Journey from Honolulu to the 2024 Berlin Marathon
Meet Analisa, a passionate runner who is gearing up for her next big challenge: the 2024 Berlin Marathon. Since her impressive performance at the 2018 Honolulu Marathon, she has been diving into intense training with unwavering determination. Her family's support is a constant source of motivation, cheering her on every step of the way. With her eyes set on the Berlin finish line, Analisa’s journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the thrill of pushing her limits. Read the Q&A with Analisa below to get an insider’s look into her training regimen, the inspiration behind her running, and the incredible support from her family that keeps her moving forward.
When was the last time you ran a marathon, and how was that experience for you?:
AM: The last time I ran a marathon was in December of 2018. It was the Honolulu marathon and I decided I wanted to both visit Hawaii and do something epic while being there. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing, one night in March of 2018 I was up past midnight researching where I could run a marathon and the Honolulu one caught my interest so I registered and made it happen.
How do you typically prepare for a marathon, both physically and mentally?
AM: Typically, I begin by running more consistently and getting my physical body in shape. This year I'm training a bit different. My dad’s wife, Aimee, who I'll be running the Berlin marathon with, showed me the peloton training program. It’s been helping me track my runs and slowly increasing the time I’m running at marathon pace. There’s a lot of tempo runs which is new for me because usually I’ve just run at my regular 5k pace and hoped for the best. As far as mentally preparing for a race, I typically will think about how I want to feel on race day. What time am I waking up, what do I want to feel like upon waking, what music am I listening to. I’ll create a marathon playlist and focus on affirmations I’ve been using during my longer runs when my mind starts to send messages to my body that I can’t do the run anymore. Affirmations I say to myself include things like “come on Analisa, you’ve got this!” “This is what you’ve been training for” “you're strong” “just put one foot in front of the other” “another mile down another mile to go” and recently due to both the peloton coaches and my dad I've added "forward is a pace".
How are you preparing specifically for the Berlin Marathon this year?
AM: I’m preparing specifically for the Berlin marathon this year by using the peloton app and doing much more strength training alongside timed runs.
What inspired you to begin your running journey?
AM: My dad did. He began running around the time I was a junior in high school, and he asked me if I wanted to run a marathon in San Diego with him my senior year of high school back in 2010. I said yes, and we began training for almost a year leading up to race day.
It was pretty epic to be able to say I ran my very first marathon with my dad. After that, running became an outlet for me . Whenever I was stressed, I would go for a run to cope with all the things in my life. It was meditative. Just this last year, in 2023, my dad and little brother ran the Berlin marathon. It made me remember that feeling when you cross the finish line after working toward a goal and feeling that sense of relief and awe about self. That feeling of HELL YEA, I JUST DID THAT! Also, Aimee, my dad’s wife who’s a streak runner like my dad, reached out in the fall of 2023 and asked if I wanted to run the Berlin Marathon with her in 2024. I was honored to be thought of and obviously said YES! so now here I am training for my third full marathon.
What does running mean to you on a personal level?
“Running is my stress reliever. It’s like a meditation, the repetitive nature of putting one foot in front of the other to get to whatever destination you’re going to is such a gift.”
AM: Running is my stress reliever. It’s like a meditation, the repetitive nature of putting one foot in front of the other to get to whatever destination you’re going to is such a gift. Our bodies are powerful in that way. It’s like a breath of fresh air and I very much enjoy that runners high!
What is the first meal you look forward to after completing the Berlin Marathon in September?
AM: Oooo this is a good one, I look forward to having a delicious cheeseburger with avocado and pickles and pepper jack cheese with a large serving of French fries!! And a nice cold German beer.
If you were a pollinator, which one would you be and why? (Honeybee, Bumblebee, Monarch Butterfly, Hummingbird, Bat, Moth)
AM: I would be a hummingbird, specifically Anna’s hummingbird. I love that they’re the only bird that is able to fly backwards. They’re such beautiful beings. In Hiaki (the native language of the indigenous to the Rio Yaqui Valley in Sonora, Mexico) they’re referred to as Semalulukut.
