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.