Friday, March 30, 2012

Garin Park

Today was my first real outing since the Oakland Half.... decided to scout (a mix of hiking and running) a trail in Garin park. The morning started as a bit of a fiasco, so I should have taken it as a sign... The first half mile was sloggy mud then it opened up into the rolling green hills that I love so much. Rounding the corner near the halfway point I come to a herd of cattle on the trail (I do NOT like cattle ever since a certain experience)... As I was watching them I saw what appeared to be a calf... no, too small... oh, a dog... no.. .oh. a Coyote!!... Just walking and mingling with the herd. Then he spots us (at a distance) and crosses the trail and just lays down... watching the herd and us... hmmmnn... best to turn around I think. But here comes a man on a horse, through the herd. He offers to escort me through the cattle and beyond the coyote... he tells me to keep walking and he chases the coyote further up the hill... whew... then I come across a couple of people with two golden retrievers... they tell me that there is a coyote den... they point out 'the rock', which is actually a cotyote, but looks like a rock from our distance. She is guarding her den, watching us. The man tells me a few stories about his dogs getting attacked by coyote... scary (but they are fine)... he has seen a bobcat, too... oh nature... I feel pretty vulnerable as I continue on by myself (with Lola, my Rottweiler)... we are nearing the home stretch of the trail and come across some fresh intestines... oh boy... feeling very vulnerable... We make it safely back to the car.

I think that loop will get a check mark. Done it. Although I do like Garin park and will probably explore some more trails... But I guess that is what scouting is all about... adventure..

Mud


Wild Turkeys




Cows on the trail. And, look close enough, a coyote!






fresh intestines anyone... ?

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Next!

I'm signed up for my next race; See Jane Run in Alameda on June 3rd... Chocolate & Champagne!

I'm doing this one because my cousin is also running it... she is way beyond me in fitness but it will be very fun to have this experience together. It's bonding. A couple other friends are signing up also. It will be fun.

With approximately nine weeks to go, I'm hoping I'll do some stronger training and get a good -perhaps, best - time since it is a super duper flat course...

http://www.seejanerun.com/t-See-Jane-Run-Half-Marathon-and-5K.aspx

Monday, March 26, 2012

Oakland Half Marathon

My training was not strong for this race... but I decided to do my best... slow and steady... and, thanks to the very flat course, ended up with my second best time (this was my 4th half marathon). No stopping, no walking. Lots of pain. Realized that somewhere around 9 miles I begin to question WHY I do this, and it is where pain begins to creep in, with resistance to that pain... And somewhere around 11/12 miles the acceptance of that pain (endorphins?!)... kicked it up a gear for that last .1 (thank you crowd/adrenaline/endorphins)... and now... I'm looking forward to my NEXT half marathon (and better training, maybe be in front of the run/walkers!)... See Jane Run in Alameda, June 3rd...

Packed in like cattle but grateful for a dry, but chilly, day (it had been forecast for a miserable rain)...

When I saw this woman in the distance I thought she may be a pacer and I wondered what pace we were keeping... turns out she held the "Party Pace"!... good enough for me...



The course took us by two of my previous living spaces in Jack London District.. this was the first!

This is the second... The Phoenix Lofts (actually lived in two different units here)...


I did it!...


My greeting committee! {heart}



My official finishing time... turns out, thanks to the flat course, it was my second best time...


Thursday, March 15, 2012

{sigh}...

I struggle with it... I am so easily distracted and I get down on myself. Last week I did a 10 mile long run. It actually felt good. Even though I am way behind in training for my half marathon NEXT week. I've accepted that it will be tough and that I may not finish {in time, I'll hobble along}..... but all the while... I miss running.. long runs.

Today I came upon this blog post by Anton Krupicka... I find him inspiring;
http://wpblogs.runningtimes.com/blogs/antonkrupicka/2012/02/29/alone/?cm_mmc=RT-_-846234-_-03152012-_-KrupickaAlone