Run in a Million
December 1-14, 2007
From The Golden Gate Bridge to Los Angeles.
My name is Mike Sacco and I'm 26 years old.
Recently, I decided to combine my love of running with the desire to help the world and the people around me.
I have very strong feelings about the AIDS epidemic and the fact that we all need to do our part to bring it to an end. It has been a dream of mine to run from Oakland to Los Angeles.
The 510-mile trip will kick off World AIDS Day activities on December 1 and end two weeks later on December 14, 2007. At the end of each day, we will participate in a variety of local activities. Our goals are to raise money to end the AIDS epidemic and to reach at least one million people with messages about HIV testing, treatment and stigma. We will speak to people about the importance of each person taking part in this critical fight in their own individual way.
Although my running partner, Lejon Boudreaux, and I will run the entire course, others will participate in one or more of the legs. The caloric and nutritional demands of this event are significant. Anne Cording will be acting as nutritionist/personal trainer, designing nutrition programs to support the primary runners at every leg of the run. Arturo Everitt will be acting as crew chief.
All of us--Anne, Arturo, Lejon and I--are committed to sending the message that this is everyone's problem and, when it all comes down to it, we are all fighting the same battle.
So, regardless of race, sexuality, income or geography, we all need to work together. I am truly excited about his event and what it means to me.
I firmly believe that one person can make a difference. In fact, it's often the work of one person that leads to change.
The run is called One in a Million because we are all one in a million.
Attack of the Quadraceptasouras!
Day 11: Lompoc to Santa Barbara, 25 miles, 267 total individual miles
The alarm went off this morning and I was not ready to get out of bed. Turo, being the responsible adult that he is, promptly got up and assessed our blood pressure and heart rate, which he has done for the past 11 days. After the doctor made the call that we are able continue the trip, we limped out of bed with stiff muscles (pronounced mueskleees) and sore joints. A little breakfast of pancakes and waffles got us going though.
Mike and I walked for the first miles or so this morning, which seemed to help get us up to running speed better than starting off running. We tried to walk a mile every four miles, which in my opinion worked well for both of us. A combination of walking every four miles, eating a high calorie breakfast, wearing speedos in the hot tub, and getting enough sleep the night prior set us up for success today.
The day was going great for us until mile 15, when my right quadriceptasorous got angry with me. I think the initial injury to my quad happened a couple of days ago when I was running down hill. As the mileage dragged on today the soreness in my leg turned to stabbing pain, which lead me to walk the last couple of miles.
Mike's right ankle started to throb around the 15 mile mark as well. It was quite humorous because his ankle didn't hurt when he stepped down, it was throbbing with his pulse.
Highway 1 continues to be an abundance of fabulous beauty. Some parts of it today were scary though. Some of it is marked freeway, and other parts are not. We are still trying to figure out which is which.
The decision was made to get in the car and drive to the surface streets after the 20th semi truck passed us today within 5 feet going 70 mph. Within the first mile off the freeway we found another speed radar sign, which clocked us at a whopping 5 mph. Winding down the day, after mile 25, we found ourselves to be at the Super 8 in Golita, CA. I do not recommend to anyone that you ever stay at this hotel.
This brings up a good point, our lodging. Some of it has been good, and some of it has been bad. I would say that we have had a 50/50 mix of good hotels and bad ones. Last night was the second night that our accommodations had a spa (which is a God send after a long day).
Of the places we have stayed, we have enjoyed Costanoa in Pescadero, and the Big Sur Lodge in Big Sur the best. Some of the other hotels have offered laundry, others have not. Some have had coffee makers, some have not.
Our room this evening does not come with a bathtub, which I think is the first time I have ever been in a hotel without one. So, this evening's ice bath (or ice torture as I now like to refer to them), was conducted by carrying a trash can up the stairs, filling it with ice (thanks Turo), and promptly sticking the sore body part into the trash can. The can was tall enough so that I could fit my entire leg up to my upper quad in it.
Turo had to depart the scene due to a gig he has in the Bay Area tomorrow, but he left another trusty manager in charge of us, Matt! So, we put Matt to his first test as our new crew chief, dinner. He went out and brought us back a feast fit for Kings! The one and only Inn and Out Burger, Mike and I both had two fries, two double doubles (animal style) and two root beers each! Now that we are fed, the icing continues in preparation for tomorrow's journey into Ventura.
Things seen today: cows that wanted to be mountain goats (they were really high on a ridge), 2 hawks, 3 license plates, trees changing colors, a lot of trash (more than we've seen so far), poison oak on my ankle that I've had for a week from Big Sur, trucks passing us by at insane speeds, bee farms, dead birds along the road, a quarter, a dime, an unexploded ordinance area, and a meditation retreat.
