My Fall Tanline

I kid you not.

Farmer's Almanac says to expect a cold winter this year. I'm glad I'm closer to the equator!

T minus 9 days to Marathon time!

I will *NOT* set fire to the forest with my eyes.

I just drove all the way out of town for 16 lovely miles at Penasquitos, only to discover I left my Garmin forerunner at home.


It is now too hot there to turn around and go back, which means 2.5 hours of running by the same homeless people along the water. Again.

So very frustrating.

My feet hurt.

There is no end to blisters.

The hair on my arms has long-ago been bleached white in the sun -- all the way up my shoulders. I can see peach fuzz everywhere!

My skin is latte' brown, aside from this dollop of cream where my Garmin rests on my wrist. I am amazed that I keep getting browner and browner when I go out. I though that would stop.

I indulged my doubt and ran 23 miles today.

T minus 14 days to raceday!

20 Miles - Penasquitos Canyon

Time: 8:30am
Distance: 20 miles
Route: Penasquitos Canyon - Lopez Canyon and Waterfall Detours
Completed In: 3:05:49
Shoes: Asics GT 2130 - narrow width
Fuel: Sharkies
Mood: Good - the buoyant, then happy, then ecstatic, then buoyant, then tired. Then done!
Weather:Overcast - 73 degrees. Then rainy for a spella round 7.5 miles. By time I finished - over 80 degrees.

Delicious.

It was early -- the desert aromatic in scents of grass, sage, ozone and fresh rain. When it sprinkles in the desert, the fine dirt clumps under your shoes and sticks there, making it feel as though you are running after receiving local anesthesia in your feet.

Novocaine for the Sole, man.

It rained on me for about half a mile, which was refreshing and fun. My energy was good, my tunes were better, and it was easy to receive huge surges of dopamine along the trail. I played a bit - deviating off the main path to explore Lopez canyon (too hilly too early on, so I headed back) and find this mysterious waterfall, which right now is just a pool of water under some rock.


It wasn't until mile 17 or so that I began to get tired. My left hamstring started talking at the end in an unsettling way, but has not bothered me since. Yoga and thai massage have helped loosen everything up.
Now we begin the maddening tapering phase.

I'm tempted to follow coach's schedule to the nose just to see what it would be like. I have 2 weeks of 20 mile long runs, then the race. I have never run less than a 24 mile long run before a race. I don't doubt I will finish -- but part of me wants to do it the old way because it seems I will be less likely to feel pain upon finish if it is only 2 miles longer than my longest training run, instead of 6.
We'll see how I feel Sunday.

Coronado Sunrise

Smells.

Food science taught me that warm things smell more. The particles of scent vaporize at higher temperatures and waft into our nose and mouth, providing scent and what we know as flavor.

Another Southern California anomaly pertains to this. As I have switched to running in early morning or evening, or - by the Grace of Mercy - had the opportunity to run in cool weather, I've noticed more scent. The desert is sweet, peppered with sage and other spicier aromas that I cannot identify. I can smell the sweet dry grass and the vanilla aroma of temporary construction near sidewalks (see above). In the cool morning air, less pleasant scents like sewage and rotting fish waft from the water near the harbor or at Mission Bay. Without heat comes scent. I cannot find scientific justification for this.

Good News All Around:

I just completed a 45 mile week. That is the highest mileage I have ever run! Go, me!!!

To top it off, the culminating 10 miler induced a runner's high -- something that hasn't been graced in quite some time.


Finally, according to my bank statement, I am an official entrant in the 2009 Boston Marathon!


Now -- off to the mountains to go camping!

It's a little buggy out there....

How does an ant find its way into my sports bra when I am running along the water?


Did it drop off a tree or something????


I am a bug attractant!!!

Putting the Fun back in Run:

Time: 4:30pm
Distance: 16 miles (ran 16.5)
Route: Golden Hill Neighborhood to Shelter Island and back
Completed In: 2:39:49
Shoes: Asics GT 2130 - narrow width
Fuel: Clif Shot - Cola
Mood: Tentative, then hopeful, then happy.
Weather:Clear, windy, about 70 degrees

Of note: A woman carrying 2 cream colored lampshades downtown around mile 1.5, then a man carrying 2 cream-colored lampshades into a hotel on Shelter Island, mile 8 or so.

Running has not been fun.

And when I say this, I am understating that fact.

It has been physically hard.
It has been emotionally torture.
My mind has been brutal and largely unsupportive. Anyone who has put any effort into an athletic endeavor knows how one's attitude can make or break a workout.

I keep plugging away, hoping the next one will be different, or the one after that. I keep running, hoping I'll take something back home with me other than a foul mood and a nice tan.

Today my schedule was such that I did not get out for my 16 miles until 4pm. Ideally, one would want to tackle this in the morning while it is cool. I headed to the waterfront to make use of the cool breeze to offset the 76 degree heat.

Already there is a change in the season. The air feels crisper, the wind more cooling than it was just last week. I noticed my head was being a little ornery at the onset, but once I hit the water two miles out things calmed down a bit and I focused on the cool air grazing my skin, the heat of the sun beneath it, my footfall and arm placement. It became easier to settle into a rhythm similar to how runs used to be.

My brain, in it's meandering, made the connection between the cool air, improved mood, and Ayurvedic doshas. Of course! It makes perfect sense. I move to a hot climate, do heat intensifing activity during the hot part of the day, engage in pitta-aggravating activities such as copious capsacium and coffee consumption, and it is completely understandable that I would be uncharacteristically irritable, have crazy dreams, and crave dairy and sugar.

10/18 symptoms were present in a "signs of Pitta aggravation" list. My personal prescription is as follows:

1. Freeze the salsa and roast beef in the fridge so it doesn't go bad. Stop eating spicy foods, corn, and red meat (insert sad face here).
2. Do my best to stay away from coffee. This may be exceptionally difficult right now, but I can at least cut consumption by 50%.
3. Consider adding some ice cream and see how it digests. I have been craving yogurt and cheese, but the sour nature is contraindicated. If ice cream is a no-go, I'll probably favor yogurt to dairy-abstinence. My body seems to be tolerating dairy better than usual.
   
4. Up the bitter greens, eat more iced and cool foods, cucumbers and sweet fruits.
5. Run when it is cool, whenever possible.
6. Experiment with cardamom and pitta-reducing recipes found online.

Ayurvedic kitchari's are India's chicken soup and the congee equivalent of Chinese medicine. This kitchari includes cilantro and coconut and is taken from Dr. Lad's book Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing.

Ayurveda Notes (help)
"Although tridoshic, this kitchari is especially suitable to pitta. The cilantro and coconut add to the cooling qualities that pitta needs."

Dosha: Vata- Pitta- Kapha-
Quality: Light, Cooling, Oily, Clear
Taste: Sweet, Pungent, Bitter, Astringent

Cooking Hints (Click here for Cooking Poetry)

1 cup yellow mung dal
1 cup basmati rice
1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger,peeled and chopped fine
2 tbsp unsweetened, shredded coconut
1 small handful cilantro leaves, chopped
1/2 c water
3 tbsp ghee
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp salt
6 c water

Wash the mung dal and rice two times. Soak the mung dal for a few hours, if you have the time, then drain. Put the ginger, coconut, cilantro and the 1/2c water into a blender and blend until liquefied. Heat the ghee on medium in a large saucepan and add the blended items, turmeric and salt. Stir well. Next mix in the rice, mung dal and the six cups of water. Bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered, for five minutes. Then cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Turn down the heat to simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes, until the dal and rice are tender.

Shelter Island to the Docks - 12 miles RT

Each marathon has its unique challenges and experiences. The last one - my Boston qualifier - was largely uneventful; mild hip pain at the onset of training, but clean, smooth, speedy workouts right to race day.
Nike Women's preparation presents several unique challenges I have had yet to encounter. Inescapable heat, unfamiliar surroundings, self-mastery of course selection, and achy feet. I'm not used to my feet being so achy! The muscles within them are as tight and contracted as my glutes and quads have been. I feel it mostly in the morning or when I get up in the middle of the night.

Staying hydrated has also been a challenge; running in the heat, misplacing water bottles, and finding my sense of thirst to be weaker than I recall it to have been. Or perhaps I have gotten used to being thirsty?

It's time for another massage. I am beginning to feel like Beef Jerky!

Time: 3:17pm
Distance: 12 miles at avg. 9:19 pace
Route:Shelter Island to the harbor (where Carnival docks)
Completed In: 1:52:54
Shoes: New GT 2130's
Fuel: Clif Bloks
Mood: A bad case of the "Iduh-wanna's" -- feeling sluggish and tired. Mood perked up by the view of the water, peppy tunes, and the feeling of new shoes...
Weather:Sunny and clear, 77 or so degrees
Of note: Pelicans and Herons and blisters, oh my! And the tree that looked to be a relative of that spiky-trunked fellow in Costa Rica.

My hilly 16 miler on Thursday produced a whopper of a blister that popped in the middle of Boot Camp Friday. It re-formed again on this run by mile 7; I did my best not to alter my gait too much in compensation.

Note to Self: Bring moleskin out of the first aid kit and into the fanny pack.

Regardless of blistering, there is a joy in new shoes that comes not from the unsullied and unscuffed nature of fresh-smelling, out-of-the-box footwear but from that cushiony, pillow-puffed bounce of each footfall. This appreciation is a gift to seasoned runners who have given up on maintaining new-looking shoes for love of mileage. Or perhaps this is an attribute of anyone who has been subjected to one of Tony's muddy trail runs...

I was grateful for the 4 degree difference in temperature right on the water. The Shelter Island waterfront run was a good choice for the mid-afternoon heat. Right away I was met with the view at right, which lifted my heart and gave me appreciation for living so close to the water (something that I do not recognize in cooler weather). It was an idyllic summer day and the island was crowded with families, barbecuers, and late-season tourists.

I settled into my prescribed pace and took stock of how I was physically doing. The pain in my right peroneus was pretty notable last Tuesday, absent on my rest day and appearing only for the first 3 miles on Thursday's long run. Today it was still sporadically present, but a faint whisper that I would describe as disconcerting more than painful. From a mind-body-spirit medicine standpoint, pain in the legs is a physical manifestation of a spiritual hesitancy to move forward. This viewpoint was raised to me not only by a roommate, but my business coach as well. I wonder what blisters are supposed to mean...
Louise Hay is the general reference regarding such matters; I'll have to look into that for amusement's sake if nothing else.

I'm finding it difficult to stay slow; the last half of the course was consistently too fast - especially the last 4 miles. It is truly a mind-over-matter game to keep the pace consistent and slower than you naturally want to run. I'll admit to being heavily undisciplined in such matters; my ego gets the best of me time and time again via impatience and an addiction to quick split times. If I'm running faster and I feel good, why should I slow down? *pout, pout*

I've seen the wisdom in conservative training and the perils of letting the inner four-year old act as Coach. I tell myself I will listen...next workout.
In my defense, I do space out on long runs and forget to check split times, although never for more than 3 miles at a stretch so I have ample opportunity to self-correct on my longer jaunts. Tomorrow! I shall begin again tomorrow!

I did not restock my pack with fuel, thus leaving myself with only 1/2 package of Bloks for the 12 miles. It did not help that I noted actual hunger 4 miles out. I was able to refuel immediately upon returning to my car with the fresh stash of Lara bars and some dried fruit. It's been slow to get all systems in place so I can streamline fitness, personal, and professional life.
REI is having a garage sale on the 20th! I'm excited about that. A good treat for my 30th birthday. (You know you're a ...?.... when your birthday treat is a shoebox full of gels, bloks, and electrolyte supplements.)

I officially turn 30 on Thursday. I have decided to honor this momentous occasion by extending the celebration over 30 days. This means museum visits, theater, drum circles, and lots of fresh flowers. I don't plan on doing something daily, but do plan to increase my extracurricular activities as well as spend some focused time creating art and journaling about the next year. The energetic shift of fall has always lent itself to new beginnings and greater focus for the duration of the calendar year. having a birthday right in the middle of that lends itself well to reflection of the past year and settling into new habits to reach goals for the upcoming year. Beyond moving to San Diego, I haven't given much time and attention to what I want for 2009. Now that I am settling in, it's an opportune moment to address such things.

Moving Forward

Sometimes it is best to keep moving.

For instance, last Tuesday I had my boot camp class for the first time. I went all out and was sore through Friday. Yesterday I was back, was a bit more conservative because of my other athletic plans. After boot camp I ran 8 miles in the afternoon and had an evening Hip Hop class. While I am stiff and achy, I am not reminiscent of an arthritic octogenarian.

Yesterday I noticed my peroneus giving me some trouble. This is likely instigated by Sunday's trail run and exacerbated by all the lateral movement and lunges in boot camp. When I went out for my 8 miles and came back limping. After some massage and arnica, I reluctantly joined Hip Hop, notifying the instructor of my agitated lower leg and taking the movements easy. Afterwards, it felt significantly better. This surprised me.

Today -- self-massage and lots of downward dog. I need to get an appointment for a real massage. I have 16 miles tomorrow and will need a great deal of TLC.

First Group Run: 12 miles at Penasquitos Canyon

I'm so excited to be running with a group and was so nervous about sleeping in that I slept horribly last night. I also ended up setting my alarm extra early, so when I woke up and was wide awake I had no reason to hit snooze.

My dreams were about getting ready for this morning. I was lacing up brand new blue trail shoes when the alarm rang.

Time: 8:30am

Distance: Intended 12.0 at 9:30, ran 11.6 at
Route: Southernmost Route Eastward to Equestrian Center Parking lot and back
Completed In: 1:16:04
Shoes: Asics GT 2120 - narrow width
Fuel: Clif Shot - vanilla at 6 miles
Mood: Look! Other runners! yay!
Weather:Overcast at first, clearing up by mile 6; clear and hot (82-84 degrees) at finish.
Of note: Green things on trees! I think they are called leaves. They are pretty! And blue-green instead of the yellow-green color everywhere else.



I pulled up 5 minutes early, sipping conservatively from my full and frozen water bladder and stepped out of the car. Someone next to me looked familiar from a photo on the Meetup list; I followed him to a group of people I didn't even see on the other end of the lot.
The first person I met was Jean. Jean's lived in SD since college in the 80's. She doesn't have a specific run she is trianing for; hasn't trained since Boston in '06 and this 12 was going to be her longest run in quite a while. Mike, the organizer, was here at 7am for his first 12 mile out and back. He's training for a 50 mile ultra and was having an old buddy of his meet him for the second half of his workout (the second 12 miles). John and his wife moved here in July also (from Connecticut); he will be running his first Boston marathon in April also. There were 9 to 10 of us; a GREAT turnout!

We took off shortly after 8:30 and ran at a comfortable pace, chatting and getting to know one another. It was interesting to talk and observe human behavior (a pasttime of mine); those defensive about their rituals, those who need to one-up others, those who judge themselves and those who are a little cocky. I also noted my own behavior - wanting to find connection, wanting to fit in, wanting to find commonality.

As our natural paces took over, we split up into smaller groups of 2-3 per pack. The sky was still overcast and it remained cool - mid 70's, perhaps. I ran with John for awhile, then fell back and ran with Jean for a spell and the fellow that Mike brought, who was buddies with him since high school. He hadn't run since he was in middle school, then Mike was hit with this running thing and he thought, well, why the hell not?
It was his first 12 miles.

By time we hit the halfway point the clouds were burning off. As a ray of sunshine shone through the heat on my skin indicated today was going to be another scorcher. Some chose to head back right away; abut 6 of us stayed behind to wait for those who were taking a restroom break.

As we headed back, I stopped to take some pictures of the canyon and told Jean I would catch up with her. That was probably not the best idea; she ended up being quite a bit ahead and I had to throw in some speedwork to catch her heels. I was almost there, and consequently almost to the trailhead, when I stopped to catch my breath with UltraMike who was walking up the last hill.

When we came through, Jean and a few others were waiting. Congratulations went all around, high five's and handshakes. Mike brought out a cooler and offered everyone some of his ultra snacks. He said he has had to learn to train on junk food since that is what is usually provided at ultra events. He kicked back a quart of chocolate milk while Jon squirmed at the thought of chugging a sweet, viscous beverage at the end of 24 miles.

Hungry myself, and not willing to fuel on just Snickers and convenience store trail mix, I headed to my car to down a Lara bar while en route to Road Runner Sports. San Diego has a Clearance Center -- more goodies for less! I was hoping to find new shoes at a discounted price.

No dice there, but I did pick up a reflective vest for $12.
200-someodd yards away was the main store, so I popped in to pick up a new pair in the GT series.

This store is considerably larger than the Green Lake one in Seattle. Aside from running and walking shoes, they offer "comfort" shoes such as Cole Haan, Merrils, and Patagonia.

Mmm, Cole Haan.

On a busy Saturday there was a 15 minute wait for gait analysis. I only stood at the shoe wall for 2 minutes or so before I was helped. I grabbed my shoes, browsed the sale rack for gems (there were none) and headed to check-out so I could stop by REI (about 50 yards away) to pick up a platypus nozzle.

This is one of my favorite spots in SD so far. REI and Road Runner Sports just around the corner from one another!

Instead of my nozzle (which I couldn't find, and was too smelly and hungry to ask) I found deeply a discounted running tank, shirt, and a few pairs of new socks. The heat has taken a toll on my running gear; there is no way it can survive more than one run before washing and I do not have enough summer clothes to keep up a week's worth of running.

Thus I am justified in my consumerist activities. ;)

Coronado - 8 miles

Time: 2:44pm
Distance: 8 miles (felt like 14) at avg. 9:23 pace
Route: Tidelands Park to Bike Trail along Silver Strand Road
Completed In: 1:16:04
Shoes: Asics GT 2130
Fuel: None
Mood: Happy to be out, nervous about the heat
Weather:Sunny and clear, 82-84 degrees
Of note: Little lizards about the size of crickets, shirtless men with Ken doll chests.

What gets me through the hot runs is the knowledge that training in the heat is going to make racing in San Francisco much easier and sweeter. Freezing 30% of my water bladder so I have cold water for at least part of the run (ice melts so fast here!) was a trick I learned early on. Hot water when you are overheating is a real bummer.

I've been running mainly in my neighborhood, breaking up the long runs by utilizing some routes I found via the San Diego Track Club website. Most of these routes are flat, so inevitably I'm going to have to go back to the Hillcrest/Wa. St./DT loop to get the hills in needed for both San Fran and Boston.

I was hoping this Coronado out and back would be more scenic. The first 2 miles are near the water and a golf course, then the bike route heads along Silver Strand Road, a 2 lane highway bordered by desert plants, with the bay in the distance behind a chain link fence.
My kingdom for some greenery!

I jumped the gun a little fast, covering the first two miles in just over 18 minutes. The heat overtook me pretty quickly though, and the final 6 miles were at a more moderate pace. When I turned around at 4 miles to head back I was met with a fierce headwind that cooled me down but made running a bit more difficult. In the end, my pace was between 9:16 and 9:23, depending on who you ask (Garmin vs. Motionbased).

Until I get really accustomed to this place, I don't feel confident that my running is going to bring me the same joy I had back home. I find the dry, yellow crispiness of the desert unsettling and the solitude of these runs somewhat wistful.
Sunday I have my first runner's group meet-up. They rarely fall on a Sunday, which is the only day I have totally free. I'm excited to meet other runners, get the scoop on races and the "in" on the San Diego running community. It will take some of the sting out of being away from my tribe and bring some camaraderie to my workouts. In the meantime, I have a month of pre-dawn boot camp classes to simulate AR's Saturday Morning Runs.

First Attempt:

I used to blog my runs all the time - when I first moved to Seattle, as I was training for my first marathon. I can go back and see details of races and runs that STILL serve me to this day.

At some point in time, after my marathon in 2006 I believe, I stopped posting about it. Maybe because there were no responses, or I felt comfortable with my running and had figured a lot of things out through logging and observation. Whatever the case, I fell out of the habit and would like to return to it. It also is a way for me to stay in touch with the running community back home (Hello, Robin!) and take note of how the climate and changes here affect my runs. Since I am running Boston in April, eating meat again, and have made other significant changes (like moving to a desert) it will be good to log these details again.

My long runs are on Sundays now, since my Saturday mornings are occupied and it gets too bloody hot by noon to go long. Last Sunday I ran a route I found online on Shelter Island. It was flat, along the water, and took me all the way to the Convention Center downtown. I was instructed to run "very slow" and did my best to keep it below average pace. I set the mp3 to slower tempoed music to help out with that and averaged a 9:47 pace, so I will call that success!

In an effort to foster community and boost my own morale, I have joined a boot camp class that meets 6am daily. I went to sample it on Tuesday, and the familiarity of being up before sunrise and driving out to an unknown location looking for a specific vehicle reminded me warmly of many a group run. The instructor, Bryan, is a beefy ex-military type who brought to mind one of my first clients - a longshoreman I trained for about 2 years. He's big, meaty, gruff sounding and mostly stoic, with bits of warmth and humor showing through. He appears very accountable to his clients and is quick to follow up and check in after a class. Impressed with his professionalism, I decided to sign on. I believe his assistant is his wife, and she offers a much easier workout on Fridays (or so it feels at the moment).
My hamstrings are still sore from Tuesday. I haven't been so sore in years.

I was hoping that there was the same AR experience - chatting it up after the workout, going for coffee or breakfast afterward; that doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe after a few months as I get to know regulars I can bring that kind of atmosphere to this group. I deeply miss having a fitness community.