It’s not easy on the road

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest entry in Grant Dunning’s training diary as he prepares to run in his first marathon -- the Orange County Marathon on Jan. 6 in Newport Beach.

Training for the Orange County Marathon has many challenges and hurdles. Sticking with the increasingly difficult training schedule is hard enough without any outside factors.

One of the challenges I have encountered is sticking with the training schedule while traveling away from home. During the past two weeks, I have spent time in Denver, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and the Napa Valley.

As you could imagine, trying to keep up with a regimented running schedule while spending time in other cities can be difficult.

In Mexico, I actually attempted to run on the beach at 10 a.m. in 90-degree weather. Between the heat and the deep sand, I think I walked more than I ran. I definitely did not complete the distance I was supposed to that day.

A week later, I was running in the Napa Valley. Fortunately, the weather was perfect for an early morning workout and was a pleasant change of pace from Mexico.

One of the benefits of training in other cities is the opportunity to see things that you wouldn’t normally see. Spending time running allows you to see the local scenery at a different pace ... especially with my slow pace.

Over the past two weeks, I have completed two long runs of 16 and 14 miles in between my traveling. The 14-mile run is supposed to be our break before our 18-mile run on Thanksgiving weekend. We will eventually run 20 miles in December before we start to taper back down for race day on Jan. 8.

Today, my family is planning to run in the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K race. I am going to push my youngest daughter, Paige, while my wife Judy runs alongside us.

This will be Paige’s first real race and it will be a good opportunity for us to see how everything works with her and the stroller.

My oldest daughter Brooke plans to run in the Kids’ 1K race. In addition to supporting a great cause -- the Second Harvest Food Bank -- we are excited to go out and exert ourselves physically in the morning allowing us to indulge in a guilt-free Thanksgiving dinner later in the day.

With Thanksgiving Day here, it is a great time to reflect on what each of us is thankful for.

I am very thankful to have a wonderful and supportive wife, two beautiful daughters and a community of close family members and friends. I am also thankful that I have my health. Without it, I would not be able to train to complete my first marathon with my daughter, Paige.

Finally, I am thankful that I can help other families who have kids with disabilities by participating in the Orange County Marathon. United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County is one of the 11 wonderful charities that will benefit from the proceeds of the marathon.

To learn more about Grant and Paige’s training, you can visit their website at www.teamdunning.com.

To learn more about United Cerebral Palsy and the Orange County Marathon, visit their websites at www.ucp-oc.org and www.ocmarathon.com.20051124ing9ubnc(LA)Newport Beach’s Grant Dunning is less than two months away from competing in his first marathon, the Jan. 6 Orange County Marathon.