Post Thanksgiving Happenings...

Well I had a great Thanksgiving. Got up a bit later than normal and went to the gym. I ran on the treadmill for about 45 minutes, then did some ab work and stretching and then rode the stationary bike for about 15 minutes before heading over to my Mother-In-Law's house for the big feast. I ate too much, but didn't make myself sick - so a happy medium by my standards. I followed that up with a nap in the reclining chair and then some dessert.

Friday followed with a bit of guilt from over-eating, so I returned to the gym for a swim. Got in 2300 meters in the hour and headed home for a day of non-commitment. After two days in a row of no work, I was starting to relax.

This morning I awoke refreshed. Another day with no particular agenda other than baseball practice this afternoon. I could get used to this schedule...ah yes, I was used to it, then I went back to work. Dang!

Anyway, it had been raining for the past few days here, and I decided a nice muddy trail run was in order. I headed over to Calavera Lake for the dirty deed.

I hadn't been on the trail for a few weeks, and it always amazes me both how tough it is, and how wonderful it is. The uneven terrain and unregulated inclines make your lungs and legs burn equally, and the beautiful surroundings and lack of anything but nature soothes them right back. The latter overcoming the former and making the run fantastic.

I got good and sloshy from the rain soaked paths and muddy bogs where the small foot bridges had been washed away from the torrents. I did cross paths with a few folks, exchanged pleasantries and kept on truckin'.

I usually run with my music on - on the street that is. But on the trail, I never bring it. I like to hear the quiet - unlike the traffic filled suburban routes we run on. Occasionally a duck or goose or some creature inhabiting the area surrounding the lake will squawk or run through the brush letting me know I'm intruding, but other than that it's pretty darn quiet.

By the time I hit the last mile back on the road to home, I'm feeling the impact of the hour on the trails up Calavera Mtn. and around the base, the short steep ascents around the lakes edge and the extra effort made by my leg muscles to find sure footing in the slippery clay footpaths.

I drink some water, and jog it on home. I find myself basking in the sun stretching outside my front door - not quite ready to return to the inside. I cool off, and finally stop sweating. Suddently I'm chilled and ready for a warm shower. Great day - great run. Time for a bike ride this afternoon maybe, or tomorrow.

27 days 'till Christmas I think...I better get back to the hustle and bustle.

Happy Birthday Bubba

OK, so today is my birthday....43 years of wonder. I slacked off a few days over the weekend and then went for a Mtn. Bike ride yesterday, where I spent nearly as much time in the dirt as I did on the bike. I was feeling pretty beat up this morning.

I planned on my regular Tuesday morning 10k that Nic and I always run...but she let me know last night she wasn't running this morning. She had to go help someone do something...early.

Anyway, I slept in, and when I got up...running wasn't on my list of things to do.
Then I got on the scale. Soon the my running attire was donned and I was ready to go. I doubled up my socks to try and protect my blistered foot, but even walking hurt. 100 yards from the house I almost turned back. Then I thought I'd try jogging instead of walking. Low and behold, it felt better to trot than stroll. I got to our timed 10k course and off I went.

Honestly I felt pretty crummy, and as I approached 1 mile, I was going to turn around and call it a 2 mile warm-up and go swim or something. But I knew the something would end up being TV and Birthday cake. So on I went.

As I approached the turn-around point for my 5k run, I checked my watch. I was actually running pretty well, right on schedule or even a tad faster, and my heel was achy, but not rubbing too bad. I pushed on.

I was planning on turning around at the 1/2 way point for my 5 mile out & back, but I felt OK and when I checked my time I was around a minute below my normal average. I couldn't stop now right?

So I continued on the 10k course, determined to actually run the whole 6.2 miles. I wished for my running buddy...wished I'd brought my mp3 player...neither was going to happen. As I approached the 1/2 way point I was 1 1/2 minutes below my fastest time on this run...time to suck it up.

My heel didn't hurt anymore, my lungs did as I ran hard up the nearly 1 mile stretch of road uphill. I hurt inside as I crossed the top of the hill, knowing I had an equally long downhill. I stretched out my stride and flew. It was one of those special running moments... my legs turning quickly below me, no effort, not really even feeling them. I guess it's the mythical 'runners high' come true. I was in the moment for several minutes, feeling nothing. No pain, no anything really...just floating.

But, as the terrain flattened out, so did my delirium! I had a mile to go...I was feeling it now. My watch said I was minutes ahead of my fastest time on this course and I was looking at sub 9 min/miles (yes - that's fast for me for 10k - so stop laughing).

As I rounded the last corner for the 1/2 mile straight away finish, I picked up the pace. Too much as it turns out, and with 1/4 mile to go I was blowing up. I struggled the last hundred meters and was done. 55.:15. That's 8:55 mile/average for the 6.2 miles. Not blazing, but a new PR for me.

Happy Birthday Bubba!

These 'aint your Miami Dolphins

I took my car in for service and had an hour to kill, so I headed over to the Coast for a run from the dealership. When I hit the Coast Hwy, I looked out at the Ocean and right there in front of me was a pod of around 6-10 dolphins swimming along. They rolled along at what seemed like my exact pace. I watched with childlike excitement, though I've witnessed this dozens of times, it always brings me joy.

In what seemed like minutes, I was 1/2 hour North of my starting point, and out of beachfront, so sadly I turned around and bid them farewell.



The run South was great, nice surf, nice salty breeze, and before I knew it my hour run was through, but I missed my running companions.

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch

That's the sound I hear...crunch, crunch, crunch. I'm in Big Bear, California. My home to be in the next few months hopefully. It's a crisp 38 degrees outside and I'm mid-way through a 7.5 mile run.

There are so many things that go into this run. They seem to all come to me at once. A year and a half ago I started losing weight. When I plateaued a year later, I had lost over 100 lbs. My wife has lost 75. We're the same people with a new lease on life. So here we are...at 7000' altitude, a week before Christmas, running in the snow. Yes - the snow. One of the many reasons I can't wait to make Big Bear my permanent home instead of vacaction destination. I love the snow and I love that crunch, crunch, crunch sound our feet make as we run the Alpine Pedal Path along the North Shore of Big Bear Lake.

The weight loss is one of many things...the next is the running itself. An athlete most of my life, I've never considered myself a runner. But I've run 20-25 miles a week for the past 75 weeks. I'd be lying now if I told you I wasn't a runner. I enjoy it now. It doesn't hurt anymore. I find comfort in my runs. I think better while I run and certainly better after.

Ok, back to Big Bear! It's the small town I love - the community. It's the skiing, hiking, mtn. biking, backpacking, kayaking, running, horseback riding, snowshoeing...jeeesh the list goes on and on.

I don't understand it...evertime I tell someone I'm moving to Big Bear, it's always the same reaction. First they get the dumbstruck look, and then they all say it. "Why Big Bear?". I recite the list above and I guess because none of those things are part of their lives - th lieir expression doesn't change. And I just smile. I can't wait to make it my home.

It's been a goal for years. Slowly working towards it. Getting the ducks in a row, and now the house is on the market. Of course it's an ugly time to try to sell a house in Southern California, but I don't even care. I don't have to make a dime on it. If I can just break even, I'll be the wealthiest man alive! I'll be living in my vacation spot of choice, on the Pacific Crest Trail in the mountains of California, a mile above the ocean, where the air is still clean and I can hear that crunch, crunch, crunch!