Gonna Suck for Sure

Pardon the language but that is what comes to mind when I think about my event tomorrow:)

Finally back from the UK with a ton of pictures and a few stories, one of which I've already typed up for a future blog post. First things first though. I miss being with Mash and sharing a home with her but it is also good to be home. Home is home. These are my routes, my trails and my hills so to speak. I thoroughly enjoyed all those non-hilly miles in Regents Park in the gloomy, drizzly weather of London, in fact I have a special place in my heart for Regents Park now, but that experience is in sharp contrast to the sunny skies, warm weather and hills of San Francisco. The hills look bigger and I swear the Marin Headlands and Mt. Tam across the Golden Gate Bridge grew in size while i was gone. Then there's the heat… when did it get so warm? I went for an early afternoon run yesterday, to the bridge and back, and I was not comfortable.

I'm whining about being a bit unprepared for the Quicksilver 50-mile at San Jose's Almaden Park tomorrow. It's going to be warm, stinking hot for me and I'm not sure where my fitness lies. I've never started a year so unsure of my capabilities, so late in the year. Usually by this time I've already run a couple races and have some heat training under my belt. This time last year I was hitting the sauna and attending my spin classes with layers of long sleeve shirts, a lightweight shell and sometimes a beanie.

Ah well no use bemoaning what I don't have going for me. I did run well in London. It's gonna be hot, it's going to suck, it's going to be a long, long day but it's nothing I haven't experienced before. it could always be worse, it could be the Mt. Diablo 50-miler, 13,000 ft. of climb in 90+ degree weather. Quicksilver is perfect for kicking off my final preparations for the San Diego 100, might as well go big the first day of heat training:) Quicksilver's terrain and exposed trails is also similar to SD which is a huge plus.

It's going to hurt a bit but it will most likely be a great time with friends and a chance to reconnect with my inner ultra self, the part of me that has gotten me through to the finish of all of my races. A tough talking, motivating, no-nonsense but sometimes funny part of myself that keeps the wheels turning up here and down there. The part that is not scared of a DNF but fears that it won't do everything it can to prevent one. I'm not a front runner, I don't grace podiums. I just try my best to finish a race that I start.

So here's to tomorrow and when it gets to it's most difficult I will try to remember that I have to two friends, Dana Katz and Kara Teklinski, running their first 100-miler in Mt. Zion in 90+ weather. They started today and those ladies will still be going when we start Quicksilver tomorrow.

It can always be worse, there is always someone suffering more than me and next to my ultra personality stands one that likes to whine and bitch who needs to shut up so I can put up. Deep down, I love this!

London and the Finsbury Park 15k

A London Tube Station in downtown. We would call them subways in the US. This is why I stick to parks although the Oxford Circus Station is an extreme example, most of the tube stations I've seen are not this crowded.

I'm back! Back in London that is. Actually I've been here for about three weeks now, visiting Masha again, and I will be here for another two weeks before heading home. Running is different here but it's going very well. I'm enjoying my park runs and I don't mind the absence of hills or the weather as much - would love more sunshine though. I've found a running home in Regent's Park where I run loops around the perimeter. A loop is about 2.75 miles and I'll go round and round for whatever time I have available. It's flat but not as boring as I thought it would be and inside the park there are dirt trails, interesting sights and open fields where a good number of people play team sports. I stay on the outside perimeter though to maximize my miles and one of my favorite parts is running past the gate of the Winfield House, home of the US Ambassador to the UK. They always have British Police guarding the gate with their German made machine guns, HK's, slung across their chests looking ready for action. Unlike their famous cousins, you know the ones with the funny hats, these guards actually move and are always on the lookout. They try very hard not to stare at people as they walk or run by but I've caught the eye of a few who notice me doing my rounds. Just this evening two guards outside the gate stared at me curiously as I ran by for what was probably the fifth or sixth time. Guys you have a gorgeous park, well maintained, well attended, bereft of wind or heavy traffic and I love it. A bonus is to run into the Nike Run group with their fluorescent traffic vests (can't believe they actually have to run in these) or being passed by groups of cyclists training on the road of the outer ring. I've run in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens but Regent still remains as my favorite.
Speaking of running and favorites. My favorite girl has taken up running. I know by saying "favorite" it seems to imply she is one of many but no, she is the only one. After the holidays when both of us were busting out of our fat pants, I started training for races and she joined her college gym. She started taking gym classes and got on the treadmill and started running. She's no stranger to running having run track in high school but she is new to distance having specialized in the 100 meter dash. When I first met her here in London last Fall I didn't know this little fact and was always surprised when she would out sprint me to the bus. Not that I'm fast or anything but she would out sprint me on her flats:) As far as I can tell she's enjoying herself. She ran her first 10k last month and two Sundays ago I ran with her on her first 15k race. It was quite a treat for me as it was our first race together and my first running event in the UK, win - win right? It was a great time especially since Finsbury park had rollers in it; truly, I was surprised too. If it was closer I'd put in some laps on that park too. It was three loops of a 5k course and the event also offered the 5k and 10k distances.
Masha had fun but lack of training because of school, lack of sleep because of school and her first crack at the distance left her a bit disappointed with her time. She can be so hard on herself but I told her to look at the bright side, she can only do better once she gets back into her running after her papers are done. I try to give her running advice but I don't think she really listens to me. She looks up to Larissa though so maybe I just have Larissa call her and give her advice:) Ah well, it's her own journey of self-discovery. She will learn her own lessons, make her own mistakes despite all the caution and advice I give her but she will also reap her own rewards as she has done so already. She survived her first 10 and 15k and now she doesn't think it's that big of a jump to the 21k / Half-Marathon distance. I did tell her to spend more time at the shorter distances first though. No rush needed for the longer distances but as I mentioned, she doesn't really listen to me. It's her not so secret desire to beat me at a race, she's told me so.
Enjoy the pictures. I have more stories from the UK coming up!

With Robert, a classmate in her master's program.

I designed these trail running shirts for my triathlon club last year and she had to have one. It looks good on her.

In action. This is actually a downhill section. Can you tell? You had to be there.

Happy to be done. Yes I wore my Tamalpa ultrarunning team shirt to a 15k. Love the club, love the shirt, love the girl, not in that order.

Sonoma and Napa

Ian Sharman and Devon Crosby-Helms at mile 8 of the Napa Marathon. Ian would end up finishing 7th and I believe, achieve the fastest marathon for a runner dressed as Elvis in the Guinness Book of World Records. Devon would finish 6th, first woman and break the course record set in 1992 by Diana Fitzpatrick by 5 seconds. Awesome right. Devon had also won the women's race in 2007. Incidentally, Diana and her husband Tim are the new race directors for the Tamalpa Headlands 50k.

Well this past weekend was quite calm and laid back mostly because my body was fighting through another bug. Maybe a bug, I say that because I didn't feel sick. I had none of the usual cold symptoms just some minor sinus congestion, sinus pressure and lot's of fatigue. No idea what it was just that it knocked me on my butt for 3 days. Great, like I'm not slow enough these days. Usually I have allergies this time of the year so I started taking allergy medicine again and just got more sleep. Felt better by the weekend but I cut out the long run. Now I feel super, even better than before, so strange but I'm not complaining. I'm up to two speeds now; slow and not so slow. Soon I'll get more of my gears back!

So it was a good thing that the weekend before was fun enough for two weekends. It started Saturday morning when a group of us headed up to Lake Sonoma for another training run. This time we ran it counter clockwise which caused it's own problems but now I'm confident that I won't get lost on that course if I ever run the race. Unfortunately we took a shortcut and only ran 20 or so miles so I can't technically say that I've done a 50 at Lake Sonoma:) We took longer than expected so we rushed the changing and clean up and hit a winery for some wine tasting in Sonoma. We only had time for one but this small winery specialized in big reds, my favorite. I could have stayed there and had a couple more glasses. From there we hit the town of Healdsburg for some food then on to Petaluma to visit our friend Chris and have dinner with him. The night was spent in a motel room in Petaluma so we could watch friends run the Napa Marathon in the morning. Reason 101 why you know you are a runner: you are willing to sleep in the floor of a small motel room with 3 other people just to watch other people run. Not the first time that has happened and probably won't be the last.

We were up at 6AM, the ladies and Randy were done getting ready by 6:20 but I needed till 6:30:) Stopped off for some coffee and were off, racing to Napa to catch our runners at the mile 8 mark. We would catch them again at 18 before finally seeing them again at the finish line. Our Thursday morning run group, the Ninjas, had a great showing with three of them in the top 10; Nathan 4th, Victor 5th and first in his age group, Devon 6th and first female. We stayed for the awards ceremony, helped Devon with her haul of wine before finally making our way back to San Francisco.

The weather all weekend was sunny and warm, it got too warm at Napa for the runners in fact. When we got to San Francisco I was glad to see that it was sunny there too. You never know with San Francisco, it can be foggy and cold in the city while it's sunny and warm everywhere else.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. It was such a great weekend of good weather,running trails, indulging in good food and wine, catching up with friends and spectating at a great event. Incredibly blessed, my cup overflows.

Jenn, Mary Beth, Larissa and Charles on the Lake Sonoma 50-mile course.

Jenn carefully making her way across the log, what is not pictured are the thorn bushes on the other end which is giving her pause.

Wine tasting in Sonoma. Unfortunately we only had time for one winery after our run although that may be a good thing. This place only had big California reds - my favorite.

One of my favorite pictures from the weekend. Jenn finishing off a glass, mud from the days run still on her legs. Actually we all had mud on our legs after the run. There was no bathroom facilities at the parking lot and we ran out of wipes:)

With Randy outside the winery's tasting room. Don't know why I was sneering.

Finally getting some solid food at Healdsburg, nice place, my first time in the town.

The bbq oysters were awesome, reminded me of summer days in Honolulu where I had them for the first time.

Victor Ballesteros, 5th at mile 18, he would finish 5th and first in his age group.

Nathan finishing 4th overall.

Catching up with Ian afterwards.

Devon, shortly after saying a few words to the crowd.

Unfortunately with the good there is also the not so good, my buddy John Branderhorst after his 3:15 marathon. He's disappointed because he was on pace for another sub-3 hour marathon until cramps got the better of him. In my best form and lightest weight, maybe, just maybe I could hit a 3:15 but I get it. It's always a disappointment when a goal slips away like that.

Quick lunch break at Oxbow where I witnessed Devon and Nathan wolf down their food while dressed for the slopes in their puffy jackets, sunglasses and beanies while sitting outside in the sun. They even had the heat lamp on but turned it off when we sat with them. I guess they were totally running on empty:) I had mercy on myself and my knees and had a salad.

Rushed back for the awards ceremony where we witnessed Devon getting her weight in wine for being first woman.

Champions and AG winners also got magnums.

Victor with his AG award. This was his first marathon, great job Victor.

This was my reward on Sunday, an unnamed pasty from Bouchon with my coffee. It was spectacular, like a circus in my mouth and I can't wait to visit Bouchon again.

For more pictures click here.

Too Long Too Soon

Ugh, this past week my legs have been feeling heavy, rightfully so since I over reached a bit last weekend. I was hoping for a run of 30-34 miles and ended up with 40. It was nice to surpass my own goals I guess but more than that I really had fun. It felt great. Don't get me wrong I was quite tired towards the end of the run. I was crawling along, sore and ready to stop by 30 miles but the work itself felt great, the suffering felt great. I enjoyed the time alone in that exhausted state, self-motivating and self-entertaining myself. It reminded me of all those long races where I ran without a pacer, plugging away by my lonesome being my own best companion.

The day started with a double on the Dipsea trail, 14.2 miles and a good amount of climbing. I then joined two friends who wanted to extend their run to 20-21 miles by running to Muir Woods and back and from there I ran back to San Francisco, an additional 20 or so miles. Long day but a satisfying and fruitful one.

I've got a long way to go before I'm strong again. I felt like the mental was simply babysitting the physical. My mind said "keep running!" and my body said "huff…puff…puff…no way, I'm walking". Ah well there is still March, April and May - hoping to get much, much stronger by then. We'll see.

Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy the pictures!

This area of the Dipsea trail was washed away in 2006 and it's been finally fixed. No more running on the road. The detour wasn't terrible and it was short but trail trumps road.

Where's the trail?! The section is attached to the side of the tree.

Amy providing a scale reference.

Rachel above Muir Woods.

With Rachel and Mike as we exited Muir Woods National Park. Both are running the American River 50-miler and wanted to at least hit 20 miles for the day.