Begin Again: The Birth of a Runner

Undoubtedly, one of my favorite things about Team Lucca over the past seven years has been, each year as we begin again, seeing new team members participate in a race for the first time and in doing so, begin to anticipate those who will become hooked- those who will become real runners.

Last weekend, Patrick, who has been running with Team Lucca for 6 years and is one of our strongest runners, ran the Alzhemier's Aid race alongside his girlfriend, Ariana. Ariana ran with Team Lucca for the first time. It matters not to me the time they crossed the finish line. What mattered to me was the huge smile on Arianna's face when she crossed that finish line.

I was thrilled to hear also this week, how my drop dead gorgeous, could be a fitness model, friend, Spominka, recently ran a race for the first time. I have tried on many occasion, to suggest to Spominka that she take her running from the treadmill onto a race course.

She did this spring and in doing so, this super fit, 41 year old, mother of two, ran her first race ever a 10k, and under 9 minutes per mile.

In my mind, a runner is not necessarily always the one who runs far or fast, not the person defined by the years they have commited to running or who runs a pace less than 9 minutes per mile, not the lady or the guy with the best pair of runing shoes or fanciest GPS watch.

A runner in my mind, is someone who passionatly pursues running to the best of their ability.

With me, if you love to run and stick with it, you are a runner.

It has been a thrill this past year to see Team Lucca runners like Dale and Becky, Phoebe and Craig, stick with a training agenda and improve in leaps and bounds because of it.

In order to see something through, you have to make a commitment. That commitment then requires effort. Sometimes that effort is getting up early when you would rather sleep in, running in the heat of the day because it is the only time you have to give to running on that day, forcing yourself onto the track for grueling speedwork.

The pay off, well those of you that run, know. The benefit of running to me is immense.

The effort to me is immense as well, sometimes.

One of my favorite running motivators is that good old Nike motto. "Just do it".

Don't contemplate it. Don't rationalize it. Don't overthink it. Don't give the mind the opportunity to talk yourself out of it.

Just lace up those shoes and go.

We start half marathon training this saturday with a goal of racing in the Sacramento CowTown Half Marathon on Oct. 4th.

Emily will be helping me coach those of you that are interested in Team Lucca training. I will continue with Saturday mornings and Em will provide a weekday training opportunity, probably tues or wed evenings. Both will most likely start along the river under the Howe bridge

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday. Remember lace up those shoes and just do it.

Terri

Becky MacBride: Team Lucca Featured Runner

I started running in high school for sports and HATED it at first, (I was walking a 15min. mile for the presidential fitness testing) but after a couple of weeks I really got into it. I think I was surprised at how easy it was and I loved the solitude. I have some really good memories of dealing with teenage angst by pulling on my sneaks and grabbing my walkman and taking off around my neighborhood. HA! ooh! that gave me a song idea...anyway, I got out of it in college and only recently picked it back up to get rid of baby weight. but all that I loved about it came back quickly - the solitude, knowing I was doing one thing good for myself a day, sense of accomplishment, and the power of mind over body.

The first race I did was the Thanksgiving walk/run to feed the hungry 10k this past fall and I was hooked even more. I'm a born competitor and running past people was just awesome! plus I did it with some friends who were first timers too and it was just incredible to share the accomplishment with them. I had been running for 9 months when I did that race. My favorite race has been the Carlsbad 1/2 marathon. The course was beautiful - almost entirely along the ocean, and it was the first time I'd ever run that far. Even when training, I think I topped off at 10miles, so the last 3.1 were...interesting. But I did it with my dad and it was just so exhilarating. and I ran it really well, just like I planned it out. It would have been nice to have slept the night before but...

motivation...well, on the last mile of the Alzheimer's race I decided I'd never run again. HA! ugh, I did not feel well at all during that run!

Right now, qualifying for boston is my big motivator, so I guess future goals really keep me going. I always feel I can do better, I can get faster, stronger, (thinner ; ) ! ).

Having a great run inspires me - that day I did 8 miles in an hour with Rick, which I still can't believe, is in my mind a lot when I run, and I think I'm a bit of a show-off, but more shyly these days.

Doing well in a race satisfies my middle child syndrome and my mommy wall flower...does that make sense?! Also, running with you guys has really given me the structure to push myself and do the training seriously, which makes any running goal much more attainable. and running with a team, the communal part of it, feels good - watching each others improvement, getting excited for and with each other on race days. it's been awesome and I really want to thank you Terri for signing me up because I never would have done it!

"Carve this on your heart"

I had a dad with a heart of gold.

I remember the day my little sister Maggie called with inconsolable tears, to tell me her heart was breaking as she watched "the most intelligent man I have ever known" begin to lose his mind.

I remember the terror of Alzheimers when dad would be lost in the neighborhood, believing he was not only in a different city or state but several times thinking he was in a different country.
The moments of despair when we imagined him getting better only to be told that things would worsen again and quickly so.
There were moments of sweet humor ( sometimes it was best to just laugh ) such as the time that Ron and I were driving with dad, somewhere in Colorado, when he looked across at Ron and said, "remember Ron when we shot that big buck?" Not only had Ron and dad never before been hunting, but dad had never shot anything in his life.

Ron without missing a beat, answered "of course I do, that was a great day".
It brought a brief joy to see dad sit there quietly staring out the car window with one beautiful satisfied smile.

Yesterday 23 of us ran and walked the Alzheimer's Aid Race here in Sacramento. It was one of those magical days. Knowing that emotion may fell me at any turn, I choose to walk with four of our Team, Kris, Julie, Scott and David, and simply enjoy the moments.

Huge thrills to see little Alana in her new Team Lucca jersey and shorts ( mom said the kids were so excited to get them, they asked if they could please sleep in them the night before), whip down the last few yards to the finish line with such determination on her face, one can just imagine this little girls future in running.
Then, we watched her big brother, Isaiah lay it all down and come flying through the finish line to win the 10 year old plus division. Champions in the making, for sure.

The ever awesome Dale came in first amoung the T Lucca guys at 20:00:7, with Craig right behind at 20:48, then these three guys, right in a row at the finish - Cameron 22:18, Micah 22:28 and Juan 22:31.

Becky, who is our most consistent runner and works harder than anyone to improve both her time and running skills, came in first with the ladies at 24:49, Nicole soon after at 25:30, Phoebe, by far our most improved runner, 26:09 and Emily 26:34.

I so appreciate our team being out there showing support for the Alzheimer's Aid Group of Northern California. It meant the world to me.

http://alzheimersaidsocietync.org/

I remember the very last moment I spent with dad, several months before he had a stroke and passed away.
We stood outside the car. He kissed my cheek as a big tear ran down his. He told me he loved me very much. With tears in my eyes, I kissed his cheek and told him the same.

These are the moments.
Carve them on your heart.

Welcome to the Team Lucca Blog!

It was one heartbreaking occurrence and one hilarious book that made me a runner. In 1992, my beautiful mother passed away from breast cancer. Soon after I started to look for ways to do everything I could to protect my own health and running seemed like one good idea. So I took off running - one mile at a time, day after day, week after week, until I was running a solid three miles, six days a week. The years went by and I eventually happened upon a book that would solidify in my mind that running would be something I could and would do for hopefully a very long time. The book is titled “The Courage to Start ~ A Guide to running for the rest of your life” by John Bingham. It is absolutely hysterical, inspiring and delightful with many valuable insights regarding the mindset of becoming a runner.

In 2003, I sought out a small group of our staff at Lucca who would run with me in the ”Race for the Cure“, and thus began what is now TEAM LUCCA.
Since then TEAM LUCCA has included up to 120 runners and walkers who have participated in numerous races here in Sacramento, as well as in Sonoma, Lake Tahoe, Huntington Beach and Temecula, along with Dallas, Texas, Boulder, Colorado and Tempe, Arizona where my oldest son Luke, completed a full Iron Man Triathlon event.
Many of the events TEAM LUCCA participates in are held for a good cause and all Sacramento races conclude with a complimentary brunch held either at Lucca or Roxy Restaurant, for all Team Lucca participants.

Our main focus is not how fast or how far one can run but finding joy in running while experiencing the balance running lends to our often times, crazy hectic lives.
I look forward to hearing from anyone interested in participating with TEAM LUCCA.
You may call me directly at either restaurant for more information.

Running like crazy,
Terri