 0.9 mile swim which will be in the ocean!

_____________________________________________________________________

Happy New Year!!

This year, I am very excited to be training to participate in my first triathlon (swim, bike, run) the LAVAMAN tri in Hawaii on March 24, 2013, an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.

All of us in Team In Training (TNT) are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I'm completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

I am specially dedicating this race to honor those in my family that lost their battle to different kinds of cancer: my aunt Tia Celia Sierra.

I know that swimming 0.9 miles, bike riding 25 miles, and running 6 miles all in one day on race day will not be easy but I am excited of the challenge. I know that fundraising at the same time of my training will not be easy either but nothing can be harder than those who are fighting cancer. Training is no joke! I train 6 times a week, Sat & Sun are the most intense coached trainings plus being a beginner swimmer and a beginner cyclist makes it even more challenging! However, I am having fun, enjoying every bit of it as I bond with amazing energetic teammates.

Please consider making a donation use this site to donate online quickly & securely.

I hope you'll visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress.

Thanks for your support!

Mariana

Bike-Run Brick. Sat. 12.29.12 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco I so LOVE my new Bike!

Swimming. 12.27.12

Spinning! 12.28.12

Bike-Run Brick, Sausalito. 1.05.13

This weekend I learned a new word in my TRI vocabulary :

BRICK: how your legs feel right after you are done with one sport then starting the next! seriously! I am a runner and after an 18 mile bike ride in beaitiful Sausalito my legs felt so heavy like BRICKS and ran 20 minutes at a the slow pace.

About to Rob a bank! just kidding! ready for the ride! Sausalito 1.05.13

The Bike Ride: (18 miles, 1.5 hour)

This day our ride had a bit of hills and I finally learned how to use my gears!! what a moment! I was riding a hill when one of the team in Training coaches that was behind me said " Use your Low gears,Click" I did, "Click again" "again" I wish I could get off my bike and hug him because after that point I was so happy and really enjoyed the bike ride. The road had bike lanes, Sausalito had Tons of cyclist everywhere, roads were busy with lots of cars, some bike lanes were narrow or at times not there due to construction. This was my Second time riding my new bike ever & first time on a road! My team in Training mentor Barb Perkins also showed all of us the "Beginner Group" some of the Hand signals to use when sharing the road with cars. There is always something I learn during the coached trainings that I am going to write them down so I don't forget!!

Bike Riding Tips.

For Next time:

• Wear a reflective jacket next time. I was wearing a dark color sweater! Not so smart.
• Check brakes in bike every time before riding.
• Pump some air in tires every time before riding. (80-100 reading).
• Wear not so many layers so I am not over heated.
• Use hand signals to alert cars & read up on bicycle safety on the road.

The Run: (20 min, 1.8 Miles)

This run felt heavy and it was only 20 minutes. I think I was too excited to ride my bike that gave all my energy to that and forgot I still had a run!!! Oh boy. I couldn't wait to finish and go eat the Huevos Rancheros for brunch which by the way were delicious.

Race Day Goal: 25 Mi Bike Ride, 6 miles run.

Now.... I got some work to do!!

Some remedies for Soreness. Bike-run brick did it! 1.06.13

Soreness at its best.

I can’t remember the last time I was this sore. Saturday after my bike ride I was so tired. By dinner time it was so hard to get up my car seat, or the dinner table, and even walk! I kept thinking I had not even gone to bed yet how will I be tomorrow? I have so much respect for my fellow cyclist friends who ride miles and miles. I only did 18 miles and I think I got a fever!! Oh, although my padded biking pants are so weird and my sister makes fun of them, they do the job so no soreness in my butt but soreness in all my legs. Later that night, I took a long bath with EPSON Salt, waited for 1 hour then I put on my legs this Tiger Balm, which is a pain relieving ointment. We will see if this stuff works! They better have a buy one get one free because I have a feeling I am going to need more of it! I found this site useful:

5 Ways to Reduce Post-Workout Soreness

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-greenfield/exercise-sore_b_1183747.html