RUN FOR SOMETHING..

DAGOTE/SUG GIAG.

I am raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a participant in Make
Cures Happen and I'm asking you to help by making a contribution. Each donation
helps accelerate cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and brings hope to the
patients and families who are on the front lines of the battle against these
diseases.

Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely. You
will receive a confirmation by email of your donation and I will be notified as
soon as you make your donation.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your
support. I really appreciate your generosity!

You can learn more about my efforts and make a donation by visiting the
following Web site:

http://www.active.com/donate/mcharizona/REDLADEE

Last year I ran for myself, this year I want to run to help others.

I set up this page with the hope that other Native and Non-Natives would donate to this important cause in order to help with ease the suffering of these people battling these diseases.

I guess what really got to me was the children. Being a mother now myself, my heart goes out to those children and families that must Battle this disease.

When I was in 8th grade, I had a really close friend pass on from Leukemia.

I shy'd away from her as I didn't really know how to come to terms with her disease. She was so strong, even till the end.

I have though to of her on and off through the years, what she would of been and how much she would of accomplished.

I run in her memory and hopefully to give some much needed help to those like her, who need it.

Anything at all would be much appreciated.

I hope to raise at least $500.

Thank You,

AHe'hee.

Dre.

IRONGIRL here I come.

Quick post as to my decision how to run this weekend.

IRONGIRL 10 MILER here I come!

Run starts at 9am...so I'm golden after dinner the nite before with my LADEE'z.

Then on to 20 miles on Sunday,

Run fool run.

What do I do?

This week:

Tues: Workout got erased but I ran 5 miles. Dammit.
Weds: 8.16 miles in 1:08:14. 8:21 min./miles.
Thurs: 5.53 miles in 45:44. 8:15 min./miles.
Fri: OFF
Sat: 8.00 miles in 1:07:56. 8:29 min./miles.
Sun: 17.01 miles in 2:28:24. 8:43 min./miles.

Total for week: 43.70 miles.

Der. I was supposed to run 18 miles but I misread the miles scheduled for today.

More later on the runs.

BUT...

I have a dilema. I have 13 miles for my long run scheduled for this Sunday, however, I am supposed to run 13.1 for my LV Half Marathon next week when I am supposed to be scheduled for 20 miles.

Do I go ahead and run my 13 this week and run the Halfter next weekend with an additional 7miles?

Or do I run the IRONGIRL 10 miles on Saturday with the 13 on Sunday?

Or do I run the Scottsdale 1/2 Marathon Race on Saturday along with the LV 1/2 Marathon next week?

MAN..what do I do?

31 things..

31) I am grateful for my beautiful F-ed up, amazingly gorgeous and blessed, unchallengeable, and deliciously all mine, LIFE.

30) I am blessed to have a one on one relationship with GOD and can call him one of my best friends.

29) I am in love with a MAN who despite all my faults and despite all his, love each other enough to be in this world and exist with patience, generosity, forgiveness, and appreciation. WHEW, its hard work no matter how rosy the picture looks...trust.

28) My SON is the missing piece of LOVE that I never knew existed within me that I could never live without.

27) No matter what, nothing replaces your girlfrenz:

ups and downs, tears and snot, happiness and drop to your knees pain:

they are my sisters, and a blessing to my life. I love you all (you know who you are.)

26) Hate is an unnecessary emotion that gives more power to another than back to yourself.

26) My Mother and Father are where the backbone of my soul and spirt lay. I am truly humbled to be from such great PEOPLE.

25) I love my busted toes because that means that I have the love of the run in my soul.

24) REDLADEE is both a blessing and major headache, but I love the pain. lol.

23) I am grateful to have the labels Mother, Sister, Auntie, Grandmother, Goddaughter, Runner, Christian, Akimel O'Odham, Apache, Lover, and Friend apply to me.

22) I still harbor the desire to produce my own REDLADEE Calender. Trust it will happen.

21) I love that I say what I do and I do what I say.

20) I am too honest for my own good. I have a strong dislike for liars, and believe me, I know who they are.

19) I will have had 4 years of sobreity on Jan 2nd, 2007.

18) I believe that OJ did it, and that George Bush is a freaking idiot, both of them.

17) My anger is a family trait that I fight each and everyday to beat down.

16) Blessings are given to us everyday, we just have to look for them.

15) I want to run the PF Changs Marathon 2007 in 4:15 minutes.

14) I like to buy expensive makeup, which I don't understand as it just goes down the drain at the end of the day.

13) Family Guy is the bomb, and so is Britney...Boo to Fed-ex. Heh.

12) I will never be a good Poker player as every emotion I feel is written on my face.

11) Just because you can kick some ass doesn't mean your ass won't be kicked.

10) Never believe your won hype.

09) There are people out there who put up the biggest front, then you come to understand that that's all they are. a front.

08) If you truly are happy and living this amazing life, you don't need to shout it off the rooftops, you just are.

07) I can't stand pumpkin pie.

06) I love my brother even though we are too much alike and have gotten in some knock down, mean-ass, fights. He is my blood and I will do anything for him. Even like those who I don't ..heh.

05) All of my ex's except for one are GREAT MEN.

04) I have discovered my new love: Coke Zero.

03) Diabetes will not get me. Or touch my Son.

02) This year is filled with new promise and much needed serenity.

01) I make 31 look good.

baggy & running.

25:12 for my Ft. McDowell 5k.

Sadly, I didn't place in my age division..., but if the run had been one week later, I would of come in first for the 31-40's !!

I just kissed a $100 gift certificate goodbye.

I am disappointed that I did not place, but I am happy with my run.

"SIGH".

However, my big bro Eagle placed second in his age division of 31-40!

He so totally rocks.

--

I had just bought some new Nike running tights that I broke in this morning, alas, they were too big and I had to keep hitching them up. Not a good look. I guess I estimate my ass is a large when it's more like a medium..lol. Good times.

calibration is such a snotty bitch

My ipod is back up.

Its been back up for a second now..except it's been giving me weird readings.

Like tonite, it said that I ran 7:30 minute miles on the average..I was like..oh hell no.

I know that I do not run that fast. Ever.

So today, according to my Nike + system, I had run 5 miles in 37 minutes with 7:34 min/mile average. Um..no.

Duh, I checked my settings and realized when I HAD to reset my Nike + system, I had forgot to reset my calibration and forgot to input my weight, hence the loopy although awe aspiring times.

Tomorrow I should be back on track with the right times and mileage.

8:20's here I come. heh.

So for today, probs a 4 1/2 miler in 37 minutes..sounds about right.

------

Sidenote: I have officially registered for the PF CHANGS MARATHON! I am official..and ready to kick some ass!!!

"sigh"

I finally found out the "official" time of my YMCA 1/2 Marathon last weekend...

2:08:43???

What fa duck?

Seriously, I was so disappointed, especially as my Nike + system had me at 2:05.

I think I trust my Nike + system more as there was no chip timing, and I did not actually cross the start line until a ways in. Im estimating at 2 minutes? Is that even right? dang.

One bad point about the race is that they had the 1/2 Marathon and the 5K start at the same freaking time.

Chaos ensued.

Anywho, I am disappointed in my time, especially as I felt so much stronger and mentally disciplined. I even beat another running comp. by 12 minutes! At the 2 mile marker, she passed me by, talking a bit, then saying see you later as I said hav a good run. Caught up to her at mile 5.5, I had had her in my sights the entire race up to that point, but I actually was able to catch up to her and run with her for about .5 miles while talking the entire way. She had to stop at mile 6.2 as she was running with dead legs, ya know, that heavy feeling that makes your legs feel like they weight 40 lbs each. So she stopped and I kept going and did not see her again until 12 minutes or so after I finished. Sweet.

So alas, I actually put on 20 seconds for my best 1/2 marathon time.

I don't get it.

I felt so strong and so good this run, but my time didn't reflect it.

Shit.

More incentive to kick as at Las Vegas.

My running comp. had also run the day before with me at the NARD 5k, she said she though that may ahve been why she was feeling it that day. Me? I felt fine.

Who knows.

My dad said that somedays, its just not your day. I guess that Sunday was not mine.

But anywho.

This week I ran a total of :

Mon: Supposed to cross-train but took a day off.
Tues: Supposed to do 4 miles but I was being lazy.
Weds: 7.01 miles @ 58:52. 8:23 min./miles.
Thurs: 7.02 miles @ 58:59. 8:23 min./miles.
Fri: Rest day.
Sat: 5.00 miles in 41:56. (my time) 42:04 stopwatch time.
Sun: 11.01 miles in 1:30:15. 8:11 min.miles.

Total: 30.04 miles.

I did hit a Veteran's 5k Pr. 41:56 my time, 42:04 stopwatch time.

That morning was hella cold! My lungs were tight, my hands were numb, and my legs were covered in goosebumps. It was so cold I could see my breath in front of me.

I took a quick jog down the road to warm up my tight muscles and expand my cold constricted lungs.

Lined up, and we were off. I had my tunes on, but maybe because it was so cold, I couldn't turn em down from the max level they were on. I was stuck with my ears being blasted and not being able to hear my breathing. shit.

Off we all went, ladee'z bearing down the road at top speed. I kept my pace down and let the rabbits out the box, wondering if I would eventually overtake them. I ran my own race and was soon bypassing runners, both male and female, leaving them to eat my dust. heh.

Up ahead, the 2 miles loomed ahead, a steady incline untill the turn to hillage that would make or break most of the pack. On the incline, I was catching up to the girl who kicked my ass by 2 minutes last year, and there she stood as I flew by. Nice. This chick was running ahead about 100 meters, and I steadily crept on her. We turned left onto the old G-wash road, keeping it to the right as we had been instructed, and she was so close I could touch her shirt. I passed her on the outstep, and let the downhill take my legs. I jammed it to the bottom crest and then stepped it up on the uphill, but then, that chick whose hair I almost touched went on the LEFT HAND SIDE, the easy cut a couple of meters side, and passed me again. That burned me up, one thing I can't stand are cheaters. I used that and passed her like she was standing still, hearing her suck it in and falter as she tried to keep up with me. I took hills and glided up and down. Pushing myself to run fast on the inclines, and letting the hills take me on the declines. Soon, we reached the turnup side to the right, and I stepped it up. Feeling good, I pushed it and took it all in. I never saw that girl again, except when I was done and she finished 2 minutes after me.

She actually won 1st place in the 20-29 division while I took second in the 30-39 division. An old High School Cross country legend took first in my division.

This weekend made up for my disappointing race weekend before.

Oh yea, and I ran a nice new route for my 11 today.

I love running days like this.

fight the GOOD fight..

Watching Flags of Our Fathers's this evening, has me reflecting on what my family has fought for in the name of this country.

My grandfather was a hand to hand combat soldier in World War II. Everytime I watch "Saving Private Ryan" I always think of how my Grandfather was there, doing that very thing I am watching, "playing" war but not being able to shout "STOP!" when it got to much for you or you were losing.

He never talked about fighting in the war to me of course, I was only about 8 when he passed on, but I do remember how I loved to play with his thumb on his right hand, or lack of it. His thumb was missing on that hand, and I always remember how there was an X right down the middle of that missing skin. I used to love to touch it and marvel at it, and he never pushed me away or made me stop. I never asked him how it came to be gone, but later, as I got older, my Hoo'oo told me it was shot off in the war. I can't imagine my gentle giant of a grandfather fighting with anyone, much less in a war. He was only 19 when he was shipped off, and my grandmother was pregnant with my Mom while he was away. My mom says she remembers my grandmother telling her that he used to write her of how much it smelled there, of death, that sickly metal smell of blood.

I remember looking at pictures of him in his uniform, my grandfather was such a handsome young man. My mom used to yell at me cause I used to always get that white picture album down from the closet and just stare at how time passed through the people I loved.

Watching that movie tonite, with so much of it dedicated to Ira Hayes, A fellow O'odham from across the city, made me cry for my Grandfather and what he much have gone through.

How can anyone see the face of death and be the same after?

My grandfather became a minister, and he and my grandmother and my aunties and uncle moved all over the Southwest O'odham lands preaching the good word.

I often wonder if my Grandfather became a minister ino rder to reconcile what had been done overseas. Of course, I never bring that up to my Grandmother or Mom. But, I always think about it.

Placed in that situation, I don't know if I would have it in me to fight.

But I know that I sure am glad that there were those who were able to fight so that I am here today, writing im this stupid blog, about a situation that thankfully I may never know.

I guess in a way that's why I feel so passionately about showing respect to the flag. Maybe because I have some idea of all the blood behind it.

For those Native's who fought against it, and for those who fought for it.

Vote ...or shut the hell up.!

I've voted since I was eligible...going on 12 years strong.

Even though I have to make the trip home to vote, its always so worth it. Leading up to today, I researched the issues, discussed the politicians and issues with my family and those whose opinions I value, and even took a little piece of yellow post-it paper with me into the booth to ensure that I voted correctly.

I am so worn out.

I felt a twinge of sadness however that I could not vote for my San Carlos council, including the all important Tribal Chairperson. Sigh, even though I have the blood of two running through my beautiful fat veins, the law says I am only able to vote in the tribal election of which I am enrolled. Bah, red tape.

Anywho..I did my duty and I voted.

-----

I know that there are Native peeps who do not vote for whatever reason, abstaining due to political views, genocidal views, what have you. I respect their opinion. If it makes sense..heh.

But I believe that every vote counts, no matter how virginal and dimwitted that may sound, I choose to believe that this country at least allows us the gift of maintaing some sense of control in our lives pertaining to choosing our leaders and the rules that we allow to govern us. How many other countries in this world allow their citizens the same?

I give respect to this country from which I have been born and love. I understand and acknowledge that this country has not done my people right, however, I believe that if anything is to change in this country, the change begins with one person at a time. Saying that, I believe that we as Native people can not rely on that tired excuse of the country owes us something. Yes, as tribes I do believe that, water rights, land rights, sovereignty issues, property rights, etc need to be dealt, however with regard to individual issues, why can't we do for ourselves?

If we truly wanted to be seperate from our country, we would eskew its public assistance, governmenet assistance in the form of our Indian Health services, federal grants for education, etc.

I believe that if you really have a problem with this country that my ancestors, my grandfather, cousins, uncles, etc. have fought for, then maybe its time to check out and check into a country that isn't the United States.

Peace and Blessings.

PR that ass.

Saturday I ran the NARD 5k and I totally kicked my old time and pounded it into the ground!

I ran it in at 25:.02! 7:46 min./miles!

I received second place in the 21-30 category and got a groovy medal. Nice. The girl who took first place is the same ladee who I beat the at the last 5k.

Before we took off, I was debating whether or not to run the 5k as I was leaning toward the 2 miler. I had wanted to take it slow and easy as I would be running the S.Mtn. 1/2 marathon the next day, and I didn't want to burn myself out by going all out. My brother man talked me into running the 5k with the reasoning it was just another mile. Hmm. He sold me and at the 5k start, we were off.

I checked our pace as we began and it was at 7:45! I kept it back and let the peeps pass me as I wanted to maintain my steady pace of 8:10. Sides, I didn't think everyone was going to maintain that quick a pace.

I slowly started to pass peeps as they dropped back, maintaining my pace. At the turnaround at mile 1.6, hella peeps began to stop.

In my sights, I had Ms. Ladee who always, I mean always kicks my ass at these races and whom I have never beaten in my whole entire life. She was in my vision and it seemed that I was gaining on her. I kept it cool and stepped it up a notch, and I slowly started to gain on her with a quickness. In the beginning of the race, she was way ahead of me, so catching up to her was a major feat. The last 1/2 mile, I was right behind her, the last 300 yards had us neck and neck for the finish. The last 100 yards I kicked it in and passed her, beating her by like 10 seconds. YES! Afterward, she congradulated me and then told me that she hadn't been running like she used to and she didnt kick it all in this race. UM, yeah.

I just smiled and said, "Oh?". But we both knew who won. Heh.

So for my 5k, I beat a long-time running rival and hit my 5k pr. NICE.

As for my 1/2 Marathon, I do not have time to give a full racing report, but here is my finishing time, unoffically, as there were no timing chips so I had to go by my own time and that of the finishing clock:

2:05:45.

I rock.

Ill give the breakdown a little later as my Nike+ is a little hard to figure out as I had kept it running after I had finished.

What a running weekend.

Not my hoped for time but hey, more incentive to kick some ass in Vegas.

Im still proud of my run.

2nite is the nite

2nite I indulged my Son with some Thomas trains and some brand spanking new Target clothes.

Im freaking tired from a full day of work, running, target, and applebees, oh yeah, and some Alien action thrown in.

I have so much to write about but I won't.

Im too freaking tired.

Halloween & Grandson excuses..

Well I did not run for the past few days.

1) Monday I was tired and didn't do shiz, even though according to my Higdon agenda, it was supposed to be a cross-training day.
2) Tuesday was Halloween and I had no time to fit in a run as I woke up late in the morning (messing up my plan to run then), and after work I was occupied with my Son and taking him out to trick or treat on the rez. THEN, I had retardedly agreed to babysit my grandson ( yes, my grandson. My neice's son, which technically and traditionally, he is my grandson. ), that nite so I was happily sleep-deprived with two boys under the age of three.

This morning I was up with waaay before the sun entertaining my lil grandson of love and smelling his formula-producing poopoo. MAN, I never knew a lil guy could smell that bad, for realz. Son smelled of course, but he was fed the natural way so according to my D-man, lil guys who drink formula produce that kind of big Man smell. I guess.

He was so cute, waking up my Lil Man and watching them run after each other while I tried to get us ready to go to work. Let's just say this morning I was a little late.

Trick or treating with lil Man was such fun, but man was I tired! He went as Superman complete with fake muscles and rippling 6-pack abs..lol. He is such a handsome lil guy. I don't know how many times I have peeps telling me he is going to be a football player and all-around heartbreaker. heh...in addition to momma's with lil girls around his age already "claiming" him for their daughter...heh. Real ndn style.

Anywho, I finally ran after work. WHew.

Mon: Rest.
Tues; Halloween.
Weds: 7.02 miles in 57:14. 8:09 minute miles.

I was supposed to run 4 miles on Tuesday according to Hal, but I didn't. So I plan to run 8 miles tomorrow, 7 on Friday and take Saturday off.

I am so veering from the plan for this week. But hey, Im a working mom to a 2 1/2 year old on Halloween week. Bite me.

I was supposed to run 4 on Tuesday, 7 on Weds., 4 on Thurs, rest on Fri., 7 on Sat., and 15 on Sunday.

My modulated plan goes like this:

Mon: Off
Tues: Off
Weds: 7 (on schedule)
Thurs: 8 (making up for Tues.)
Fri: 7 (making up for Saturday as I want to rest the day before my Halfer)
Sat: REST (but possible 5k or even 2 miler for the NARD run that morning EVEN THOUGH I SHOULD BE RESTING IF I WANT TO PR FOR the 13.1 the next day)
Sun: 13.1 in the morning. Run the additional 1.99 after the race or later that day.

Sound good to you?

Peace out yo..