Run

how do they do it? mud, steep hills, NO TRAIL, sheep shit. did I mention NO TRAIL?

to do much of this. and with western states being cancelled, there goes my longest run (pacing 38 miles) in 18 months. so I get to really, really rest for my mountain marathon next weekend (next weekend!!)

from the house! to campus, up strawberry canyon, along grizzly peak/skyline, to tunnel road, across the 24 to temescal lake, under the 24 to chabot and back home. with my friend jen, who is training for her second marathon.

lake sonoma, with lisa and karen. there were a couple water fiascos, and it was h-o-t, so our original 26 mile plan got cut short.
I felt good and pulled for most of the run (which meant breaking lots of spider webs).
it is so fun to be back on the trail with my running peeps, and am starting to think about some of the events that I might want to do (put in for) over the next year. including western states and tour du mont blanc, which means I need to run a qualifier this year.
very, very cool that I get to do this again.

but it felt good to work so hard. i went for a swim afterwards, what a luxury the water was!

up claremont canyon, panoramic ridge to chaparral peak. about an hour, did I say up? one of the warmest days I can ever remember here, just magical, and clear.

with my new running/couchsurfing friend mark. i love the chaparral, the technical trail and the view from the top.
7 miles.

yesterday 1 hour on the treadmill (boring, but the fixed incline is kick ass) and this morning an hour from home to around the marina park. feels like i am running through mud. the only thing that gets me though it is knowing that it will get easier.

this will be my one and only long run for ironman. i ramped up from 12 miles last week (not my best idea ever), but it was either that or suffer more race day.

this time, i decided to be smart about a long run, and not overdo it. slow and steady, and some walking breaks. 2 hours.