In this guest entry to our Special Edition Marathon Blog we’d like to further introduce you to our two ½ marathon team captains, Vicky and Moises Diaz. As fellow GBI patients, the Diaz’s are looking forward to sharing their healthy weight loss journey as well as a 13.1 mile victory with each team member! Read on to hear more from Vicky and Moises.
Happy Training!
GBI
Vicky
My name is Vicky Diaz, and I am married to Moises, my love of over 17 years, my strength in my weakest moments, and my “WHIP” on those days when I just don’t want to exercise, and that used to be NEVER!!! Ha!
In November of 2010 I attended a seminar held by the Gastric Bypass Institute and it showed me that I was on my way to being morbidly obese. That month I began a 6 month mandatory training on how to be mindful of nutrition. I was weighing 291lbs.
By June 9, 2011, I had already lost approximately 15 lbs (the recommended amount necessary for the surgery, according to my insurance). Today, August 16, 2011, (2 months and 7 days later), I weigh 240lbs. To say it has been easy would be a lie, but my life has changed drastically these past few months. The day Dr. Atkinson performed the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy became a day that I will always celebrate. It has given me a new lease in life. Ever since that day, I have continuously lost pound after pound and I feel free, light and capable of conquering the world.
Today, I am looking to walk in the Las Vegas Half Marathon, something I would have never thought I could do. In the past, exercise was not a priority in my life. Today it is; especially with Moises by my side, (hence the name “THE WHIP”). When I heard that Prudence was leaving GBI, Moises and I volunteered to head up the half marathon team. We had never done anything like this, but we felt that we could be an inspiration to all of the people, who like us, had never thought about exercising or much less walking in a marathon. I was always the one with excuses, never making time for me, always taking care of others before taking care of myself. Today, I come first, and it feels good.
We are very excited to be part of this group. I am enjoying the thinner me and I am looking forward to reaching my goal slowly but surely. Weight loss has not become an obsession, I don’t obsess about things, but I have made me my #1 priority.
~Vicky
Moises
My name is Moises Diaz, and I am Vicky’s husband.
My classes began one month after Vicky started the program. Because of my determination, I had lost approximately 80 lbs on my own by the time my surgery was scheduled. Many people (including my insurance) thought that I did not need the surgery, but as you all know, once I started eating again I would put the weight back on, as I had in the past several times. I knew I needed the final “tool” to control my disease.
On August 1, 2011, Dr. Atkinson performed my Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. That first week I lost 18 lbs.Today, my wife and I began training for the ½ marathon that will take place on December 4, 2011.
It is going to be exciting to be part of something of this magnitude. Especially for Vicky who isn’t one to exercise much; but I am pushing her (gently) and she is doing great. I have always been inclined to sports so it comes in easier for me, I love riding my bike, hiking and I enjoy walking and exercising, especially Kick Boxing, Zumba and working out with Shawn T videos like “Hip Hop Abs”. I don’t have a six pack yet, but I know that soon, I will.
I am looking forward to the training with the Gastric Bypass Group. It may take us the entire 4 hours to cross that finish line at the Las Vegas Marathon, but together, we will make it.
~ Moises
We look forward to the training season and getting to know each of you!
Whether you are making the decision to join the 2011 GBI Marathon Team for your first, second or third half marathon or you are just coming to walk your first mile, it can be a little scary. The idea of participating and completing such an amazing feat is exciting, however; the fear of whether you can actually complete the full course may sometimes creep in. All you need to know is that with the proper education, proper training and support, you can do it! The first step is to make the decision and sayyes to something new and exciting. Whether you decide to walk or do a walk/run the Las Vegas Rock ‘n Roll HalfMarathonis an amazing experience to be a part of!
Keep in mind that each member of Team GBI is encouraged to set their own personal goal; a goal that is fitting for their body and fitness level. Last year, we had a patient join the team that had no intention of actually participating in the half marathon. Rather, he had the personal goal of just being able to walk. He started with a quarter mile and worked his way up to five miles. He didn’t imagine that he could ever walk five miles again, but he did!
According to another marathon runner and motivational speaker, Matt Jones, there are three points of focus that can help you achieve anything in life:
1.Visualize Your Victory
2.Take Action
3.Check Your Attitude
Matt is a man who had to learn how to walk again after becoming a three time cancer survivor. Read more about his motivation for training here: http://www.matthewdjones.com/life.pdf
If you make the decision to be apart of the GBI Half Marathon Team we will assist you with all three focus areas along the way to give you the support that you need – not to mention many amazing relationships can be built in the process of the training!
The idea is to choose your own victory and be apart of the team that can help inspire others to do things they once thought was impossible! We look forward to seeing you at orientation on Monday, August 15th at 6pm in the GBI Seminar Room.
You are officially 2010 Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon Champions! Through the inspiration and dedication of each of you, every team member was able to complete the 13.1 mile course down the Las Vegas Strip.
This team is an inspiration to us all! To view additional race day photos or footage, check out our Facebook or YouTube pages.
Congrats again to each of you. We look forward to hearing of your continued fitness success.
Thank you for allowing us to be apart of your journey,
Now that you are headed into the final weeks of training, you may be interested in mixing up your training. This Thanksgiving, why not incorporate fitness into your Thanksgiving feast and check out the Las Vegas Turkey Trot: Six Tunnels to Hoover Dam. Below are the details if you are interested in registering. Act fast, because registration ends today!
When: Thursday, November 25th@ 8:00 am
Where: Lake Mead Nt’l Recreation Area
Lakeshore Drive & Hwy 93
Welcome to week 13! We are but two weeks and one group training away from our ultimate goal – the 13.1 mile Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon! While many of us have already started to envision ourselves triumphantly crossing the finish line on race day, has anyone started thinking about their after race celebration? After putting so much physical and emotional effort towards this goal, be sure to setup a few individual rewards to acknowledge your training journey as well as your success!
Physical & Mental Recovery
Immediately following the half marathon, consider treating yourself to a little rest and relaxation. Plan time for a lukewarm bath or shower after the race. Add Epson Salts to your bath to help relax any sore muscles you may have. Schedule to have a foot or body massage later on in the day. (Remember that your muscles will already be stretched out and possibly sore so the massage will need to be gentle.) Take time to reflect upon your weeks of training and even nap once you are home.
Celebrate!
Remember that after achieving a goal such as a half marathon, you are entitled to a celebration as well as bragging rights! You might start out by displaying your race medal around your neck for the remainder of the day. Consider wearing it to work on Monday as well in order to share your success with your coworkers! Think about treating yourself to a race day souvenir (marathon shirt, keychain, etc.) or plan to celebrate with a new pair of training shoes or even a new outfit. Plan a marathon after party with friends and family (consider hosting the event the week after the marathon to allow yourself time to recover).
Continue to Stay Active
Finally, reward all of your hard work and dedication by continuing to stay healthy and physically active! While the intensity of your walks or other trainings may taper down, try to maintain a consistent workout schedule. Plan to meet up with other team members or your training partner to stay motivated. You may also consider signing up for future marathons or runs down the road!
How will you celebrate and reward yourself after crossing the finish line on December 5th? Share your plans by commenting below!
This week we are nearing our second to last Sunday group training. As our training is tapering down and race day is nearing, we challenge you to look back at how far you’ve come and be inspired by your progress and dedication.
Recognizing the countless miles already behind you can give you that extra push as you lace up your sneakers and head towards the starting line on December 5th!
Check out how far you’ve come by viewing some of this year’s marathon videos we’ve created.
August 26, 2010
Watch our introductory team meeting video as a refresher on your clothing, shoes and what to expect on race day!
October 6, 2010
Check out our “Behind-the-Scenes” commercial shoot with your very own Becky and Jason as they become TV stars in our Marathon inspired TV spot.
October 26, 2010
View Mitzi’s story about why she decided to join this year’s GBI Marathon Team!
November 7, 2010
Check out Sazzy as she participates in a 10 mile long practice run in preparation for the Marathon. See how she get’s inspiration through the support of her friends and family!
Do you remember how you felt at the initial team meeting? How about at halfway point of the training schedule? Now, after weeks of successful training, how do you feel? More excited? Stronger? Motivated?
Please share your training memories, tips and or inspirational messages with the team by commenting below!
Congratulations on your training thus far! There are three more weeks until race day, so we wanted to share with you some tips to help you have a great experience during your road race. While most avid marathon runners like to see new runners participating in the experience, they have their own set of pet peeves when it comes to the behavior of other beginner runners. So, to avoid any mishaps here are a few tips to consider!
Be Sure to Line Up Properly
When registering to run, the website prompted you to estimate your pace which then determines what coral you will ultimately be placed in. Since you’ve been training for months you may notice that you are pacing faster or slower than you originally anticipated. When you attend the Expo and receive your informational packet and running number you will be able to change your estimated completion time which in turn will reassign your coral. Typically faster runners start up at the front of the starting line, while more moderately paced runners start farther back. The Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon uses timing chips that you place on your shoes so the time doesn’t start until you reach the starting line.
Try Not to Jingle
When participating in the actual ½ marathon try not to carry loose change or keys in your pockets. They may provide additional noise and distractions for other runners on the road.
Be Mindful of your Running Space
If you’re running with a group, try not to run more than two people across so that other people can pass your team.
Remember to Give Appreciation to the Volunteers and Sideline Supporters
Be mindful to say “Thanks” to the race volunteers who provide water, assist at the sidelines and ultimately provide you with your metal. They help make sure this huge event can accommodate so many participants! Also, give a shout out to all the sideline supporters who are cheering for you as you walk or run by. They are often the encouragement that’s needed to get to the finish line!
Use Caution at the Water Stations and Restrooms
The water stations and restrooms tend to be crowded as everyone is in a hurry to finish the race. Try to make sure you don’t cut off other runners. TIP: Don’t go to the first table at the water stop, it’s going to be congested. Keep running and stop at one of the tables down the line. Also, try (if they have them) a table on the left hand side of the track. Most runners are right handed and use the tables on the right.
Finish Line Frenzy
Many people are tempted to make a quick stop at the finish line. Remember that other runners may be behind you. If you can, keep going until its safe to stop and receive your metal!
If you’ve participated in a ½ marathon before, feel free to share your race day tips here on our blog!
As many of you may know, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon has a four hour time limit. This limit is set in order to make sure participants are safely through the course and off the road once traffic resumes. In the coming weeks, let’s be sure to keep this timeframe in mind but also not let it result in any unnecessary pressure. Consider working on your individual goal pace now in order to have it set by race day.
Minutes Per Mile One of the most common ways to pace a course is by setting a per mile goal. If this is your chosen strategy, consider giving yourself a little more time for the last few miles. For example, you may challenge yourself to start out with a 15 minute per mile pace for the first six miles and then finish up the course with a 20 minute per mile pace. Note this pace may not be a fit for you – be sure to break up the course and per mile time goal according to your individual level.
Map Your Course Mentally dividing the course into sections can assist you in keeping your pace and add boosts of motivation. Review the course map and note the mile markers, water stations, band/entertainment booths and landmarks that can be utilized to help monitor your pace. For example, you might pick the 3rd water station as a goal marker for 30 minutes and the 4th Street band location as your goal marker for two hours. You may also work with your race day support team to strategically spread out over the 13.1 mile course. Plan for your friends and family to be waiting at a mile marker that you anticipate you’ll pass after a certain amount of time.
No matter how you choose to break it down, calculating your goal pace for our half marathon is a fundamental step in your training. Whether you plan to complete each mile in a predetermined amount of time, track your pace with passing Strip landmarks or utilize a different technique, we encourage you to prepare yourself mentally by planning ahead!
What is your goal pace and how do you plan to track it? Share your strategy by commenting below!
Three more weeks to go before the big race on December 5th! During these last few weeks it’s time to start recruiting your friends and family to help support you on race day. Their presence on the sidelines cheering you on will be extremely helpful as you make your way down the Las Vegas strip. Here are a few tips to help your friends and family to have the most successful sideline party!
Friends and Family Spectator Prepration:
1. Signage – Have a pre-race day party to help your friends and family prepare some fun inspirational signage that they can hold up along the sidelines. Use colorful sayings and words of inspiration that are meaningful to you.
2. Sign up for the electronic tracking – Be sure to have friends and family tack your progress start to finish on their mobile phones and receive text message results. Just log on to www.compeitiorwireless.com to get started. If your friends and family are tracking more than one person, follow the instructions to sign up as many people as you like.
3. Sign up for live results – Have your friends and family follow your progresses even if they are not physically able to be on the sidelines on race day. LiveResults provides exclusive coverage of every runner’s progress with times recorded at the 5K, 10K and 10-mile marks for all runners. They will also have times recorded at the 13.1. Updates are sent to LiveResults every 60 seconds. Just click on the LiveResults bug on the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll website http://las-vegas.competitor.com. For more information about LiveResults click here: http://las-vegas.competitor.com/event-info/details/#runnertracking#ixzz14iKluO29.
4. Dress up – Create friends and family t-shirts to wear on the sidelines. Be creative, and have them include your weight loss success!
5. Finish line gift – At the finish line, runners will receive a nice hefty metal when they complete the marathon, but a nice bouquet of flowers is always appreciated!
6. Family Reunion - A friends and family reunion will be located within the Finish Line Festival, and labeled with tall alphabet signs (A – Z). Plan to meet your family and friends at a pre-determined letter.
7. Lastly, be sure to share the Spectator Information from the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon website so they can be prepared the morning of the big race. Please use the link below: http://las-vegas.competitor.com/promo/spectator-information/.
Feel free to share any successful sideline support tips of your own in the comments section below!
Congratulations on making it to the tenth week of training! Over the next few weeks we’ll start to taper our training as we get closer to race day. Many people training for a marathon for the first time do not realize the importance of tapering your training as race day approaches. By reducing your long run during the file two weeks prior to training is very important so that your body will feel recovered from previous workouts and be rested for the main event – the Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll half marathon!
Below please find some physical and psychological tools to prepare yourself for race day and help your tapering process.
Physical Preparation
Keep in mind these tips to physically prepare your body for race day during the tapering phase of training:
- Reduce distance and the intensity of your long runs during the last two weeks of training.
- A couple weeks prior to the race begin more frequent stretching.
- Clip long toenails in preparation for race day.
Psychological Preparation
Your mental state is just as important as your physical state of mind when training for a marathon. Consider implementing these tips during the tapering phase of training:
- Read books, magazine articles or other materials that will provide you with the motivation and inspiration your mind is requiring at the time.
- Try to eliminate stress before the race. Remember it’s normal to feel nervous before the race; however, you want to control the stress level before it gets overbearing.
- Remove yourself from spending time with participants who are extremely stressed out or are negative.
Remember to think about the goals you would like to accomplish! Deciding to train for the Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll ½ Marathon is a huge undertaking and you should feel very proud of yourself for the training you’ve already put forth.
