Rebekah Jordan is running in the 2007 LA AIDS Marathon

[Lynne]

Rebekah Jordan is planning to run in the LA AIDS Marathon 3/4/2007 to benefit the AIDS Project Los Angeles.  Many of you may know that Rebekah is a quite talented singer-songwriter and an actress.  I was recently introduced to her work in C. Jay Cox's film, Latter Days, in which she acted and performed several songs.  Here is a link for more information:

http://aidsmarathon.com/participant.asp?runner=LA-2411&EventCode=LA07

-Lynne

[Lynne]

So, this week while I was spending $$$ at amazon.com buying things I didn't really need like the sheet music to Brokeback Mountain, an unrated copy of Latter Days (and its score), the Donnie Darko score (well, you get the picture)....

I also decided to buy this book:

The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer (Paperback)
by David A. Whitsett, Forrest A. Dolgener, Tanjala Jo Kole

(This book had high user feedback and seemed geared to an audience of average folks...should be here any day now!)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570281823/104-4670790-3507909

Lest you think I'm having delusions of running a marathon with Rebekah next March (would that not be the coolest, though??!!), my goals are not as lofty.  Some of you have already heard this, so skip it if you have - just keep thinking supportive thoughts!

I really, really want to go to Alberta next summer.  And I want to do it right - complete with whatever amount of hiking, backpacking, etc. that I can work into the schedule.  It will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for me.

I have not always been such a slug.  Two years ago, I could run a 5K, swim 2 miles, bike 40, and play 45" of soccer, no problem.  Before that I played college softball and did tae kwonn do regularly.

However, I broke my left ankle in a serious car accident 5/5/2005 and although it's rebuilt with lots of hardware, it still gives me a great deal of trouble.  Couple that with 30-40 lbs I do not need, and I am just not where I want to be from a fitness standpoint.  So I'm naturally reluctant to sign up for Alberta, if I think I may be too limited in the outdoorsy fun I'm able to have while there.

My reasoning is that If I can get back to a point where I can hike 6 miles with a light pack, Alberta will be both do-able and enjoyable for me. (I arrived at this goal b/c serious Appalachian Trail hikers typically hike 10-12 miles/day with 60-80 lb packs).  So if anyone thinks I'm not being realistic, set me straight.  I do realize there will be an altitude factor which will make it tougher for us lowlanders.

So here's what I've done so far toward making these goals a reality:

-I signed up at my gym at work (which is a terrific perk of my job) complete with locker b/c getting my workout clothes there is 80% of my problem.

-I met with a trainer there to design a weight program to strengthen the ankle, as well as to make plans for improving general aerobic fitness - we're alternating recumbent bike, treadmill, and elliptical machine. (Interestingly enough though, my aerobic analysis was fine - my weak points were strength and flexibility where I scored lowest..hmmm.)

-I've been going 2-3X/week for the past 3 weeks, though Fridays do not really count because it's a really relaxing yoga class that's more for mental health than anything else.  One class last week, tho, was spinning, which was brutal, so I figure it balanced out.

-I'm taking Repliva (iron supplements) as well as a multi-vitamin and my last bloodwork shows I'm no longer anemic. (Three months ago they were threatening blood transfusions!)

And here's what I hope to do in the next month:

-Continue with the gym workouts as much as possible, with 3X/week (1 hours sessions, 30" aerobic) being the goal.

-Call up a soccer friend (Hal) and arrange for him to kick the ball around with me once or twice before matches to just evaluate how bad my lateral ankle motion is.  If it's not as bad as I think, I may try playing an indoor match with them - outdoor is out of the question for now, because I just fall down on uneven terrain.  If that doesn't work well, I'm going to try hitting tennis balls against a wall.

-Sign up to run in a 5K at Sewanee at the end of the month.  It's all for charity and I can start walking when I've had enough, but it will be a good gauge of where things stand after 7 weeks of gym aerobics.

That's all I can think of now, but I'm interested to know if there are any other BetterMostians out there who are feeling like they want to make some improvements in this area?

Pipe in and share and let's support each other (like always)!!

-Lynne

Disclaimer:

I'm 100% certain that watching BBM 21 times and spending 15 days total on BetterMost and meeting Brokies in person and drinking picthers of margaritas could NOT be part of the problem, so those issues will not be mentioned. 

[nakymaton]

Do it! Do it! Do it!

Moose Mountain, where a lot of the spectacular mountain scenes were shot, is a 14 km hike, roundtrip. Longer than you're aiming for. Do you think you could work up to it?

[Lynne]

Do it! Do it! Do it!

Moose Mountain, where a lot of the spectacular mountain scenes were shot, is a 14 km hike, roundtrip. Longer than you're aiming for. Do you think you could work up to it?

(I ran my first marathon a month ago... I've been very gradually working up to it after having a baby three and a half years ago. Different challenges than recovering from an ankle injury, but working with a physical therapist/trainer in my family helped a lot.)

Thanks so much for your support!! 14K roundtrip to Moose Mountain, hunh?  There's plenty of time to work up to that with proper motivation, which exists here in abundance!  Excellent input!

-Lynne

[tamarack]

Hey, Lynn, I'm really happy and excited for you! Doesn't it feel good to have a new direction to be heading in? A whole lot has been happening in my life, too, very recently. And it's all because of Brokeback. I'm happier than I've been in years and people I barely know are seeing the difference in me (as well as the people I work with).

Don't even consider that you won't have a great time in Alberta. It's going to be wonderful.

I'll donate $10.00 to your charity 5K for a little added inspiration. Seriously, send me your address and I'll send you a check.

[Ellemeno]

Do it! Do it! Do it!

Moose Mountain, where a lot of the spectacular mountain scenes were shot, is a 14 km hike, roundtrip. Longer than you're aiming for. Do you think you could work up to it?

AND up, then downhill, right?  I have a long way to go to get ready, but I want to.  For those of us who are metrically-challenged, what is that in miles?

I announce that I am in training for Alberta as well.  I throw my hat into the ring.

Clarissa

[nakymaton]

It's a little less than 9 miles. I'll snoop around some more sites and see if I can find the elevation gain (and then loss), because you're right, Clarissa, that's what makes mountains hard.

[Lynne]

Hey, Lynn, I'm really happy and excited for you! Doesn't it feel good to have a new direction to be heading in? A whole lot has been happening in my life, too, very recently. And it's all because of Brokeback. I'm happier than I've been in years and people I barely know are seeing the difference in me (as well as the people I work with).

Don't even consider that you won't have a great time in Alberta. It's going to be wonderful.

I'll donate $10.00 to your charity 5K for a little added inspiration. Seriously, send me your address and I'll send you a check.

Tamarack - that's very nice of you!  Thank you so much for the support.  However, I'll be accepting no donations at this time.  If you want to support the LA Marathon for AIDS and Rebekah Jordan's run, that link is in the first post.  She just got me going with the idea of getting back in good shape so I COULD do something like that one day.  Of course, if by some miracle I am able to sign up for a marathon by early next year, then we can re-think it!

[Lynne]

AND up, then downhill, right?  I have a long way to go to get ready, but I want to.  For those of us who are metrically-challenged, what is that in miles?

I announce that I am in training for Alberta as well.  I throw my hat into the ring.

Clarissa

Awesome, Clarissa! 
I am sure we can do this, 'hunnert percent!'

Downhill is tougher on me than uphill ankle-wise for some reason.  The trainer at the gym gave me some exercises to do that are supposed to strengthen it.  It's using this tibia weight machine, where you basically insert your foot, then lift and lower a little bar with weights by flexing your ankle.  With my right ankle, I can do it in that slow, controlled motion they tell you to use.  But the left, I can raise it properly, but when I try to lower it, it just flops...very frustrating!

[Lynne]

(This is from Rebekah's latest newsletter, which you can get by signing up on her website...
http://www.rebekahjordanmusic.com/
Check it out if you get a chance.  I love her music and you can hear some of it on the site.  I'm so glad I 'discovered' her through Latter Days.  Thank you again, Daniel.  I'm going to try to send in my donation this week!
-Lynne)

"Hello friends! As promised, just wanted to keep you updated on my marathon training progress.

This past weekend, we increased our miles to...(wait for it)...6!! Yeah, 6 miles! *does cartwheel, then pulls a muscle* I can't even wrap my brain around it. And yet I did it.

Turns out marathons require shopping. I bought a Timex Ironman/Marathon watch. I feel like such a bad ass when I wear it. Is it the watch or my red terry cloth 80s wristband? Maybe the combination of both. Anyway, our training is based on run/walk intervals, so my watch beeps when it's time to run and then again when it's time to walk. I bought it at this running store in L.A. where they were kind enough to set it for me. Thank God, because left to my own devices that watch would probably be beeping at all hours, waking up my neighbors, because the instructions make no sense.

It's mandatory that we carry water now since the runs are getting longer. Everyone looks hilarious in their little hydration belts and fanny packs. Mine is black with 2 lime green neon bottles. So with my hot pink shirt, red wristband, and neon green water bottles, I look more like a rainbow in training than a runner. And I'm fine with that :-)

The thing that worries me now, more than the running, is the fundraising. I am training through the National Aids Marathon Program to help improve the lives of people living with AIDS. I shouldn't say "people" living with AIDS, that seems so impersonal. In actuality these men, women, and children are someone's daughter, son, husband, sister, brother, best friend, uncle, lover, poker partner, co-worker, secret crush...these are people who mean a lot to someone else. And anonymously my efforts could mean a great deal to them. We have to raise $1500 individually by December. Yikes. I'm not even halfway there. But it's such a necessary cause and it feels amazing to be pushing myself in this way.

Truly no donation amount is too small (or great!). It all adds up, just like my miles do every week. And your donation is tax deductible. (though my sore feet are not)

So I've come up with a few incentives for you, My Future Sponsors...

A $10 donation will get you an autographed picture of...me!

A $25 donation will get you an autographed copy of my EP, The Trouble With Fiction.

A $50 donation will get you an autograhed picture, an autographed copy of The Trouble With Fiction and a poster.

And ANY donation will make you feel all warm and fuzzy because you'll know you've done a good thing.

READY TO GET YOUR SPONSOR ON? Click here!

Next weekend it's 7 miles! Wish me luck.

Til next time with lots of love,

Rebekah"

[Lynne]

I know I'm hogging this thread    BUT it occurred to me that it's not very polite for me to be shamelessly quoting from Rebekah's newsletter without so much as a by-your-leave.

SO...I sent her (rather, her management) an email:

I am writing to let you know that I am working to actively promote Rebekah's marathon training and fundraising on a website that I help moderate.

The website is www.bettermost.net/forum.  We are a group of people who came together because we were profoundly affected by the movie 'Brokeback Mountain' and are motivated to make changes in our own lives based on some of the messages of that movie.  Obviously, conversations about other 'gay-themed' movies have occurred; I learned about Rebekah and her music after viewing 'Latter Days.'

Some of us are planning a trip to Alberta (where Brokeback Mountain was filmed) and Rebekah's training is serving as another source of inspiration for us.

This is a link to the specific thread on the forum.  You may need to be a registered member to access it, but that is a quick process.

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php?topic=4568.msg95334#msg95334

If Rebekah has the time, we would love it if she could visit and maybe leave a personal post.  Regardless, I'm sure you'll be seeing some donations from our membership.

Thank you and best wishes for this worthy endeavor,
Lynne Steele

Sound OK?  I hope she does drop by!!!

[Shakesthecoffecan]

That would be so cool if she did, she was brilliant in Latter Days. I think I am going to have to buy that one for me permanent collection.

[Lynne]

OK...so I am absolutely stunned at what I just found in my Inbox.  Now that my heart has stopped pounding and I have caught my breath, let me share it with you.  (I don't think she'll mind because it contains links to her myspace site and the marathon donation page).  Clearly, I'll be replying with gratitude and an invitation that she may post here - anytime and anywhere. -Lynne
--------------------------------------------------
Hello Lynne,

Rebekah Jordan here. First off, what a wonderful forum you have!

Thank you SO much for posting and promoting my marathon training and fundraising for AIDS. I was terrified to sign up for the marathon. If you read my first blog about it on myspace, I wrote that I do not run unless someone is chasing me. lol. But I decided to tell people so I would have to be accountable. And one way to do so is through writing emails and a blog. I have been pleasantly surprised at how encouraging people are. Even if they can't contribute financially, the "you can do it!" messages are so encouraging.

But yes, donations would be great too! Not only have I never done a marathon, but I've never done fundraising, never been involved in a charity or cause. But this one just got to me. I went to the info meeting and my heart just said yes, I want to help. I want to challenge myself to help. And I am willing to sacrifice my weekend mornings and go through a little bit of physical pain if it means somebody's life will be just a bit sweeter. Just imagine if we all went that extra mile for someone other than ourselves, how much less suffering there would be in this world. I live in Los Angeles and I am in a field of work where it is so easy to be self-obsessed and self-absorbed. And really, what are we here for, what do our lives mean if we never touch or help someone else? Even if it's just one person.

So I truly truly appreciate your forum and the spirit behind it. And I am so happy you've let people know about the Aids Marathon. Even if they don't donate on my runner page, maybe they will be inspired to do something else, to make a difference in their own way, as you were writing about considering the walk.

So yes, I'd be happy to post on your forum. Maybe next week? Let me know when.

In the meantime here is the link to my Myspace blog:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&Mytoken=8F24535E-3C61-4E3F-BDB584E332FD16F029513139

and you already have the link to my donor page but here it is again...

http://aidsmarathon.com/participant.asp?runner=LA-2411&EventCode=LA07

Let me know when you'd like me to post!

Hope your week is going well.

Cheers,

Rebekah Jordan

[Front-Ranger]

What a cool message!

[Lumière]

Wow .. was that message really from Rebecca?? 
I loved her in Latter Days!!  And what a beautiful voice ..!

[Lynne]

Wow .. was that message really from Rebecca?? 
I loved her in Latter Days!!  And what a beautiful voice ..!

It sure was!  I was thrilled.  She registered for an account here, so we now just have to lure her into posting!  She said it was cool for me to keep posting her marathon progress...I'm hoping that they'll motivate me and others in this whole 'getting into decent shape for Alberta' 

And then, once we get to be good friends, maybe she can tell us how to lure Wes and Steve here!! 

[Lumière]

And then, once we get to be good friends, maybe she can tell us how to lure Wes and Steve here!! 

That would be ..  ..great!! 

I checked out Rebekah's website, I am going to be getting her CD soon hopefully! 

[Lynne]

I checked out Rebekah's website, I am going to be getting her CD soon hopefully! 

Terrific!  I should be getting mine soon b/c I donated.  We'll have to compare our impressions when they arrive.  And bonus is that the donation was tax deductible!

[Lynne]

Here's the latest from Rebekah's blog on how her marathon training is progressing!  I'm very very proud of her!!  The underlines are mine...

No that is not a typo. I did 10 miles last weekend as part of my Marathon Training. That's so crazy to me that I think it bears repeating. 10 Miles!!!! I'm in shock. And so are my legs. I've developed pain in places I didn't even know could hurt. And I have a newfound appreciation for stretching. Oh how it takes the pain away. So does wine, but that's another story.

And let's take a moment of silence to thank my new running shoes, without whom I surely would have collapsed. What a difference a shoe makes. Much gratitude to the salesguy at Top to Top who scrutinized my feet so closely that it was borderline uncomfortable. I mean shouldn't we have had dinner first? Thanks Donald!

I was dreading facing 10 miles the whole week. For some reason the idea of it, double digits and all, had taken on huge proportions in my head. 10 seemed like Mt. Everest. Oh yeah, and I missed the week before when we were supposed to run 9 miles. So I was behind in terms of distance logged. I had visions of myself crawling on the side of the road, clutching my water bottle in agony.

The night before was the night we turned the clocks back and I was so paranoid about over or under sleeping that I barely slept at all. I kept opening my eyes, wondering when there would be light, when it would be morning. Morning finally came. And here's where I get cheesy. Because it was a beauteous morning. Unexpected like a gift.
 
And perfect, I swear. It was cold, but the sky was all baby blue, dotted with puffy clouds, the sun was kind of winking at me, and it really felt like anything was possible, like I just might be able to do the unthinkable: run 10 miles and not need hospitalization afterwards.

Though I started to think that a hospital might be a nice place to be around mile 8, I also knew that I was only 2 miles away from finishing, that I'd come so far already, and that I had to keep going, leg cramps be damned. And so I did, we did, me and the people in my pace group. I developed newfound love for my pace group that day. We really did get through it together. Yes I'm real Kumbaya right now, somebody light a campfire and break out a marshmallow. But it felt really significant when we finished. We felt strong and proud, like we'd let the day have it! 

I've considered the power of that moment a lot since Sunday because I've had a challenging week. My "step" sister passed away unexpectedly, she was only 28. When something like that happens, you find yourself  asking "why"?  And there's no answer really. So i'm thinking that maybe a better question is "how"? How can we make sure the people in our lives know how much they mean to us? How can we make our own lives mean more? For these questions I think there are answers. And for me, training for this marathon is one of them.

She planned on picking her 5 year old son up from school that day, and never made it. She was epileptic and had a seizure. So hard trying to wrap my brain around it but nothing is promised to us beyond the moment we are in.

For those of you who've been keeping up with my blog, you know I'm doing my training through the National Aids Marathon program for the upcoming L.A. Marathon in March. The program helps the men, women and children who already have AIDS, it helps make the moments they have left just a little more bearable, just a little brighter. I have to raise $1500 by December 4 or I'll have to withdraw from the program and stop training. But I'm halfway there (!) thanks to your generosity. If you're reading this and haven't donated, I hope that you will. Together we can do a small thing that might make a world of difference. (and my leg cramps won't have been in vain!)  Feel free to pass this on to friends and strangers.

No donation is too small or too great.

http://aidsmarathon.com/participant.asp?runner=LA-2411&EventCode=LA07

This weekend I have a date with 12 miles. I think I'll wear something cute.

Til next time with lots of love,
Rebekah

[Lynne]

Bumping in honor of World AIDS Day.  Thanks to dot-matrix fo reminding me!

[Lynne]

An excerpt from an email I received from Rebekah!  "Woohoo!", indeed!

"Saturday we did 17 miles. I can't believe I did it. I am going to write a new blog later today and post to your message board hopefully as well (finally!) It's getting hard making the time to train properly and doing that balancing act that is life. So I'm really glad I haven't gotten injured. But there just aren't enough hours in the day anymore!

You'll be glad to know I'm only $100 away from the fundraising goal/minimum.  Woohoo!"

For people living in the LA area, her band is playing their final show of the year on Thursday, December 7 (flyer attached).

Thanks for your support,
Lynne

[Lynne]

(Another update from Rebekah - bold and font color are mine )  I am SO proud of her!

Hi Friends and Sponsors! Here's my every so often marathon training update. This past Saturday we did...drum roll please....17 Miles!..in a row!...non-stop! Stop the presses, call CNN! Isn't this more newsworthy than Lindsay Lohan going to AA Meetings? (Yes that made the papers...which certainly takes the "anonymous" out of Alcoholics Anonymous, but I digress) Okay, back to the accomplishment at hand...

17 Miles...can you believe it?? I can't believe it either. In fact, shortly thereafter, I think I went into some sort of weird shock. I was fine at first. I hung out with some of the other runners at our little meeting site, eating peanut butter and jelly squares and basking in our after run glory. I was totally (and surprisingly) fine. And then I got in my car. Suddenly, I was completely delusional driving home. My apologies to anyone else on the road that day, yes that was me you were honking at. And once I got home, I had the worst pain in my hip, I seriously felt a newfound appreciation for my grandmother. I would have given anything for a walker. Walking, sitting, breathing... it was all painful. I got chills and then I felt hot and feverish. I was light-headed and had a headache. And then for some unknown reason I cried for about 5 minutes. Eventually I fell asleep. And what a sleep it was.

Now all my pain has been replaced with what can only be described as an extended euphoric runner's high not only because I accomplished 17 miles, which is about 15 miles more than I would have ever imagined doing (and now only 9.2 miles less than the actual Marathon of 26.2!) but also because...another drum roll maestro...I'm only $100 shy of the fundraising goal!!!

That's right! Thanks to all your generosity, I have raised almost $1400 to help people living with AIDS!! Woohoo! **do happy dance,  insert big band, ed mcmahon with confetti here**

Your donations and encouraging messages really helped me through the run on Saturday. In fact, I am convinced it was your support that kept me going at miles 13, 14, and 15. My body was trying to pull a mutiny. But my heart thought of all of you, and of all the people we are potentially helping...men, women and children, many of whom have  no one to turn to. And I kept on. And I did not quit. So now here we are, the marathon is 3 months, 9.2 miles, and $100 in donations away.

I'm ready if you are. I can and will finish, with your help. Shall we?

http://aidsmarathon.com/participant.asp?runner=LA-2411&EventCode=LA07

HERE TO GET ME TO THE FINISH LINE!

Guess who's coming to dinner in 2 weeks? 20 Miles!! I'll write more then.

Oh and for those of you in L.A., come say hi and share a song this Thursday night, December 7th. Its our final show of the year at  Genghis Cohen at 8pm (genghiscohen.com)

Love, love, love,
Rebekah

myspace.com/rebekahjordan
myspace.com/dreamingferns

[Lumière]

Wow Lynne - Thanks so much for all these updates!
I haven't been to Rebekah's blog in a while .. I got some catching up to do.
Thanks for the updates ..


I have this idea of throwing little parties at my place every so often, invite some friends and raise some money to donate for this cause.  I am going to do that for my birthday next year, instead of gifts for me, they can bring a little donation.  I hope I can have the first of these in January .. I am looking forward to it.   


You are right . any little bit helps!

[Lynne]

I have this idea of throwing little parties at my place every so often, invite some friends and raise some money to donate for this cause.  I am going to do that for my birthday next year, instead of gifts for me, they can bring a little donation.  I hope I can have the first of these in January .. I am looking forward to it.   

You are right . any little bit helps!

Milli,

You are most welcome!  I think that's a terrific idea!  You're really onto something there.  I'm not a fan of XMess (adrian.delmar's word) for a long list of reasons, so I usually try to do something helpful during the season.  But there's typically a dearth of volunteers, etc...the rest of the calendar year.  So here's to me finding a way to make myself useful in April this year also!

Lynne

[Br. Patrick]

So, this week while I was spending $$$ at amazon.com buying things I didn't really need like the sheet music to Brokeback Mountain, an unrated copy of Latter Days (and its score), the Donnie Darko score (well, you get the picture)....

Hey Lynne, I have the sheet music for Brokeback Mountain too!  I was really disapointed that it didn't include any of Gustavo's instrumentals.  I can read the treble clef and I play the keyboards by ear.  Chords, etc.   My goal with this sheet music is to learn the Bass Clef especially for my THEME SONG, "The Maker Makes".  I await "Latter Days".  I need more exercise too!  I have Media Center 2005 on my PC and I remote control everything from my bed.   Not the best place to lose weight!!

[Lumière]

The unrated Latter Days movie? 
Why don't I know about this ...??

*scrambles off to amazon, tripping over everything in my way*


Edit to add:

Ok.. Phew .. turns out the version I own is the Unrated version .. just checked on amazon! 

[Lynne]

The unrated Latter Days movie? 
Why don't I know about this ...??

*scrambles off to amazon, tripping over everything in my way*


Edit to add:

Ok.. Phew .. turns out the version I own is the Unrated version .. just checked on amazon! 

Milli - you slay me

[Lynne]

I just checked Rebekah's Marathon info and she's up to 23 miles!

Yee-Haw!

[Lynne]

And after 22 weeks of training, Rebekah is running 26 miles!!!

Makes me feel like going to the gym and doing that half-mile I do once in awhile 
You, go, Rebekah!

 

[Lynne]

THE MARATHON IS HERE...7 Days and Counting!!!!

   
So I will try to restrain my desire to use my keyboard's exclamation point character too liberally, but.....Can you believe it?!!!! It's here!!!!!The Los Angeles Marathon is NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 4th, 2007!!!! 

And I, Rebekah am doing it!!!! I'll admit the holidays got me off track, all the food (and drink), going to Mexico, moving, working  (um, like 4 jobs), then there was the flu I caught last month. Not pretty at all that flu. But here I am, a week away. And I'm gonna do it!!!

First I want to thank you for your generous donations. I am so grateful for all your support. I, through your compassionate giving,  have raised $1550 for people living with AIDS in Los Angeles. (Insert Fireworks Here, do a Happy Dance). I remember 6 months ago when we started. Yes, it was 6 months ago. For those of you who know me and my fear of commitment, aren't you impressed? Does this mean I am growing up? Ha! But 6 months ago, the idea of fundraising was just as daunting to me as the marathon itself. But we did it.

And so it is, the marathon is 7 days away. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I am terrified. Like horror movie, scared. But I am also excited. And I know that I will meet the challenge. If I have to crawl over that finish line, I will cross it.

What an undertaking though. Sometimes I wonder, what was I thinking??  I'm not a runner!! But I have met some wonderful people, had lots of laughs, a few tears, many aches and pains, and an all around good time training for this. And I have learned a lot about what we think we are capable of. And how so many of our perceived obstacles are just that, perceived. Mental. Sometimes nothing is stopping us but ourselves. Fear is a powerful thing. I'll paraphrase one of my  favorite quotes ever: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important."

And I've decided that improving the lives of people with AIDS, and challenging my own personal and physical boundaries, is more important than being afraid. As far as I know, I've got this one life. So why not try new things? Why not brave new territory? Why not run the freaking marathon? And why not help other people in the process?

Okay, so this week we have to take it easy in terms of our training program. We have to eat lots and lots of carbs (yay!) and we have to also drink lots of water and gatorade. Gatorade is a funny thing. I used to think it taste like bland Koolade. Why bother having different flavors when they all suck? But somewhere in my delirium during and after the long runs, I became a convert. I swear it did replenish me a bit. So big up to Gatorade, you're alright by me.

This weekend in downtown L.A. is the big Marathon Expo. This is where I go to get my official running bib and timing chip. (!) This is how amazing technology is. This little chip goes on my running shoe and tracks my time. You'll even be able to track me online. I'll write again when I get the chip with the details for how to do that. You should be able to go the Los Angeles Marathon Website and either type in my bib number or my runner name (Rebekah Jordan) and find me on the course. Crazy right? A note of caution: don't be alarmed if you see the little computerized dot that is me veer off to the side or stop/stall on the course, I'm just working it out. I'll start moving 
again ;-)

Well I'm exhausted, long week. We did 8 miles today. It was bittersweet because today was our last run of the training program.  But it was also great because they made pancakes (and sausage!) for everyone at the end of it. Seriously, the Aids Marathon Training Program is amazing. They have taken such great care of us and told us all along that we can do it. But you can't hear that enough. And as the days get closer to Sunday, I'm sure my fear will get stronger some times, so I'd love it if some of you could just send me an email, or a message on Myspace. Just something encouraging. I will think of you all at some point during the marathon (probably when I see my life flash before me at around mile 24). And I will think of your messages, your donations, your encouragement, and it will motivate me to keep going.

So like I mentioned, I'll write again with the details on how to track me next Sunday. And then I'll write again after the marathon to let you all know how great it was. (positive thinking, positive thinking) Thank you all for sharing this with me. Truly.

Love,
Rebekah

[Lynne]

To 'complete' this project, here is the last post I received from Rebekah.  I feel truly honored that I was able to have a small part in supporting her in this worthy endeavor!  I'm very proud of her and her accomplishments.  If I lived on the left coast, I'd sign up for one of these marathon training sessions myself!!!

It's official. Sunday, March 4th, 2007 I completed the Los Angeles Marathon!!! Thank you for your encouragement over these last six months. And thank you so much for your generous donations to some of the men, women and children living with AIDS. I would have written sooner but I was quite frankly exhausted, my entire body sore in ways and places I've never even imagined. It's been awesome to sit with this accomplishment for a bit, savoring it, letting it sink in.

The week before was pretty nerve-wracking. During the day I would alternate between excitement and terror, between "I'm gonna let that marathon have it!" and "Oh my god, I'm gonna die!". I wanted to go to bed early every night, but it never worked out that way. I kept getting busy. When I'd finally make it to bed, sleep came in fragments and pieces, never whole.  As I mentioned in my last update, this was the week of "carbo-loading". And I certainly didn't let anybody down in that area, oh I did my part and then some.

The morning of the marathon I woke at 4:30am. Yikes, I know. We (the Aids Marathon trainees, soon to be finishers) had all agreed to meet downtown where the marathon ends, park our cars there, and take the Metro to Universal City where the marathon begins. Those of you who know me well know I am time-challenged. We were supposed to meet between 5:30 and 6am. Rushing to my car in the 5:20am darkness I tripped on the curb and almost snapped my ankle. There had been an eclipse the night before. The moon was big, full and overwhelming. It looked a little scary. For a moment I panicked. What kind of crazy sign was this? And also, now my ankle hurt. I decided that it didn't hurt at all, after all I wasn't even in my car yet. I still had 26.2 miles to do. This big bad moon better get with the program and take my side. Yes, facing a marathon will do strange things to you, even make you question celestial objects.

Okay, so I get downtown, find my peeps and we hop on our Metro train. We get to Universal and I began to wonder, how many other people are doing this marathon? I started to get some sense of the answer as I stood in line for 40 minutes to use a porta-potty.  That's right, a porta-potty. They were in rows of like 20 or 30 in various locations.  Hundreds, no thousands of people who'd been carbo loading and with nervous stomaches, were all vying for some private time. One of the women runners, clearly a genius, had the foresight to bring matches. A moment of silent thanks that yours truly got to go in the porta-potty after her because the faces of some of the less fortunate upon entering/exiting other potties will haunt me for some time. Nobody should have to smell such things before their first marathon.

We went to take our places for the start. Then we saw exactly how many runners there were. A lot!! I hear the number was around 25,000. All I know is, it felt massive and incredible to be standing in the middle of so many people, all committed to one  goal. When the gun was shot to trigger the start, we got emotional.  This "thing" we'd been working toward was finally here. And it was real. Hilariously, we couldn't start running at first, we waited and watched as the runners way ahead of us started to move. From our distance and vantage point, their heads were tiny dots bobbing up and down, part of a long ribbon of dots that we were also a part of. It was like a slow motion wave. We got ready. And then finally, we were off.

Marathon inside info: 25,000 people would have a bit of difficulty all crossing the start line at the exact same time, the fastest projected runners meaning the Kenyans (you know it's true!) and whoever else is genetically superior line up first, followed by the normal people like us, this is why you have a chip attached to your shoe. The chip records your actual running time. It doesn't start recording until you cross the start line. It doesn't stop until you cross the finish. Throughout the course at various spots, you cross over these orange foamy boards. The boards trigger your chip which will then beep to record that you are still running and didn't hop in a cab or something.

The first half of the marathon was pretty leisurely. We got our groove on as we ran past some of the live music stops. (break dancers at mile 4 dancing to Michael Jackson's "Beat it"...right on!) We ran through the most diverse neighborhoods, through Hollywood, Hancock Park, Koreatown, Crenshaw, passing neighbors of every color and creed. I was and still am moved by the kindness, the generosity and the spirit of everyone. Total strangers were yelling "Come on Rebekah!, You can do it Rebekah!". Near Crenshaw I got a "Looking good, Ma!" (aww, you gotta love the brothers hitting on me even when I'm sweaty) Little kids cheered from the sidelines, everybody was offering you water, fruit, and a big smile.

But then the heat kicked in. The temperature eventually got up to around 85 which is nice if you're on the beach with a daiquiri, but absolutely horrible if you're running a marathon. Apparently global warming is real, I mean isn't it supposed to be spring? Why did it feel like we were in Jamaica? I took to dumping cups of water over my head and drinking Gatorade at almost every odd mile. But I was still hot and exhausted by the time I got to mile 19. I'd never even done 19 miles before. And I honestly felt like I couldn't do 7.2 more. My feet hurt so bad, my head hurt, I had fallen behind a few of my running buddies and was alone.

Then a woman, a fellow runner from the aids program started running with me. We stayed together the entire way. I made myself focus on one mile at a time, one minute at a time even. My right leg started  to cramp like crazy at about mile 21. But I was scared if I stopped to stretch I'd never start running again. So I would massage it  during our walk breaks (every 2 minutes). And I thought as long as I can crawl, I'll finish. But turns out no crawling was necessary.

At around mile 23 we crossed the bridge into downtown Los Angeles.  I almost started to cry. I knew I was going to make it. I'd come this far, how could I stop with only 3.2 miles to go? And I remembered that my car was parked downtown. The only way for me to get home was to finish! (Smart, right?) I didn't let myself cry, tears take energy, and I needed all that I could get. I was lightheaded and gimpy, my run had turn into an elderly person's shuffle, but I was getting there little by little.

We turned a corner and we could see in the distance a big banner that read "Mile 26". I cannot describe the elation. Tired as I was, suddenly I had energy. I knew my family and my boyfriend were waiting at Mile 26. Seeing their faces and hearing their cheers made me run all the way to the end.  And just before I crossed the finish line I took my ponytail out (no reason not to look cute) and I put my hands up in victory and yelled "WOOAH!!! We DID It!!" I've never been more proud. I saw a few other runners I'd come to know over the course of our training.  We hugged, cried, laughed and limped our way over to the tent where our families were.

I will always always remember that day, that feeling and all of you who shared this with me. Thank you with all my heart. Below is a picture of me and new best friend forever, My MEDAL baby!