Reunited...and a Random Conversation

I run my short runs on various routes through my neighborhood.  There are ample sidewalks and not too much traffic, but there is traffic nonetheless so my focus is not only on my run, but also on not getting run over.

I run my long runs on a paved trail near my house.  Its a beautiful trail that runs along a creek and is mostly under tree cover.  I see it as a treat to myself for my training during the week.  I love this trail.

Morning light

My trail and I have not seen each other for a few weeks, though.  I was out of town, and ran my long runs on another beautiful trail, but it wasn't the same.  Then "my" trail was closed due to damage from a crazy storm that passed through the area, so I had to run my long run for the week through my neighborhood.  That was NOT FUN.  Running 12 miles alongside traffic was not my idea of a good time.

Running through my neighborhood sometimes
feels like a game of Frogger. (src)

"My" trail and I were reunited this weekend, and let me just say, it felt so good.  As soon as I drove into the parking lot, I knew it was going to be a good run.  

One reason I love this trail is because its a great and nearby respite from the loud noise and bustle of urban living.  Its beautiful, and (mostly) quiet, and its a whole lot cooler under the canopy of leaves.  And although I like to call it "my" trail, I am in no way its singular user; this trail is heavily used by runners/walkers in the area, so I get to exchange Hellos, Good Mornings, and Nice job!s many times throughout my run, which is something I love.

Yesterday the pleasantry-exchange was taken to a whole new level when I actually approached a runner and struck up a conversation.  Have you ever struck up a conversation with another runner while running?  I usually don't, but she seemed nice, plus I also wanted to know what she was training for.  She was wearing a hydration pack, so I figured she was out for a long run.  She was also wearing pink Pro Compression socks, which is my favorite brand of compression socks.  In fact, I was wearing my orange pair.  

She passed me as I was nearing my halfway (and thus turnaround) point, and I caught up to her on my back.   I tried to make my presence known that I was approaching her so I wouldn't scare her, but I did a poor job so when I asked "Are you training for something?" she practically screamed.  Oops.

Once she recovered from her fright, she said she was training for the Baltimore marathon, and was 15 miles into a 20-mile training run.  She was running at a nice clip and I was impressed that she looked so fresh after 15 miles.  We chatted for about a mile and then I left her to finish her run in peace (she was so nice and didn't seem to mind that I totally bombed her long training run).

I really enjoyed that encounter, and may incorporate conversations with random runners on the trail as part of my marathon training.  You've been warned. :)

I finished my run, stretched at my car, then headed home to my family unit.  A great run on my favorite trail, a friendly conversation with a random runner, and a return to my family when I was done made for a really great day.


Have you ever struck up a conversation with another runner while running?  Or has anyone struck up a conversation with you while running?


Do you have a favorite trail or route that you love to run?

RAR!

Wishlist Wednesday: Big Sur...and Badwater

I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about races.  I don't think about how well I would do, or if I can even physically complete the race.  I just think about how fun! it would be to run...this one! and this one! and this one!

Seriously, if I could race every weekend, I would.

Hence: Wishlist Wednesdays, a weekly post about races that I wish/hope/dream I will/could run in the future.  Hopefully you will discover a new race that you'd like to run (wanna run it together?!)  And if you have a race on your bucket list, I'd LOVE to hear about it!!

Wishlist Wednesday: Big Sur International Marathon - Big Sur, California

The Big Sur Marathon is a race that I'm sure is on many a-runners wishlist. Starting just south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and ending in the town of Carmel, California, its supposed to be one of the the most beautiful marathons in North America, if not the world.

From the course description: "Featuring rolling hills, Big Sur is the largest rural marathon in the world, winding through redwoods, paralleling ranches, and offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean."  (all photos take from the official race website):

The course cut off is 6 hours and I'm not sure I would make it considering I would be stopping every 10 feet to take a picture!  

Not only is it a beautiful course but also a challenging one.  In addition to the rolling hills, there is also a 2 mile, 500 foot ascent from Hurricane Point around mile 10.  Not to mention the ocean wind pounding you as you run.  Beautiful but brutal.  

The race does it right, though.  Taiko drummers are positioned at Hurricane Point and the beats of their drums add power to your step as you begin the long 2-mile ascent.  

Taiko drummers and...taiko runners?

Cresting the hill, your legs are given reprieve as you run downhill and into the sounds of pianist Michael Martinez as he serenades you on a baby grand piano.  

Michael Martinez, BSIM live pianist!

You carry the music with you as cross Bixby Bridge, one of the most scenic points of the race.  

Bixby Bridge

Bixby Bridge and that California Fog

Those three miles sounds ah-mazing.  But it does leave me wondering, whats left for the rest of the race?  Guess I will have to run it myself to find out.

Big Sur Marathon also has some sweet bling.

Last year (2011) the Big Sur Marathon sold out in 29 days.  This year it sold out in 26 hours.  I can only imagine how fast it will sell out when I am ready to run it in a few years (fingers crossed!)  Better practice my mouse-clicking skills now!

To great race reports about running Big Sur can be found here and here.

Have you run Big Sur?  Tell me about it!

Whats your favorite race?  Tell me about it!

And since I didn't post a Wishlist Wednesday last week (or the week before, but I'm playing the vacation card on that one), I leave you with a race I NEVER EVER want to do: Badwater.

Badwater is a 135-mile footrace from the lowest point in the United States--Badwater Basin in Death Valley--to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous U.S.  The race doesn't actually end at the summit of Mount Whitney, but there are some who have run right through the finish line and up to the summit...and back down to the starting line in the Badwater Basin, roughly 300 miles.  Thats called a Double Badwater.  Or just pure c-r-a-z-y.

The race is held in mid-July when temperatures are at their highest.  As you can imagine, running in Death Valley can get a little hot.  Or a lotta hot.  Like more than 120F hot.  Course support is not provided and each runner must bring his/her own crew and all supplies.  

Running Badwater is not on my wishlist of races, but spectating it certainly is.  Maybe one day.

A great race report from a pacer at Badwater 2010 can be found here.  And a great post on why someone would want to run Badwater can be found here (also, check out Operation Jack, a father who runs to fight autism).

Is there a race that you would never run but are still very intrigued by?

.  

RAR!

Vacation from Vacation

I'm always surprised at how long it takes me to readjust to the rhythms of my day-to-day life when I return from vacation.  Its as if I refuse to acknowledge I am back at home, back at work, back at constructing my own dinner menus (which I am horribly bad at).  Instead, I continue to mentally drift through that lacksidasical vacation haze of beach-side meanderings and late morning sleep-ins, even though my life around me has resumed screaming its commands: "WAKE UP EARLY!" "DON'T BE LATE!!" DON'T SLOUCH!" (oh, sorry, that last one was rollover from childhood).

Where I still am (src)

My refusal to return mentally from vacation means that I feel like I am always in catch-up mode.  In regards to running it means that I only ran twice during the week (not counting this weekend).  And neither time was early in the morning.  

The first run was a 3-mile run in the evening as DJ Research was putting Nugget to bed.  I was bored with my usual 3-mile loop so I decided to mix things up.  Rather than turn right out of my front door, I turned left through a different part of the neighborhood.  Result: still boring.  But at least I got it done.

The second run was more enjoyable of the two.  I did a 7-mile run around Lake A. on my lunch break.  Last time I did this run was in late March when the weather was significantly cooler.  On this first go round I tackled the 7-miles in 67 minutes.  I'm a stronger runner now and was hoping to make it back in under an hour.  This go round, I did it in 60 minutes flat which, considering the heat and humidity, I am a-ok with.  (And DO NOT ask if I showered after my run unless you are prepared for the TRUTH  <------ this statement sponsored by my stick of deodorant).

Do you work out on your lunch break?





RAR!

A Memorable Vacation and a Meh-morable Run

We're back from vacation, but I'm in denial.  We spent the week on the beach with the DJ's family, and it was so totally amazing.  If I could spend the rest of my life on the beach with family, I would.  And considering I'm from Hawai'i, that really could be my reality.  Que sera.

I won't bore you with the minute details of our vacation.  Instead, here are two pictures that sum up the week:

Gorgeous scenery and weather.

Nugget crazy happy to be hanging with his big cousins.

I managed to run a little over 28 miles for the week, which is more than I expected.  This vacation was also great because every run was memorable, or meh-morable, for its own reasons.  Here's the breakdown in reverse order:

4th run - 5 miles
Why it was memorable: 5 miles of randomness (2 miles of fartleks, 2 miles of trails, 1 mile of meandering).  Came upon some unexpected trails and decided to run them.  Almost got lost.  Almost face-planted multiple times.  Regardless, trail running is awesome.

3rd run - 10 miles
Why it was memorable:  10 miles PR (1:29 @ 8:49 m/m).  Great weather, great scenery on a mostly flat course.  It was also the 4th of July, and a PR felt like an appropriate way to celebrate.

2nd run - 7 miles
Why it was memorable:  7 mile family run, which is the longest family run to date.  Nugget seemed to enjoy himself until the last .5 mile when he decided to attempt his escape and tried to climb out.  A quick tightening of the straps, and we finished strong.

1st run - 6 miles
Why it was meh-morable:  THE MOST BORING RUN OF MY LIFE.  The plan was a 6 mile family run around my in-law's neighborhood loop.  I've walked that loop before, and I remember it taking FOREVER.  Or at least, a really long time.  So I was expecting the neighborhood loop to be somewhere between 2-3 miles, meaning we would run 2-3 laps and be done with it.  WRONG.

It was 1/2 a mile.

Which means we had to run 12 laps to complete our 6 mile run.

Also, the loop was not flat.  It was mostly gradual downhill with one steep uphill (we could have run it the other way, but we felt that flying down the steep hill with the stroller wasn't particularly safe).  So we had to run that hill 12 times.

Usually I'm the one to push the stroller on our runs.  I really enjoy it while DJ Research really hates it.  But I wasn't about to push that stroller up that hill 12 times.  We each ran 3 miles pushing Nugget.

The DJ's turn!  Loop 11

We did it.  It was boring as hell but we did it.

I guess its technically like running around a track, which I haven't done since high school.  Even then I hated running in a circle.  Honestly, I would take the dreadmill over the track any day.

How about you?  If you had to choose track or treadmill, which would you choose?

Have you run any meh-morable runs?

Do you celebrate holidays by going for a long run?

RAR!

Podcast Love

Today we embark on an 8+ hour drive up north to spend the week with family.  Not only are our bags packed, but our ipods are packed too.  DJ Research and I are avid-podcast listeners.  In fact, podcasts are an integral part of our workday.  Because we both work in cubicles behind computer screens, we have the luxury (if thats what it is) of tuning in to our favorite podcasts day in and day out.  And on roadtrips, its podcast mania (though now with Nugget in tow, we listen to more silly toddler music shootmenow).

So here's a list of what we listen to.  I'd love to hear more recommendations!!

RUNNING

Another Mother Runner Radio
Trail Runner Nation
Ultrarunner Podcast
Talk Ultra
Marathon Talk
Geeks in Running Shoes
Every Man Endurance

READING/BOOKS

Books on the Nightstand
Enthusiasticast

CULTURE/POLITICS/LIFE

Slate Political Gabfest
Slate Double X 
Studio 360
This American Life
KCRW's Guest DJ Project
The Moth
Selected Shorts
Radio Lab


Do you listen to podcasts?  What are your favorites?



RAR!

Introducing...Wishlist Wednesdays

I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about races.  I don't think about how well I would do, or if I can even physically complete the race.  I just think about how fun! it would be to run...this one! and this one! and this one!

Seriously, if I could race every weekend, I would.

So I am introducing Wishlist Wednesdays - a Wednesday (duh) meme in which I will post a race that I wish/hope/dream I will run in the future.  Hopefully you will discover a new race that you'd like to run (wanna run it together?!)  And if you have a race on your bucket list, I'd LOVE to hear about it!!

Wishlist Wednesday: Endurance Life Coastal Trail Series - Sussex, United Kingdom

My sister will be studying abroad in the UK next year, so we're already making plans to visit her during one of her breaks.  Naturally, I want to run a race while there.  And after a little research I discovered that I don't want to run just any race.  I want to run the Endurance Life Coastal Trail Series.  From their website:

"The CTS team has carefully selected the most iconic sections of our special British coastline and have put together a seven stage series that represents a wild and varied cross-section of coastal landscapes and terrain. The Series spans nine months from October until May and comprises of 11 challenging stages.

 Each stage is set in a different stunning location, designed to showcase the natural and historic highlights of that area of unique coastline. Each inspiring stage has its own character and throws up a unique set of challenges. What they all have in common is an incredible abundance of natural beauty, breathtaking scenery and unlimited potential to inspire."

You can choose to run just one race (stage), or you can run all eleven.  They also have a variety of distances to appeal to everyone: 10K, Half-Marathon, Marathon and Ultra.

Based on my sister's schedule, the only race I'd be able to run would be the stage in Sussex, held in late March.  Luckily, that is THE stage I would love to do.  The course takes you along the beautiful southern coastline of the UK, with views of the stunning chalk cliffs looking out towards the English Channel.  I have always wanted to see these amazing cliffs.

Coastal Trail Series -- Sussex

Seven Sisters

As soon as I learned about this race, I phoned DJ Research and told him the plan.  He then promptly told me that March is the busiest time of the year for his company and the chances of him getting off are a million in one.  To which I replied, "So you're saying there's a chance."

Kidding.  I knew about the busy season, but in my excitement, I had completely forgotten about it.  Oh well. So, I will not be running CTS next year...but it is now on my wishlist!!

What races are on your wishlist?  

Have you ever run an Endurance Life Coastal Trail race? 

RAR!

My First 5K...Virtually

On Sunday I ran my first 5K...virtually.

Recently I learned that Running, Loving, Living was hosting a virtual 5K for the week of June 18-25th.  "Whats a virtual 5K?" you may ask, as well you may.  A virtual race is run on a course of your choosing, as long as you complete the race requirements.  Since I registered for a virtual 5K, I needed to run 3.1 miles.  By completing the distance, I will be entered into a drawing for a variety of awesome prizes.  By blogging about it, I get my name added for another entry into the raffle.  And I need all the help I can get, because I never win anything.

I learned about virtual races a few weeks ago when I signed up a virtual half-marathon hosted by Moms Run This Town (which is also an awesome blog title, no?)  This virtual race will be "officially" held on July 28th, but you can run it any day in July and be eligible for prizes and bling (you can still sign up for this race, and I highly suggest you do!  Just click on the link above).  Since I have another race on July 28th, I will be running my virtual half-marathon in early July.  I am very excited.

But back to my first virtual 5K.  The weather was hot, but not suffocatingly so like it had been the past few days.  I decided to take Nugget with me since he had been asking about a "wun-wun?" all week.  Thankfully, he loves to "wun-wun" now, though we still haven't run farther than 4 miles.  

Ready to wun-wun!

I chose a route that is I am very familiar with AND that is all sidewalk AND that does not pass the local playground.  I've made that mistake before, and had to contend with a whining toddler asking for "Wheeee?!?" the entire run.  I was planning to end at the playground, but he didn't need to be reminded that there is   a "wheeee!!" in the vicinity until I was done with my run.

The plan was to run easy, but I was feeling pretty good, so I ran hard for myself.  My efforts were rewarded as I crested the top of the one steep hill on the course.  "Very impressive!" exclaimed a walker as she graciously stepped aside to let us pass.  I was panting pretty hard so I could only smile lamely in response, but she definitely motivated me for the rest of my run.  Thank you for the encouragement!

Mile 1: 8:35
Mile 2: 9:11
Mile 3: 8:29

My Garmin decided to shut off at exactly 3 miles, so I had to DJ Research had to do the math in his head to determine my pace for the last .1 mile.  I ran 3.1 miles in 27:06 minutes at 8:44 m/m.  Thats a stroller PR for me!  I'll take it!

Of course, we ended at the "Wheee!" where Nugget didn't go down the slide at all.

Thank you Running, Loving, Living for hosting this virtual 5K!  It was lots of fun and I look forward to running more...virtually!...in the future!



Have you run a virtual race?



RAR!