Counting Down

I am still in Southern California. Still plowing through calories, traffic in the comfort of a car, not running and doing a good job of being a couch potato. The week before I left I had spent some time with an old buddy of mine, Jason Arth, and we were laughing at how easily and quickly I can transition from being a long mileage runner to a sloth. It's quite a feat requiring talent and skill I must say. The truth of it is that I'm the kind of person who likes to be lazy and eat all the wrong things. There are people who don't participate in athletic endeavours but keep themselves in good shape and eat responsibly. You know those people. I am the opposite of that. Don't make me show you pictures of my art college years. A time in my life where I was constantly stressed, sleep deprived and compensated by eating all the tasty bad things. Ironically it was also in art school that I got to know one of my instructors who told me that she "recovered" from her years of art school by taking up running and participating in marathons. Five years later I ran my first marathon, yeah I know, slow growing seed.

I'm coming down from this food and couch high though and priming myself for a return to training. I got big plans for 2010. I entered three race lotteries, didn't get into Western States 100-mile but got into the Miwok 100k and the Way Too Cool 50k. I've never run Way Too Cool but it's a popular one, fast, competitive and early - March 12th. I've pretty much decided on returning to the San Diego 100 in June and putting some serious thought to the Leadville 100 in August.

I'm heavy(ier) with no miles in my legs (12 miles logged for the month of December) but I'm also well rested and my two little but nagging pains (calf and plantar) is now gone. I've been pampered by my mom, aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, cousins and friends. I'm ready to return to my "man cave" in San Francisco.

Before I go I would like to give a big shout out to all the active parents out there. You guys are such studs. I have always had respect for your ability to carry on despite the rigors and time demands of parenthood. My first four days here I was in a home with two young kids. A lot of fun but exhausting. A different kind of non-stop event.

A ride with Jason the weekend before Christmas. Maybe more biking in January and February to keep the pounding down.