A Momentary Break...

in our Summer weather. It was actually gloomy and drizzly for part of the weekend last week, unfortunately the rain wasn't here to stay. In fact, it's suppose to warm up for the weekend. I sure hope we get some rain before Spring starts, the water situation, from what's been reported, is not good.

Headed out with The Endurables trail running group with Sam, Jenny and Mary. These guys like to run around Mt. Tam and are a good group to hang with. Because of all the moisture, the trails were trickier than usual - the wooden steps, roots and rocks were slippery. Despite my Vasque's with the aggressive treads I was sliding around all over the place. Several years ago we had a particularly muddy and slippery Quad Dipsea. It had rained during the week and all through the night stopping just before the race. Our champion that day, William Emerson from Oregon, ran the race in racing flats. I've never forgotten that and I think about it every time I slip around in my super engineered trail shoes. I still remember seeing him in those shoes and being dumbfounded.

Everything was so lush and beautiful though. Love those trails. It was a two loop run and on the second loop, Jim, the coach, led us up to the top of Mt. Tam using a steep, rocky trail that he wanted to check out. Some of it was un-runnable, well for me, but amazingly fun and refreshingly different. I have a new way to the top of the mountain. Jim has completed Western States 3-times among other accomplishments so he knows what he's doing and doesn't mind me running with his group. I need to start paying the drop in fee though, can't continue riding for free. We would end up doing 13-miles total for the day and I took off for another 3.5 hours. On my way out I ran into Gunderson and we headed back toward the bridge together. Perfect how that worked out.

This week I've just been laying low. Been feeling sluggish like I had mentioned last week so I made good with my plan to take it down a notch this week. I took the last three days off of running and just hit the gym for light workouts and stretching in the sauna. The core/groin soreness is still there but I don't expect any miracles. I saw a doctor about it but I need a new one. He thinks I should give up running altogether and just do aerobics instead. Right, right that will happen, who are these people? Then he tells me that I'm only able to do this because I'm single. Right, right, he should tell that to Mark Tanaka who is an ER doc with kids. I already have a lead on two doctors which I'll follow up on shortly. I need a primary physician anyway. I haven't had one since I left Hawaii 16 years ago. It's not that sore when I run it's the lingering soreness when I'm not running that bugs me.

Ran short this evening and it was fine, will run short stuff for the rest of the week with a half-marathon this coming Sunday. I'm reasonably fit and prepared for this road race. What I failed to do however was lose the 4 pounds I gained during the holidays. Since January 1st I lost (drum roll please) half a pound. Yes, yes even with all that running. It's the sugar. Whatever time I finish I'll think to myself, that could have been faster. Serves me right. Jo-Lynn you feel my pain.

Well you all have a great weekend!

Sure this is runnable, oh you mean by me? On our way to the top of Mt. Tam. Photo courtesy of Sammy.

Behind me, there's usually a great view. On our way to the top of Mt. Tam. Photo courtesy of Sammy.

Where have I been all week?

Well I've been feeling worn out. Could it have been the 7:45 and 40+ miles with Gunderson on Saturday plus the 12 or so miles on Sunday, nah it couldn't have been:) Haha I think my body is choking on the long mileage and hills this early in the year, so soon after my holiday break. None of my long runs last year went over 6.5 hours or 35 miles, look at me now. What can I say, I've fallen in with a crowd that is more capable and hard working than I am with early races/events on the schedule. They either wear me out or I adapt to the extra workload. The weight training is certainly making things more difficult too but I know it's making me stronger. I either break or get stronger right? Right now I feel like I'm breaking, what with a strain in one of my core muscles and lingering fatigue. No worries, I've put in more rest on the schedule this week and next week is a back down week anyway. No long run that weekend and only one strength training session in preparation for a half-marathon that Sunday. The road race will be hard in it's own way but it will be over quick. Still beats last week though when I was sick for 3 days and I was reduced to two jogs during the work week. Yes, yes, I was licking other people's spoons, drinking other people's beers.

So Saturday was another early day with Gunderson. I didn't realize we were gunning for 40+ miles until that morning but I was game. It's not like we were moving at race pace. He's preparing for Rocky Raccoon 100, happening in 3 weeks. It was a gorgeous day, real nice. We followed a good part of the Miwok course and traveled North for 4 hours before heading back. On the way out we encountered a bunch of fellow ultra-marathoners heading the other way on Bolinas Ridge. Familiar faces, many wearing "Team Diablo" shirts. Fast Kevin Swisher was there, we even shook hands, and toward the back of the group was Graham Cooper, another runner I admire. He is the 2006 Western States champ and the course record holder for one of my favorite 50-milers - the Quicksilver 50. What some people don't know is that he is also a great triathlete. Having been involved in both sports the last 5 years, I admire someone who has done it well. Usually when I see him, at a race, he's all business. Saturday he was relaxed and just one of the guys, good to see. It was great seeing them go by, training for the Miwok 100k perhaps. Then another 3+ hours later, a half mile from the car, out pops in front of us, Kelly Ridgway and Karen Hanke in their bright pink running skirts. Like us they too were finishing their long run. Kelly is training for the Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica, a multi-day race adventure. It was great to catch up and Kelly was getting updates on her phone on Suzanna's progress at HURT 100 in Hawaii. Suzanna would finish second woman. That is one tough race. I've never done it but I lived there, I know that terrain - crazy technical, muddy and slippery. Gundy and I finished well and felt good for the rest of the day.

Gunderson on Bolinas Ridge.

Bolinas Ridge. The Miwok 100k, the Headlands Hundred and 50-miler and the Northface 50-miler comes through here.

Jon with Karen and Kelly.

Sunday was an absolute blast. It was the kick-off run for our triathlon club, a trail run and brunch event. Genius idea, a trail run with the promise of food and baked goods at the end. There was also coffee, orange juice and mimosas. I skipped the mimosas but had ample amounts of the first two. We had about 35 people which is a pretty good turnout. The route was a 10k around a lake and not too hilly. The weather was as good as Saturday's and we only lost a couple of people who got lost on the course, no worries they made it back. I ran the first 10k easy with the group, playing the sweeper at one point then headed back out with another group at a faster pace. Good stuff and I felt great. The Cardinals beating Philly was just icing on the cake. I'm a Niner fan myself but we didn't make the playoffs. I've been rooting for Arizona because the locals at Javelina took great care of us, that and the memory of a sunset and sunrise in the Arizona dessert has never left me - so amazingly beautiful.

Karen and Julia on their way back from the loop. I promptly looped back at this point and followed Sandrine and Dana back out to the lake.

Daniel, on his second loop leading Heather and Sandrine. J~Mom your short sleeve shirt request will be fulfilled by Heather, no worries she's a sweetheart. Daniel is fast, he won PCTR's Angel Island 25k a couple of weekends ago.

The scene waiting for me after the run. There better be some donuts left! Photo courtesy of Gary Najarian.

So business as usual this weekend but I am watching my rest more closely. I'm also probably going to see the doc about this strain on my core. It runs from stomach all the way down to my groin on the left hand side. The pain is not sharp and I'm convinced it's muscle related but just in case. I'm paying for the health insurance, I might as well use it.

PCTR's Angel Island 25k

Starting with Mt. Tam, a 360 degree view of the bay from the top of Angel Island..

The ladies doing a dance move called "The Running Man" (it's really called that), for our friend Samantha who couldn't join us on the run. She was supporting her football team on their playoff game.

So they are calling it a heat wave, we are having unseasonably warm weather for this time of the year - mid 60s and sunny clear skies. I'm actually praying for rain since we need it. Good weather for running though. It's only January and I already have a summer tan.

This past Sunday I joined some friends at PCTR's Angel Island 25k. I thought the views were even better on the island. Not as high as Mt. Tam but we got a 360 degree view of the bay. Pretty sweet. We also got a chance to check out the fire damage to the island. Back in mid-October there was a fire that could be seen for miles. It was pretty dramatic.

Anyway four of us stuck together for pretty much the entire run and had a great time. I'm enjoying these shorter easier paced runs with friends. I hope to mix more of these type of events with the hard training and racing for the upcoming year. Love it.

Kara is cool, calm and collected. Dana is excited and rearing to go.

Waiting to get on the ferry with other members of our tri-club.

Local ultra-runner Brian Wyatt with his youngest.

Kara, Dana and Jess.

Jess and Mt. Tam in the distance.

Sitting happy on the ferry after a good day, while Chuck Wilson behind me, the guy in blue, regales runners with stories of his running adventures in beautiful places. Last week I was looking at his photos from the 2007 Coastal Challenge, the multi-day stage race in Costa Rica, on Facebook and got to discuss it with him earlier in the day.

For more photos, click here.

Mt. Tam Loop

Jonathan Gunderson and I at the top of Mt. Tam.

Well that was a great weekend of running trails with people. Second weekend in a row of having company in my long runs; I'm spoiled, quite a departure from my usual solo adventures in the Headlands and Mt. Tam. Too much to put into one post I'll just start with Saturday's run.

Jon and I got started early Saturday morning at a starting point just North of the Golden Gate Bridge. We hauled with no specific plan, made it up as we went. It wasn't until we were almost two hours into our run did we decide to shoot for the top of the mountain. The weather was good and we knew the views would be spectacular. Unfortunately the sun was so strong it blew out a lot of the pictures.

It worked out well, his ankle was feeling funny and I strained an ab muscle during the week strength training. We were both not running at 100%. He was doing better than I was though. We made good progress nevertheless and covered a lot of ground. Ran a good part of the Miwok course and my favorite section of the Northface 50-miler. The last hour had us hustling at our best speed for the car so he could make an appointment with his fiance. Nothing like the fear of being late to give you that extra push:)

A very good day and we covered about 30+ miles. Next up, PCTR's Angel Island 25k.

Looking back towards San Francisco, the city is off to the right, in the horizon.

Making our way back down and back towards the Golden Gate Bridge.