Marathon Tracking

Everyone has been asking about the GPS tracking while I was running. I want to give a big thanks to the MyAthlete GPS tracking company for allowing me to use their product for this run. Check out their website for more info: http://www.myathletegps.com/index.html

The device was tiny and was used on a race belt. It was very light. In fact, it felt like I was wearing my Ipod, so I didn't notice it at all. It was attached to the race belt that I also attached my race bib to, so it was not an excess accessory. Since many people who had supported the campaign, and donors, wanted to follow the race, but could not attend the actual race, MyAthlete GPS was very useful. People were able to follow me as I ran and keep track of my pace and progress throughout the race. For those who went to see me at Napa, they were able to use the tracking to see my location and they could drive from intersection to intersection to cheer me on throughout the race. This was extremely helpful, because a marathon is very long and towards the end, to see some familiar faces encouraging you was very refreshing and motivating. When people noticed that something happened and I slowed down, they drove to the nearest intersection to check up on me and to pump up my spirits.

On a personal note, looking back at the race, I was able to download the information from the GPS to see my pace and speed and analyze my run.

Overall, this device was helpful for everyone to keep track of me during the run. Definitely made this a more interactive experience.

Marathon Report

Dear supporters of Upward Bounce,

I just wanted to give an update and report on the marathon. This was a bittersweet day. First of all, the weather was perfect and it ended up being a beautiful day in Napa. I have never received so much support and enjoyed a race like this one.

Well, I was feeling awesome and was moving very fast. I was on pace to shatter the record and finish in under 3:20. My shoulders were never tired or sore during the entire time, which was surprising. I was moving very well for 14 miles. In fact, we were a bit curious, so we counted in one mile, I dribbled around 500 times (so do the math and you can estimate how many times I dribbled that 9 lb. ball today). At mile 14, I was still feeling very strong and everyone on the course was inspiring and pushing me. At the aid station at mile 14, I slipped on the wet floor and when I caught myself, I heard a loud pop come from my left knee and intense pain. I tried to run it out, but went ten feet and realized I could not go. I started walking. I kept dribbling with hopes that maybe I could still recover soon. The pain didn't subside, and I ended up walking from miles 14-17. I was determined to at least finish, even hobbling in at a slow walk. At mile 17, my knee was numb enough that I could start a slow jog for a few miles. Even with the injury and the walking for many miles, I looked at my watch and realized that I was at mile 20 at 3 hours, and I could still possibly break the record, and I decided I had nothing to lose and went for it. I was moving fast and feeling great (besides the knee) until the mile 21 marker, when I heard another pop and stinging pain and was forced to walk again. It was at this point I saw Chris (my trainer), and he walked with me and gave me some nice words of inspiration and we walked together for a mile (I still have not stopped dribbling). It was at this point I knew I would not be able to beat the record. At mile 22, we began a slow jog together and then another friend, Dave, joined us for another mile, and then I finished the race at a faster pace. I still finished the race at 4 hours, 11 minutes, dribbling the entire time.

It was a little bittersweet. I was a little disappointed because I had the record beat easily until a freak injury at mile 14. But, the main goal of this endeavour was to raise money for the students of Stanford College Prep and to inspire people to get out and help out their communities. I had reached the main goal just by stepping on the course, record or not. This is why I kept going and hobbled the walked/hobbled the last 12 miles (and I am sure the Orthopedist will yell at me tomorrow, but oh well). Also, when we started this, the initial goal was the record that stood at 4 hours and 30 minutes (which was broken mid-way into our campaign and set at 3:48:23), so I still beat the initial goal.

It was an overwhelming feeling to see so many supporters there with signs and specially made t-shirts. It was truly special. In a way, I feel like there was no better ending to this race. The injury is painful (and knee is very swollen) and kept me from beating the record, however, it follows the message that we are trying to send, and makes it that much more special. Thanks to everyone for your support and love during the past few months. In case anyone wants to see more about the race and campaign, I am putting the links at the end of the email. Thank you for everything.

Best,

Pablo

website: http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/haas/upwardbounce

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Upward-Bounce/365120415569?ref=ts

Blog: upwardbounce.blogspot.com

KPIX Channel 5 News Story

KPIX CBS Channel 5 in San Francisco ran a story on Upward Bounce on today's 6pm newscast. Check out the link below to watch it:

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=62738@kpix.dayport.com

Marathon Details and how to follow

Dear Supporters of Upward Bounce,

As the big day approaches (this Sunday 3/7/2010) for me to dribble 26.2 miles, I wanted to share some updates, news, and ways to follow me live on Sunday. First of all, for those in the San Francisco Bay Area, KPIX CBS news (Channel 5) is going to run a mini segment on Upward Bounce today (Friday, 3/5) during their 6pm newscast. Tune in to watch the special.

For those who want to go see me run the race, look at the map on the Napa Valley Marathon website. This map shows the start and finish of the race, along with the route, and important side streets. The route will be closed off (to let runners take the road), but people can drive from side street to side street and catch me in intersections. The map has those side streets. Note that parking is limited, so careful where you park, and be ready to walk a little ways. (info on tracking me below will make it easier to see me). Make it a weekend or day, go watch, then go wine tasting (and bring me a bottle...kidding...maybe). Here is the official race website for more info: http://www.napavalleymarathon.org/

Finally, thanks to a gracious donation, I will be wearing a MyAthlete Shadow GPS device that will allow everyone to track me during the run. Here are the instructions:

Put the following link in your web browser and Iphone:
http://www.trackmyathlete.com/vemap.aspx?name=052469

Put the following link for handheld PDA/Blackberry/Palm:
www.trackmyathlete.com/pda.aspx?name=052469

The device will be on all morning. The race starts at 7 am promptly (and to break the record, I should finish before 10:48), so from there on, you will be able to track me. You will be able to see my progress, for some, might need to refresh the browser.

Check out a video that was made for the Haas Center:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ7vNBFONFA

Here is a link to the article that came out in the Daily News and San Jose Mercury:
http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_14370930?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1

If you would like to donate still, go to our website (links to the article, blog, and video can be found here as well):
http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/haas/upwardbounce

I appreciate all the support over the past couple of months. We have raised lots of money for the students of SCP and making their college dreams a reality. It's been quite the journey, but well worth it. This is just the beginning, the cause and effort must go on in order to give everyone equal opportunities for higher education.

All the best,
Pablo

The rest of the Upward Bounce team...

Meet the rest of the Upward Bounce team:

Kevin Holbrook – Kevin and I met in high school and have been close friends since. Actually, I lied. Kevin is family. Kevin is a proud alumnus of Stanford College Prep/Stanford Upward Bound. In fact, part of the reason why I wanted to partner with SCP was because I saw the success that it had with mentoring Kevin (and a couple of other close friends) during high school. When I approached Kevin with my idea and asked him if he wanted to help, he was ecstatic and instantly started networking and developing action plans.

Kevin was vital in spreading the word of Upward Bounce and also helping develop press releases. With his effort, we were able to get some press for the campaign. He was able to help us get an article written (which would eventually end up on the front page of the Daily News), and he also helped negotiate an advertisement sponsorship with Equinox Fitness, Performance Gaines, and the Daily News, which has helped raise awareness for the cause and led to many contributions for Upward Bounce. Kevin’s efforts have helped make Upward Bounce a campaign that has raised awareness and funds all across the Bay Area.

Kyle Obot – Kevin introduced me to his good friend from college, Kyle. He brought Kyle on board, and his contributions have been immense. Kyle’s ideas and knowledge on how to navigate the social networking world (Facebook, twitter, etc.) has been a huge help. Furthermore, Kyle helped spread the word and bring large crowds to our fundraiser at Mr. Smith’s. He was also integral in getting donations from businesses for our raffle at the fundraiser. Kyle’s efforts and contributions have been vital to the success of Upward Bounce.

Gen Ovalle- I have known Gen since our undergrad days at Stanford. Her enthusiasm for helping others and excitement for Upward Bounce was exhibited immediately in our meetings. She brought great ideas and was our “Facebook Guru.” She helped spread the word around the mid-Peninsula region. She would also make me delicious Chocolate Chip cookies to keep me motivated.

Yesenia Aguilera – Last but not least, my sister Yesenia. She has been a very important contributor to Upward Bounce. She has greatly helped with the fundraising, spreading the word, and helping organize the fundraisers. With her efforts, we were able to get some radio shout-outs from various DJ’s on Bay Area radio stations. She was also very important in helping send out press releases and organizing raffles and fundraisers. Her support and words of encouragement have also been a major help throughout the campaign and training.

These are only some of the Upward Bounce team members that have helped make this campaign successful. On top of their support with the campaign, they were also always constantly sending me messages, texts, calls, and emails motivating me during my training and keeping me focused. Without them, we would not have been this successful. There have been so many people that have helped in many ways, from spreading the word, bringing people to fundraisers, giving donations, giving services, and much more. This has been a great experience and journey because of the unimaginable success that we have garnered. Thank you to everyone who has helped—it touches me deeply that there are so many people out there that want to give back to others and support a cause, such as Upward Bounce. I leave you with another quote that I live by and the Upward Bounce team believes in, in hopes that your desire to serve the community continues:

“Some people see things as they are and say, why? I dream things that never were, and say, why not?”-- RFK

Meet Upward Bounce team member: Christine Solari...

Another vital member of the Upward Bounce team is Christine Solari, Director of Stanford College Prep.

I met Christine a few years ago while I was a Tutor Coordinator for EPASA (East Palo Alto Stanford Academy), the middle school enrichment program whose graduates usually join Stanford College Prep when they reach high school. EPASA worked in close proximity and sometimes, collaboratively, with Stanford College Prep. In my time working in the Haas Center, I was able to get to know Christine and her commitment to Stanford College Prep and the students that she supports.

When I approached Christine with my idea, she was completely supportive…after she did a double-take on my email and needed assurance that I was serious. From the start, she devoted much time of her busy schedule as the Director of SCP to help out with the campaign. Christine helped give the team the space to hold our meetings and the freedom to develop various methods of fundraising. With her experience, she was able to also refine ideas and help spread the word about the campaign to the masses. Whether it was handling the raffle at the fundraiser, spreading the word, letter writing, or joining us in interviews, Christine devoted much effort and support for Upward Bounce.

On a personal level, Christine has been the most calming and peaceful presence for the campaign. Her calm manner has calmed everyone and kept us all inspired and focused throughout the campaign. Her optimistic outlook on everything has made it a more fulfilling experience. When the team would meet after a long and stressful day of work, after difficult workouts, and we were all exhausted and stressed, we were always met with a smile and a warm welcome from Christine. This campaign’s success would not have been successful without the great support of Christine and her passion for helping the students of Stanford College Prep. Thank you Christine!

Upward Bounce team: Chris Gaines

Upward Bounce has been successful beyond imagination. As race day nears (only 8 days left), I want to take the time to thank everyone who has helped make this possible. For the next week, I will introduce vital members of the Upward Bounce team, all of whom have played an integral part behind the scenes to make this campaign successful. First off is Christopher Gaines:

Chris Gaines and I have known each other for many years. We met when we both served as camp counselors for Camp Kesem as undergrads at Stanford. At this camp, we both connected with our desires for bettering the people and communities around us and using our talents and passions to make a change. We formed a strong friendship at the camp and have continued that friendship since. Chris is a Personal Training Manager at Equinox Fitness in Palo Alto, CA. He is also the Strength and Conditioning Coach for Stanford Rugby. Check out his website: http://www.performancegaines.com/ for more information on him and his services.

Chris helped with training me for this marathon. After I approached him with my idea, he was all-in and devoted much of his time and effort to help with the training, but also the fundraising campaign. He helped develop a training plan that would best prepare me for running 26.2 miles while dribbling a basketball. I have never felt better prepared for an event like I am for this one. I owe a lot of credit to the tutelage of Chris for this one. His concentration was to get me ready but to also prevent injuries along the way. Chris has volunteered much of his time and energy to work with me in developing and adjusting my workout regiments, and conducting one or two workout sessions with me a week. His flexibility in preparing workouts that meet my changing needs has been a blessing. Whether it was a freak shoulder injury, a 10 day trip that kept me confined to training in hotels, or constant rainy weather, Chris has kept me prepared for the goal.

On top of the physical training, Chris has provided tons of encouragement and moral support. Imagine a trainer who prepares you physically, but as the day of the big event comes, he prepares you mentally for it and keeps you focused…that’s Chris. As the training went on, he constantly supported me through encouraging words. Everyday for the past week (and he plans on doing this until the day of the race), he sends me a quote and a message to keep me inspired and focused on the goal. These words of encouragement have been just as big a help for me as the physical training. I leave you with one of the quotes that he shared with me, which we both hold dear to our ideals and our focus for the past couple of months, and we hope it will guide you as well:

"Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment."

Two weeks away...

I just returned from Sojourn to the Past, a trip that retraces the Civil Rights Movement by traveling through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee and visiting important battlegrounds in the fight for equality. I spent 10 days with many teachers, speakers, and over 100 high school students in a very powerful and enriching learning experience. By learning about the past, we all learned what we needed to do in our communities to make a better future. The common theme in the trip was, “ordinary people doing extraordinary things because it was the RIGHT thing to do.” People like Minnijean Brown-Trickey and the Little Rock Nine, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and the courageous people protesting in Birmingham, Representative John Lewis and the countless marchers in Selma, and many more who fought for what they believed in and put their bodies and spirits on the line because it was the right thing to do.

I know that everyone was wondering how I was able to keep up training while traveling. Given that it snowed in Atlanta and was freezing cold and very windy everywhere else we went, I was in the hotel gyms on treadmills and bikes, and running sprints up and down long hallways, and doing intervals going up emergency stairwells. With our very busy schedule, I had to sneak out very early in the morning or go workout late at night. Sometimes when I had an hour in the middle of the day (which was rare), I sprinted into a workout or at least stretched. It was very tough, but hearing the stories of everyone we met kept me motivated.

The speakers we met and the stories we heard inspired all of us to continue to fight for social justice. Going on this trip as a high school student in 2002 inspired me to become a social studies teacher. Being able to return as a teacher and experience this along with some of my students and 100 “adopted” students from the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New York, showed me how people want to make a change. The trip was demanding of the students, but they diligently worked through the material and delved deep into the lessons. The stories impacted everyone so much, that it was rare to see a dry eye every time we met a speaker. To see the students so thirsty for knowledge and wanting to learn so much reminded me of why I decided to start Upward Bounce. I wanted to help students who have that deep desire for higher education in order to learn more, by giving them the opportunity to attend college. These students want equal opportunities, but the high costs of the application process can be too expensive for some. By raising money, we are helping students achieve their dreams. My goal has always been to break the world record; however, this has turned into something bigger than that. I knew that by me attempting such a bizarre and crazy feat, it would draw attention to the cause. People would hear about the running and dribbling, but that would only allow us to further spread the message of the need to help bring equal opportunities for higher education to students who do not have access to these opportunities.

The Civil Rights Movement was not successful because of one individual; it was the collective efforts of thousands, even millions, of individuals who brought about change. With a collective effort in donating (even a little bit), we can help more students reach their dreams. All we need to do is get them to college, and they will flourish when they arrive. Everyone who has been helping and supporting Upward Bounce for the past six months has devoted countless hours to the cause because we deeply believe in equal opportunity and education. We hope that you will continue to support us. But even more than that, we hope that this will help inspire you to fight for social justice by helping someone, marching for a cause, protesting, speaking out, or any other means of support—simply because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO.

Much love.

Heartfelt email from Pablo

Pablo sent out this heartfelt email this morning after our epic night at Mr. Smiths:

Querida Familia,

I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who helped out with last night, whether it was spreading the word to friends and classmates, or helping sell raffle tickets, getting prizes for raffle tickets, and much more. Last night's fundraiser was a HUGE success. The General Manager said he's never seen a party like that at Mr. Smith's. The DJ agreed and said he's never seen people enjoying themselves and the place so full like last night. He even wanted me to join him tonight at another fundraiser in the city for Haiti to give shout outs and inspire those people. I am overwhelmed with emotions right now as I write this because of the love and support I felt last night and for the success of the campaign so far. Last night, we pulled in $3175 at the door and coupled with the $280 from the raffle, we raised $3455. Not bad for one night. I don't know the exact number, but with the donations we have already received, this might put us around the $5000 mark or very near. This is incredible. Great work everyone!

I'll be honest with you all since you have helped me with this campaign: last night probably saved my attempt. Quite frankly, I was starting to hit a low in my motivation and confidence. A nasty little cold has crept up on me and I was feeling sick and weak last night. On top of that, I was just exhausted from everything. I am in the midst of the most intense/important part of the training, and I am hurting and the sickness started wiping out the rest of my energy. Work has been extremely busy with many little projects. I even forgot for a moment that it was my birthday last week until my family called to wish me a happy birthday (seriously). With the injuries and setbacks with the shoulders, I was even questioning whether I would be able to pull off this feat. I was very nervous for the fundraiser, wondering if anyone would show up, then the rain came, and I thought that would deter many from showing, etc. The stress coupled with the physical toll that the challenge has presented started to really knock me back a bit. Endurance challenges are not new to me, my body can handle this; however, this is the first time that I do this while having a full time job (as opposed to only being a student). The training is seriously like a part time job on top of my already full time job that already feels like time and a half. I was hitting a low point and losing motivation, which was horrible timing because I am five weeks away from March 7th and need to be very highly motivated. But the love and support and seeing Mr. Smith's so crowded and people having a great time truly inspired me. Walking around, people I didn't even know where asking me if I was the "dribbling guy" and friends introduced me to their friends as the "guy who is dribbling the marathon" and people were very kind and had sincere words of encouragement.

This all started as a joke, with me saying I could easily break the record. Then I had a heartbreaking conversation with a highly qualified student (who I was going to write a letter of rec to Stanford for) who told me that she was not going to a four-year school because she could not afford to take the SAT II's and pay for the application fees. After taking out my credit card and paying for her, I emailed Christine looking for help on how we can make something happen and use this challenge as a quirky gimmick to get some attention. Little by little, we brought people along to compose our core team and we developed Upward Bounce. Originally, I thought we could raise a couple hundred or maybe $1000 and help fund the current seniors in SCP and get them to college. I had dreams of raising more, but tried to remain grounded and wanted to just at least help out a few students because I cannot stomach seeing these qualified students being turned down because they cannot afford the college application process. I just thought: "I just need to get them to college, that's it! They'll do the rest." But then with everyone's hard work, we are nearing the $5000 mark. We have had an incredible fundraiser. We have had some shout outs on radio stations. We are also on the verge of getting a sponsorship and an ad campaign in the local newspapers. I am passionate about what I do. I teach because I love it. Helping youth see the power of education and the love for the thirst of knowledge and growth for intellectual maturity is the most rewarding work that I have done. I don't mind putting my body through this challenge and putting in all this work, if it means that we can help even one student reach their dreams of college. Because of that, I am very thankful that you have helped us get to where we are.

I woke up this morning feeling so inspired, I was ready to hit my 16 mile run. I had to hold myself back in order to allow my body to rest a day and do it tomorrow instead. But I feel rejuvenated and inspired to continue to work on raising more money, raising awareness for equal educational opportunities, and to continue to get myself ready for this marathon. There is no doubt in my mind that I can break that record. 3:48:23 is the only thing I am thinking about right now. I will cross that finish line, even if I am crawling on my knees and pushing that ball with my nose. I am committed and focused on getting myself in the best possible position come March 7th. So thank you very much for your support. Let's keep pushing and doing what we are doing.

Much Love,
Pablo

As you can see, we've got tons of support and lots of momentum. Let's keep this up! I'm proud and grateful for everyone that is stepping up to the plate to do important work for our community.

Kev

Injury Updates

People keep asking about whether or not I get hurt doing this, since it is probably not a natural motion to run a marathon and dribble a basketball for so long. At first, I was not going to mention any injury, but after talking to a few people, I decided to share so that everyone gets a realistic view as to what happens and the risks when doing something like this. The preparation for the marathon has helped me decrease the normal amount of injuries and pains that one experiences in intense training like this. Every once in a while, I get a little pain or soreness (shin splints, sore muscle, tight muscle), but nothing too serious has occurred in my legs.

The dribbling was not causing any problems to my shoulders at first. But this was when I was dribbling on my sides and not alternating between hands. While this form was better for my shoulders, my body was twisted slightly and I used more energy. So, I experimented with different dribbling techniques on long runs. I found that the most "natural" motion that mimics my natural running motion was when I would actually cross-over every dribble. My running form was not altered much, so I was able to run faster without my upper body getting as tired. I went on a 10 mile run using this cross-over dribble, and it felt great. However, the next morning, I woke up and noticed my shoulders sticking out slightly (see picture). There was absolutely no pain, however, it was not normal. I got checked out and have attended physical therapy to help. Luckily, I caught it early on-- I have inflammation of the AC joints (yes, both shoulders). While it is not pretty, it is relatively pain free, only sore every once in a while.

Despite this little setback, I have adjusted my upper body workouts and am being careful. I took a break from dribbling and am slowly working it back into the running. While this form made me faster and was easier, I am probably going to have to rely on another form of dribbling to avoid further shoulder issues. I am closely monitoring my shoulders, however, I am still determined to continue with the challenge. With constant icing, physical therapy, and strengthening exercises thanks to the therapists and trainers, I am confident that I will still be ready to go on March 7th!

On this day...

...we are all observing MLK Jr's accomplishments and those all around the world that have fought for Civil Rights. King not only fought for equal rights for African-Americans, but for all citizens regardless of color.

It is his (along with the countless other Civil Rights leaders and participants) words who inspire me to keep working towards achieving equality for all. He is a big reason that I, along with my team of supporters on this campaign, are working hard to help support the students of Stanford College Prep reach their dreams of higher education. The best way to achieve equality in this society is to become educated. Let's keep Dr. King's dream alive and do what we can to support those around us to achieve their dreams, continue their education, and be advocates of human rights.

In the spirit of King, and all those that fought for our rights, I leave you with the inspirational words found on Civil Rights leader James Chaney's tombstone:

"There are those who are alive yet will never live.
There are those who are dead yet will live forever.
Great deeds inspire and encourage the living."

-The Upward Bounce team

How do you train for something like this?

Everyone keeps asking me what my workout plan is for this dribbling marathon. Later on, I will break down each segment of the workouts and give examples and pictures, but for now, I will give a general overview. I could just try to run with a basketball and see what happens, but then I might hurt myself and/or not run very fast. I am looking for the optimal performance, so I took a more holistic approach to this marathon.

The workout plan was developed with my good friend, Chris Gaines (check out Chris’ website: www.performancegaines.com). The training is very similar to the training that one does for regular marathons, but there are a few twists. I still need to get my body in shape and used to running a long distance, however, the major difference in this endeavor is the upper body. Dribbling a 7-9 pound basketball for 26.2 miles exhausts your upper body. The energy expenditure when running with the ball doubles. Runners always talk about hitting “the wall” around mile 18-20 in a marathon. When dribbling a basketball, that “wall” hits A LOT sooner (around mile 13-14). Usually when your legs tire, your upper body keeps you going, but in this case, the upper body is exhausted as well. So, Chris and I based the training around high intensity training. Basically, I am getting very tired very quickly so that I feel like I am hitting “the wall” early in the workout, and then practicing pushing through it. This helps me develop more stamina, but more importantly, helps me gain the mental strength to push through, which will essentially help me finish the race.

The training program is also based around preventing injury. There is extensive stretching (both dynamic and static) and foam rolling pre and post-workouts. The running includes a long run, speed/interval work (track), tempo runs, and resistance band training. I also cross-train twice a week (biking and swimming). I also work on coordination and balance (trying to dribble a ball when you are exhausted at mile 23, even for an NBA player, can be challenging). Finally, I spend a lot of time with resistance training (a little weight lifting) to strengthen the core, upper body, and legs. Including stretching, workouts, cool downs, and stretching again, I tend to workout around two hours a day (at least).

This was just a short introduction to the workouts and preparation for this race. It is important to know that when I began this training, I was already running and working out frequently, and have been training for this for a good amount of time. I have also done many endurance races before, including marathons and triathlons, so this is not the first time I do something like this. I do not recommend someone who has never run before or has done very little endurance training to just jump out and try something like this in such little time. You can do it, but you are more prone to injury. Basically, my training involves getting the heart rate up very quickly, tons of stretching and foam rolling, and lots of ICE!

If you have any questions or comments about the training, let us know.