Nice 70 plus minute run up at Wildcat Canyon this morning. I got a later than usual start, and was on the trail at 9:16. I noticed a couple of things, pulling on the tops of both quads and a little "twitching" in my rt. calf. No pain, breathing was fine.
I had a GU and half a plain bagel and some juice.

As it turned out my timing was good. I hadn't checked the weather report and was unaware of rain in the forecast. 35 mins out , I turned around and I noticed the first signs of drizzle, a mist really . It felt a little surreal, all grey and quiet, I was pretty much alone. Luckily it never amounted to much more than a drizzle that didn't pick until I returned to the parking lot.
No joke!!!

Brandy and I got busted by Mr. Ranger on this trail earlier this Spring. I didn't quite understand his directions when I asked him how to access that part of the trail that allows dogs. I'm sure he mentioned go Northeast up blah blah blah.
Theres another entrance to this trail that allows dogs. The one other female I saw was walking her dog and I asked her how she accessed the trail and she gave something more akin to a description rather than actual directions and I think I understood. Will go check it out.

So, now it's been raining quite steadily all day, and we just got back from spending pretty much all day at M's winter Showcase. The Tilden trails are gonna be a mess tomorrow.
I'm grateful for my typical oblivion when it comes to practical matters or I would've checked the weather report and talked myself out of going today.
I'm so resting tomorrow.

This mornings run was harder than it should been....I took a sleeping aide lastnight and while I got some z's I was a bit groggy today. Walked over to bagel shop and consumed mass quantities di cafe and walked a little more before plodding my way along the BARTtrail.
For the first time EVER I stopped and stretched along the way, it felt good to stand in the direct sun as it was pretty chilly out.
There was no way I was going back to work today w/o running first...While I'm still a little keyed up about things, the run definitely took the edge off.

Today is going to be a good one!!!!

Oh lordy.......Sleep is ever elusive. Monday night someone tried to enter T's truck sounding off the alarm at 12:30, and this morning around 1am M got sick ...Major mop up!!! All the linens and blankets had to be washed......uuugh!
I gave up trying to go back to sleep, caffeinated and waited until 6 for gym to open. Pulled off 3.25 in 29:00 flat had to hussle home for T to get to work.......Alas, what do I find upon my return?? Both of them sound asleep!!!!!!

I had a really shitty day at work yesterday and calling off today is sure to wag some tongues, I'm not even going to bother to offer to come in on Saturday!

Hmmm lets see, Susie "infected" me. So, the rules go like this list 5 random facts about yourself and list 5 names of folks you'd like to (know more about) infect.


1. I served in the california conservation corp after high school. I was seasonal firefighter.
2. I'm a certified massage therapist.
3. I served a mission in Italy for a year and half in the late 80s, however went inactive shortly
after my return to the states
4. I am ultra sensitive. I cry for any number of reasons, yet I'm not comfortable when others do,
weird I know!
5. I'm way too concerned about what other people think of me, I am prone to feeling guilty
when I put myself first.

People I'd like to know more about include:
Pink Lady, Noames, Brown Socks, It's a Beautiful Life and Running Red Sox fan.
I'm sorry I don't know your first names, but I've enjoyed reading your blogs.
And with the exception of a couple of you I doubt you'll even see this!

Sweet Rewards II

You see the thing is, I had no intention of running today much less back up to Strawberry Canyon. Sleep has been an issue lately and I completely sabotaged any prospects of a run on Saturday cuz Friday, after staying up past 11pm, I got back up around 2am puttering around the house until 3:30. Took M to see the Narnia flick...The only exercise I (we) got was due to my parking several blocks away to avoid paying the ridiculous $5.00 per hr. parking lot fee! I did manage to unpack the x-mas box and get a few things ready for the party. T came home w/the Tree marking a close to his wretched holiday schedule...yay!!! I went to bed at 8pm and didn't wake up till 6 am...double yay!!!
I'm prone to guilt and today it came from the fact that Brandy has been short changed for the past couple of weeks and was in major need of a decent run.
I wasn't exactly in attack mode but I scaled Big Bertha. I got to the place where I left off last Sunday and tacked on another 10 mins.....for a total of 45 mins out (3.6 mi). I ran another 30 mins back and then walked , got Brandy back on the leash as we approached the parking lot, she was a mess having managed to find the one mud hole up there.
Holy crap, I ran 6.5 miles in 75 minutes!!

Thank-You

As I drug my butt outta bed this morning, grumbling about the cold, with cup of coffee in hand I logged on for inspiration. Thanks to Finally Running and Pink Lady, the pics shamed me enough to get going. Does serious frost build-up on my car qualify as serious weather? I think not! T kept putzing around teeth chattering and i showed him Pinks report.....that shut him up!!!

Nice 40 minute run this am.

I must add today's is M's first basketball game. I have lamented in the past over her lack of physical activity....it's not entirely true, we're just different. Anyways she signed up for 4th grade team and is really enthusiastic.......I'm so proud of her!!!!!!

Sweet Rewards

After three so so runs this week, things turned around today. I took a chance on Strawberry Canyon and was happy to find a relatively dry trail, no mud waffles today. As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a couple women in the car next to me, they got started a few minutes before me as I fiddled w/my new water bottle, gloves and hat. They were fit and had the appearance of real runners......you know the type tall, thin unlike my short stocky stature. I hung back (way back) on purpose as not to embarrass myself.
The trailhead begins immediately with a gradual but steady climb that flattens out mercifully in spots, good thing cause it leads to one LONG steep ass hill, I'll refer to as Big Bertha.
Despite hanging back I caught up w/the women at the foot of Big Bertha....they walked
and as I passed them I said "call me crazy but I'm going for it!" I kept my head down and arms pumping and took Big Bertha Down!!!!!!!!
I got to the top and kept on running. The trail is pretty flat at this point but starts a gradual ascent after a 1/4 mile or so. The sky was so clear the sun warm on my face....I felt so happy
I started to cry. I turned around after 35 minutes and you know the rest......boing boing boing wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!
I never saw those women again and they were gone by the time I got back to parking lot an hour later.
Several years ago I attempted to run this trail, I got maybe a third of the way......nowhere near where I ended up today...that felt very very nice.
For the record I had penne pasta w/red sauce for dinner lastnight, got a good solid 8 hrs sleep. Pre-run I choked down an espresso GU (kind've gross), and filled my waterbottle w/gatorade.
Not sure I like the hand-held hydration system, it was fine while wearing the gloves, but after awhile I got too hot and took off the gloves which caused the bottle to get slippery. I kept having to switch hands.