This weekend I ran in the Long Beach Half Marathon. I was training for it but I don’t think that I took it seriously enough. I got through the first half pretty good, and around mile ten I really felt the pain from all of the running. Around mile 11 or 12 I walked a lot and I barely jogged past the finish line.
A few other from church ran in it as well and did an awesome job, I was impressed with the dedication and strength everyone had and gained from the training. We were trained by a volunteer from Sandals Church who enjoys those kinds of things.
While we trained, we would meet weekly and discuss things we were encountering and apply Gods word to our training. We would run, stretch and finish in prayer. One thing that was said in our email conversations was “Just like our base we have built up in training for the marathon, so is our base built up with God. Even if we fall away from him for a little while or miss a little bit of training, it is still some work but easier to get back into our training or relationship with God again.
I never thought that I was capable of running such distances or ever thought that I would want to run more than a mile, but after joining the Ripped group, I learned a few new things about myself. I currently am studying abroad in Mexico, but when I get back in town I would like to join the next ripped group and maybe train for a full marathon (that’s 26.2 miles).
Thanks Tony for your knowledge that you shared with the training and guiding us along with our walk. Thanks to everyone who was encouraging and helped me to push myself further than I thought my body was capable of.
I strongly recommend staying in shape and even if you don’t think you can, push yourself and stay on track and you will be able to do it.

This week we had a teacher name Bill Spear. He was a really nice guy and his wife was also very friendly and good to have here. Bill taught on the book of Genesis. we went through the whole book in one week and explained what was going on and why God allows for some of those things to happen.
Before coming here, i was fighting on actually wanting to go, beccause i wanted to be comfortable back at home, but now that i have been here for a few weeks, i am groing closer to God and trying to work on my relationship with him and others. Ever since my close friend past away, i have not had the greates relationship with both friends and God, i hope to be able to grow so much more during my time here in mexico.
One more week of spanish and then im on my own to learning. I have learned a lot becuase on my teacher Jorge, but it sure was tough.
Ill be home this weekend for a half marathon and next weekend to take care of some buisness. maybe ill see ya maybe i wont. but i hope to. untill then. tty

Today was sunday and a few of us went to church in la playas of tj. Playas= beach. It was a nice church that i enjoyed much. After church i came home and had leftovers from the other night for lunch. We then drove to Rosarito to ride horses on the beach. The horses didnt go very fast even though we tried hard to make them trot. We spent some time in Rosarito and saw a pretty cool sunset, pics to follow.
After another dinner at renays tacos, i was working out in my room while my roomate was talking to his dad on the phone. i discovered that doing sit ups with my shirt off makes a farting sound because of the suction from my back on the floor mat. My roomate and i couldnt stop laughing, cause everyone loves a good fart noise. We even made a video for it. but i cant upload it cause the internet down here sucks for hte most part.
well ta ta for now

last night after class a few of us crossed over to san diego and rode the trolly up north a bit. the trollies are cool cause its like 5 bucks for an allday pass or 9 bucks for a 2 day pass. it takes you pretty far up north, but its kinda slow. so last night got some in and out and explored a bit of the town. today i went back into sd to see what else i could find to do. i ended up going to a rock climbing gym that was ok, nothing like the ones back home. at the gym i made a friend named alex. he and i top roped together, cause the bouldering section sucks there. after that i met up with my friend addie who now lives in sd. we went to coronado cause i had never been there before. we explored a cool hotel and saw a wedding reception on the beach. it was pretty cool. the sun was awesome too. after that we got some frozen yogurt and then she dropped me off back at the border. oh by the wya i walked to and from the border, it was an hour walk each way. man it was tough.

I got some help from Ryan Douglas to help the look of my blog. Thanks Ryan!

If there is something broken let me know (and I'll tell Ryan). Also, if you have a blog and want it added to the blog roll give me the link.

Yesterday was one of the staff's birthday. She turned 21 so we had a little party for her. Everyone got a little dressed up, so i had to bring out the hair gel and make sure i was looking Slick. Dont be frightened by our gangsta looks, we wont kill you. haha. it was a fun night with cake sparkling cider and soda. fun was had by all.

So today i was telling one of the guys that i need to get out for a night and do something, so one of my friends suggested a movie. The movie costs 3.05 and was cool. we saw the new john travolta film where he hijacks the train. i think its called taking metro 123 or something like that. but anyways, it was a good time and helped my mind relax for a few hours.it was also good to hang out with some of the guys here.
spanish is still stressing me out, but my teacher told me that we are doing well. i think i am sucking at it, but ill keep on keepin on till its over. i think this weeked im going to run away to sandiego for the day so i can have what i use to consider a normal day. go rock climbing, go to the beach and maybe visit a few friends down there.