CHamoru Roots Virtual Run/Walk

Proceeds of this virtual run/walk go to the sustainment and maintenance of the CHamoru Roots Genealogy Project.  The cost for web hosting services went up significantly.  Anyways…

 

Si Yu’os ma’åse! Thank you for your support!

 

It was designed with elements of the CHamoru Roots Genealogy Project’s logo.

 

-Pulan (moon). The design of the moon (which also incorporates the archipelago of the Mariana Islands) was created by Brandon Cruz. The white part of the moon features a Sinåhi or new moon crest. The orange part of the moon is also symbolic of a sling stone. The native word Pulan not only means the moon, but also means to watch over, just at it does shining down upon us.

 

-The archipelago of Låguås (Marianas Islands). The medal features all the main islands that comprise the Marianas. Our ancestors referred to these native islands as Låguås.

 

-Stick Family.  The stick family is inspired by the ancient pictograph found in Gadao’s Cave, Inarajan, Guam and represents the importance of family, CHamoru genealogy, and in this case running together as a family.

 

-Indigenous colors. Orange (red), yellow, black and white are generally considered representative of indigenous colors.

Why did I decide to do this?

In 2023, I started feeling more tired and felt my body slowing down. At 62 years old then, I didn’t feel healthy and peaked at 181 pounds. I tested my cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure levels. Each reading result indicated that I was on the path to either a stroke or heart attack. This revelation woke me up. I decided to change my diet and start walking with some jogging. My goal was to get my weight down to 148 pounds.

 

The beginning of this journey was very painful on my foot, legs and body. I could barely walk a quarter mile without my shins hurting. Granted, I do tend to naturally walk a fast pace. As my body began to condition my walking regimen became two walking sessions a day: Monday - Friday while at work. One two-mile walk in the morning and one two-mile walk in the afternoon.

 

In support of my goal and efforts, last year, my wife and sons bought me a treadmill for Father’s Day. So after work, I also hop on the treadmill. I will be on the treadmill on Saturdays and Sundays as well, and sometimes twice on those days.  My walks and jogs turned into running. I am currently at the point of running up to 10 miles in one session on a good day. But for the most part my primary objective is to be on the treadmill for at least 60 minutes a day.

 

In 2024 from January through June, I have logged a little over 1,000 miles on the treadmill. There are some days where I do not run because of a foot injury. I have to listen to my body and try not to over work it. But I have my met weight goal of 148 pounds and now trying to lose another 10 more pounds.

 

 

 

During my younger years I used to take my wife and sons with me to run at 5K events. So my sons recommended that I start doing that again. As I was researching, that is where I learned of virtual runs and decided to take the challenge and host one. And because I am the Founder and Principal Investigator for the CHamoru Roots Genealogy Project, I felt this would be a great opportunity to serve as a fundraising mechanism to help sustain the costs of the project. And here we are.

 

Here’s to wishing you good heath and having fun at it!

 

 

 

 

~ Team Mani-Punz (Bernard, Josphine and family)

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Questions?