Part of the Statistic

It has almost been a month since I started writing the article below for this blog. I was writing about how I was feeling about the turn of events. But as more information came in how COVID19 was turning the lives of people and economies of the whole world I felt a pang of guilt. My feelings of being inconvenienced from my usual schedule and sadness of being laid off is nothing compared to the feelings of all the frontliners: healthcare workers & its supply-chain workers, military, volunteers, and food-chain supply workers. My feelings are nothing compared to the families of those who lost loved ones. My feelings are nothing compared to those who are currently battling COVID19, not knowing if they will survive. My feelings are nothing compared to those people who are on the streets and are exposed to the disease. My feelings are nothing compared to those who do not have access to healthcare, to stimulus, to transportation and to food.

For the many days, I knew someone who lost someone. Until one day as I woke up condolences where being posted for a long time friend. We called him Tata which is short for Tatay the Filipino word for father. I immediately messaged my friend in the Philippines who like me were spoiled by Tata. We reminisced mountain adventures together where Tata happily drove us to our destinations. I had been telling myself that my feelings were nothing compared to what others were going through. But this time because of Tata's passing, I allowed me to grieve. Don't let anyone tell his girlfriend, his family, friends or me he is in a better place now or to think positive. Let us grieve. Respect the grieving. 

Sometime 1994, I was crying my heart out and wondering why God had forgotten me. In the faintest whisper of the wind, I heard these words; "Look around you Eve, don't I show you these beautiful sights?". For there I was on a Skorpios Cruise ship, sailing thru the Chilean Fjords towards the 30,000 year old San Rafael Glacier. My life did not turn around magically, but how I viewed life certainly did.It is also the reason I enjoy the outdoors. It brings me back to that time when I connected with the almighty. The reason why on a bike ride my 3 hour activity records 1.5 hour moving time because I spend so much time stopping taking a picture of yet another wildflower, or trying to capture a photo of another bird. Taking time to enjoy the sights and sound of the scenery. I am thankful for the parks that are still open and after many hours of reflection I am able to share the story below. This is just one story, of the many stories of how COVID19 has impacted the whole world.

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On the 1^st week of March activities were ramping up in the preparation of the big event in the hotel I worked for. As Chair of the Marketing Committee of our local travel association I was able to secure the March Membership meeting to be hosted in our “just out of a $40 million renovation hotel”. It was going to be an amazing event with the CEO of Visit California as the main speaker. A welcome video message from our hotel group CEO was being prepared. Our global sales team was arriving from out of state to grace the event. I was also getting calls from travel marketers (TMCs) who were making hotel reservations to stay overnight to attend the event. I had all my marketing materials ready: collateral, giveaways, free stay and restaurant certificates.

On mid-afternoon March 6^th, I got the email that the Santa Clara County was disallowing gatherings of 1,000 or more. Although, the membership meeting would only be 130 guaranteed guests, it was thought prudent by the travel board to postpone the event in the interest of the safety of all. I immediately informed my Director of Sales and my General Manager and before I could reach the door of his office, I heard my GM summon me. My GM shaking his head, instructed me to inform our corporate office and hold-off all preparations.

I got calls and emails from the travel/hospitality community stating their sadness over the cancellation of the event. COVID19 as it is now known has been in the news. But the Santa Clara County’s announcement and the subsequent cancellation of the event made us realize how close it was to home. I guess we thought we can all still function in front of all the challenges related to COVID19.

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my sense put in order.
John Burroughs

I felt a cloud of sadness hung over me. My mind went into overdrive. People are going to lose their jobs! And for how long? I was going to Point Reyes and backpack to Coast Camp, knowing this lightened up my spirits. I’ve always mentioned that “Jesus prayed outside”. Among articles I have read on this, this article seem to cover it (Click on the link): Where Jesus Prayed . I focused on the beauty around me; taking photos of the flowers and buds signaling spring is here. I focused on the wide expanse of beautiful, serene scenery. I simply enjoy walking into a forest, hiking up an elevation and camping out near the ocean. Watching the sunset fascinated by its colors while the crashing of the ocean waves into the shore is music to my ears. I was alone watching the sunset, as the group opted to stay at the campsite for happy hour. It was bliss being able to enjoy the sunset in solitude.

Monday – March 9^th I was back at work. I was hearing from my clients that they were going to work remote. Wednesday – March 11^th I was speaking to a group of European in-house guests while they were having breakfast. That day the US announced barring entry of all foreign nationals from China, Iran and a group of European countries. I was still hopeful as I had a long term-guest arriving for a 2-week stay.

“Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday – March 13^th, we issued an invite for cocktails on April 2nd, a mini-version of our postponed grand event. Surely, this will be all over by April. I had positive response on the invite. Once again, got people to look forward to something positive. I was also arranging an amenity for a very supportive client who is going to our sister hotel in Missouri. She was attending the Pokemon Convention, how fun!

Monday March 16^th, the shelter-in-place warning was issued. I had to retract the invite that I had just sent out for April 2^nd.  The Pokemon convention was also cancelled but at this point all events all over the area have been cancelled. In the sales office it was all quiet. By Tuesday – March 17^th, our buffet breakfast was suspended. By Wednesday – March 18^th, we got the announcement of reduction to 4-day weeks. For the moment we are safe, for how long remains to be seen. Other hotels have shut-down and employees laid-off including our sister 5-star hotel in downtown San Francisco. Laying-off workers is acceptable as the workers can apply for unemployment insurance. Thursday – March 19^th, I filed my sick leave for Friday – March 20^th, as a recovery of the wage lost.

“If you want to be reminded of the love of the Lord, just watch the sunrise.”
― Jeannette Walls

Friday – March 20^th my phone alarm woke me up. But it was so cold at 38F that I did not feel like getting up. I call this mind over mattress. Debating whether I should get back and hit the Mission Peak trail or stay in. I enjoy hiking Mission Peak to watch the sunrise or the sunset. One trailhead is 11 miles from my home. This trail is 5.8 miles roundtrip and rated as difficult with an elevation gain of 2,135 feet. Once at the peak it provides a 360 view and on a good day you can see as far as the Dumbarton Bridge and the waters of the wildlife refuge and the other side provides a view of the Ohlone Wilderness and other regional parks that connect to it. My best time is 2.5 hours on a wide trail that is heavily trafficked. More reason that I prefer sunrise or sunset because there are less hikers at that time.

My mind prevailed and I needed to keep moving and get my endorphins going. I enjoy the outdoors. Being outdoors leads me to meditation and prayer. Wasn’t it in Chile amongst the icebergs that I heard God speak? It also makes me appreciate the simplest of beauty as a poppy flower’s orange color further illuminated by the rays of the rising sun. It was still dark when I started my hike, and I heard coyote calls. But knowing that there were other hikers calmed me down a bit. It was cold but no wind and that helped a lot. I was well suited for the cold hike with 2 layers of clothing, a microfiber vest, a down vest and a rain jacket. I walk this trail without a light even in a dimmest of light of the moon. Once you reach the first bench the brightness of the city lights illumines the trail. By 7:04 I had passed the trail crossing from the Ohlone side saying, “Hi to a few cows”. The orange hues of the sun peeking out from the mountain range beyond. At 1900 feet, the fifth bench I paused briefly to marvel at the peak before me. Final push to the summit, the hardest part but amazed at the kaleidoscope of colors amidst the beautiful green scenery and shadows of other hikers. Psalm 121: 1-2, 1 I lift my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

“If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment.” Carlos Santana

At the summit, I found my rock, where I sat and held onto my thermos. Thankful to be here. What a blessing to live near a mountain. Fr. Leo Buscaglia was given flowers and a gigantic chocolate cake with a note after his father’s death, it read; “This is just to remind you there are still beautiful things (to see) and good things to eat”.  COVID19; How long will it be around? How many people will be affected? How are we going to support ourselves? I have talked to colleagues in the industry and everything is grim. There is not much we can do.  But there are still beautiful things (to see) and good things to eat.

There is not much we can do but ride in the storm of life. Let us do our part and listen to our 
earthly leaders. At the same time holding on to the promises of our Divine Father - + Psalm 46:10 He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." + Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. ... + Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Thursday - March 26th At 9 AM I was on the phone calling my clients, wishing everyone well. I was getting updates from them to hear t he status of their business and prognosis on the effect of COVID19. Sad to hear about friends being laid off and furloughed. Then the inevitable happened. Our Director of Sales and our General Manager tried so hard to keep us running. We knew it. All their closed door  meetings and conference calls with our corporate office. 

“The secret to a good morning is to watch the sunrise with an open heart.”
― Anthony T. Hincks

Today we were told that we were going to close the hotel. We were all understanding of the situation but our hearts were broken. But for the long-term viability of the hotel we had to shutdown. We were given all that was due us. We help shutdown the hotel. In a way, we got to know every inch of the hotel we would not have otherwise known. 

We are now officially laid off. This way we could apply for our unemployment insurance. I called my clients to update them on the news.  Other hotels have shutdown earlier than we did. Our own shutdown, though not surprising was unwelcome news.  

I am thankful for our bosses who tried their best to keep us open but without any guests coming in it certainly did not make financial sense to stay open. I am thankful for those who immediately went on LinkedIn to write me recommendations. I am thankful for the provisions until we get back to work. What are my  plans? Only God knows. Proverbs 16:9 - A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

 Related articles:
Productivity is not working by Laurie Penny
Anderson Cooper of 60 minutes Addressing the strain the coronavirus has put on America's food supply chain with Jose Andres

The Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 

  I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. ⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

King James Version (KJV)Public Domain

 

Noone Gets Left Behind

I enjoy backpacking and hiking. I have been enjoying this sport for three decades. Nothing like being outdoors and enjoying mother nature. It’s a time of reflection for me, too. A time to marvel God’s creation.

I was on my last semester of my Quality Management Master’s. I was thinking of how I can keep my outdoor life and finish my Capstone project. Hiking takes a full day and backpacking at minimum is an overnight. Then it dawned on me that running could be an option. An hour’s run and you are done. I had just completed a half-marathon training and I was moving on to the next goal of running a marathon. I searched for groups in Sacramento and found Trail Running Adventures (TRA). I met the leader Carina and Hassan and the rest of the TRA members. We also crossed over being members with the other running groups in the area. Since it was winter my non-runner friends would ask, “Is it not cold?”. My reply would be, “That’s what jackets are made for.”.


While I was preparing for a marathon, TRA friends were busy preparing for ULTRAs, i.e. 50-mile to 100-mile races. I just kept signing up for the practice runs, showed – up and I was not into details. Until one day, as part of the training for AR50 (American River 50-miler), they had scheduled a training run from Beale’s Point to Auburn Dam Overlook (ADO). It would be a total of 25 miles and the last 3 miles would be all uphill to the overlook. At 16 miles I was ready to call it quits. I wanted to join Carina as she was being picked up by her husband due to an injury. To my surprise the rest of our team where waiting just ahead, so I was encouraged to finish the run with them. Off we went for the next 9 miles. I did struggle and more so on the last 3 miles. But there was nothing else to do but walk up to the overlook since it was the only way out. I even got lost on the way to the parking lot. Getting lost seems to happen when I am about just tired and ready to throw in the towel. They finally found me on the road and congratulated me for my longest run ever of 25miles. My reply was, not right now because I am not feeling it.

But as I got home and cleaned-up I felt good. I always thought that running was a single person sport,7 I was to learn that it was not. I like the idea that TRA motto is “No one gets left behind”. All the encouragement that they gave me boosted my spirits. They all had the patience of a saint. Trail Running Adventures was not just a group of outdoor runners. We are a community with a shared love of outdoor running, helping each other train, coaching & encouraging each other, having fun and no one gets left behind. We join races as a challenge and to be with other running communities.

I thought about the training and I thought about the race itself. I think the principles employed and these elements are something we could use in building teams.

1)     The leader or leaders: They organize the runs; the distance, where to run, route, time we should meet, assigning of leaders and sweepers.

2)     The training; on distance, pace, tempo, and taper.

3)     There is coaching and sharing of ideas. I learned how to fuel and hydrate. I learned about tempo and pacing. I learned about Strava and Garmins.

4)     There is natural grouping base on your pace and the stronger ones even act as sweepers. To provide encouragement and motivation to those who lag.

5)     During the race itself, there are Aid stations where runners can hydrate, fuel, even apply muscle ointments. Also, at the aid stations you find they cheer you on and give encouragement. There’s also medical aid station.

6)     Then there are pacers; For marathons, the pacers are assigned by the organizers. They carry a sign and run a certain pace and helps a runner keep a finish time. I usually keep up with the pacer at the middle of the pack and I drop off behind as the run progresses. For ultra-running, this is a different take. The pacers are assigned by the runner. According to Corey Buhay in his REI article “For the uninitiated, “pacing” is the act of tailing a runner to help them stick to their race plan, stay positive, and follow the marked trail. A competing runner typically has several pacers who take turns throughout the race. Pacesetting is but one element of crewing, which delineates the full package of racer care, including prepping food and gear, cheerleading, and tending to the racer’s medical (and emotional) needs at aid stations.

7)     Then there is the runner, like me. I make sure that for any run, training or race. I make sure that I have slept well, ate healthy, prepared my gear and my mental state. Preparation helps one’s mental state.

8)     The Spectators who cheer, wave, and at times when you need it most offer to help. During the Rocklin Half-marathon (13.1 miles), it became very warm at the 10th mile. I was looking confused and tired I think when a couple who were in front of their house asked me “What do you need? Tell me?”. I replied “Water, I just need some water”. She rushed to their garage and brought out bottles of water. I do not know who she was, I won’t remember where she lived but I will always remember her help when I needed it most.

9)     The finish line: the last few steps when you find yourself with that last bit of energy. Where the noise, cheers and sight of the announcer, spectators, cameramen, your loved ones help you cross the line.

10) The fun! Lots of stops to take photos. Enjoying a water-crossing or a waterfall. The best part with Trail Running Adventures is I started the race with friends. I finished the race with friends. No one got left behind and that is especially important for me!


What I did not find though, there is no constructive criticism. While you are running, you won’t hear
anyone say, “Hey you’d do better if….”. All you hear are Good job. Great going. You are almost there. You got this (my personal favorite). You are doing well. It’s just around the corner. This is the last hill and you are straight home. Food for thought, don’t you think?

11) Finally, the support group. For ultra-runners they have their crew during the race who meet them at race designated areas (usually) the aid stations as explained in #6. When you are so tired that your mind plays tricks on you. They keep you focused, in line and keeps you going. There is also the support group, usually your family those who wait on you as you follow your training schedule, their schedule has to fit around yours. They keep you grounded. They are the ones who meet you at the finish line. When I joined the San Francisco Marathon, a dear friend (and godmother of my son) - Liza flew from the Southern California to be my cheerleader. As I crossed the finish line, almost to the cut-off time I heard the race announcer greet me and announce my city. Then I heard my name again, amidst my tiredness and that everything seem to be in a haze. It was Liza in-between us were several barricades. Somehow, she found her way to me. I declined to attend the after race funfare. Liza took charge booking a ride-share. Take note that there were 30,000 runners plus spectators trying to get out of the area. The hotel we were staying was just a few blocks away but after 26.2 miles I was not about to walk a few more blocks. As I sat on the pavement too tired to stand, I asked Liza, "Why do people do this?". Liza laughed and asked , "You tell me! Why do you do this?". I was at a lost for words but so glad to have Liza.

If we can only apply these running elements and principles to our teams and if our motto is no one gets left behind - Definitely, WE WILL ALL WIN!