I'm posting my long run from my Runner's almanac today.
Today was our scheduled 12 mile long run. I have not run 12 miles since the LA Marathon, and only a few times before then, so I was apprehensive this morning when I finally got out of bed. It was a “race day” like feeling – excitement mixed with a little bit of fear, mixed with a little bit of “what the hell am I doing?”. I have a passing notion of not going at all. After the run, I have an afternoon of working my second job – a lot of standing on my feet after hours of pounding on them. But in my running, I am determined, and know I need this mileage before my upcoming half-marathon. When I do finally wake up, it is about half an hour past my intended get-up time. Yikes! My mind races on everything I will need to carry – strap on here, stick in that pocket there. Water, food, sunglasses sunblock, Band-Aids, alcoholic wipes. I grab extra Band-Aids just in case. You never know.
I hope the day is not as warm as the unexpected autumnal heat trend we have been having this week. Of course it is never that hot by the beach but even a little bit of sun can make the difference between slightly pleasant and slightly unbearable. Once there, I join my group – we are about 25 today – and introduce myself to my running partner, Theresa. Soon, we are off. Within a mile of our run, it happens, what we all fear (no, I didn’t get hit by a car) but I did I trip on a rock, fall down hard and scrape my knee. Luckily, my fall did not create an avalanche of other runners becoming beachside road kill. As I get up and prepare to rejoin Theresa, a runner behind me wisely recommends I take some time. I look at my knee. Blood is gently spilling from the small wounds. Hmmm… He’s right. I grab the alcoholic wipes and Band-Aids I brought and start cleaning it up. Unfortunately, the Band-Aids don’t stick since the blood hasn’t ceased. I decide to run the mile back to the senior center and get some additional first aid. Although I would have probably just run in that condition, I didn’t want to scare any of the children with my blood spattered knee. Not a good early morning sight. So I clean up and meet up with the group at the 3 mile mark. If I had to fall today, at least it happened early in the run – Now I have 9 miles to go!
Aside from that adventure, the run was great. Really really great. I had never run to the Marina and the way the sun sparkled off the water was truly pretty. We went a little further before realizing we missed our cut off point, so our total mileage for the day was a little over 12 miles. The last couple of miles was difficult, and it helped that I played musical chairs with my racing buddies – More distractions make for running to go by that much quicker.
Once again, the route was filled with different runners, most notably the various Roadrunner groups who recently started their training. You can’t miss them with their orange shirts. And you can’t miss us with our shirts either. But I gotta say, I do like orange. I guess that’s where the extra $60 in the roadrunner membership fees goes.
After the run, I meet up with a co-worker who happened to be in the area. After that? I collapse…as in fall asleep. I have the whole afternoon to work – so much for an all day recovery! But as far as being ready for the half-marathon next week? I’m sure I won’t be the only one with a scraped knee.
Happy running!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Running blog
Reminder that although I still occasionally post to this site, please check out my running blog which has updates for each day. http://runnersalmanac.blogspot.com
Happy running!
Happy running!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Orange County Outing
It's Labor Day weekend. My plan was to get away on a road trip somwhere up the coast like beautiful Cambria or laid back Monterey. My friend Adam also has planned to get away this weekend to Mammoth with the hopes of cross country skiing. For our separate reasons, our weekend California adventures were not to be, so we decided to enjoy a daylong California trip somewhere nearby. We may not beHuell Howser, but we were both eager for get away for a few hours somewhere new in California. So Adam picked me up around 9:30a and we headed south, to Orange County.
Although a little over an hour away on the freeway, we both agreed that Orange County was foreign enough territory to be considered a mini-vacation. For me, it was the multitude of tanned blondes. For Adam, it was men in untucked Hawaiian shirts. But like Los Angeles, Orange County is a pretty diverse place. We were mainly in Alisa Viejo/Laguna Niguel so maybe the percentange of blonde Hawaiian shirt wearing locals is higher than the OC population as a whole.
Our trip focused on three activities. Hiking, yoga, and "other". The "other" consisted of checking out a popular Orange County natural foods store that Adam raved about called Mother's. If you are ever in the area (they have a ton of OC locations) and you are a health food afficionado, this place is awesome. Try the green goddess juice on the menu. I'd ask for extra spinach if I were you.
We took a class at Core Power Yoga. Now, Core Power yoga is one fancy studio. The bathrooms alone are spa-quality. The not so nice surprise was that all of the yoga classes are held in the heat. I had never done a heated yoga class before, so I was expecting passing out somewhere between the sun salutation and the namaste. Although we both made it through the induced heat exhaustion, I felt that the class was lacking in enough instruction especially for more beginner yoga practitioners. The teacher didn't offer enough variation for those of us who couldn't balance our body weight on our hands. New customers do receive a full week of classes for free. So if you're in the area and can pretty much do your practice on your own, check this place out.
After our yoga class, we headed for more fun in the heat, this time outdoors. We trekked nearly 4 miles in the Aliso Creek trail in the Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park which has approximately 3,900 acres of open land. In addition, it is home to plenty of many plants and animals. For me, the highlight of our walk was the delightful and unexpected sight of a beautiful deer up close and personal. The deer was so still when I locked eyes with it, it looked like a statue. Once I got out my camera phone, here's a a picture I took of the creature walking away from us into the cooler shade of the trees:
Despite the labor day weekend, we were one of very few walkers that afternoon and the trail was more popular among bicyslists. It was a hot summer afternoon but thankfully we were helped along with several cool breezes. Finally, I committed to a long walk after Saturday's long run. Orange county has many areas for hiking in the form of parks, trails,and marshes, all of which can be explored at the excellent website OC Parks.com. Check it out;
Happy walking!
Although a little over an hour away on the freeway, we both agreed that Orange County was foreign enough territory to be considered a mini-vacation. For me, it was the multitude of tanned blondes. For Adam, it was men in untucked Hawaiian shirts. But like Los Angeles, Orange County is a pretty diverse place. We were mainly in Alisa Viejo/Laguna Niguel so maybe the percentange of blonde Hawaiian shirt wearing locals is higher than the OC population as a whole.
Our trip focused on three activities. Hiking, yoga, and "other". The "other" consisted of checking out a popular Orange County natural foods store that Adam raved about called Mother's. If you are ever in the area (they have a ton of OC locations) and you are a health food afficionado, this place is awesome. Try the green goddess juice on the menu. I'd ask for extra spinach if I were you.
We took a class at Core Power Yoga. Now, Core Power yoga is one fancy studio. The bathrooms alone are spa-quality. The not so nice surprise was that all of the yoga classes are held in the heat. I had never done a heated yoga class before, so I was expecting passing out somewhere between the sun salutation and the namaste. Although we both made it through the induced heat exhaustion, I felt that the class was lacking in enough instruction especially for more beginner yoga practitioners. The teacher didn't offer enough variation for those of us who couldn't balance our body weight on our hands. New customers do receive a full week of classes for free. So if you're in the area and can pretty much do your practice on your own, check this place out.
After our yoga class, we headed for more fun in the heat, this time outdoors. We trekked nearly 4 miles in the Aliso Creek trail in the Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park which has approximately 3,900 acres of open land. In addition, it is home to plenty of many plants and animals. For me, the highlight of our walk was the delightful and unexpected sight of a beautiful deer up close and personal. The deer was so still when I locked eyes with it, it looked like a statue. Once I got out my camera phone, here's a a picture I took of the creature walking away from us into the cooler shade of the trees:
Despite the labor day weekend, we were one of very few walkers that afternoon and the trail was more popular among bicyslists. It was a hot summer afternoon but thankfully we were helped along with several cool breezes. Finally, I committed to a long walk after Saturday's long run. Orange county has many areas for hiking in the form of parks, trails,and marshes, all of which can be explored at the excellent website OC Parks.com. Check it out;
Happy walking!
Monday, September 7, 2009
In search of new favorite books series
I finished my last Odelia Grey book yesterday, and now since the Sue Ann Jaffarian-helmed mystery series is not coming out with another installation until 2010, I am in need of another mysteries series to read, inhale, adore, etc... Of course, I have some requirements. Not any mystery series will do. Before the Odelia Grey series, I read the three books in Lisa Lutz's Spellman Files series (also waiting for her next book out in 2010). Before that, it was Sue Grafton, who, granted, has books in her beloved ABC murder mystery series which I still haven't read and can always grab as a last resort. But as for a new series, here are three key points that will grab and sustain my reading attention:
1. The main character in most of my favorite books, and all of my favorite mystery books, are strong women characters. So, the heroine in any series, has to be just that, a heroine. Someone who isn't too girlie, just a smidgen socially awkward, feisty, adorable, and who isn't afraid to speak what's on her mind. Some semblance of a love life is good too.
2. I like some comedy in my mystery. The Lutz series doesn't have any murder, but the comedy and mystery is recipe for addiction. Jaffarian's books are full of murder and the humor compliments it quite nicely.
3. Several months ago, the folks at the Mystery Bookstore in Westwood were helpful when I walked in with a desire to read something set in 1800's Great Britain (where did this desire come from? Can't remember) I started a book that was recommended, but it turns out that I am not so into period murder mystery pieces. I prefer modern day - 1980's (a la Grafton) are OK too.
4. Give me a city that I know, and that's a bonus. As much as I like the idea of reading a mystery set in another country (and, yes, Cara Black's Parisian set mysteries are on my radar, and since I consider Paris a city I know pretty well, I should start reading these), I generally prefer a series in the US. I may also be open to something set in Canada. Those Canadians can be pretty funny...and murderous.
Send any suggestions my way. In the meantime, I'll read, as seen on public TV's Wayne Dyer's "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life."
1. The main character in most of my favorite books, and all of my favorite mystery books, are strong women characters. So, the heroine in any series, has to be just that, a heroine. Someone who isn't too girlie, just a smidgen socially awkward, feisty, adorable, and who isn't afraid to speak what's on her mind. Some semblance of a love life is good too.
2. I like some comedy in my mystery. The Lutz series doesn't have any murder, but the comedy and mystery is recipe for addiction. Jaffarian's books are full of murder and the humor compliments it quite nicely.
3. Several months ago, the folks at the Mystery Bookstore in Westwood were helpful when I walked in with a desire to read something set in 1800's Great Britain (where did this desire come from? Can't remember) I started a book that was recommended, but it turns out that I am not so into period murder mystery pieces. I prefer modern day - 1980's (a la Grafton) are OK too.
4. Give me a city that I know, and that's a bonus. As much as I like the idea of reading a mystery set in another country (and, yes, Cara Black's Parisian set mysteries are on my radar, and since I consider Paris a city I know pretty well, I should start reading these), I generally prefer a series in the US. I may also be open to something set in Canada. Those Canadians can be pretty funny...and murderous.
Send any suggestions my way. In the meantime, I'll read, as seen on public TV's Wayne Dyer's "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life."
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Running into Cats
Have not been posting here since I started my running blog last week. However, some relevant news for cat lovers. I just saw on the back of a Big Blue Bus that the Cat Show is in town today and tomorrow at the Santa monica Civic Auditorium. Now, I've seen snippets of a cat show on the Animal Channel, and the cats are really judged on being pretty. They don't trounce around like dog shows accompanied by their masters. Now if I go to this thing, will I require binoculars? Will it be worth it? I could always just drop by the animal shelter and give some attention to those cats in the cages - Now those are some animals looking for some much needed attention. Looks from the website though that any cat can enter to be judged - pedigreed or not. Check it out! Here's the website for the Santa Monica Cat Club Cat Fancier's Association Cat show.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
New Running Blog
I've started a new running blog at http://runnersalmanac.blogspot.com If you're a runner at any stage of the game, drop by and leave a comment. Thanks!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
She moves in mysterious ways...Women mystery writers in California
So I finished the latest in the Spellman File books – a mystery/chick lit/none of the above comically-leaning series by Lisa Lutz - about a month ago, and now I am ticking off the next of my latest favorite mystery writer, Sue Ann Jafarian and her Odelia Grey series. My interest in mysteries started with Sue Grafton’s ABC mysteries which I started reading about 8 or 9 years ago (also did a couple of books on tape). Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone became one of my favorite all-time heroines, and only recently did I start reading other woman-helmed stories of the same genre. I first read another mystery besides Grafton after I met writer Joan Blacher at the LA Times Festival of Books and read her book “Murder Canyon” which I blogged about on this site. I found out that she hasn’t written another mystery since, but it’s a good one to spend some quality time with.
I don’t remember how I came to read the first of Lisa Lutz’s book the Spellman Files, but after starting the first book and seeing her speak at a couple different events, I fell head over heels for her no-nonsense brash (and yes, alcoholic) 30-year old heroine Izzy Spellman and her adventures in the streets of San Francisco. Izzy has some definite similarities with Kinsey, and it’s probably here that I find both of these series so attractive. Neither are girly girls – more fond of jeans than any time of skirt or dress – and both have an honest get to the point personality (except when they are obviously lying to get what they want from their sleuthing efforts). Spellman books are more comic and less murder providing interesting adventure based around a family of private investigators - including a mother and father who believe that running a credit report on Izzy’s latest love interest is routine business. The third Spellman book didn’t disappoint mainly in the area of romance brimming between Izzy and detective Henry Stone. The first book is still written the best, I think, but I’m definitely looking forward to book number four, which is supposedly coming out next year.
I met Sue Ann Jafarian at a book signing event at the LA Times Festival of Books this year. She is the author of the Odelia Grey series which is a definite murder mystery series whereas Lutz’s books are more mystery-inspired. Odelia is a middle-aged BBW (Big beautiful woman) from Newport Beach who is a paralegal by day with a hobby of solving murders by night. The beauty of this series is the comedic charm of its main character, the ease with which we can relate to the characters, and the somewhat over-the-top nature of the crimes. I’ve read the last and the first in the series so far, and both books have mysteries with a sexual natural – Not as disturbing as CSI – Special Victims Unit – but still content appropriate for more adult readers. I'm also a big fan of California based books - Grafton's are set in a Santa Barbara like community, the Spellmans live in San Francisco, "Murder Canyon" is in Ventura, and Odelia is based in Orange County. The best part so far is the relationship between Odelia and her wheelchair bound lover Greg – “handicapped” romance has never been so scintillating! I just started reading “Curse of the Holy Pail” and laughed from page one – Which is a nice break in the day from work. Sue Ann Jafarian is speaking at a panel tonight at the Hawthorne Library on comedy mysteries. Check out her blog . I’m looking forward to the book launch for her new series in September at the Mystery Bookstore in Westwood
I don’t remember how I came to read the first of Lisa Lutz’s book the Spellman Files, but after starting the first book and seeing her speak at a couple different events, I fell head over heels for her no-nonsense brash (and yes, alcoholic) 30-year old heroine Izzy Spellman and her adventures in the streets of San Francisco. Izzy has some definite similarities with Kinsey, and it’s probably here that I find both of these series so attractive. Neither are girly girls – more fond of jeans than any time of skirt or dress – and both have an honest get to the point personality (except when they are obviously lying to get what they want from their sleuthing efforts). Spellman books are more comic and less murder providing interesting adventure based around a family of private investigators - including a mother and father who believe that running a credit report on Izzy’s latest love interest is routine business. The third Spellman book didn’t disappoint mainly in the area of romance brimming between Izzy and detective Henry Stone. The first book is still written the best, I think, but I’m definitely looking forward to book number four, which is supposedly coming out next year.
I met Sue Ann Jafarian at a book signing event at the LA Times Festival of Books this year. She is the author of the Odelia Grey series which is a definite murder mystery series whereas Lutz’s books are more mystery-inspired. Odelia is a middle-aged BBW (Big beautiful woman) from Newport Beach who is a paralegal by day with a hobby of solving murders by night. The beauty of this series is the comedic charm of its main character, the ease with which we can relate to the characters, and the somewhat over-the-top nature of the crimes. I’ve read the last and the first in the series so far, and both books have mysteries with a sexual natural – Not as disturbing as CSI – Special Victims Unit – but still content appropriate for more adult readers. I'm also a big fan of California based books - Grafton's are set in a Santa Barbara like community, the Spellmans live in San Francisco, "Murder Canyon" is in Ventura, and Odelia is based in Orange County. The best part so far is the relationship between Odelia and her wheelchair bound lover Greg – “handicapped” romance has never been so scintillating! I just started reading “Curse of the Holy Pail” and laughed from page one – Which is a nice break in the day from work. Sue Ann Jafarian is speaking at a panel tonight at the Hawthorne Library on comedy mysteries. Check out her blog . I’m looking forward to the book launch for her new series in September at the Mystery Bookstore in Westwood
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