susi's marathon journal

susimoscoso @ 2009-09-24T12:08:00

2009-09-24T17:08:41Z

Hello livejournal!

Just woke up now it's time to do nothing!!

susimoscoso @ 2008-05-30T12:08:00

2008-05-30T17:16:38Z

happy friday! i have friday's off, so it is very happy for me!

this morning i ran 5 miles, then i mowed the lawn. i just finished weed whacking and sweeping. hooray for a nice tidy garden!

then i got a call from children's hospital...they chose both candidates, so i got part of the scholarship and a job when i graduate! i'm really excited - i didn't really care about the money because it wasn't a big sum anyway, but i did care about having my foot in the door for when i graduate next may! and being required to work there as a condition of the scholarship is a pretty big foot! wheeeeeee!!!!! they're even having a reception for the winners and we get to bring our families. yay!

i also did a chapter of med math this morning, and i have 2 chapters to read, 3 review questions to work on, and a health assessment to type up. i'll do that after i get some lunch - i'm starving!

oh, i also learned to do IV's and blood draws yesterday! SO MUCH FUN!!! especially when it is on fake people.

signed up for my ER shift, so if you need emergency care on June 20th between 3-7, you might not want to go to Barnes. ;) i'll be doing IV's, drawing blood, and putting in foley catheters!

susimoscoso @ 2008-03-16T19:01:00

2008-03-17T00:01:23Z

i made the tastiest dinner tonight, and i didn't even use a recipe! hooray, my cooking skills are improving, as is my cooking confidence! i made a delicious lasagna. a layer of lasagna noodles, a layer of ricotta, a layer of mozzarella, a layer of roasted veggies (broccoli, cauliflower & red bell peppers), a layer of ground beef & homemade marinara, and then do it all over again! after the final layer i put another layer of sauce, mozzarella, and a good sprinkling of parmesan cheese. delicioso!

this weekend was fun. friday night we went out for dinner with our friends. a - i love living in a neighborhood where i can walk to great restaurants. b - i love living just a few blocks from our best friends so we can all walk there together. i had entirely way too much wine at dinner, and then another bottle when we got back to our house. i was fall down drunk by the time we went to bed, and i ended up spending almost all of yesterday in bed feeling horrid. but, i had fun and it was worth it! ;)

i need to run more this week - i slacked a bit last week! i did lots of exercise, but not enough of it was running!

also to do this week, more scholarship applications. whee!

that's all, happy sunday!

susimoscoso @ 2008-01-16T08:09:00

2008-01-16T14:14:38Z

i skipped my run last night, due to lack of motivation. i'm motivated today though, so i'll make it up. ;) i'll take gunner, because runs with gunner are so much more fun!

picking up my new glasses today, woo hoo!

i just told the vp of recruiting that he is stupid and unsophisticated. ha ha ha. going out with a bang around here, i am!

phew!

2007-12-05T19:32:28Z

after the nike women's marathon, i lost my motivation to run. i just...didn't feel like it! i didn't sign up for the winter race series, when asked to go running with friends i said no, and even when the weather was unseasonably warm i just couldn't bring myself to hit the roads.

then, today, i realized what was missing. a training schedule!

so, i made myself a glorious schedule, training for the st louis half in april. it's not really the signing up for the race that motivates me, it's having the training calendar hanging on my fridge so that after every run i can cross it off with my trusty yellow highlighter. as soon as i printed out this year's calendar, i felt that itch to run bubble up inside of me like guacamole and chips for breakfast! hooray!!!

and by the way, i don't recommend eating chips and guacamole for breakfast. especially not after a large hot chocolate. ;)

susimoscoso @ 2007-11-09T21:55:00

2007-11-10T03:57:31Z

i don't have trouble writing up my race reports, but what i always wish is that you could somehow get the feel of the day itself. i think i've found a way!

enjoy!!

susimoscoso @ 2007-10-25T14:10:00

2007-10-25T19:44:30Z

Mission accomplished - I finished the Nike Women's Marathon on Sunday (the same day it started - ha ha!)!

This was the most difficult marathon course I've run so far, with hill upon hill upon hill....upon hill! But it was also the most beautiful, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the smell of eucalyptus trees through Golden Gate Park, and the magnificent Pacific Ocean along the Great Highway. I had to stop a few times just to take it all in, as it really did take my breath away to be running in such an amazing setting. I wish I could run there every day!!!

I was running alongside 21,100 women and 900 men - 5,000 of them fellow Team in Training teammates. Together, we raised over 18 million dollars to fight cancer!!!

There were many times during this race when I didn't think I would finish. From tired legs at the start (before running!), to a cramp in my side that lasted from mile 15 until Tuesday (literally!), there were moments when I questioned if I would ever see the finish line. But as always, there were things along the way that got me through it:

1. The amazing spectators and race volunteers - they had everything, from oranges and bananas, to socks! If you ever do a marathon, do this one, because it was the most organized race I've ever done!

2. The Team in Training coaches & staff - along the way there were coaches from every TNT chapter, and they cheered us along the whole way and offered support if I needed it. I felt like somebody was holding my hand the whole way!

3. My personal crew of spectators! When I got tired, I knew just running past my crew would help me keep going - my parents, Dave, and Cathy & Avi -I can't believe they came from so far just to cheer!

4. The ribbons pinned to my back - I had 11 names on my back, and I wasn't going to let any of them down.

5. The flags pinned to my skirt - one an Ecuadorean flag in memory of my Abuelita, and another a British flag in memory of my Nan. I am very proud to come from a family of very strong ladies, and I knew with those flags pinned to my skirt, I wouldn't forget it!

6. My Mom (again!). Because she never ever lets me down, and seeing her at mile 13 was exactly what I needed to go another 13 miles.

7. My sister Sara - who cheered from afar and via cell phone at mile 14! And my brother Caleb, who will be running his own marathon in just a few weeks time!!!

6. And lastly, my beautiful sister Lisa and the love of her life - my niece Jenny. Sometimes I wonder why I keep doing this, because it hurts like you wouldn't believe! But then the crowd cheers Lisa's name as I run by, and I remember that by running these races I am helping to keep her spirit alive. I look at the legacy Lisa left, and at the beautiful daughter she left for us to love and cherish, and I know that I must keep going - I must not stop until we find a cure for cancer!!!

The very best part of the race (aside from being handed my finisher's medal - a Tiffany necklace - by a San Francisco Firefighter!), was taking off my shoes after finishing and cooling off in the ocean!!!

And in the grand tradition of marathoning with my family, after the race they decided we should walk a few more miles through Golden Gate Park to see the sights! ;)

More about my fantastic vacation to come, for now I must keep catching up on all this icky work!

susimoscoso @ 2007-10-15T09:15:00

2007-10-15T14:24:05Z

a busy weekend:

thursday: lunch with dave, sarah & ginger at mcguirk's. mmm. class in the evening, and then lots and lots of wine.

friday: hangover! ouch! felt very ill all day, went to dewey's with dave, sarah & ginger, and then to the art museum. took a plastic bag just in case - didn't want to throw up on the museum floor. sat in a chair on the first floor and moaned.

saturday: lazy day and a nice 4 mile run. trips to home depot, redoing our basement bathroom. nice cedar ceiling, it's very cute. did lots of homework.

sunday: last group run with the team - 6 miles. weather was gorgeous. came home and fell asleep until after noon, and then more homework. took gunner for a nice walk, enjoyed the weather.

we had so much fun with sarah & ginger - and now they are on their way to indonesia at the end of the week!

four day week for me this week, off to san francisco on friday! wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! i can't believe the marathon is in less than a week! legs, don't fail me now!

The day after the Marathon

2007-08-21T20:29:39Z

this is too funny!

susimoscoso @ 2007-04-24T14:43:00

2007-04-24T19:51:24Z

alright everyone, wish me luck on my lab final!

in the meantime...

the course photographers caught me just before the finish line! this is about mile 26.1! :)

susimoscoso @ 2007-04-19T15:44:00

2007-04-19T20:50:13Z

a few funny marathon pics my mom took!

this is on the marathon course - i think about mile 14 - it shows how empty the course was, but also how beautiful! this photo was taken in forest park. :) that's me in the yellow, and my friend amy to my left!

a post race phone call from my sister sara! gotta love the foil spaceman blanket!!!

post-race glee! i do look like i'm 12.

what on earth kind of face am i making?! and yes, those are my thunderous thighs. but those thighs can run!!!

susimoscoso @ 2007-04-15T16:26:00

2007-04-15T21:37:47Z

st louis marathon - completed!! 4:59:55! not my best time (4:53), but not my worst (6:02 - the broken foot race!).

what a tough race for me today!!! but a great day, great weather, great everything nonetheless!

the weather was awesome - sunny and gorgeous, not too warm, and a nice cool breeze.

the crowds were fantastic - far less than any marathon i've ever done, but just as supportive, helpful and friendly.

my knee wasn't very cooperative - i suppose from that fall on monday, but after 6 tylenol it felt better!

my stomach wasn't cooperative either - i felt hungry, but when i ate i'd get an upset stomach. silly tummy!

a weird thing that happened, and really bothered me was that my hands swelled a lot. anybody know why that might happen? and they got all tingly and it started to freak me out! i remember that happening in chicago too. i made an effort to sort of shake them out every now and again, but it didn't help.

my family and friends were awesome! my parents were in 3 spots, dave kate & zac were in 4 spots, my friend debbie from middle school came out to cheer me through clayton, and two of my best girlfriends surprised me in forest park. i thought they were a mirage, and when i realized it really was them, i sobbed.

nastyboots dad even cheered me on at the top of an ugly hill on forsyth! thanks mr. boots!

and the hills! let's not talk about the hills! they were everywhere!! of course, i knew this, i trained on them, but it didn't make them any easier. i did manage to run up the big hill on delmar (now known as mount delmar!). i knew if i made it up that hill, i would finish the race!

the last few miles were tough. i adopted a run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute strategy. i was just tired, since my tummy hadn't allowed me as much fuel as my body needs. but, i kicked it up in the last mile and came charging in to finish just under the 5 hour mark! phew!

i'm quite pleased with my time. i didn't set a personal record, but this course was way tougher than the fast and flat chicago where i did run my best time. so i look forward to resting up, and then getting started again with more focus on speedwork this season. i had plenty of energy to sprint the finish, and i'm full of energy now, so i know with the right training i'll be able to tap into that in the tough miles - for me, that's 18-20something!

thank you to everyone here who left me such lovely comments!!! i really appreciate it!!! :)

now, time for a nap!

i just ran with dean karnazes! wheeee!!!

2006-12-15T21:12:16Z

i had the honor today of running with ultramarathon man - dean karnazes - as he ran through st. louis on his way to san francisco! it was an adventure finding him - in fact, i didn't find him but found 'the mothership' - the rv his dad is driving!

some pics behind the cut, but i must say - it's truly nice when your heroes are so very very nice in person - he is indeed a superman!

After ditching work after a big meeting, i found The Mothership just 6 miles from my office! dean's dad was adorable, and he gave me a big hug.

after taking pics with dean's dad, i set off to run the trail in search of dean, who was to meet his dad at the rv. after a few miles, i found him, escorted by some fine stl runners!

i jumped in, and dean introduced himself. we ran to the start of his epic journey - the start/finish line of the lewis & clark marathon. he was extremely nice, posing with everybody for pictures. i wish him strong legs and unwavering courage the rest of his way home!!!

he also autographed my sign!

Chicago Marathon

2006-10-23T20:56:42Z

wheeeee!!! i did it!!!!!!!!!!!! and what a day!!!

i got up at 4:30 yesterday morning - a combination of nerves and excitement working together to make a very effective alarm clock. i was dreading looking out the window, as the forecast given the night before was 'blustery, rain/snow'. it didn't look too blustery or rainy/snowy though, so i breathed a little sigh of relief!

after the usual pre-race preparations (breakfast, bodyglide, immodium), our team headed over to the start area. it was about a 10-minute walk, which was nice. it was pretty blustery, but the rain/snow had yet to make an appearance.

upon reaching the start area, we checked gear bags, hit the porta-potties, and jumped in line for the start. i had hopes of lining up between the 4:30 and 4:45 pace teams, but somehow managed to jump in behind the 4:45's. it seemed like an eternity until the gun went off. i ditched my throw-away sweat suit before we entered the start, and so i was chilly and anxious to get started!

as the gun went off and we started the slow shuffle towards the actual start line (took 15 minutes) we sang along to Born to Run and Sweet Home Chicago. it was a great moment full of laughter and excitement!

and then we were off!

i ran with my teammate anne-marie for the first 13 miles. we were trying to catch up to the 4:30 pace team, which was probably a bad idea. i really felt like i was racing - my previous 2 marathons were all about finishing, but this time i wanted to get in under 5 hours. we were weaving in and out of all the people like pros, and managed to pass up the 4:45 pace team early on. it was FREEEEEZING and my legs were having a hard time warming up, but i felt good.

at mile 11, my fantastic family was waiting to cheer me on. they were all smiling and cheering - that's all i remember - and it gave me a rush of energy to keep moving!

at the 13.1 mile mark, i noticed that i had just run the half-marathon faster than any half marathon i've ever run!!!! it was exciting and a bit scary at the same time. i knew i would have to slow down, because my legs still wouldn't warm up, and i was starting to suffer a bit mentally. anne-marie was about 2 people ahead of me when our coach jumped in. my arm-warmers were giving me a bit of a problem, so i stopped with him for a minute and slathered up with some bodyglide. thank goodness for coaches that carry fanny packs full of good things! i also swiped a jolly rancher and was back on my way!

the next 7 miles are a bit of a blur. i started to feel my right leg tightening up a bit in the hamstring region. it felt like me knee was locking up a bit, and i had to keep telling myself to relax. i think the cold was taking its toll! i didn't wear tights because i hadn't trained in them and i didn't want to do anything new, but had i warn them i probably would have been a bit less stiff out on the course.

once i got to twenty, it was all about rewards. get to the next mile and you can stop to stretch. run another 10 minutes and you can walk the water stop. i did a great job with refueling - i had 3 honey stingers and an enervitene, as well as 3 pieces of quench gum. and THANK YOU to Man With Box of Gummy Worms - he was in the right place at the right time!!!!

my leg was locking up every few minutes and i kept having to walk in order for it to relax again. it was a pain, because the rest of me still felt so good!

saw my coach again at mile 23. I was ready to be finished, and the 4:45 pace team had passed me by. :( he ran me to mile 24, and i was headed for home! somewhere during that mile, i saw the most adorable golden retriever puppy on the sidelines. i was suddenly overcome with a longing to just hug that puppy, but i kept running. i just wanted some comfort, because i was tired and beaten to a pulp mentally!

as i neared 25, i started to make some very peculiar calculations. i thought 'okay, from 25 to 26 is 3 miles, so that will take me about 33 minutes'. i think the cold had frozen my brain, because we all know it's only 1 mile from 25 to 26!!!!

i hit mile 25, and knew my family would be waiting! sure enough i looked ahead to see their wonderful faces. i managed to hand off my fuel belt and pick up my finish line sign (which i ran with until mile 11!) without missing a step! i ran the last mile carrying my sign, and enjoying the sight of the finish line ahead. people were cheering wildly, and euphoria set in! i crossed the finish line just short of my goal of 4:45 - 4:53, almost a full hour faster than my best marathon time (i've only done 3, so there's lots of room for improvement!).

all in all it was a wonderful race. the city of chicago was absolutely amazing!!!! they cheered enthusiastically from mile 1 to mile 26.2. the neighborhoods were wonderful - from lake view (with the male cheerleaders!), to chinatown to the hispanic neighborhood who's name i do not know, they really put on a specatcular show! the race was very well organized -from the area at the start to the finish.

as always, i had 'for lisa' on my shirt. and as always, people cheered 'go lisa' instead. it's fitting, because i run solely to honor her, and she is what keeps me going. my finish line sign said 'for my sister lisa - i love you and miss you'. i could see people in the crowd start to cry as i ran by, but i was so proud that i was able to show an entire city how very very much i love and miss my sister. i had a tough time mentally out on the course, but all the wonderful memories of lisa kept me warm, kept me moving, and kept me smiling.

i always feel like a bit of a fool at the finish, because for a moment i feel disappointed that all that running didn't bring her back - she wasn't at the finish line when i got there. but when i look at everything that went into that day, i realize she was there. from my wonderful family who came from near and far just to see me twice for 10 seconds each time, to my amazing teammates who have become like sisters to me, to the generosity of the crowds - it all embodies what lisa was to me.

as for the rain and snow? it never happened. the wind, however, was fierce! it didn't stop me though, and at one point there was even a moment of sunshine.

we drove back from chicago today. my quads don't work at all, and the leg that kept locking up feels a bit unstable. i'm going to try to get out and go for a little walk to loosen everything up - we'll see. other than that i feel a bit nauseous, i think from not hydrating very well after the race.

all in all a grand day, and i very much look forward to doing another marathon next year!

susimoscoso @ 2006-03-10T09:50:00

2006-03-10T16:13:51Z

yikes! just read this article on cnn - crazy!

when we lived in rio - 1995/6, the violence was already out of control. the slums, or favelas, that they mention in the article were everywhere, so no matter where you lived, you lived near one. as a result, it was a common, nightly occurance to hear gunfights. not just a few gunshots, but all out gunfights, between the police and the drug gangs. and not just small guns, but automatic weapons - the kind that you only expect to see in movies.

i remember my first encounter with the gunfire. it was late one night, and i was watching tv in my bedroom. being brazil, it was hot. and being brazil, there was no air conditioning in the house, so i had my big bedroom window open to the ocean breeze. being brazil, there were also giant mosquitos, and one had wandered into my bedroom and was buzzing around my head with that itchy high-pitched buzz...eeeeeeeeeeeee.... I was standing on my bed, trying to catch the mosquito. window open. lights on. i heard some loud noises - i thought fireworks, and kept at my battle with the mosquito.

all of a sudden my dad came running down the hallway, and proceeded to bang on my door and tell me to get down on the floor and turn off the lights. the fireworks were gunfire.

the first few nights of that were scary. i grew accustomed to sleeping in my extra large and fancy walk-in closet. i felt safer in there - at least the bullet would have to go through 2 walls to hit me. but after a few weeks, the gunfire was the norm, and we hardly noticed it anymore. i remember once calling my best friend beth, and she could hear the guns through the phone. she cried. but to me, it was normal. even when a stray bullet hit the generator thing and all our power went out.

we were, or course, slightly protected. not from the stray bullets, but from an attack. we lived on a small peninsula, and at the entrance to our tiny street was a guard tower. but more intimidating was the house at the end of the peninsula. it belonged to the media mogul of rio, and was fortified accordingly. he had his own guard tower (caddy corner to our house) with 17 guards on patrol at all times. my dad once asked them what they would do if the drug gangs attacked. the guards said not to worry - in addition to their automatic weapons, they also carried grenades.

there were other ways to avoid invasion. mr media mogul bribed the drug gangs. he donated an ambulance, among other things. and the sheraton hotel across the little bay paid them not to mug the tourists.

i wonder how this will all play out...sending the army in. last time they did that, the army failed. they were met with a force equipped with rocket launchers. i'm sure if we were still there, i'd be sleeping in the closet this week...

susimoscoso @ 2005-11-14T10:36:00

2005-11-14T16:36:50Z

My NYC Marathon Report

On Sunday November 6th, I ran the New York City Marathon! It was an amazing day, and one that will burn brightly in my memory for the rest of my life. I thank everybody for thinking of me, and sending thoughts my way – as you will read below, I counted on those thoughts to get me through the difficult miles!

I woke up early on Sunday morning and got ready to meet my Fred’s Team teammates in Times Square to board our busses to the start of the race in Staten Island. Dave, Mom & Papi accompanied me on the subway to the Marriot Marquis, where I was greeted by a Fred’s Team representative. I waved goodbye to my family, and continued on alone, knowing the next time I would see them was at the 8-mile mark of the race.

After having a huge group photo taken in Times Square, we boarded the many busses that waited to take us to the start. It was a warm day – almost a little too warm for a marathon, and I wore shorts, my favorite running hat, and my Fred’s Team tank with Lisa’s name & picture on the front. On the bus, one of my teammates also wrote my name down my right arm.

I cannot describe what it feels like to run across the Verrazano with 37,000 other people. Thrilling does not even begin to describe it. Loudspeakers blasted Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York, and I had a beautiful view of the city from my position on the far left hand side of the bridge.

My goal for this marathon was to be sure that the entire city of New York cheered Lisa’s name. I wore her name and her picture on my shirt, and expected to finish in 4:45 – 5 hours. I knew I would accomplish my first goal when a photographer on the bridge cheered for me right from the start. Just like in all my other races, despite having ‘4 Lisa’ written on my shirt, he cheered ‘Go Lisa’ instead. It has never bothered me that the ‘4’ or the ‘For’ isn’t read, because Lisa is the reason I am running, and to have people cheer for her is exactly the way it should be.

The first few miles were hot, and I thought that the warm temperature would be my adversary throughout the race. I made sure to drink my sports drink at mile 1 – the midpoint of the bridge, and I was running a conservative pace. Mile 2, the second half of the bridge, was downhill, so I allowed myself to increase my pace a bit, but had to hold back so as not to go too fast!

As we reached the end of the bridge we headed into Brooklyn for a long stretch of the race. I knew that I wouldn’t see my family & friends until at least mile 8, so I concentrated on my pace, my breathing, and had fun enjoying the cheering crowds. There were so many people in the streets, and everybody cheered for Lisa as I ran by. It was hard to keep a handle on my emotions, but I’ve found that running and crying don’t go very well together!

As I rounded one corner, I heard a couple yell ‘Ecuador!’, and I looked ahead to see a fellow runner with the Ecuadorean flag. We chatted for a few minutes, and I found that he was from Guayaquil. We wished each other luck, and I ran on!

I remember reaching mile 5 and thinking ‘It’s going by so quickly!. Perhaps I thought too soon…

I reached mile 6, and got excited about seeing my family in only 2 miles. And then….the pain! Nothing happened – I didn’t trip, I didn’t fall into any of the numerous potholes…but my right foot was suddenly in searing pain. I had some foot pain a few weeks prior to the race, but in a different area, and not nearly as bad! I kept running, every other step like a knife stabbing an open nerve. As I continued, the pain spread up my leg, to my 3 little toes, and to the arch under my foot. A torn tendon? A broken bone? Am I just a wimp? I stopped briefly to walk, but found it hurt far worse, so I continued my running, only rather than my 10:30 – 11 minute pace per mile, I was running a 13:30 - 14 minute pace.

Between miles 7 and 8, to my surprise, I was spotted by my cousin Greg and his wife Rookmin! Rookmin jumped right into the race with me with her beautiful sign, and started running alongside me, cheering me on! It was exciting and thrilling and I was never so happy to see anybody in all my life! Greg and Rookmin ran along the sidewalk and as we lost sight of each other another familiar voice suddenly called my name. Barb was a little further up and cheered me forward! I kept going, expecting to see Sara & Jenny, John & Dave up ahead. As I reached mile 8, I spotted the brightly colored signs Sara had commissioned the night before, and my beautiful sister cheering me on!

I stopped at that point to get a quick refill of Tylenol and an orange slice. Waiting along with the others was Marco, who planned on joining me to run part of the race. Initially, Marco was going to run with me from Mile 2, but had changed plans to start at mile 8, running me to mile 15. For whatever reason our plans changed, it was PERFECT timing for Marco to join me. The pain in my foot was intense, and the road ahead seemed interminable. We started running, and after a few stops to adjust my shoe, rub out my foot, and readjust my shoe, we settled into a slow pace for the miles ahead. We ran mostly in silence, except for checking each other’s progress. Marco’s wonderful advice to me was to focus on the pain and take deep breaths. Marco, you said to let you know afterwards if it worked, and indeed it did! You couldn’t have run with me at a better time, and although you said you felt as though you were ‘stealing’ by running without a number, you were critical to my ability to run those 7 miles. Had it not been for you, the pain and fear in those miles would have been far more severe.

As we reached mile 15 in Sara’s neighborhood, all I could think about was the sports cream I packed in Dave’s backpack! Once again the brightly colored signs jumped out at me from the sea of spectators, and this time Mom & Papi were there cheering too! Off came my shoe, and Papi slathered half a tube of sports cream on my foot. Too much!!! I do remember Rookmin offering her sweatshirt to remove the excess…thanks Rookmin! I don’t remember if we used it though…. J

I gave everybody a quick hug, and continued forward. Barb was to meet me in 4 miles to run me through the Bronx, and by that point I’d be in the home stretch. And then…..

The 59th Street Bridge.

They warn you about the 59th Street Bridge, but I was sure I could handle it. It is, in fact, an awful point in the race. No crowds, a ½ mile uphill, followed by a ½ mile downhill, but worst of all, nothing to distract you from the realization that you’re only just a bit further than half way to the finish line. Lucky for me, I tagged on to a pace team, and stuck with them for the duration of the bridge. Thank you, pace team! I made it to the other side of the bridge, and into Manhattan at last!

Running up 1st avenue was one of the best stretches of the race. The crowds were so enthusiastic – calling my name now from the right hand side of the street, and Lisa’s name from the left hand side. My foot still hurt, but the pain was slowly fading into the background. As I continued up 1st avenue, I remembered the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center would be on my right at any minute. I looked ahead, and I saw the hospital, decorated in orange & purple balloons – our Fred’s Team colors. I ran over to the right-hand side of the road and as I ran towards the hospital, I began to cry. I couldn’t hold on to my emotions anymore – the sight of the hospital, of the balloons, of the cheering children and parents and nurses – all too familiar with cancer…I high-fived the nurses and kids and kept running, recharged and reminded of my mission. There was no way I could give up – not when there are kids fighting a far greater battle. Not when Lisa fought so courageously because it was her only choice. I had a finish line to cross, and I wasn’t going to stop until I got there.

I continued up 1st avenue and finally reached my cheering fans once again! More orange slices, more sports cream, and now Barb jumped into the race to run me through the Bronx! Her companionship was a relief, and she kept me encouraged and entertained through the Bronx and back into Manhattan. We ran through Harlem and enjoyed the music of the many bands along the way. By now my legs were getting very tired, I was walking all the water stops slowly, and the fabulous blister on my bad foot felt extra squishy. We reached mile 23 (mile 23!!!) and were met once again by the very best cheerleaders in New York City! At that point, I had a surprise…Sara jumped into the race with me!! In her jeans and tennies, and carrying a beautiful sign that said G-OH SUSANA, she ran alongside me for a mile!!! I was thrilled to share part of the marathon with my sister, so that she could experience what it’s like to hear our sister’s name cheered throughout the streets of the city. My pace had improved to somewhere around the 12-12:30, and I had fun hearing my name cheered and sung along 5th avenue. We ran into Central Park and to mile 24, where our dear family friends, Linda & Jerry were waiting for us and cheering! A quick good-bye to Sara, and a hug for Linda & Jerry, and I continued on alone. ALMOST THERE!!!!

As I pressed forward towards mile 25, I started to get very excited. Would it really happen? Would I cross the finish line?! There was never really any doubt…I gave Lisa’s picture a kiss and crossed the 25-mile marker. At that point, the most glorious thing happened. My legs were like air, the pain…vanished! I was suddenly full of energy and ready to sprint…my pace increased…and then….

My wonderful brain reminded me that I couldn’t go that pace for a full 1.2 miles! I physically made myself stop, restart, and continue at my slow pace. The adrenaline rush would have to wait till the very end…until I knew I had enough to get me across that line running STONG!

I approached 5th Avenue once again, and could see the Plaza through the trees. At that point, I smelled roasted chestnuts – the smell that reminds me of Christmases we spent in the city with Lisa. It hit me at that point that this was it, I was running the New York Marathon, and I was almost to the finish line! I rounded the corner onto 5th Ave and was met by my magnificent family cheering me on! Mom & Papi, Cathy & Avi, Auntie Jimena & Uncle Barry, and Kristy, Rich & Chase….I didn’t stop at all and kept running strong – they were there to cheer me to the finish and it was so very close!

So many people say that Lisa was with me that day, and it is absolutely true. She was with me in the excitement of the thousands at the start line. She was with me in the tiny voices of the little girls in Brooklyn who cheered for me in Spanish. She was with me in the comfort of a friend running 7 miles with me in a time of great need. She was with me in the compassion of my family, who rubbed my legs with sports cream and fed me oranges. I saw her in the eyes of my sister, who cheered me forward with all of her heart. I saw her in the eyes of my niece, who looked so very proud of her Auntie! I heard her in the voice of my mother, who cheered both our names as I ran by. I heard her in the thousands of voices who encouraged me to keep going for 26 miles. But most importantly, I felt her within my heart – beating strongly and telling me never to give up. I felt her courage and her strength in my very core, giving me the ability to endure pain and fear. I felt her unending love surround me every time I looked down and saw her picture on my shirt.

I got to the ½ mile marker, and continued at my slow pace – just a little further! I rounded the corner and the cheering was deafening. I kept my hand on Lisa’s picture, gave it one last kiss, and took off. I could have had wings, and I suspect that maybe I did. Lisa & I charged the finish line and crossed it STRONG and with a SMILE!

I reached my goal, and achieved my greatest accomplishment that day. The entire city of New York – from Staten Island to Brooklyn, to Queens, to the Bronx, to Manhattan – cheered for my sister Lisa and kept her spirit, her courage, her beauty, her grace, and her love alive. And I crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon.

Now I have a broken foot, and 6 weeks in a very fashionable moon boot, but it was well worth it for such a brilliant day!! I’ll be back to running in no time, and am setting my sights on a marathon for 2006 – I just need to choose a destination!!!

susimoscoso @ 2005-11-09T10:24:00

2005-11-09T16:27:32Z

Number of runners: 37,597

Number of cheering spectators: 2 million

Number of bridges on the marathon course: 5

Dollars I raised for cancer research: $2,520

Bone I broke at mile 6: 4^th metatarsal in the right foot

Time it took me to cross the glorious finish line: 6 hours, 2 minutes and 26 seconds.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS IMPOSSIBLE!

A full account of my race coming soon, but a quick thank you to all who helped me keep going to the finish line - it was worth every single second!!!

susimoscoso @ 2005-03-16T07:33:00

2005-03-16T13:58:08Z

1. Favorite scene in a movie? the train sequence in wallace & gromit's the wrong trousers

2. Who has the best steaks? dave makes the very best steak ever!

3. Mexican, Chinese or Italian food? i like them all! i'll go with truly authentic mexican

4. An actor that shouldn't be? selma hayek (sp?)

5. Favorite town? quito

6. Medicine or vitamin used most? centrum vitamins

7. First movie you remember watching? at the movie theater? las aventuras de enrique y ana

8. Know any people stuck "in the closet"? i don't think so

9. Best age to be? 5

10. Black & white or color photography? black & white

11. Favorite year in school? kindergarten

12. Favorite continent? south america

13. Big party or a couple of close friends? couple of close friends

14. Who is funnier: Will Ferrell or Will Smith? will ferrell

15. Favorite guilty pleasure? cigarettes

16. State of Sexuality? nastyboots' answer will suffice...getting some, AND HOW!

17. If you were dirt poor what would be your last ditch desperate attempt at money? borrowing from my parents (which i do ALL the time)

18. What are you most proud of? running the london marathon for charity

19. What are most guilty of? oooh, i don't know.

20. Did you ever have a monster under your bed or in your closet? yes, and i'm still afraid of the dark

21. What do you think about kids? most are lovely

22. What movie scared / scares you the most? e.t. - i still haven't watched it all the way through!

23. Natural disaster that you fear most? tornado

24. Friend closest to insanity? i think i'm the one that's always closest to insanity!

25. Disney World / Land or Universal? disney world

26. Which is better: ?

27. What's your take on fag hags? what's a fag hag?

28. Most annoying roommate trait one could have? i've never had a roommate, just live-in boyfriends

29. Any recurring dreams? no

30. What's one thing a person could do that would completely turn you off regardless of how attractive you think they are? make a racist comment

31. What makes you cry the most in movies? when people die of cancer i cry like a baby

32. Ever fallen for a best friend? no (sorry donna_chang!) ;)

33. What language do you wish you could speak? italian

34. Food that you don't like, but is usually considered tasty by others? chicken

35. Favorite cheese? mozzarella

36. Ever been to a rain forest? yes! see below...

37. Scariest disease? cancer

38. Okay, it's a dumb movie but you love it: zoolander

39. Favorite decade? no favorite

40. Finally, monarchy is replacing our governmental system, who will be king/queen? me! see below... ;)

susimoscoso @ 2004-11-02T05:52:00

2004-11-02T12:05:58Z

i'm up early so i can go VOTE!

susimoscoso @ 2004-09-15T16:11:00

2004-09-15T21:31:46Z

mmm...i just discovered the peanut butter twix.

i have a half marathon on sunday and i have been such a slacker with my running!!! i suppose my goal will be to simply finish, with no particular time in mind. maybe crossing the finish line will be just the motivation i need to get me back in gear....?!

funnily, since decreasing my running, i have lost 10 lbs. figure that one out!!

my bus pass

2004-09-12T12:28:10Z

is a 2003 honda civic si! yipee!!! thanks to a friend at work who's husband owns a dealership, i got a sweet deal on a sporty little honda that goes FAST! i shall take a picture of it and post it here if i can figure out how. today i must go to dobbs where my old car is parked and get all my stuff out of it. then tomorrow, the dealership is going to have it towed to the...sniff sniff...scrap yard.

Gunner!

2004-08-22T02:08:49Z

yay for gunner, my new puppy! i love him so very much already!! he's a 10-12 week old boxer/sheppard mix - very playful, very brave, and very very cute!!!

susimoscoso @ 2004-08-16T08:19:00

2004-08-16T13:26:39Z

3 miles this morning - done! yay! i must admit i didn't run at all this weekend. i ditched my long run, i ditched my 5k...no harm done, i had a lot of fun and now i'm back on track.

yesterday was vacation villa with my most favorite miss donna_chang. i could stand to do that again today, but alas it is monday, i am at work, and the inhabitants of the villa return from england this evening.

susimoscoso @ 2004-08-13T08:03:00

2004-08-13T13:11:48Z

happy anniversary to mr. & mrs.donna_chang!!!!</span>

susimoscoso @ 2004-08-07T09:13:00

2004-08-07T14:18:00Z

7 miles done! i did it in 1:08:14, which is the fastest i've ever done 7 miles i think. i'm definitely running a lot stronger than ever, and i hope i can keep it up for the lewis & clark half marathon in sept. my last half marathon i finished in 2:24, and i'd like to knock a decent chunk off that time with this next one. we'll see! how 'bout this weather? 60 degree running in august...PERFECT!!!