looking back...

Here's to a year of 13.1's!


The Big Sur International Half Marathon
November 11, 2007 Monterey to Pacific Grove, California

My goal was to finish, and finish I did. Getting it done in less than 2 hours wasn't half bad either.

The Stats:
time: 1: 57:18, 8:57 mile pace
place overall: 1164 out of 3596 runners
place female: 392 out of 2032
place F 20-24: 40 out of 147


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The Santa Cruz Half Marathon
West Cliff to Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA
April 12, 2008

The training leading up to this race shaped running as a therapeutic tool for me. I could push my body to a state that was uncomfortable, and somehow stay in control... so why not run a little faster...go a little farther? Running made me happy and offered me the strength I needed to overcome a difficult time.

The Stats:
time: 1:51, 8:32 mile pace
place overall: 329 out of 1558
place F 20-29: 31 out of 252



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Jungle Run
Los Gatos, CA
July 14, 2008

My fastest race time. I really gunned it at the start, and kept it up for the first 8 miles or so until I slowed to a more reasonable pace. It felt really good to finish. . and I lost 3 pounds in the bathroom.

The Stats:
time: 1:49:07, 8:20 mile pace
place overall: 159 out of 759
place F 20-29: 17 out of 86


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The Other Half
Moab, Utah
October 19, 2008

Moab's elevation of 4,026 ft literally knocked the wind out of me...I almost asked for a ride to the finish line at the course's highest point of 4,300 feet.
The Stats:
time: 2:20:37, 10:44 mile pace
place overall: 769 out of 1200
place F 20-29: 118 out of 199

camping by the colorado river on the night before the race

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The Big Sur International Marathon
Monterey to Pacific Grove, CA
November 9, 2008

My familiarity with the course made it easy to set my nerves aside and relax into a comfortable race pace. I took my time and reflected on a year of personal growth and adventure.



The Stats:
time: 1:56:04; 8:52 mile pace
place overall: 1153 out of 4278
place female: 418 out of 2605
place F 20-24: 35 out of 180

Big Sur Marathon

Course Mileage and Elevation Charts for the Big Sur Marathon on April 26, 2008.



See the 600 foot elevation climb at mile 13?


Gots to get ready for thems hills!

i moved. we had a lot of stuff.
some of it when to the goodwill.
most of it was shoved under the bed.
and the rest was carefully placed in shelves and drawers

by sunday i was back to a familiar routine.

breakfast:



snack:
lunch:


snack:
dinner:
saturday: 7 miles
sunday: 10 miles
monday: off
tuesday: 6 miles

happy halloween

i look terrified in this picture, and let me tell you i was.

red desert

I had a wonderful time this weekend exploring Utah with my buddy Andrea. We made a great friend and some wonderful memories!

As for the race, the elevation was more draining on my performance than I had anticipated and I thought I wasn't going to finish. But, with plenty of stops at the water stations, a quick squat behind some tumbleweed, and some inspiration from the magnificent landscape, I made it to the finish line alive and well.

Utah is a fantastic place to be!

Here are some pictures for now....

a fence at arches national park.


delicate arch.

balance rock.

rock formations in goblin valley

a fulfilling breakfast with a fulfilling view.
this is pandora. she has three legs and can poop in the toilet.


andrea and I at the salt flats

old drippy

so i've had this cold.
i got it last weekend at lake tahoe, when i brilliantly hiked through the snow in spandex and ankle socks.

tomorrow I leave for moab, utah, with a drippy nose and a soar throat.

oh, and i ran no miles this week.

i spent most of it in bed, actually.

it could be a disaster.

wish me luck.

soccer team

I'm on a soccer team. We had our first practice yesterday. We're pretty good. Actually, we're really good.

It turned into 2 hours of pick up games.

I used to think that I was in shape...(used to...referring to less than 24 hours ago).

After about 20 minutes of playtime I was all hunched over trying not to spit up water.

...and today, my legs are incredibly soar. Mostly the inner muscles, which apparently don't get used on a long run.

I used to do this!

I used to do this everyday! 14 hours a week! sometimes more! 20 hours a week! and then go to dance class or ski team or track, and somehow do my homework and have friends!

i will have to get used to it again...because every wednesday for the next 8 or 9 weeks, i'll be playing soccer.... and if i avoid injury, i expect it to improve my race time.

(i just need to remember to stretch!)

early morning running partner

i came to work early this morning to get my miles in.

this guy was waiting for me by the workout court.


saturday: 10mi
sunday: 3mi
monday: off
tuesday: 6mi

recruited.

Someone recruited me to run "the other half" in Moab, Utah.


October 19, 2008.

9.24.08

breakfast: coffee, followed by smart bran cereal with milk.


lunch:

Tuesday: early morning 3 miler + hills

here's a photo of the sun coming up over the bay.

busy weekend!

on friday night i was treated to an evening with nick cave and the bad seeds at the warfield in san francisco.

after the show, we stopped at Mel's diner for a snack.


Saturday was a perfect end of summer day, so I decided to spend the most of it in henry cowell park. I ran 17 miles.

here is a picture of ginger, post swim and ready for more miles.
postrun: carrot, squash and sweet potato soup with kale

dinner:
toasted olive bread with sardines

skirt steak with brocolli and brown rice

oh yeah, and chocolate tofu pie with coffee.


on sunday, i had a quick 4 mile run with ginger and then spent the afternoon apple picking at Gizdich Ranch

where'd i go?

apologies!

summer came to a screeching halt...and it's fall!

which means school is about to start...and I'm consumed by orientations, retreats, and first day jitters.

It also means that there is less sunlight in the early hours...and it won't be long before we've got less time to be outside...

Monday: 5.5 miles
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: off

Here are some foodie highlights from the days gone by.

cod, knish, and wildflower salad

tuna and wildflower salad


camera shy?


henry and ginger being cute.

running.

saturday: 11 miles
sunday: 11 miles
monday: 4 mile speed workout
tuesday: 6 miles
wednesday: off
thursday: 5 miles
friday: 6 miles
saturday: 8 miles
sunday: 10 miles

am I a good omnivore?

According to the folks at very good taste, if you consider yourself a good omnivore, then you should make it your business to eat every item on this list.

Let's see how I've lived up to the title so far.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3)Distinguish any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos Rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba Ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J Sandwich
14. Aloo Gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom Tomatos
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie Gras
24. Rice and Beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna Cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken Tikka Masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickley Pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob Chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang Souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft Shell Crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican blue Mountain Coffee
100. Snake

I can't say that I wouldn't eat any of these things. Since I've moved to California, my taste buds have developed quite drastically. I actually crave good food now. It's possible that I will crave head cheese one day...who knows....I don't feel strongly enough about it to say I'll never do it.

it's sort of an odd 100 items, don't you think?

i wonder what criteria went into making this list... should we eat these foods because they taste yummy? they awaken all of the omnivore's taste buds? or is it their nutritional value? last I heard big macs and road kill aren't the most nutritionally informed choices...

do you think this is an accurate list? what's your criteria for good food choices? how would your list look?