Run Your Heart Out

Tevis Cup

2011-09-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

The roots of Western States! On October 8th, the Tevis Cup riders will head from Squaw Valley to Auburn on horseback - it's kind of cool to read about the similarities and differences between running those same trails on foot, and riding the 100 miles on horseback.

Zensah Compression Socks = LOVE!

2011-09-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

I love wearing compression socks on the trails. They are comfortable, I love the foot support, I love that they protect my legs from poison oak and ticks, and I also love them if they're cute. I also like wearing them if I'm running through snow, or on those days it seems too warm for tights/capris, and too cold for shorts. I reviewed the CW-X compression socks last December, and although I initially fell in love with them, I was soon sorely disappointed because they didn't last very long. Both toes had holes very soon after my first run with them, and then they snagged on some bushes (or something) during a trail run shortly after that. Then they just looked dress socks gone ghetto.

My new favorite compression socks are made by Zensah. These are in the "men's" section online, but really they're obviously unisex (pink anyone?) and fit perfectly. I have the small size. And of course I have pink. The Zensah's are MUCH preferred over CW-X because the material is more well made and after a 100 mile race, they were very much in-tact. They are insanely comfortable, tight, lightweight, and I LOVE the way they look. I'd originally wanted a pair of calf sleeves to try, but now I think I may just purchase a pair of these in each color. If you like compression socks but experienced some of the same issues I was with the CW-X, then I highly recommend the Zensah's.

Happy Friday, everyone!!

Western States 100 Mile. Yes, 100 Miles.

2011-09-13T12:11:00.000-07:00

3 months after running Western States, I am finally posting the blog. Every time I sat down to write this, I would get really emotional thinking about the different points in the race and all the people who had a part in it, and I would have to take a break from writing.

Instead of giving you a play by play of every little thing that happened during the race, I’m going to give you my most significant, most memorable points (which as it turns out, is a lot of it, lol). I will say that running Western States as my first 100 miler was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and although there are more reasons behind that than just the race itself, I can elaborate on that in another blog piece.

Here are some pre-race day before pictures:

Kevin, Stan, and I...100 miles here we come!

Brian, Stan, Jimmy, Kevin, Crispin, and me. Grubbing.

RACE DAY.

2:50AM:
The time I finally just rolled myself out of bed, because I obviously wasn't able to stay asleep for longer than 2 minutes at a time.

3:45AM:
Get to Olympic Village and do pre-race check-ins and weight check with medical. When Brian, Kate, Katie and I first get there, there is a decent amount of people already there, and the place is buzzing. Within the next 15 minutes and up until the race start, the village is growing with this crazy energy and people with all of their excitement – friends taking video and pictures, hugs, good lucks, kisses, and just pure positive energy flowing. It is an incredible feeling to be around all these people who are about to run a 100 mile race; the uncertainty of things to come, how they will feel, what will happen, and if they will finish. It also can't be forgotten or downplayed the incredible feeling to be around ALL the crew/support/friends/family who were out there, wondering about all the things they would have to face to get their respective runners to the finish line.

4:50AM:
Start walking with Stan and Kevin over to the starting line. I am so nervous, but looking over at Kevin, I realize he has suddenly become about 100 times more nervous than myself. So I feel a little bit better. (Sorry Kev, lol.) We each have a moment with our awesome coach and friend Jimmy Dean Freeman, who has played a huge role for the both of us since the beginning of our quest and love of ultrarunning....and then, with a loud and energetic countdown, we are off!!

5:00AM:
All of us begin to hike (with the exception of a handful of people who run at this point) up this steep incline at the very beginning of the race. We climb about 2,550 feet in just 4 miles. We hit snow at a certain point, and I am REALLY thankful for my brand new compression socks that Zensah hooked me up with because they felt amazing and really kept my legs warm through a whole lot of cold snow. Plus, they were pink, and really cute. We runners make a train and trudge through the snow together, which is a very cool and fun experience in itself. Not one person didn’t fall during this time…lots of sliding around, sliding down hills on our butts, falling over, helping each other up (at one point a few of us made a human chainlink to help up a man who’d slid downhill), and for me lots and lots of hiking. (I’d been battling some bad foot flexion pain for the few months leading up to states, and there was no way I was going to start my race of aggravating it!)

Brian & Kate goofing off after the race start

Happily climbing in the snow

Beautiful morning climbing up to Escarpment

8:54AM:
Because of all my hiking (very minimal running) through the snow, I didn’t get to Talbot Aid Station until nearly 4 hours later, and I’d only traveled 13 miles. I’d felt as though I’d gone 40 miles. Awesome! Within the miles to come, I tried to run much more since I was way behind schedule, and there were some interesting things to come. There was an awesome single-track trail running alongside the lake that was absolutely spectacular. The weather started getting warmer, and I was really pleased with the fact that my compression socks didn’t feel like they were getting too hot. We wound through some trails and came out onto a highway road for a little bit, and I was surrounded by a couple of monarch butterflies who flew with me while I ran. This was pretty cool, and I was starting to wonder why they didn’t just fly away after a few seconds as butterflies normally do. After a good 15 minutes of running together, my two spirit guides flew away, and I was left with a huge smile on my face. As we approached another trail, the weather continued to heat up, and soon came one of my LEAST favorite sections of this whole race. Climbing up out of Duncan Canyon, YUCK. We can skip reminiscing through all that misery, right until I made it up very slowly out of the canyon and wondered to myself multiple times “at this rate, am I really going to be able to finish 100 miles?!” I went through the weigh-in at the aid station, sat down to eat (they must’ve known this was a tough canyon because there were 4 chairs set up underneath a tent, and volunteers practically waiting on us they were SO freaking AWESOME!), and Stan came walking up. Stan?! Stan was pretty far ahead of me and a stronger runner, so I was surprised to see him. He said he was feeling so awful he needed to lay down for close to 20 minutes just to recover. He soon took off, and inadvertantly motivated me to move more quickly past the station since the weather wasn’t getting any cooler and I felt I wanted to move quickly past the next few miles until I got to a more enjoyable part of the course. A volunteer filled my handkerchief so chock full of ice, that I began to cool down immediately. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!!!!

Coyote Crew forces UNITE! (chilling until they can see their runners at mile 55)

2:20PM:
I get to Dusty Corners and am feeling alright (still trying to pick up speed without killing myself), and eat a couple of Oreos before I turn around and see Stan again. He is sitting in a chair and tells me he wants to quit. I say “NO WAY” and remind him about some advice that was given in one of the Western States films we watched the previous night about waiting until it gets dark because that’s when it starts to finally cool down and you are able to catch a second wind. He encourages me to keep running and not to wait on him. I tell him I’m not going to go unless he promises me he’ll keep going. I tell him he better catch up with me. And so I continue, and through the next few miles I send him good energy and hope he keeps on running.

4:19PM:
It’s mile 43.8 and I am grateful to be at the Last Chance Aid Station. The people here volunteering are so nice, and I don’t mind to sit in a chair for a second and eat some food. I linger. I am not realizing that I’m 19 minutes behind the 30 hours cut-off, and just less than an hour ahead of the final cutoff…

Going from Last Chance towards Devil’s Thumb starts off nice & fun, but quickly starts to get to my foot. The long continuous downhill would have been really nice for me to gain some time again, but instead I had to take it slow so that my foot wouldn’t get completely aggravated. It was here that people flew by me. I saw Shannon Farar-Griefer and she looked phenomenally fresh. I stopped counting how many people passed by me here, but it must’ve been over 20. Climbing up to Devil’s Thumb was one of my lowest points of the race. I was exhausted and the switchbacks and steep terrain really lowered my spirits. Every turn I thought was the top, and I stopped numerous times ready to sit and quit. But I kept going. When I reached the top and stepped on the scale, I couldn’t speak because the tears just started spilling out. A nice lady took me and gave me a popsicle, which immediately made me feel better - yes, running 100 miles may bring out the 5 year old in you. Then she had her daughter (who’d run the race before) sit and talk with me, which was so sweet. I tried my best to swallow the tears that wouldn’t stop coming, and just kept saying, “I’m so sorry, I’m trying not to cry, I don’t know why I’m crying.” But I did know why. Because this was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life, and I was only half way done. In the middle of me feeling sorry for myself, and older man came up to me and demanded I leave the aid station. When I tried to fight back and say that I thought eating was important, he retorted, “Would you rather eat that popsicle or have a nice, shiny, belt buckle??!!!” I sauntered off, sobbing harder than ever.

6:00PM:
It takes me about 15 minutes to completely quit feeling sorry for myself (I wanted to do this race, remember?!!) and stop my pathetic tears from falling down my face. It was at this point I thought of all the amazing people in my life who wanted me to accomplish my dream of running 100 miles, and who contributed time and money for the cause. No, I was not going to let everyone down. No way in hell.

Once I started running again, I felt pretty good. I picked up a little speed and enjoyed the course on the 5.1 miles until El Dorado Creek. I made a friend, Sam, and he and I pushed each other uphill towards Michigan Bluff. We both wanted to finish this race, and we wanted to make it to Michigan Bluff before it got dark (neither of us had flashlights on us). He was a godsend for me. There was no way I would have gone that quickly and painlessly uphill if I didn’t have him to talk with (let's be honest, it was not quick and painless, but compared to what we'd just been through it was). As we were nearing Michigan Bluff, lo and behold the best coach in the world, Jimmy showed up with a big smile on his face and hiked the rest of the way with us.

8:38PM:
I finally arrive at Michigan Bluff, which is a sight for sore eyes!! Jimmy was obviously there, Kate, and Erin too. I got some chicken and rice broth (did I mention who awesome this stuff is during a long race?!), and they fixed me up with headlamp and cold weather clothes, and the best surprise ever – Erin was going to pace me until Bath Road! I hadn’t been planning on that, but since I got there so late and it was dark, they were allowing pacers. And thank god for that too, because it turned out to be one of the loneliest stretches where we’d be running for 30 minutes or more at a time without seeing anyone. Erin (my Caswooka cousin) was a fantastic pacer, and we had a good time getting supremely grossed out by these nasty, large, black worms crawling around.

Getting to Bath Road was even more exciting, because there was Katie & Jimmy again, ready to walk with me up to Foresthill. I was already in so much pain at this point, quads shot, blisters forming on my feet, but was so elated to see the crew, that I had nothing but a big smile on my face. Not to mention, Brian would be waiting for me at Foresthill. Jimmy was so sweet, he called Brian and put him on speaker to let him know I was heading that way.

10:50PM:
I got to Foresthill, mile 62, 20 minutes behind 30 hours cutoff. Again, at the time I didn’t know this. I didn’t care. I was just out there trying to survive! I was so happy to hug and kiss Brian, and see my whole crew together. So, so happy. I freshened up, and my pit crew changed my socks, shoes, and took care of me so well I couldn’t have thought up the things they did for me. I sensed a little bit of urgency and holding back of information when I noticed a Jimmy & Katie (my incoming pacer!) exchange, but didn’t want to think too much about it.

SO happy to see the love of my life!

Brian & I

Jimmy & I

My fabulous crew taking care of me!

All the aid stations through the night are a blur to me. Katie led me, and I may as well have been blind (although maybe she was, because she was the one who kept tripping over roots and rocks). I honestly regard Katie as a sort of savior after the night run we had together. I will sum it up with a little simulation of our exchange:

KATIE: Great job June, you’re awesome. Can you run this section?
JUNE: Yes, let me run a bit. Oh shoot, I need to tape my feet at the next aid station. They’re really hurting. Everything hurts.
KATIE: Okay. I know everything hurts. You're doing great.
JUNE: Awesome they duct-taped my feet, I feel better now.
KATIE: Yes, I can tell, you’re running faster! But now I have to tell you that you’re 20 minutes behind absolute cut-off time, so we really need to pick up the pace.
JUNE: …..what does that mean? Will they make me stop running?
KATIE: Yes.
JUNE: Oh, shit. Oh, no. Ok. Ok. I can do this. I can do this. Let’s do this.

Katie pushed the hell out of me through the night. After one 3 mile section, I felt like I was going to collapse or hyperventilate or puke, I don’t know which. I had a momentary breakdown, but was able to snap out of it. It was through the night, with Katie, that I realized I COULD RUN 100 MILES. And it was also through the night where I realized that even though I knew now that I could do it, if I didn’t beat all the cutoffs, I wouldn’t be allowed to finish. I made a conscious decision that I was going to fight – to fight the hardest that I possibly could to finish the damn race. With or without a belt buckle, I was NOT going to get pulled. Thank you Katie, for helping me to believe this. To really believe this.

Fighting to Believe

(Oh, and somewhere along the way Stan passed me, which I was SO HAPPY to see and gave me a surge of energy!!)

4:25AM:
Katie and I arrive at Rucky Chucky. As we come off the single track onto the fireroad, we can see the boats from afar, and I am so happy and excited to be there. Mile 78.1. The volunteers help me onto the boats, and because my quads are so shot, every step down is pure agony. But an agony in heaven, because here we’d somehow made it to Rucky Chucky 35 MINUTES AHEAD OF ABSOLUTE CUTOFF.

Me & Katie chilling on a boat at Rucky Chucky

5:09AM:
Katie and I make it to Green Gate. I get to walk with Brian up to Green Gate, because him and Erin came down to meet us part way. I am nervous while talking to Brian, because I know I’m just flirting with cutoff times. But as usual, I am just elated for a kiss and hug. Katie and Kate make a pacer change here, and Kate and I start running together as the sun is coming up and a new day is beginning. Or, in my eyes, a very long day is continuing.

Happy again

Kate is a true friend...taking some unneeded "items" out of my pack.

I try to maintain the same pace Katie and I were running, because I know that if I continue that way, I should make all the cutoffs (I know this because this is what Katie told me, lol, do you really think my brain is THAT sharp at this point?). But somehow, some of the cutoff times seem much more aggressive. Kate is tougher on me than Katie, but I didn’t know at first that she made it her goal to have me beat the 30 hour runner cutoff (thank you, Kate!). We have fun running because it’s a beautiful new day, the trails are glorious in the morning light, and Kate's energy is contagious.

6:51AM:
We get to Auburn Lake Trails and are only 9 minutes ahead of absolute cutoff. WTF?!?!!!!?!?! I am in shock. I need to fix the duct tape on my feet because they have shifted and are cutting into my toes, but the aid station dude and Kate both tell me I need to keep going. So sadly, I do. But not without grabbing a danish first. I love breakfast food at aid stations! I start freaking out, asking Kate what happened, because we were going at a good pace, and how did we lose so much time, etc. etc. Kate somehow calms me down, saying that since there were adjusted aid stations it probably has something to do with the new snow course (she probably just made that up to stop me from totally flipping out), etc, but don’t worry we’ll be back on track. She then gives me her time goals for me for the next few aid stations, which was a really great technique for me. As I previously stated, I made the decision to give it my all so I could just finish the damn thing, so I ran my buns off to make Kate’s time goals for me, and tried even to beat them if I could.

8:04AM:
We get to Brown’s Bar just under Kate’s time goal, and I am nervous as hell so I grab a coke (that’s all I’m eating now because I don’t have time), and continue on. Kate is stoked to be at Brown’s Bar with the drunk dudes, so she hangs with them for a second. I am glad she can enjoy it, and swear to myself next time I run Western States I will make sure I can hang with the crew at Brown’s Bar longer. The weather starts to get warm at this point, and I’m struggling a bit whenever we hit an open stretch in the sun, or have to do serious hiking.

KATE: Come on, June, more running, less walking! Pump your arms!
JUNE: I’m trying….
KATE: Okay, just breathe, deep breaths….
JUNE: ……

Needless to say, it is kicking my ass, all this faster running and trying to beat cut-off times. Good job Kate, way to work my tired butt.

9:05AM:
Highway 49 I am SO LUCKY I get the surprised of my whole freaking crew there!!! Erin, Katie, Brian……I am so happy to see everyone. I weigh in and take a whole 3 minutes at the aid station, because I am 5 minutes behind 30 hour cutoff time now. AGH!!!!! I grab a coke and try to swallow a salt tab, but gag several times. It’s too hot now, and I’m having a hard to eating/drinking. BUT, I am refreshed after seeing everyone, and with only 6.5 miles to go, the end is in sight….

Shortly after we get to the No Hands Bridge checkpoint (mile 96.8) we bump into Tim Twietmeyer. He is so encouraging and really wants me to finish in under 30. He roots for me and tells me I can do it, but I can't stop.

10:34AM:
We get to Robie Point, mile 98.9, and I am starting to freak out. What if I don’t finish? I am so close, I’ve got to do it, I’ve got to! I am one minute ahead of the 30 hour cutoff. And ALL OF MY FRIENDS are there with one mile to go, including Tim Twietmeyer, and everyone runs (or fast walks?) with me down the road, around the track, and I finish the last 200 meters floating on AIR. I am so happy, I can’t describe it. I can’t believe I’m at the finish line. I can’t believe what it took to get there. I did it. It can be done. 29:50:54. Bronze Western States belt buckle in hand.

Jimmy trying giving me some coke and dumping water on me to cool me down

Coyote Love

Cannot be described in words...

Floating toward the finish line

Finish Time: 29:50:54

Thank you, Brian, for being there with me. Wouldn't have been the same without you.

Thank you, Jimmy, for EVERYTHING.

Thank you, EVERYONE, you know who you are, for helping me get here.

How I ended up loving MIWOK...

2011-05-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

Miwok 100K wasn't on my list of races to run. Last year I ran North Face 50 Miler in December, and it demolished me. It was cold, wet, and not my day. I barely finished the race in 12 hours and 20 some odd minutes (do we really need to remember the details of this time?) after rolling my ankle 5 to 6 times, being frozen under 4 layers of clothing, crying, whining, and finding out halfway through that I was selected in the lottery for Western States 100. Why is this relevant? Miwok is run on almost all of the same trails as North Face was. And I had NO desire to step foot on those trails again.

My friend and training partner Kevin (who was also selected for Western States) and I decided to "put-in" for Miwok as a duo. This meant we would only be running if both our names were selected in the random drawing. Naturally, as my luck had it for 2011 races, we were selected!

I changed my attitude quickly and got really excited for Miwok. It would come at a good time in my training schedule a few weeks after the Boston Marathon, and over a month and a half before Western States. And, I could find some redemption on the trails! I kicked up my training for the month of January and February drastically, and started to feel stronger than ever...when LIFE happened. To name a few - I'd just started a class (working on pre-requisite courses for physical therapy) when I was forced to face some finance issues that had accumulated from my career transition early last year, and in the middle of it all, my uncle passed away from liver cancer he'd had beat for years. Things in my life got crazy...and it was something I couldn't run from.

So Miwok. I never reserved my room or made any plans for the race, because I knew I couldn't responsibly afford to go. When my coach, Jimmy Dean Freeman, finally forced me out of hiding, I was able to make plans with Kevin who let me crash with him, and Katie & Dom to split a car ride up to Marin.

Normally I would say that running 62.1 miles is the toughest thing about running a 62.1 mile race, but I have to say that getting to the race start was the toughest part about my race. When I was finally there in Marin, at the start, dancing for warm-up with a bunch of Coyotes at 5 in the morning, I was stress-free and completely happy. The race, although rigorous and challenging with it's 10,000+ feet of ascent/descent (my quads are still screaming), a long and lonely section from miles 26.7 to 41.1 on a fireroad (Bolinas to Randall and back to Bolinas), and some major feet/ankle pain from past injuries - the race was something my heart needed just to remind myself that life is just a ride. That I am alive, happy, have amazing friends and family who support the heck out of me, and damn, I can RUN 62.1 miles. You can't do anything but appreciate that when you are running to views of the Golden Gate Bridge and trekking across a single track Coastal Trail with a beautiful hawk flying 5 feet above your head. You also can't do anything but appreciate what you have when your feet are killing you, your quads & knees are yelling for you to stop moving, and it appears you can finish the race in sub-14 hours if you just go a little faster. Did I make it to Miwok? Yes. Did I make it to the finish line? Yes. Did I finish in under 14 hours? Yes. (13:35) Could I have done all this alone? Nope. All I ever needed was a little help from my friends during a time in my life when things got a little crazy. Now when I think about Miwok 100K, I not only think of the struggles and happy times on the trails, but I also think about the struggles and happy times in my life and how lucky I am to be surrounded by the best people in the world.

Miwok, I love you.

Me, Chris, and Kevin before the start!

Start Line

Mile 12ish

Mile 26.7 with some hot coyote mamas! (Katie & Kate)

Finish Line. GLORIOUS! 13hrs and 35min, with help from Kate during the last 2.5 miles of the race. There is nothing better than seeing your friend coming running towards you when you're thisclose to finishing a 100K race. Then getting out of breath because we're chatting away and moving forward together - this is what makes a finish so much sweeter than it ever could be.

New Treadmill Workout

2010-12-28T16:31:00.000-08:00

Normally I despise doing cardio in the gym, when there are beautiful trails right outside in my backyard. But sometimes my schedule opens up just enough time to work out between clients, but not enough time to drive to a trail. I have concocted an awesome treadmill workout that simulates running/power hiking trails, and I actually look forward to them!

Today was the second time I did the workout, and I plan on doing it once a week for the next few weeks. Here's the workout:

5 minute intervals
5 minutes at 15% incline 4.0 speed (15 minute miles) - powerhiking only, no running
5 minutes at 1.5% incline 7.6 speed (I change this up depending on how I'm feeling...anywhere between a 7 minute and 8 minute mile is good with me)
60 minutes total

Seriously great workout :-)

Getting my legs (and feet) back...

2010-12-27T17:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my first long run back since North Face 50, and although there is residue soreness (mostly in my feet/arches/ankles) I felt phenomenal. A few of us Coyotes (Caswooka's, Annie, Pedro, Chris, and a masculine unicorn) met with Keira and a crew of runners from all over So Cal at Will Rogers. Everyone was awesomely friendly, which doesn't surprise me, and kept up a quick pace. I wanted to keep my pace easy to moderate since I want to be sure I am fully recovered before picking up my Western States training. Got to wear my new compression socks, and will say I am thoroughly addicted to them now (highly recommended: CW-X, except I've already worn small holes into the front toes!! They need to make them a little thicker.) I am so thankful to have done that specific run with everyone, because my eyes were opened to Rustic Canyon and how to connect Will Rogers to Sullivan and back around through the Topanga Hub. SUPER cool route, on a brisk clear-as-heck day after a good night of rain. We even saw a walrus. Ok, just kidding, but we definitely HEARD one.

photo by: www.desktopature.com

All in all the Coyote group finished a little more than 20 miles with 3,573 feet of elevation and 512 stairs, and kicked back with some seriously good grub at Mayberry in the Palisades. YUM!

Only PART of the crew!

I am excited to pick up my training big time in January, but in the meantime, I am really just taking it easy with some fun runs and cross training. Christmas day I hiked Ocean Trails in Palos Verdes with my mom, dad, little sister, and dog. It was really fun to do some hiking over and on the ocean - much different from the terrain I'm used to in the Santa Monica Mountains. Now, I'm just looking forward to some snowboarding later this week up in Truckee, Tahoe, and some New Year's fun!!!

NB101 and the Countdown for Dick Collins' Firetrails

2010-09-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

That didn't take long! Just got my NB101's in the mail from Road Runner Sports. I haven't tried them out yet because I couldn't bear to hit the trails in this heat. Update on the run soon...

Aren't they beautiful?!

In other news...only 12 more days until Firetrails 50 Miler! I'm getting pretty excited about it, and a little bit nervous about what type of weather is in store for us. I'm going to start praying now to the cold weather gods.

NB100. NB100. NB100.

2010-09-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Just bought these trail shoes yesterday. They cannot be described as anything other than pure trail running GLORIOUSNESS. I love them so much I have been thinking about them non-stop since my last run. They are light, comfortable, yet with incredible traction...I'm in love.

PS: Mizuno, I still hold you close to my heart.

The Great Debate: To Shoe or Not To Shoe?

2010-01-27T16:52:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, we're all reading Born to Run and think barefoot running is a fad topic. Regardless, I still find it to be a very interesting topic and fun debate. Check out a good article from the Boston Globe here.

Although I agree that it depends on the specific biomechanics of an individual, for me, I think my body would feel more natural with barefoot running. I've always opted for lightweight shoes (even on trails) because shoes in general always feel like they're pushing my feet in all the directions they don't want to go. I think I'd like to buy a pair of Vibram Five Finger's for walking around and gym-going to see how they feel.

Bonk Breaker. Gimme.

2010-01-15T18:03:00.000-08:00

I LOVE. I LOVE. I LOVE.

http://www.bonkbreaker.com/

I LOVE 2010!

2010-01-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

This year couldn't have started out any better. Beautiful trip to Joshua Tree for New Year's, a 26 mile trek with my friend Katie along Backbone, and a double race weekend with my favorite running ~~fiends~~ friends.

I love this year.

Race #1: XTERRA Boney Mountain 21K

I have to say that this is the toughest XTERRA SoCal course I've ran yet, but a lot of fun. It starts off on a pretty long downhill on asphalt - ew. Then it pretty consistently runs uphill and downhill allowing strong downhill runners to kill it, then the strong uphill runners to pass them right back. The scenery is pretty fantastic as the trail runs on the east side of Pt. Mugu, and I was happy to run yet another new trail! A big shout out to the Coyotes who ran - lots of age division wins and battle wounds...

Battle Wounds...

I listened to JDF's advice pre-race about saving about 1/3 of my energy for the last few miles of hardcore uphill and hardcore downhill, and it served me pretty well. I killed it on the downhill and finished feeling pretty strong in 2:09, grabbing an age division win.

Race #2: 13.1LA

I signed up for 13.1LA a couple months ago, and when I was torn between running Boney Mt. and 13.1LA, I decided to just do both. Figured it would be a good training weekend to run these two fast, since I wouldn't be putting in my long mileage. I was a little nervous about how I would feel during this half-marathon, but after about 6 miles into this race, I finally felt my legs loosen up and everything start to flow again. Good times! L.A. Runner & Chic Runner were out there supporting and cheering everyone on, which was AWESOME. The neighborhood schools had their cheerleaders, flags teams, and bands out to support, which was equally awesome. And my favorite sign of all "RUN NOW" "BEER LATER" was very motivating at about 8ish miles in. Haha! Great race with great friends. I finished this one strong as well in about 1:40 something.

The Ladies!! Amber, Cordia, Ruth, me, Annie, and Riza

Good training weekend!! Now looking forward to Rocky Raccoon 50-Miler, my first ultra expedition!

XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot 2009 - Race Report

2010-01-07T11:56:00.000-08:00

As usual, I am delayed here. In any case, better late than never! This will be a quickie.

For those of you who were at this race, I hope you had just as much fun as I did. I was a little unsure how my legs would feel coming off the Malibu Marathon on the 15th, but I got off to a good start and cruised through fairly easily, feeling good the entire way. I wore a new pair of black Moeben sleeves for the first time and advise anyone who is looking to buy a pair to buy 1 SIZE SMALLER than you normally would wear.

The course started off with a bang - making my not-totally-warmed-up-legs run uphill for some time. I took it easily and just enjoyed the part of the trail I'd never run on before. After a couple miles in was when we all took off on the crazy, windy, hairpin turns, tree trunk infested, tree branch occupied, single track trail. I had a blast with it, but it was far too much running while bent over. And I'm only 5'6! The poor man who blasted his face into a tree branch was much taller than I and so I will not complain.

I ran the 15K, obviously, along with many of the Coyotes. You can see an awesome picture of our group at the Coyote Call Blog. Yaaaa baby!

I finished 2nd in my age group, and 7th woman overall with a time of 1:26:07.14.
My modified meathead also did awesome running the 5K with a time of 41:37.16! Perfect way to start Thanksgiving morning.

Happy Friday & Good Luck to CIM Runners!

2009-12-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

Good luck to everyone running CIM this weekend!!!

Also, something fun for you all on Friday. Watch this video of Jimmy Dean Freeman running the 2010 LA Marathon Course....Coyote Running Style...GOOD stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTMZs6X-9P8

Malibu Marathon Turned Into A Boston Qualifier

2009-12-01T15:36:00.000-08:00

[This blog entry is also featured on The Coyote Call blog - check it out!]

The Malibu Marathon was an amazing experience for me.

Let's be honest here, I've only run one other marathon and that was Long Beach in 2007. I ran around a 3:55 something or other and never trained more than 13 miles. I say "trained" lightly. I signed up for the Malibu Marathon back in June (or earlier) because my assistant cross country coach from back in high school wanted to run his first marathon and suggested this one. I was excited because A) I wanted to beat my time, and B) It was the very first Malibu Marathon...and I always like being one of the first to try things.

Then something happened a few months later - I got really, really sick of running alone with headphones, the same route, all the time. I frantically searched online for different running groups (see previous blog posts) and found some amazing people who helped re-ignite my passion for running. I actually put in the distance, and started putting in real mileage, and enjoying it like once upon a time.

Let's fast-forward to the MM 2009. The point of the last two paragraphs was just to point out that I actually trained this time around, and put in the appropriate long runs where I was supposed to put them in. I started running with the Coyote Trail Running Group, and I also started doing some running fitness classes with Jimmy Dean Freeman, and in turn, felt a noticeable difference in body strength. So, onto the fun stuff, the race re-cap:

4:30AM - Ken and I pull up to Zuma Beach bright and early. My car tells us it's 48 degrees outside. Brrr.
4:45AM - We board the 2nd bus. En route to the start line at the Camarillo Airport.
6:45AM - Split half a PB&Banana Bonk Breaker with Ken. Drink water.
7AM - The race begins. I am cold, I have a handheld water bottle filled with Cytomax + water and 4 packets of GU, my pace cutout (thanks Jimmy) for 3:36 wrapped visibly around my water bottle, and I am happy and very excited. It's now light out, and a beautiful start to the day!

Miles 1-8: Beautiful! I never knew there were farms in Camarillo, and the roads we were on are simply gorgeous. I chat with another runner about how hard it is to slow down to an 8:20 pace at the very beginning of a race. He agrees. Nearly everyone passes me, and I continually resist the urge to speed up. I am very good to my pace chart. Ken is trying to stick with me, but he too passes me by eventually.

Sticking to 8:20 Pace!

Miles 9-13: We pass through the Naval Base and head up closer to the coastline, approaching HWY 1. We start to feel a headwind that gets particularly bad as we run thru the Mugu Rock tunnel. I can't wait to see pictures of this, because I was covering my head for fear of getting knocked out by some rock debris and saw a race cameraman as I exited the tunnel. Hahaha, should be amusing.

Mile 14: Who's this guy running toward me with flaming arms? Jimmy! I was REALLY surprised to see him and really happy to have someone to run with. He is a breath of fresh air. I re-cap him about the headwind and talk about how I've only eaten one packet of GU. But I am almost dead on pace, and for that fact I am really proud.

Jimmy with the "Flaming Arms"

Mile 15-19: Jimmy helps me a ton. He helps pour water on my head, pace me, tells me to pick it up to give my legs a boost, and is just an awesome support system and coach. I have found some really GOOD people! This is also about the time I start passing everyone who blew by me during the beginning of the race. It's an awesome feeling, and I'm still feeling relatively good.

Mile 20: Ankur shows up to help pace me, and his legs are crazy energetic. I am starting to get a little tired and Jimmy helps me out by having me do a short burst of a slightly faster pace to wake my legs up. I pass by Ken at this point too. It's getting tougher to keep at a 8:20 pace...

Mile 21/22/23: These miles are a bit of a blur for me. Katie shows up, which is another awesome surprise. I start to feel the effect of the past 20+ miles, and dry heave because my stomach is pissed at me for mixing GU with Cytomax with Zico Coconut Water. I start to feel my legs cramping, but I just hear my mantra given by Jimmy "This is what it feels like to qualify for Boston" and keep going.

Mile 24: I think around here is when Kate appears, and I have a posse of Coyote Runners by my side. I am stoked they are there, but the miles are getting tough, and I start to feel some pressure that I may miss the qualifying mark. I don't want to let myself down, but at this point, I don't want to let everyone else who came out to support down either. I am taking it mile by mile.

Mile 25.5: My legs are shot, and I feel like shit. I know that I didn't have enough to eat throughout the race, but the past few miles my stomach wouldn't really allow me to eat anything without gagging. I don't know if I am going to make it, but I feed off the energy of my fellow coyotes, and I focus on my one goal for the race: qualifying for Boston.

Mile 26: Somehow my mind separates from my body. I know I am cutting it close, so I block out all pain sensors and go. for. it.

Mile 26.2: I collapse in a heap after the finish line in SUCCESS: 3:39:43!!!!

Mosquitoes Like Bananas

2009-11-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

A little tidbit I received in my Spectrum Sports Newsletter today:

"Mosquitoes are attracted to people who just ate bananas or finished exercising. This is because foods high in potassium and exercising cause your body to release lactic acid, which is attractive to mosquitoes."

NO WONDER I ALWAYS GET BIT!! :-(

Faces at the NY Marathon

2009-11-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

My friend sent me a link today from an awesome New York Times Album called "Faces at the Finish" (of the New York Marathon). I wanted to share it with everyone today, because every single one of these expressions speaks a thousand words to me at once. Congrats to all the NY Marathon Finishers this past weekend!

Enjoy: http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/sports/20091101-marathon-finish-line/?hp

Happy (early) Halloween!

2009-10-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Weekend!

So, a bunch of the crew from the Coyotes are running and crewing/pacing for the Javelina Jundred 100 mile race in Arizona. You better believe that although I'm not out there with them physically, I will be cheering all of them on from home as I watch the web tracker online. I am so excited to be a part of such an awesome group of runners, and will definitely be either racing or crewing at the next event. It's certainly hard to run with a bunch of ultra runners and not be influenced to want to try to do longer, harder, mentally challenging, CRAZY distances. I can pretty much guarantee my mileage will continue to go up, and naturally, my races as well. How can you NOT be inspired by these insanely strong (physically and mentally) people?!

I think training for this weekend will involved a 12-14 mile run...I may not travel anywhere for it, but instead do it alongside the beach. That sounds relaxing. I am 2 weeks out from the Malibu Marathon (Nov. 15th) and starting to feel really good. Last weekend Ruth and I ran the trails up in Pt. Mugu for a total of 18 miles, and I felt great. I was incredibly sore the week before, but was advised to buy a foam roller, that is now my LOVE in life. I got a half size foam roller and a book of self-myofascial release exercises from Acology on Wilshire in Santa Monica. I won't lie that the roller brought me to tears when I was working on my quads Friday night, but I also am not lying when I say that the thing really SAVED me for me trail run. Trust me people, for $10 a pop, HIGHLY recommended.

Hmmm...what else on my mind running-wise? I have some gear I am in need of these days. Whenever Zombie Runner gets their next shipment of Moeben Running Sleeves, I ALL over thatt. I've heard around these woods that the hemp sleeves are incredibly comfortable, but I haven't bought a pair yet because they're out of my size. I am loving the different patterns though, so may get a few. Cute? Yes.

I also need to get myself a hydra vest. I have been recommended to buy the 70 ounce Nathan Women's Racing vest. If anyone else has high recommendations, please let me know!!

Have an awesomely spooky JALLOWEEN all!

Sore Body. Happy Heart.

2009-10-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

Man...I am sore. But THIS is what it feels like to be really training again. I am sore, but I feel good both mentally, spiritually, and physically. Bring on the soreness! I can't wait to move up to the next level.

I have really upped my mileage and workouts since I joined the Coyotes. I run the trails with them every Thursday morning, and I look forward to it all week (other runs just don't compare!). I recently just started doing some core/legs/drills workouts Tues-Wed-Fri mornings specifically targeting runners, and this means no more sleeping in since I have to be there at 6AM. This past Saturday, Bev, Robyn, and I tackled Bulldog up in Malibu Creek. I didn't know what to expect, and it ended up being a tough, mountainous 15.5 mile run...beautiful views at the top with mountains on one side and ocean on the other, and a lovely area of rock formations that made me feel like Pocahontas running in the wind. I had an amazing time and it only fueled my fire and added to my thirst for MORE.

Thursday was a hilarious adventure courtesy of Jimmy. We went Westridge, then cut through a deep canyon until reaching Sullivan Ridge. It was 6AM and still dark as we descended this canyon...slipping, falling, attempting to run (well, at least from my perspective!). But the sun began to rise as we ran Sullivan ridge to the tree, then single tracked back on the mountain, climbing back up the canyon to Westridge (see pic below, thanks for the pic Peter!). I don't know how I ran so many days on the boring streets, I will never go another week of my life without running a trail someplace, somewhere.

So...here I am. Left quad is particularly sore, abs are sore, legs a bit run down, small blister on the back of my left heel, BUT an awesomely happy, whole heart.

Larabar = Yum!

2009-10-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

Every Larabar I've had in the past has tasted gross to me...BUT I have found the MOST delicious Larabar flavor ever. So delicious it deserves its own blog post! The coconut cream pie Larabar. Yes, my friends, give it a try.

I discovered these at the Long Beach Marathon...I love grabbing those free goodies!

Long Beach Half Marathon - Race Report

2009-10-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

The Long Beach Marathon has grown consistently over the years! Even though I was late to the marathon a couple of years ago, and knew traffic was going to be horrendous, my friend Ruth and I STILL managed to make it late to the Half Marathon. We started with the 4th Wave, which was both amusing and frustrating. I felt like a complete jerk trying to dodge people, and apologize to anyone who thought the girl with the green tank and black capris was being obnoxious in doing so. If I run this race again, I PROMISE to show up on time to MY heat.

I felt really good during this race. The first 5 miles passed like a breeze, and it was somewhat fun passing & dodging people quickly. It gave me a little extra juice. I'd forgotten that most of these beginning miles weren't that pretty, or scenic, being partially on the freeway and other paved roads. My first mile came in around 7:14 and I was excited for this because I wanted my pace to remain consistently below 8:00 miles. I wanted to use this race as a tester to see where my current running fitness level is right now. I want to start racing at my full potential in the months to come, and have just recently stepped up my training. Sub 8 is a good start for me for half marathons and longer distances, but I know I will be improving my time by much more when I start incorporating the speed workouts & consistent yoga practice again...and I am VERY excited!

I settled into a good pace once the views of the marina and ocean hit...the weather was perfect and cool and I was really happy to be running. Around mile 8/9 I saw Burger taking pictures of the Long Beach scenery with his bike propped up next to him. It was nice to "meet" him (aka me yelling "HEY BURGER!") for the first time in person, although I am pretty sure he was confused for a moment (or the rest of the day!) trying to figure out who I was. LOL!

I began to feel the beginnings of light-headedness at around mile 10, which was surprising and not surprising at the same time. I need to pay closer attention to my body's fuel needs in order to maximize my running abilities, and this is another something I am in the process of testing. I have never been good at this, hence a past of fainting, and ambulance trips due to heat exhaustion/dehydration. Thank you to the volunteers handing out GU packets - popped another GU and took in some Powerade increasing my energy level in a matter of minutes.

All in all, this was a good race for me and really motivated me for my upcoming Malibu Marathon. I finished in 1:41:43 at around a 7:38 mile pace. Although I think I should be aiming to run at a similar pace for the marathon, I would really like to speed up in a month. Is this too ambitious? Maybe it is unrealistic...maybe I need to get a little more training underneath my belt before setting my goal. Not sure.

Congratulations to everyone else who ran at Long Beach!

New Shoes!!

2009-10-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

I got the latest Mizuno Wave Alchemy's this weekend, and I am beyond excited to wear them tonight. I haven't worn them yet, because I plan to reserve my old Mizuno's for the trails...yes, I wear regular running shoes on the trail, and yes, I love it! If I wear trail shoes, I inevitably get blisters. Check out how beautiful my new shoes are:

These are my old Mizuno's...taken on the trails one too many times:

I also went on a little shopping spree at Top to Top . Got a great deal on these Saucony capris. My favorite feature is the little pocket at the top (these are the back of the pant) with a zipper. I haven't yet bought a pair of tights with a pocket on them, so I'm pretty excited!

And last but not least, the essentials. Champion sports bras...these are fantastic, and I love to buy things that are just plain black or white. I LOVE the color options!

Lastly, I bought a couple of boxes of Tri-Berry Gu from Jenson USA ...if anyone is looking for a good deal on GU, this is the best I've found. It's just $23.99 for a 24 pack, and even if you ship the lowest shipping option, they ship immediately!

Updated Race Schedule

2009-10-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

Got talked into running the Long Beach Half Marathon with my friend Ruth, so will be out there this Sunday! :-)

Updated Race Schedule is:
October 11: Long Beach Half Marathon
November 15: Malibu International Marathon (1st Annual!)
November 26: XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot 15K (not signed up yet)
December 13: XTERRA Crystal Cover Trail Run 17K (not signed up yet)
January 10: Inaugural 13.1 Los Angeles

Tentative Dates (registration not yet available):
February 14: Montana de Oro 50K
March 7: Malibu Creek 50K

I'm not sure when I will go for my first 50K, but Montana de Oro or Malibu Creek both look awesome. I used to run Montana de Oro when I was living in SLO - back to the old stomping grounds! So gorgeous there. And Malibu Creek is of course amazing and right up highway one. I'm very excited for the next few months - lots of great races to look forward to!

Hello, Temescal

2009-10-01T11:07:00.001-07:00

Ahhh...another beautiful morning run with the Coyotes. Easy 4 miles up Temescal Canyon today was simple amazing. This was my first time up this particular route, and I was blown away by the view(s) at the top - ocean, city, and an amazing red/orange sun rising over downtown! Freaking phenomenal.

I love life.

Point Mugu - XTERRA Trail Race Series #1

2009-09-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

The first trail race of the XTERRA SoCal Trail Race Series!

It was foggy up at Point Mugu...

I had an absolute blast. I am stoked for the rest of the races in this series, and even more stoked after realizing you can accumulate points at each one for a possible free entry into the nationals next September. I was able to score 90 points at Pt. Mugu, so I'm off to a good start!

My running buddies and I carpooled from my place in Santa Monica at 6:30AM, and it was overcast and foggy all along PCH. Two of us were running the 18K, one of us the 11K, and another of us was just going to do a little training run along the highway. The 18K was the first race, and it didn't start until 8:30AM. Lol, we picked up our race packets and took a fun ride in a Subaru (who was one of the race sponsors) while we were waiting :-)

Let me tell you - I ran the course a couple of weeks ago with the Coyotes, and my memory had completely deceived me. I remembered it to be uphill for half the way, and downhill for half the way, and I remembered thinking it was a lot easier than I'd anticipated. Well, please don't be fooled. This trail is intense. It continues uphill for most of the 18k, and when it begins to descend, it is NOT a straight shot down. It winds and climbs and changes constantly. It is seriously TOUGH, but that's the way I like it!

When we started the race on Sunday, we were excited because of the gloom. It was so foggy that there wasn't the typical ocean view, but instead a gorgeous view of fog rolling in through the mountains. It seemed very cool for the first few miles that I questioned myself for wearing a fuel belt. At about mile 5/6 I was immensely grateful for my fuel belt. After breaking past a certain elevation, the sun was shining bright, and it was hot hot hot. I stopped for Gatorade at the aids stations, I drank my own water, I squirted water all over myself, and I still found myself to be incredibly hot and thirsty.

Overall, the race was tons of fun and a great challenge. I learned a few things along the way:

Beware: Some people would rather you fall off a mountain than let you pass "on the left" during a trail race. One man would not let me get by so I tried to squeeze myself past as best I could, and unfortunately got stuck by a cactus. I immediately proceeded to laugh and yank that sucker out of my leg.
Don't drink TOO much water before a 10/11 mile race. Because of a past experience with heat exhaustion/dehydration, I now am very careful with my water intake. A little too careful. I had to pee nearly the entire run, and especially the last couple of miles where there was plenty of downhill. Instead of focusing on how much energy I had left and my speed, I was completely distracted and concentrating on NOT peeing with every step that I took. Silly me.
Trail races are way better than road races.

I completed the 18K in 1:44:59.15, 13th overall woman, and 2nd in my age group (25-29). I was pretty happy with the results, although very confident I could've gone faster at the end when I was concentrating on my full bladder. No matter, it was a great experience and I look forward to moving up in the ranks at the next races in the series.

My friend Ruth placed first in her age group with a time of 1:45:51.64 - Rockin'!

By the way, the 1st place woman just happened to also be the 1st place winner in my age group, and SHE is a freaking stud. I don't know her (nor did I see her, lol) but she won in 1:29:36.71..!!!! Congrats to Lyndsey Brooks Golden :-)

Here are some pics from the day:

Me, Ruth, Cordia, and Riza bright and early

Trudging up one hill (of many)....

Cruising downhill, getting closer to the finish...

I'm happy to finish! (Immediately ran to the port-o-potty, haha!)

My friend Cordia, finished the 11K :-)

Me, Cordia, and Ruth!

I won another fuel belt during the raffle!

My 2nd Place Medal (25-29)

Ruth's 1st Place Medal (30-34)

Me (admiring my medal?!), Claire from Adventure Runners, and Cordia!

A special thanks to 2 of my favorite people for being my cheering squad!

Didn't mind giving a few sweaty kisses :-)

See you guys out at Topanga for Race #2!

Westridge + Santa Anas

2009-09-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Ran with the Coyotes this morning at the Westridge trailhead in the Santa Monica Mountains. To the top, it's about 7 miles, mostly all up one way and down the other. I should've brought water with me, because it was hot n' dry, even at 6AM! I'm attributing it to the Santa Ana's...

Last night was the weekly meetup at Top to Top. I felt really strong last night so took off at a little quicker pace for the 10K route. I also won a lovely t-shirt at the raffle...by Suunto (they make heart rate monitors among other things)...thanks for that! I love winning.

Run ALL Day!

2009-09-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

Don't you ever just get the urge to skip work and go running all day? What I would give to be running on a trail now with some good friends...

While I am daydreaming, I've realized just how MIA I've been. Here are some fun pictures from a couple of races this year.

Manhatten Beach 5K with my friend Babs. I won 1st in my age group, and she won 3rd - we won COOKIES! Babs was VERY excited and just couldn't resist taking a bite out of hers, lol...

The next set if pictures is from the Camp Pendleton Mud Run earlier this year - still one of my all-time favorite races. I highly recommend this! If anyone is interested, let me know - we've got a group "Mud Dogs" that meets for dinner the night before and hangs out after the race. It's a lot of fun!

And this is when I got my foot stuck in the mud for about half a minute....

And here is Brian kicking some major butt! He improved his time from last year by 6 minutes!! I improved mine by about 50 seconds :-)

I promise, promise, promise to be more diligent about posting races, events, news, and pictures!

Meetup.com

2009-09-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

How many of you are on Meetup.com already?

I found this site a few months ago, and it has done me well. I joined 3 running meetup groups, and have met several awesome runners this way. I was really looking for a group I could consistently run with, and hoping to find some runners who were at my pace. These are the groups I discovered (and run with):

Santa Monica Running Group - They actually don't always meet in Santa Monica, but I consistently go to Wednesday night meetup in front of the Top-to-Top on Wilshire. The Wednesday meetups are extremely exciting and fun - there are about 30ish runners who show up, along with various brands who are either giving away free stuff, or letting you test out their product. There's water, drinks, food, etc. It's a lot of fun! They also started meeting up on Sunday mornings at 9AM. Personally, I love this because I like to go out on weekend nights and it's nice not to have to wake up so early :-) There are more times this group meets, but I haven't gone because they've met in the Hollywood area. The nice thing about this group is that there is always a distance to choose from (2 to 7 miles) and a pre-determined route that is relayed. Very organized!

Running Adventures Club - This group meets sporadically. They're based in the valley, but since I'm on the westside, I join them a couple times a month for some sunset runs along the beach. We either run towards Venice, or towards Malibu, and the usual distance is around 9 miles. This is a good group for beginner / slower paced runners, as it is very casual.

Marina Del Rey Running Club - This is a newer meetup, but they are gaining some traction with Monday night meetups at the Top-to-Top on Lincoln. I haven't gone yet because I have French classes on Monday nights, but I'm sure it is similar to the Santa Monica Running Group.

It's nothing too crazy, but pretty fun if you are itching to run with people. I usually login and check out the calendars for each of the groups to figure out which days I can run with them. Nothing's been easier!

Triathlon Lab Starter Package

2009-09-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

I know I've been talking for ages about getting into triathlons, but I haven't been able to make the leap mostly because of finances. Although I am not totally ready yet, a runner friend of mine told me about Triathlon Lab, located in Santa Monica and Redondo Beach. Apparently, Triathlon Lab sells a great little "Starter Package" for newbie triathletes, which include all the essential ingredients:

Felt Z100 Bicycle
22 oz water bottle
Water bottle cage
NeoSport Long John Wetsuit
Triathlon Shorts
Triathlon Top
Helmet
TYR Racetech Goggles (or Blue Seventy Element)
Latex TYR Swim Cap
Rocket Science Transition Duffle Bag

The package is sold for $1000, and I'm thinking it could be a good start?

Runs on the Horizon...

2009-09-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

It's been months - I'm thinking I am not a good blogger, or maybe I can just call myself a "seasonal blogger" (aka blog whenever I feel like it).

I have been having great fun lately on amazing trail runs, with new people, and just feeling good overall. In the past week I was able to do a preview run with the Coyote Running Group at Pt. Mugu. The first race in the XTERRA Series is coming up in a little more than a week and is at the every so scenic and beautiful Pt. Mugu. I should've taken some pictures, but was definitely more concerned about the trail as it is not an easy one. Next time I go, I will post some pictures. The run has sweeping 180 degree ocean views, for most of the trail, and at times you are running through a meadow-like field with grass sprouts 6 ft tall lining the pathway. You can bet I will be heading back there the next chance I get!

Most recently I ran with the Coyotes at Sullivan Ridge, which is right in my backyard, in the Palisades area. It's a nice little run on a fire road, with great views of the mountains. We saw a big coiled snake when we first started on the trail :-)

Here are the runs that are on my horizon:

Pt. Mugu Trail Race (XTERRA Trail Series)
Malibu Marathon
13.1 LA

Get excited!!

Home Simply Yoga

2009-01-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

Another day of running and yoga...this time I had yoga immediately after running, so I was still sweaty...don't know if that's kosher in the yoga world?

Last night I went to Home Simply Yoga in Santa Monica. It is an Ashtanga Yoga studio and they just started a donation based class on Tuesday and Thursday nights with an instructor names Ally. (Again. What's up with all the yoga teacher's named Ally? :) Anyway, this studio was QUITE different from Bryan Kest Power Yoga. I took a Beginner's class and it was very slow paced and concentrated. I found myself really getting into the breathing in this class, which was extremely meditative. I think this class would be great to take in conjunction with the Bryan Kest class because it forces you to learn each pose correctly and in its entirety.

Here are details:
Home Simply Yoga
1547 6th Street, Garden Suite #102
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Oh! One last note. The decor of the place was fantastic. I loved the feel - there were heated wood floors, and beige warm walls, and they offer you tea or water when you are there. Here is a photo taken by Jasper Johal I got off of their site:

Bryan Kest Power Yoga

2009-01-26T17:44:00.001-08:00

This weekend has been really fun. I am still a huge fan of the combination of yoga + running. It gives me results I can feel immediately. I ran and yoga'ed both days, so I'm currently pretty sore...

I am currently in the process of trying out yoga everywhere I can before committing to a studio I can go to on a regular basis. In case anyone is interested in adding yoga to your training regiment, I'll provide some of my own personal reviews as I do them, here's the first:

BRYAN KEST POWER YOGA
Located: 1410 2nd St., Santa Monica, 90401
Price: Donation Based
Date/Time: Sunday, 2-3:30 PM
Guru: Ally
Notes: This was an AWESOME class. This studio offers tons of classes around the clock, from 7AM - 8:30PM with all different types of instructors. Ally has a great spirit and her positive vibes are felt throughout the class. Because it's a donation based class, it was jam packed during this time. Interestingly enough, it didn't bother me! I really enjoyed the power yoga, because there was a lot of core work in the beginning. The class quickly heated up naturally from body heat/energy. I felt great afterwards and would love to go back. I wonder if the other instructors are as good as Ally...

Sac Town

2009-01-24T17:25:00.000-08:00

Has anyone been running in Sacramento? My friend Ali lives there, and I went to visit her last weekend. It's a really cute little town, quiet, and the restaurants and stores close by the time it gets dark. Ali and her sister took me on a couple really nice scenic runs - one was around McKinley Park. Unfortunately when we got to Ali's favorite part of the park, she was devastated to find all the roses were bare. Pruning season. Here is a picture taken from the McKinley Park website (http://www.cityofsacramento.org/parksandrecreation/recreation/rosegard.htm) that shows the beauty of the rose garden:

Anyway, Sacramento was a fun place to run - we ran through mid-town, and around the park where there are massive, gorgeous homes, and also by the capital/downtown which was pretty awesome because of what it represents, but also because we happened to run in that area right when there was a MLK parade going on! Later on, I was given a little tour of Old Town that connects to New Town aka The Mall, and that was like walking through a time warp.

As fun as it was in Sac Town, I still am partial to the beauty of running on the coastline... :)

And more pics...

2009-01-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

More Pics

2009-01-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

One more pic from Escondido Falls...

Escondido Falls

2009-01-04T14:18:00.001-08:00

I went hiking on New Year's Day up in Malibu - Escondido Falls. I searched for the trail on the web before we set out, because my boyfriend and I wanted to take Bella (his dog) on her first dog friendly hiking trail. The trailhead began a few miles north of Pepperdine. The day was beautiful! The first mile or two of the hike was mostly just walking, but after a couple of wrong turns and detours (poorly marked trails), we discovered a small waterfall and pool. It was gorgeous! There were a few other people in the pool, and a family splashing around, so my boyfriend and I decided to continue up a trail to the right. This is where the climbing began... It is a pretty decent climb and it was hilarious to see Bella the 60+ pound pit bull/labrador mix whine in fear about climbing at certain points. Finally we made it to something we were not expecting at all - a very secluded much larger pool and much larger waterfall that was absolutely breathtaking. I'll try to upload more pictures later of the falls... my connection is a bit slow at the moment :(

The way down was slightly rough because climbing down is always a bit sketchier than climbing up. Bella had to be carried by my boyfriend twice because she was too frightened...I have never seen a more funny sight!

Truly an amazing start to 2009...I would recommend this trail to anyone who enjoys climbing as part of their hiking regimen and is the owner of a brave dog :)

New Year's Eve Run

2008-12-31T16:23:00.001-08:00

Foggy in Santa Monica

Just took my run to the Santa Monica stairs...I am now soaked in sweat and condensation. It is SO foggy/overcast in Santa Monica today!

I think this is the first New Year's eve in a long time where I won't be going out. Just planning on cooking with my boyfriend and having a mellow celebration. Looking forward to it very much. I hope everyone a happy new year and only the best in 2009!

In Love

2008-12-24T12:45:00.000-08:00

Joyeux Nöel!

I am LOVING running in the rain these days, although it's getting tough to get out of bed when it's so warm inside and so cold out there...

I am always appreciative and thankful for living in Santa Monica. Although my favorite runs still remain in San Luis Obispo, I am in love with running along Ocean Ave. and looking out onto the gorgeous ocean and views of Malibu. No two days are alike. I love the people walking on the trail going towards the totem pole, the yoga/pilates classes that take place, the couple walking their dog, the other runners, the cyclists usually coming from the other direction, and my old buddy who likes to jog along San Vicente/Ocean and never fails to wear his distinct white gloves.

The things we see, hear, and experience on runs are so special. During that 30 min, 45 min, 1+ hours so many things are happening - whether it's in our minds, or those little exchanges that happen...the look/eye catch between you and another runner, the beauty of a single leaf falling, a butterfly that caught on to your wind and trails you for several feet...I really love to running.

Happy Holidays all!

PS: If you're into movies, you might like this little "Choose Your Own Adventure" on YouTube. Pretty hilarious...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OivL6CesCBk. Just click on the next person (on the naughty list) at the end of each video to see what Santa does to them...

Cruisin, Boxin, Runnin

2008-12-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

So I just got a kick in the butt from my friend (and talented tri-athlete) Simply A Day In My Life to update my blog. I'd forgotten about it. Oops.

Well, a lot has happened since the last time I've written. Running, yoga, and I even learned to box last weekend. Boxing is an amazing sport I never appreciated before. From my perspective boxing is a great complement to running, just as yoga is - except from the opposite end of the spectrum. I look forward to learning more than jabs and cross punches!

I went on a cruise a few weeks ago...has anyone ever ran the track on a cruise ship? It is actually a pretty neat experience. We were on The Liberty of the Seas, which is one of the newer ships. There is a really great track on the top deck...I will never forget the experience of running on a ship, looking out onto the high seas...ahhh.

To give a quick shout-out, a couple I met from a running group that meets at Griffith Park owns a running apparel company that some of you may recognize. RaceReady's unique products are running bottoms that have these handy dandy pockets on the butt to hold things you may need during a longer run. In fact, during the Long Beach Marathon last year I had in there: cell phone, honey sticks, jelly belly sport beans, and gu. Hahaha. Anyway, I am the "model" for the singlets and v neck shirts, just click "view on model"...pretty funny!

Ok...here's my update all in one breath. I haven't been running any races lately, but am thinking this may be the one: Mission Gorge Trail Run Anybody done this one before? Planning to do it again?

Double Days

2008-10-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

How does everyone feel about double-days?

My schedule is always so busy, I find it easier to run a few miles in the morning, then run a few more miles when I get back from work (to split it up). I have read before that that is an effective way to train, but was wondering if anyone else does this and what they think about it...

Let me know!

David Goggins

2008-09-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

Check out this inspiring video of David Goggins; ultra-marathoner and Navy SEAL.

http://lstudio.lexus.com/#vid346

Pace Tats!

2008-09-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

This is SO COOL! Check it out - you can order a pace chart-tattoo for your next marathon! I think this is a great idea...the only thing I'm curious about is if it will peel from sweat (I sweat a lot).

In any case, I thought this was extremely innovative and I would definitely buy one for my next marathon: http://www.pacetat.com/

Chautauqua Route

2008-09-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

My new favorite run!

"Chautauqua Route" is a run from my house that goes by the ocean, through the Palisades, and back into Santa Monica. I love it! It's a good 8.5 miles, and some parts (particularly on Chautauqua) there is nothing more than a small trail (can't really call that a sidewalk) with overgrown trees and bushes. I really appreciate this run because I enjoy not having to drive to a running locale and just stepping out my front door to run a loop that entails some ocean, some trail, some suburb, and lots of fun...it is more than I can ask for!

I included a map in case anyone lives in the area and wants to give it a shot. I created the map through Map My Run (www.mapmyrun.com), and for anyone who hasn't used this site, it is excellent for mapping new/old routes, inputting notes, and keeping track of your daily running regimen. I haven't been a super avid user, but I think the more you participate you are able to win points for various gift card or reward redemption. Pretty cool!

I've only seen a handful of runners (mostly going the opposite direction...did I mention the hills?), but many cyclists travel down that road (and motorcycles!). It also breezes right by Will Rogers...which I have yet to explore :)

Nike Human Race - Los Angeles

2008-09-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

I ran the Nike Human Race in Los Angeles on August 31st. I ran this race mainly for pleasure with several of my friends. One of my favorite parts about being a runner is sharing my love for running with others, and I'm happy to say that I've actually been pretty successful at sharing my passion and integrating running into others' lives. I can't count on my two hands the number of people I've encouraged to run or walk their first 5k and/or 10k :)

Needless to say, the crowd of 12,000+ people really did not make it easy to run a PR. I pretty much expected to run with my friends and not worry about my time. Ha! After 1-2 miles of dodging people, I got sick of it and decided to step it up and see if I could finish with a decent time. I ended up finishing in 45 minutes, which I was happy about considering the circumstances.

All in all the race was tons of fun and the Kanye West concert afterwards was off the hook!

After the 10k and Kanye West Concert. It was a first 10k for my two girl friends in the center!

The male and female winners of the Nike Human Race (Los Angeles) were:

Christian Hesch - 30:31 - A fellow Cal Poly Alumni!
Grace Padilla - 36:45 - A member of The Janes. She's pretty much a stud: http://www.thejanes.net/Grace.htm

I Moved!

2008-08-20T16:11:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since I've last written, and I haven't been just sitting on my ass :) The reason for my neglect of this blog is because I moved apartments and have been swamped at work. I had to delay my "training plan" because I simply didn't have enough time and was too stressed during the move to drive my butt over to the track. My new apartment is a better place that I even imagined, and I have mapped out and tried a 4.5 mile, 6 mile, and 8.5 mile route thus far.

Overall, my route goes from my house to Ocean Ave., around Entrada and around that neighborhood. Chattauqua made a really awesome long Sunday run, and I think I am now running distance from several trailheads I usually would drive to - HEAVEN!!

Lastly, I am now only a mile away from the Santa Monica Stairs. These stairs are awesome to incorporate in the middle of my run, and my quads are still sore from several rounds on Monday afternoon. Do not underestimate them. You can make them what you make them AKA pass the slow walkers and don't stop!

I found a funny (and true) clip about the Santa Monica Stairs...enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q014PVJV8vw.

Training Week 2, Day 3

2008-07-25T10:16:00.001-07:00

Easy track workout last night. Next week is going to be the toughest one with a couple of 1600s thrown in there. Mentally prepare...

200 / Target :37
Actual :41
Actual fault (stopped my watch too soon)
Actual :40
Actual :40

4 LS (1 min on, 3 min off)

4x100 strides

I am sooo excited for this weekend. Going to squeeze in a moderate 4ish mile run tonight, and then it's off to San Diego to hang with two of my best friends. One of which is my favorite person EVER to run with, so we're definitely planning two long runs in Rancho Bernardo. Those trails there are really nice.

Happy Friday!

Training Week 2, Day 1

2008-07-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

I pushed back my training this week by a day, and have to flip-flop a few things due to some fun events I have planned and a trip down to San Diego this weekend. Today's track workout was SO much easier than last week's, but rather than getting too excited, I think it's because that's the way I designed it. I don't know. In any case, here were my times (still couldn't hit them! it is tough to go fast!):

1200m / Target 4:39

Actual 4:42

Actual 4:48

800m / Target 3:00

Actual 3:10

400m / Target 1:13

Actual 1:27

200m / Target :37

Actual :40

6x100 strides

Upon looking at these times again, I feel that I am so close. I will try a little bit harder next track workout to drop at least a second in each distance. I am very consistent, which might be a good thing, but it also is bad in the sense that I've probably gotten way too comfortable with a specific pace for the past year. Time to break that!

Las Flores to Backbone Trail

2008-07-22T22:00:00.001-07:00

This weekend I slacked on all my runs, but made up for it by an awesome hike on Sunday. I'd hiked Backbone in Malibu Canyon before (the trail extends for miles and miles and has several different entrances), but this time we'd come across it by accident. We rode the motorcycle up through Malibu on PCH, and on the way back we turned on Las Flores Canyon Road because Brian felt the Canyon of Flowers might be compelling. We rode upwards and after asking a nice couple and a couple of cyclists if they knew any hiking trails, we managed to come up to a new entrance to Backbone Trail I'd never come across before. Not sure what the mileage was, but I enjoy hiking immensely and it didn't matter to me. If it helps my case, I had to carry my motorcycle gear in my backpack during my hike :) Anyway, here are some pictures from the day:

Me on the Trail :)

Ocean View!

A beautiful day...

Annie Stela

2008-07-18T17:27:00.001-07:00

Just discovered Annie Stela after reading about her in LAist, and I can't stop listening to her music. Her lyrics are touching, her voice is sweet but has a distinct twang that comes out every now and then, and I am obsessed! Check her out on MySpace...my personal favorite song is "It's You".

Training Week 1, Day 2 & 3

2008-07-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

Day 2 (Tuesday) - 4 miles at a moderate pace. Mini massage on my left hammie and right calf. Ouch.

Day 3 (Wednesday) - SO incredibly sore from Monday's workout, I considered several times to put this workout off until Thursday. Luckily I have an event to attend on Thursday night, and knew this was not a possibility, and forced my butt to the UCLA track. This was tough being as sore as I was, and I did not hit any of my times :( But since my times were so consistent, this proved to me that by the end of the 6 weeks, I will be faster if I can break through. Here are my times:

800m / Target 3:00
Actual 3:06
Actual 3:06

400m / Target 1:13
Actual 1:27
Actual 1:27
Actual 1:26
Actual 1:29

200m / Target :37
Actual :43
Actual :44
Actual :41
Actual :40

4x100 strides

Training Week 1, Day 1

2008-07-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I hit up the UCLA track (note: SMC track is under construction until September. That would have been good to know last night, lol) and started my first day of my six week training plan. The goal? Faster 10k time. I have to admit that although I HATE track workouts - as any other distance runner will probably agree - they are really fun once in awhile just to add some variability to the routine. I ran too fast on all of my splits, which wasn't the plan because my planned times are supposed to increase with each workout. But in my defense, it is really difficult to make your body slow down when it knows it can go faster. Anyway, here is day 1:

1200m / Target time 5:09
1200m / Actual / 4:53
1200m / Actual / 5:02

800m / Target time 3:26
800m / Actual / 3:18
800m / Actual / 3:19

400m / Target time 1:43
400m / Actual / 1:41
400m / Actual / 1:39
400m / Actual / 1:37
400m / Actual / 1:32

6x100m strides

A Boring Update

2008-07-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

For about a month now I have been taking my running really easy with no runs over an hour long, and 3-4 days a week (give or take). My right knee has been bothering me in a strange way that makes me suspect a cartilage problem versus a muscle/bone injury. In any case I have been taking glucosamine regularly and trying to let my body heal itself. It has not yet gone away (hence why I think it may be cartilage) but luckily since it doesn't effect my running much I think I'm ready to start the 10-k training plan this Monday.

Along with my 10-k plans I will be meditating every day for the next 7 days to see if this has any effect over my mind OR body. Excited to see what the results say! :)

Mud Run Pictures

2008-06-10T16:08:00.001-07:00

This is my first attempt at uploading pictures. Mud Run pictures!

Mud Run 2008: This is just a little peak at the muddiness you'd encounter...

MUD DOGS! Finished!

My 3rd place victory...beer in hand :)

The Mud Dogs crew nice n' clean...

Mud Run 2008

2008-06-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

THE CAMP PENDLETON MUD RUN ROCKS!

I am doing this race every year to come. I highly, highly encourage anyone who loves running & getting dirty in the process to participate in the future. You won't regret it.

This weekend was fantastical. I took a half day off work on Friday so we could drive down to San Diego early, and got to B's friends house in Temecula with plenty of time to chill with some Coronitas, home-made Sangria, chill with new puppies and dogs, and grab some Mexican food + margaritas. Slept in the next day and went to breakfast in Old Town Temecula, which is a really cute little area to visit. When we returned to the house, we settled in on the couch chatting, watching tv, and reading and barely made it off our asses to Carlsbad where the Mud Dogs were carbo-loading.

When we got to the Inns of America in Carlsbad, my one contact from the Mud Dogs (Kelli) hadn't yet made it, so we were introduced to the rest of the crew - which are awesome! We hung outside by the pool, ate pasta and bread, drank some beers, and got to bonding. The Mud Dogs bunch is seriously a great group of people.

Woke at 5:45 to leave the house by 6:30 and got to Camp Pendleton by 7:30. The run started out with an intense blast of ice cold water from a fire hose, and then we were off running around 2 miles steadily uphill. I was thankful for the many water stations they provided as I found myself extremely thirsty most of the run. (I was also thankful for the weather, that normally is up there in the 90s/100s, and was only in the 80s/90s). After the steady uphill and a few small mud puddles and streams, we approached a mud pit with a wall in the the center to climb over. Also had to go thru a mini tire course. THEN was the toughest part of the race for me - the RIVER CROSSING. This thing is intense: about 100-200 meters long, at one point the water was up to my neck. I tried to run, but it was too slick, and I tried to swim, but my shoes were too heavy. I ended up side stroking and totally exhausting myself by the end of the thing (as I had to watch a few people pass by me by pulling themselves along via a rope - cheaters!)... The next obstacles were so much fun: more mud pits and walls, a tunnel to crawl through, a vertical hill with streaming water to scale up, and finally a mud pit to dive in and crawl through near the finish. I finished my race in 58 minutes and managed to place 3rd in my age group, and was within the first top ten women to finish. I'm telling you - this was SERIOUS amounts of fun.

I might be converting to adventure racing...Muddy Buddy 2008 here I come!

Excited for the Mud Run

2008-06-05T13:56:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh.

Ran last night for the first time in a week and half due to a little bit of a burn-out, and minor aches in my right knee that I wanted to kick before anything got worse. Headed straight to yoga after then run to stretch out my muscles, and feel so good about it! I am in love with yoga!

Got some Joint Support glucosamine from Trader Joes and I took the first dose this morning. Really hoping it will help those damn aches and pains that came from my increasing speed & mileage over the past few months....

I am leaving tomorrow around 1PM for SAN DIEGO! I can't wait for the Mud Run; I have been waiting for this race for a couple years now and am sure it's going to be a blast.

I will have an exciting update after this Sunday...and will try to take some pictures, although I doubt that I will bring my camera since everything is going to be filthy afterwards!

Re-Motivated

2008-05-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Not gonna lie - I dropped off the face of the planet due to a slight lack of motivation. This + extra life and work stress + exhaustion have not proved well for my mental and physical (aka "running") health. In any case, I was searching the Brentwood 10K results and came across another runner's blog about his experience that I quite enjoyed: L.A. Runner.

With this new inspiration for writing and getting back on track (figuratively...and literally speaking :) I can relate with L.A. Runner on the experience of running that Brentwood course. This was my second year doing it, and I again, went out WAY too fast. My goal was to set a pace at consistently under 7 min per mile, but no faster than 6:50 per mile. I went out at a lovely 6:20 pace, and felt so good I decided to continue that fast pace for the first 3 miles until I killed my body. I finished at 44:05 officially, came in 3rd in my age group, but was pretty bummed out. Next steps? No more races (except for the Mud Run) until I complete my 6-week training plan.

After racing 3 times in one month, my body feels a little more exhausted than usual, so I've been taking several days off at a time. I am not a big sleeper, but lately I've been just wishing to sleep in. Not sure what's happening, but am seriously determined to kick this kink - perhaps I can accomplish that today :)

Back to my life

2008-05-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

I had a great race this past weekend - I placed 2nd overall women in the Revlon 5k Run/Walk for women's cancers. It was a trip! I started out the race stuck back in the pack (I try and I try to get to race's early but it never happens) and was literally walking until I could finally break free. It wasn't until some man on the sidelines shouted "You're the 5th woman!" I perked up and decided that I could place and gave it my all. I came in 2nd out of 25, 550 women, and 64th out of 35K+ men and women combined...if that's not motivating for me, I don't know what is!

So now I am eager to start my training for my next 10k, with my new training plan. I sent a copy to Ali and she is going to attempt the training plan down in SD with me, keeping in touch via phone. It's going to be tough as I'm more of a spontaneous runner, and I'll really have to crack down on myself.

Was browsing run clubs on the net yesterday and really would like to join one soon, but they all meet at 6:30 during the weekdays. I'm still in work at that time - bummer. Scoped out The Janes Elite Racing Team and am pumped to see if I can work at it and get my times down close to theirs... This will be my goal for the rest of 2008. They are all quite good, however, and I'm going to have to drop my overall times by minutes if I want a shot at training with them.

Got fitted for a bike over the weekend, and am looking forward to buying a cheap 54cm road bike soon. The one I want is around $800, but I'm thinking I want to go cheaper for my first bike. I'll let you know what comes out of this.

Cathy joined me at yoga this week; I haven't done yoga in about two weeks, and I needed it badly! It's crazy how ever since I've started yoga, I am now very conscious of how tight running makes my body. Also checked out the swimming pool at 24 Hr and there are only 3 lanes! Eek...gotta get that swimming training in there if I want to compete at the Long Beach Triathlon at the end of September...

Goals for 2008

Get qualified to join The Janes
Purchase bike and join a beginner's cycling group
Find time to swim at 24 Hr
Keep steady with the yoga
Start track workouts and drop time into low six minute miles by the end of the year

Insanely motivated right now.

"If you want to win a race you have to go a little berserk." - Bill Rodgers

This and That

2008-05-07T16:54:00.001-07:00

Ok...so I was mistaken. I looked up some past records and I have improved a minute in the 10k over the course of the past year. Ali is convinced that this is far as I've come so long as I stay a 'recreational runner', and is proud of me. I think that I can do better, so I will.

The Camp Pendleton Mud Run 10k Race is coming up in June, but I'm not sure I want to start my 6 week training plan in time for that, since I obviously won't have a PR in the 10k... Searching for races that will be about 6-10 weeks out from now so that I can start my plan soon...

Excited to go to my yoga class at 24 Hr Fitness tonight. I have been making efforts lately towards being 'green' (I hate saying that phrase because of how trendy it is now) and I am going to start biking when I have the time to. Bought a bike lock at Target today...along with a combo lock so that I can start swimming at 24 Hr too. Looking towards doing either of these 2 triathlons later this year: Long Beach Triathlon and/or Golden State Triathlon - both are short courses and perfect for a starter race!

I've been getting the travel/activity/adventure itch lately. With work, it's hard to just take off. I'm thinking about doing something for an upcoming weekend...perhaps camping and backpacking at Joshua Tree? Could be a fun weekend excursion OR day trip.

Santa Monica Classic

2008-05-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica Classic 10K was yesterday's race. I came in 2nd in my age group with a time of 43:49. I have consistently come in at around 43:45 in the 10k race for the past year, and I'm ready to step it up a notch in my training to achieve a faster goal. I'll let you all in on my new training plan when I've designed it.

Il Forno

2008-05-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

I have gone to this Italian restaurant 3 times in the past 2-3 weeks. If you live in the Santa Monica/West Los Angeles/Mar Vista/Venice area, please try it out, you will not regret it. Il Forno (not to be confused with the more popular Il Fornaio) is on Ocean Park and so far I've ordered a different dish each time, all of them were A+ rated. If you are so lucky as to have the pea soup special, you will live in ecstacy for the rest of the night...it is to DIE for!

...and if you are in the mood for yummy cafe/bakery food in a relaxed atmosphere (perfect for studying or good conversation) Novel Cafe is right next door!

Tidbits

2008-05-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

I love organic wines. Ever since I tried an organic chardonnay at Le Pain Quotidien (it was the BEST chardonnay I've ever had, and yet I didn't try to remember the label!), I have only bought one other bottle of organic wine at the was a Saint Julia Organica - Cabernet Sauvignon and I have to keep hitting myself to remember to purchase the organic bottles. Not sure if you can get them anywhere, I bought the Saint Julia from Co-Opportunity in Santa Monica, which is a Farmer's Market store.

Listened to one of Scarlett Johansson's songs. She sucks.

A band I found on Hype M today is Cryptacize. Check them out here!

Hype Machine

2008-05-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

I made an awesome discovery today, thanks to my friend Matt: Hype Machine. This site is running a close second to my beloved Pandora. Hype Machine is more of a music discovery site - you have the freedom to browse and search and listen to any artist you want, whereas Pandora guides you and allows you to 'not think', literally. I love Pandora because based on the artist or song you input, it creates a playlist of similar artists, and I've found many artists I now love through there (Peter Bjorn and John, and Tracy Chapman to name a couple). My all-time favorite Peter Bjorn and John song is "Paris 2004" - I recommend this to everyone! Okay, back to my point...Hype Machine is a lot of fun because of the freedom, and also because it links in all popular music that is being blogged. This means you can search via what's popular, or what's not out yet, or just what's blogged about the most! I will let you know more details as I play with it more.

Yay! I love new music discoveries....