Walking for Diabetes

 We'll be walking to help fight Diabetes in October. We all know how serious this affects people and we all know someone that has Diabetes or expects to have it.  Our close friend, Chris Gonzales has helped organize this walk in the San Jose area for a number of years and has been very successful in helping the cure. You can find more information about Chris, the cure and Chris The Walk at this web site.  We would love if you can donate anything toward this cause. Donations can be made by selecting the button on this web site titled "Click Here to Sponsor Me" and be sure to select the "Gonzy's Cure" team, as there are two teams. Thank you.

Strong Finish at 07 SF Marathon

 My goal was to finish strong though I didn't realize that I'd finish this strong!  My wife and sister in-law dropped me off at the starting line and as I was waiting in line for the bathroom, I realized I left my running chip at home. D'OH! So for those of you wondering, this is a computer chip that ties to your shoe laces and clocks your official time throughout the race and your concluding time. I run a mile down the road to the Registration tent to find a chip, but I am redirected to a building down the street. As I race up to the desk I am informed that I can't have one and now I am thinking that I am not running this race not to receive a finishing metal, then thoughts were, if I didn't run, what I am going to do? My wife and sister in-law were already on their way to a meeting point to see me run and I had no idea where that was. NUTS! But happy to say, without the chip doesn't mean I wou;dn't receive a metal.. sweet, race is on! I run back the mile to my wave start and had 30 seconds to stretch before the race started. That was a close call. Watch timer set, the race is ON!   BTW here is a map of the course to where I ran through the city.   By my second mile I am running a 9 minutes pace, I normally run a 11min mile for long distance. I better slow down. Sure enough by mile 4 I slowed to a 10min pace and I am feeling really good. I am thinking so clear, my game is on and it feels great.   I continue this 10min pace up the hill of the Presidio and across the bridge. The hills are not bothering me at all and I feel strong. Bring it on San Francisco! :) Running the bridge this year was tough, the fog was so heavy that my clothes were soaked, as if it was raining. Felt good, I loved it! Back over the bridge, and BTW that bridge is a nice long hill to overcome.   As I come back through the Presidio going toward Baker Beach, I hit a short but steep hill in which there are clothes thrown to the sides of the road. And I wonder to myself, why are runners wearing so many clothes. Ah bathroom break and I only lose 3 minutes.   Heading through the hills of the Richmond district was very strong and my pace is still 10min a mile. I head into Golden Gate Park at mile 13 to be greeted by my beautiful wife and awesome sister in-law! What a great feeling to see and hear support on a run like this!   This park is tough because you run down toward Ocean Beach then turn uphill to get out of the park. The entire time you are in the tree's and never seem to be making headway OUT of the park! It was nice to see the Buffalo :) Last year this park kicked my butt but not this year, this year I had it's number!   At mile 17, I am coming down a hill after completing a short loop (another) in the park to see my wife jumping with joy at the sight of me still running! Yes, she is pregnant and jumping! I loved it and it gave me a huge boost! Also there was my sister in-law and two great friends and it was a thrill to see them there as I was not expecting that! It was freaking awesome! :)   At mile 19 I am finally leaving that park and heading down The Haight district. Last year I was really hurting at this point.. but not today! I hit that street and booked all the way down to the Mission district. 10min pace still going strong.   Ok, mile 22.5 I feel a bit of pain in the bottom of my feet and I tell myself to ignore it. Ignore it! GO GO GO!   Mile 23 BAM! The pain really hits me, must be my wall. I push through but it is hard to concentrate and we now are weaving between streets and I can't get focused. I continue on and add another 30 seconds to my intervals. I am now doing 5-1.5's and it feels like the right thing to do. But weaving through these streets is killing me, it is so boring.   At mile 24 I am out of water and GU. I hit the rest stop and take two cups of Cytomax. Yummie! I dig in and gather myself up and put one foot in front of the other. I have about two miles to go and look at my watch and it is 4:20. Would be cool if I make it back in 20 min flat to make it 10min per mile. Then I realize that I am about to break last years finish time. Oh my gosh, this is my Personal Record (PR)! HOLY SHIT I AM MAKING MY PR!   My head is back in the game. Ahead of me I see PacBell Park and know I am heading home. I round the corner of PacBell Park and see all the Giants fans waiting in line for the start of the game. I wonder, is Barry Bonds going to smack one out today? I head past the crowds, holy cow there are a lot of them!   I pass mile marker 26 at the Bay Bridge, what a beautiful site, and I am on the straight away heading for the finish line. I near the line and I start looking for my family and friends. No one in sight. I say to myself, "Did I beat them here?" I am running strong toward the finish line when subconsciously hear familiar voices yelling my name, I look over and they are, my family and friends all at the finish line bearing over the fence and bearing over each other yelling my name and OMG what a feeling! I cross the line and only 20min passed. I made it in 4:40:58. My PR! WOOHOO!!! <:-O   I am wiped out as I walk slowly into the finishers area still not believing what I just accomplished. I am awarded my Finishers metal. It feels good to wear the second one, and one of many to come. I look around and see my beautiful wife again. I hobble over to her, reach across the fence and we hug tight and cry, and share a special moment together.
  Some pictures of the run.