Preparing for San Francisco

Back in January I was already training for the La Jolla half marathon and my running was right on par.  I was pushing myself during my tempo runs and religiously completing my speed work.  I was hopeful that I would do the 13.1 miles faster than I did in Chicago, despite the hills.  Then the unexpected stress fracture sidelined me for 6 weeks.  The La Jolla HM took place this past weekend and I tried not to think about the fact that I was laying poolside, doing laundry when I should be out there running it. 

Being sidelined due to a running injury doesn't have to stop us from working on other areas of fitness. There was a great article in the last issue of Runner's World called The Bright Side. It touched on the up sides to being injured, such as crosstraining and learning to listen to your body. It also features some great rehab exercises to do while you're out of the game.  This article came at the perfect time for me.

My sights are now set on the San Francisco Half Marathon.  It is part of the official San Francisco Marathon with the option to run the first half or the second.  I will running the second half for two reasons;  1.) It is far less hilly and 2.) It starts slightly later.  Most people choose the first half because the course takes you over the Golden Gate Bridge, but at 6:30am I don't want to be running anywhere, not even if it happens to be over one of the most picturesque of landmarks.  My original hopes were to race my next half marathon, rather than simply complete it.  I have to accept that it will most likely be the latter.  I have years of running ahead of me in which I can race against myself and try to beat my own times, but this time around I will just E-N-J-O-Y. 

San Francisco after all, is one my favorite cities.  I find the streets and homes exquisite and enchanting.  I wind up speechless every time I turn and catch a glimpse of the ocean from the top of one of the many precipitous hills.  These are the reasons I am using the race for an entire weekend getaway.  I have the flight and hotel booked as I eagerly await July.  Angela and I will be enjoying some beautifully poetic music by one of our favorite independent artists, Edie Carey at a local coffee shop.  I am looking forward to a day of leisure in Sausalito and a big pasta dinner in the charming Italian neighborhood of North Beach.  On our last trip to San Francisco Angela and I  had one of our most memorable runs, ever.  We still reflect on that run to this day.  I hope this race provides many wonderful San Francisco memories as well.

San Francisco - 2009

Just Another Manic Monday

San Diego is known for its sunny skies, stunning sunsets and breathtaking coastline.  It wasn't until I moved here that I learned of something called "May Gray" and "June Gloom" from San Diego residents.  Granted, it's only April but the foggy mornings are beginning to set in.  If you know me, you know I thrive off of sunshine!  In Chicago I had to battle through the dark gloomy days, sometimes I'd wind up more or less defeated.   This is precisely why I moved across the country to greener pastures.  Chicago was often a blanket of gray.  It is as if you are trapped in a black and white movie for several months out of the year. 

As we are entering our May Gray period Chicago is coming into their well-deserved colorful seasons.  I can still remember the excitement and energy in the Midwest at this time of year.  Whether reading, eating or walking, everyone is outside!  Chicagoans have the sincerest appreciation for warm weather and sunshine. 

Confession:  I have become a spoiled brat when it comes to weather.  My ability to deal with nasty conditions has diminished so terribly that I can hardly handle a foggy day!  50 degree temperatures now call for a heavy jacket, whereas they used to excite me so much I'd be sporting flip-flops and shorts in celebration (and I was not alone in this).  What has happened to me in just 6 months? 

Yesterday, the foggy skies had me in a funk.  I turned off my alarm after looking out the window and chose to sleep instead of run.  Chicagoans are probably laughing as they think about their runs on 5 degree days through snow and sleet.  This funk stayed with me through the entire work day and by the last hour I still did not feel like lacing up my running shoes.  I wanted to be wrapped up on my couch with a book, but at the last minute I received an e-mail from Angela.  She was letting me know she conveniently had a one hour break in between clients and could do a short run with me.  I knew it was a sign that I should not ditch my run and I took her up on the offer. 

5:00 sharp she was at my door and off we went.  Angela's smile was a ray of much needed sunshine on my gloomy day.  Without even realizing it the fog had burned off and it was in fact a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky.  The run I didn't want to be on was suddenly enjoyable!   We hit one of our favorite trails around Balboa Park appreciating every fuchsia flower bush along the way and saying hello to each friendly pooch.  I felt strong on the hills and when we got to the stone staircase we both bolted up it without question. 

I tend to be a solo runner; someone that uses running as a therapy session.  It is my time to clear my head and sort through my thoughts.  I work through things that are bothering me or weighing me down and I usually come out of each run clearheaded and far more composed than when I started.  Today, I didn't have the motivation to even get moving and Angela provided the perfect company.  I can't always do it alone, and although I am a very dedicated runner I have days where I lack inspiration and can use some encouragement.  

Yesterday's run made me consider joining a run group.  I have yet to experience the camaraderie that comes along with running and it may be nice to enter a new phase of the sport that I have not been fully exposed to. After all, even self-motivated runners like myself can use a partner to lovingly, and sometimes unknowingly, kick their butt into gear.  I hope I can be that driving force for someone else next time. 

                                      Trails around Balboa Park

Peace of Mind

The clock on my computer screen reads 5:00; time for the costume change. I swap my pressed pants out for a pair of running shorts and my high heeled pumps for my Nikes.  I pull my hair back into a ponytail, slide my sunglasses on and I am off for a run.  In just minutes I go from being office personnel to a runner.  Like many Americans, this is the time of day when our stress melts away.  Whether we head off to the gym to run on the treadmill or to our favorite running path, it is our chance to let all of the day’s worries fade away.

Yesterday, I chose Mission Beach for a run in the sand along the bay and over to the ocean.  I was eager to run but wary of how I would feel considering it is only my second week back since my stress fracture. I popped in my headphones and turned on my iPod simply out of habit.  When running alone I use music to keep me company. I took the first few strides slowly, cutting myself some slack but before I knew it I was naturally speeding up to what felt like my pre-injury pace.  The sand should have slowed me down but the sight of the ocean sped me up.

I quickly realized the mistake in bringing along my iPod and turned the music off.  The crashing waves and the pit pat of my shoes in the sand were music enough.  After I ditched the unnecessary noise I fell into a beautiful rhythm.  The movement of my body to the sound of the wind and the waves felt like a dance.  I was effortlessly gliding along in a way that felt simply organic, like I was born to run.  This is what I believe peace to be. Peace of mind, body and soul; all working together gracefully.  Equilibrium.

On runs like these I go away to a special little invisible place.  I hope I’m not losing all of you skeptics here, but I reach this unexplainable place of tranquility in my mind and body.  My thoughts are clear and breathing is steady.  It is one of the few times I don’t feel like a jumbled mess.

I think we all find different routes to that place of stillness and peace that clears our mind of the daily clutter.  If we could translate this into our daily life, our jobs and our relationships we would have less stress and worry throughout the day.  The hours would flow smoothly and we would leave our jobs feeling energized rather than exhausted.  There are some very zen people out there that can find this peace anywhere and everywhere, but for people like myself, it is a work in progress.

Maybe one day I will be able to achieve this state of mind throughout my day but until then, I will wait for the clock to read 5:00 and escape to my special place.

50 Miles of Mexico

This weekend was the 31^st annual Rosarito to Ensenada bike ride, which brought me to Mexico for the first time.  Usually the ride draws in over 5,000 cyclists but this year, due to the recent killing sprees there were far less riders.  I was very eager to check another country off my list of ‘Places I’ve Visited’, and Angela being an avid cyclist and triathlete suggested it, so I signed us both up.  A strong man friend of Angela’s accompanied us on the car ride so we would be out of harm’s way.  My only fear was the bike ride ahead.

I am a runner, not a cyclist; this piece of information became very apparent during the ride.   50 miles on a bike is a piece of cake, if those miles are flat with the occasional hill.  The course we rode was anything but flat.  There were hills from the very beginning that had me uneasy, unlike Angela.  She somehow finds enjoyment in them, which makes me question her sanity.   She would have loved it if the ride was 100 miles of hills and still would have finished with an enthusiastic smile.  I, on the other hand, would quit at the first sign of a bar serving margaritas.   That’s just me.    

At one point there was a hill that lasted 3 entire miles without a break.  After that sucker I assumed we were done with the hills, but sure enough, we turned a corner and there was another monster!   This continued for most of the ride but then luckily the down hills came.   Flying down long, steep hills is like riding a rollercoaster that you’re in control of.  It’s magnificent!  It almost makes the hills worth it… almost.

Along the way we rode the beautiful Baja coast and then took a turn inland where everything in sight was lush and green.  There was nothing in sight besides endless fields and mountains.  It is so rare that you can ride for miles in a place with absolutely no commercial influence.  It was pure and completely untouched earth.   

By the end of the race we were back along the highway headed into Ensenada, a tourist town, much like Rosarito.   I had hit that point of hunger where I could no longer push myself.  My speed had slowed drastically and I couldn’t wait to reach the finish line.  I had visions of tacos and churros dancing in my head.  Finally I saw the end and crowds of people.  I hopped my sore butt off the saddle and made a beeline for the food tent where I proceeded to suck down some watermelon, rice and beans.   A few minutes later we hopped on the bus back to our car. 

The shuttle ride was long and bumpy but the views made it worth it.  I was finally able to soak up Mexico’s bountiful beauty because I was no longer pushing myself up those crazy hills.  

Although we only live 20 minutes from the border, it took hours to get back into the U.S.  The line was incredibly long and terribly slow.  If you have never been in line to cross the border I should tell you, it is quite an interesting place to be.  There are endless vendors selling everything imaginable.  From bracelets and tables to large Jesus figurines, you can buy just about anything.  We were entertained by child jugglers but saddened by the state of Tijuana.  In some ways it even reminds me of my time in South Africa.  It is just minutes away from where we live, but it feels like an entirely different world.  There is a very thin line between prosperity and poverty and it is easy to see when you enter Tijuana.   I am thankful that we are fortunate enough to be on the prosperous side. 

All in all, yesterday’s ride was a great experience but I probably won’t be doing it next year.  It made me realize that my love for running far surpasses my like for cycling.  With running, I am able to push myself harder than I ever could on two wheels and I get into a zone that I can’t seem to find when I am on the bike.  With that being said, I am looking forward to today’s run and will give my butt a well-deserved rest. 

A Treat for San Diego Runners

It isn’t often in life that you have the chance to listen to one of the greatest running coaches of all time speak.  When you do get that chance, you take notes.  If you’re me you take multiple pages of notes, but then again, I am a nerd.

Dr. Joe Vigil Coached Deena Kastor (who just so happens to be my favorite female athlete because of her incredible attitude and modesty) to America's first Olympic Marathon Medal in 20 years!  He also coached Adams State Grizzlies to 18 national championships, coached over 350 all-americans and is the member of Eight Hall of Fames.

It was almost fateful that Dr. Joe Vigil visited San Diego City College last night to speak about training principles, considering I just recently finished Born to Run, a book that mentioned and paid honor to Coach Vigil several times throughout its pages.  I also just returned to running days ago, so the timing could not be more perfect to have one of the greatest teach me how to train properly.

Although many of the notes I took involve numbers and exercise physiology jargon, the messages I took away from the lecture were far more profound. Like when Coach said, “If you’re gonna eat, God Damn it, Train!”  Powerful stuff!  With all seriousness he did send me home with some great ideas floating around in my brain.

Dr. Vigil spoke a lot about believing in yourself, believing in your coach and believing in where you came from.  Vigil says we all have the ability to be amazing runners with the right dedication and hard work. As he put it, “nobody ever drowned in hard work and sweat”.  He made me feel like there was very little difference between someone like me and someone like Deena Kastor.  She is just a very hungry woman. She is focused and driven and she works her little butt off.  She wasn’t always able to run like she does today.  It took years of Vigil’s training to get her ready for the marathon.  Now, that doesn’t mean that you or I will be breaking any world records but we certainly can improve greatly if we work at it. We all have the ability to get better, much better as a matter of fact.

Briefly, Coach Vigil spoke about the U.S. in comparison to other countries.  He described the United States as narcissistic and materialistic.  Here in our country we strive for success, rather than excellence.  Success, as he describes it, is about having. Excellence is about being.  I love that… and of course, I wrote that one down!

He left us with the message, “People can run forever with the right motive, because we are born to run.”  Thanks Coach!  I am inspired.

On the Mend...and On the Run

I have been eagerly awaiting the 6 week mark that serves as my GREEN light to run, carefully. Friday was that special day. I spent some time that evening at the gym and then used the last 30 minutes of my workout to hit the trails by my apartment. I will need to stick to soft surfaces for the next several weeks and avoid asphalt and concrete. Luckily, I live in a great location for trail running so it should not be a problem. I also have an amazing running partner to keep me in check if I start to push myself too hard, too fast.


Angela was right by my side as I took my first strides in over a month and a half. I know it may not seem like a long stretch of time in comparison to other things, but for a runner even a week is a long time to forgo running. I was shocked at how painless it was when we started jogging. I was unintentionally landing on the heel of my injured foot which felt slightly funny because I am a forefoot runner. I can only assume this was my body's way of treading lightly after a stress fracture. We picked up the pace and it still felt surprisingly painless! Angela reminded me to walk on the up hills and slowly trot on the down hills landing on my heels. The 20-30 minutes passed by painlessly in what felt like the blink of an eye.

I snapped this picture on my cell phone of the 

trails just steps from my front door.  In full bloom!

I was expecting soreness and pain the next day upon waking up and stepping out of bed, but still nothing! I was pain free the morning after. Thank you foot! I am so relieved that I do not have to prolong my time off from running and can begin to feel like myself again. For 6 weeks I felt like something was missing. I was more irritable than usual and was lacking the excitement and vigor that I get from running. I am not sure if others around me noticed these slight changes, but I felt them every day. I tried to stay positive and found enjoyment in other activities along the way, but I am ecstatic now that I have that something back.


I feel such gratitude for my body that has healed itself and is now allowing me to experience the joy of running that I have missed every day! Our bodies are incredible.