Lindsey is Running!

other things to do. (may resolution)

2009-05-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

This month, I would like to take a break from all this running and just enjoy all that this place has to offer...

So what's in store for may then?

More bike rides....possibly to and from work?

(bike path through the center of campus)

A trip to Big Creek. (that's today!)
Day hikes at Arroyo Seco Gorge
Castle Rock State Park
Lots of Body Farm Shows
Vegas :)

Couldn't resist...

2009-05-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

I'm moving to the east coast in July to start Graduate School, and I'm pretty nervous that the weather and demanding classes will mean less running.

So to make sure that I don't skip out on my favorite routine, I signed up for my second marathon.

so... what's next?

2009-04-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

Fortunately, I've de-railed my post-marathon blues by having another race lined up this weekend.

I'm running a 200 mile relay race from Calistoga to Santa Cruz.

Meet the runners here.

more marathon memories

2009-04-30T07:42:00.001-07:00

Marathon weekend wouldn't have been so memorable if we didn't get to spend time with our friends Chuck and Liz. We spent most of Saturday in the Monterey Bay Aquarium, took a drive along the coastline, consumed a carb-loaded dinner and caught the first half of alvin and the chipmunks on HBO.

This is me the night before the race, testing out the warm clothes to wear at the start. I left these on the course, and the marathon crew picked up them up and donated them to charity.

I couldn't have been happier to see Unkle Karl, Mimi, Adam, Kylie, Ken, Chuck, Liz and Mike at the finish line! Here are some shots from Unkle Karl

Before you start the race you can leave your things in a bag at the start line and they truck it to the finish for you. Here they are all lined up

Post race snack basket: muffin, strawberries, carrots, grapes, peanut butter cookie...

having a rest while ken drinks a tall glass of michelob ultra...available at the finish line for "runners only".

results!

2009-04-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

I finished!

Overall: 1388 out of 3078
Women: 407 out of 1242
F 25-29: 89 out of 219
Finish: 4:25:32
Pace: 10:08
Half: 2:14:50
Pace: 10:18

Check out some pics from marathonfoto

Here are a few that Fred took

See you at the finish line!

2009-04-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur CA. July 2007.

A BIG Thank you to all of you who have supported my efforts to raise money for Parkinson's Disease through this race!

Mom, Dad, Jack, Terry, Fred, Uncle Manny, Adelia, Rosa, Tanya, Kevin, Andrea, Taylor, Cheryl, Anna, Clara, Becky, Steve, Mackenzie, and Austin!

I'm off and running! Love you so much!

rethinking the wall.

2009-04-24T20:16:00.001-07:00

fallen log and clover spiral.
big creek reserve, big sur. may 2008.

On sunday, I will push my body to an impossible limit. I'll get to a point where I will feel every muscle. Where every step will hurt. I'll hit my wall and spend every painstakingly ssssssllllow second that passes trying to cope with the awful realization of how incredibly hard I have to work to get to the finish line.

Oddly enough, I expect to feel very alive in this moment.

Maybe it's that my heart is racing at a magnificent speed when I'm running...the rush of adrenaline, and an onslaught of dormant chemical reactions happening in my body feel really good... erhh maybe it's not that fancy. maybe I'm just plain old tired, losing it, and in reasoning sadistic pleasures, the reason is always the same.

Being able to control my body on the brink of absolute panic is a dangerously addictive high.

hippity hopp

2009-04-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

The long run I did 2 weeks ago made my hip flexor really tight. Since the second half of the marathon is downhill I need to stretch out these muscles as much as I can before race day or I could be hippity hopping on one foot all the way to the finish.

My cousin Jenny says "Grand Plie" but I'm adding on some of these stretches too.

down the rabbit hole.

2009-04-17T14:41:00.001-07:00

cave dwelling. pinnacles national park, october 2008.
(photo by Mike Arkus)

It's friday and I'm still trying to wade through a post-run funk that set in after sunday's attempt at 26.2.

Monday and Tuesday I made the decision not to run, but wednesday? thursday? and today, now, friday? still can't run more than a mile without feeling like I'm going to throw up.

I don't usually feel nausea from too much running....and I've always got a super appetite after longer runs. This time though, it's just not there. I've forced myself to eat all week. nothing is satisfying, and I've come to expect a stomach ache after I do eat something.

So here I am at the end of my week with a lousy 2 mile total and a marathon a week away. My legs feel fine! They're ready to go! They WANT to go! What if it's just nerves that are making me sick? What if I'm really sick? What if I still feel like this a week from sunday and I can't even run more than a mile?

still recovering from sunday's big run

2009-04-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

but just as a reminder of the road ahead, here is a photo looking north from Willow Creek.

just a taste of 26.2

2009-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dinner: walnut crusted salmon with oven roasted potatoes and prosciutto wrapped asparagus.

the alarm went off way before the sun came up.

Breakfast: water, sprouted wheat bagel with peanut butter and kelly's delicious homemade fig jam. coffee (i neeed it), and then more water.

and this is what I packed for the run:

Luna sport pomegranate moons and a chocolate larabar.

I definitely hit my wall at around 22 miles. I wasn't so much hungry as I was looking to take my mind off of the pain I felt in my legs, so I finished off the bag of Luna Moon chews and continued on for a few more miles.

After 5 hours of running this morning, I'm feeling pretty exhausted. I spent most of the day selfishly napping in all of the sunny spots of the house.

now it's time for a steak and some lasagna.

rosebud

2009-04-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

last weekend saw an off the cuff road trip down to hearst castle. i could have spent a month sniffing around the place with my camera...

hill week

2009-04-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

(life on the hill, east campus)

The track on campus runs a half mile around and is perfectly placed with a 200m hill behind it. This week, my lunch hour tempo run included this hill with each lap around the track.

I didn't plan to do this everyday, but I think the spring weather (and a quick glance at my calendar) inspired me to make it a week of hills.

monday: 6.5 mile tempo run with hills
tuesday: 7 mile tempo run with hills
wednesday: 7 mile tempo run with hills
thursday: 7 mile tempo run with hills

(A Big Sur Inspired) April Resolution

2009-04-02T19:21:00.002-07:00

Do you remember counting down the last few seconds of 2008 and welcoming the New Year? That sense of rebirth? The glorious wave of relief coursing through your veins when you start over? What did you propose as your "resolution"? Save more money? Shed those holiday pounds? Use up some of that vacation time? Run a marathon?

Oh, by the way...

How's it going with that?

I'm not so good with New Years resolutions. I certainly dream of having it all... my health, a well fed savings account, weekend getaways, a working car, land in Montana, glowing skin, peace of mind, and a fired up social life.

But let's be honest here...it's just too hard to have all my ducks in a row. Work is stressful and I'm tired when I come home, so I'm lucky if I even get a shower in before I head back the next day. By Wednesday, dinner looks like tortilla chips and cold pasty noodles because I can't afford a microwave, and my dog is glaring at me because it's been a few days since she's been to the beach. The shame is too much to bear when I'm this cranky so I force myself to take a nap, hoping that things will be better when I wake up.

(they never are)

So please take my advice, and don't be so hard on yourself if those resolutions fell to the back burner! Life is hard!

Fellow blogger at The Kim Challenge is in the habit of making monthly resolutions and stickin' to em. A month is a far less overwhelming time frame to work with when you're needing to change a deeply ingrained behavior. So if you're feeling guilty for not being as superhuman as you thought you'd be by now, why don't you try a smaller goal? Baby steps, right?

This month, I've been inspired to make my own april resolution to soak up as much spring sunshine as possible! Spring officially started last month...but I didn't feel it until this past weekend at Big Sur. The wildflowers were in full bloom, the sun was shining, and there were SWARMS of butterflies!

That means,

Media Detox. (sorry Tina Fey...but we need to take a break.)

1. No more mindless surfing on the internet after work. It's pretty much sunny all the time here, and I sit in front of a computer all day long. There is no excuse to not be outside after the whistle blows. I am always a much happier person when I get more fresh air and sunshine.

2. This means getting a full night's rest so I'm not craving a nap after work...and missing out on crucial daylight hours. When we set up camp last weekend we shared some smores at the fire and then went straight to bed. It was probably 9 or 10 by the time we were asleep...and we were up by 7/7:30 without an alarm and feeling fully refreshed. I do enjoy watching marathons of the Office and 30 Rock, but I think it's making me lose sleep.

3. What better way to enjoy spring than with plenty of running?! With less than a month to go before the marathon, there's really no way out of this one!

Unlike most detoxes, this media cleanse will include blog updates.

Big Sur, je t'aime

2009-03-31T16:20:00.000-07:00

Today Big Sur is no longer an outpost, the number of sightseers and visitors increases yearly...What was inaugurated with virginal modesty threatens to end as a bonanza...Big Sur may rapidly develop into a suburb (of Monterey), with bus service, barbecue stands, gas stations, chain stores and all the odious claptrap that makes Suburia horrendous.

-Henry Miller, from Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch

We spent this past weekend at big sur.

Bus service? yes. Barbecue stands? you betcha. Gas Stations? plenty. Chain stores? pretty close if you count Chevron. Odious claptrap? uh huh.

Look at this picnic.

oh yum! Looks good right?

Halfway through a block of manchega, we were asked to move. Apparently, that part of the Big Sur river is owned by the River Inn (hint: don't go there) and they do not want people to sit there unless they are ordering food from the restaurant.

We didn't let an uppity restaurant manager ruin our weekend...but it did leave us wondering if there is there such thing as a proper human relationship with nature.

Regardless, Big Sur is still beautiful. Yes, the frequency of hoaky tourists crawling all over the coastline was probably less back in 1954 when Henry Miller drank tea with his beatnik friends at Nepenthe... but I still feel the magic every time I'm there, and am happy to share it.

..........

Descending Partington Ridge, Homeplace to Henry Miller (1947), where he completed work on Plexus and Into the Nightlife

.......

A gusty Pfeiffer Beach

.......

a sandy and gross looking ginger

2009-03-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

I had a great weekend soaking up the beach with some friends from the east coast. I am definitely going to miss this place...

Saturday: 11 mi
Sunday: 9 mi
Monday: 12 mi

homemade granola bars

2009-03-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Tired of the same granola bar everyday? Tired of all the mysterious ingredients packed in your afternoon snack? This recipe from The Kitchen Sink Recipes features two kinds of nuts and seeds, and makes a mean granola bar.

These are extremely easy to throw together and the recipe calls for many pantry staples, so a trip to the store may not be necessary!

You will need:
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut (i left this out)
1/2 cup pepitas
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup whole almonds (or other nut)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup honey*
1/4 cup natural peanut butter*
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit)

Preheat the oven to 325. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, line a square baking pan (8 or 9 inches) with two perpendicular sheets of parchment paper that are long enough to leave an overhang. The sheets will form a “basket” for you to lift out the sheet of granola, before you cut it into bars.

Combine the oats, coconut, seeds and nuts; spread out evenly on the rimmed baking sheet and toast for 15 minutes.

When the oat mixture has been toasting for about 10 minutes, combine the honey, peanut butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. If the sugar dissolves before the oat mixture is done toasting, reduce the heat to low.

When the oat mixture is done toasting, transfer it to a large bowl and add the honey mixture and fruit; stir to incorporate.

Spread the mixture in the prepared square pan, using the back of a wooden spoon or bottom of a measuring cup to press the mixture into the pan and create a smooth, even surface. Bake the granola mixture for 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack.

Using your parchment “handles,” lift the granola sheet out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Using a large sharp knife, Cut the sheet into one-inch wide bars. Next, cut the series of bars in half, lengthwise. Store in an airtight container.

*Be sure to let these bars cool completely before you start cutting them up.

it's a date

2009-03-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

I found a new favorite breakfast.

Toasted Date bread with banana.

Dates are rich in carbohydrates, packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E, potassium, iron and calcium.

Pairing a toasted slice with a banana is pretty much the grandest slam of potassium I could ask for.

The only drawback is that they are rich in fiber, so if you can't handle it pre-run, this may be a better post-run snack.

Running The Big Sur Marathon for Parkinson's Disease

2009-03-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

There are an infinite number of selfish reasons to run, and I certainly have explored most of them. I grew up running around on a soccer field, through the woods, and on a track. Reconnecting with this part of my life since I moved to California has certainly rebuilt a huge part of my identity that sidelined when I started college. And of course, it's also been an excuse to travel, go to the beach, spend time alone (and with ginger), and to stay in shape.

Training for an endurance event is very hard work and extremely time consuming, and with just a month from race day, there are some moments when this process feels less like a fitness hobby and more like a part time job! I am sure that the physical and mental challenge of this race will be a life changing experience...and pushing past a manageable point of exhaustion may reveal a vulnerable, gross and unpleasant Lindsey at around mile 20. The payoff for this kind of work needs to be great, and that's why I chose to make this a fundraising event in addition to it being a test of personal endurance.

Without further ado, I dedicate this race to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.

Through fundraising I hope to expand the efforts to raise money and awareness regarding a devastating neurological disease that affects someone near and dear to my heart. There are currently 1 million Americans living with Parkinson's disease and an estimated 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Unfortunately, there is still no known cause or cure. With the ban lifted on Parkinson's related research, your fundraising dollars couldn't come at a better time.

If you would like to donate, please visit my (secure) website.

Be sure to spread the word and thank you for your support!

loose training plans...err..what training plan?

2009-03-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

I've prepared for this marathon with a really loose training plan.
It feels right to me...but I wonder if it's enough to prepare me for the distance ahead.

Well here it is .

1. Run atleast 40 miles a week. I can't say that I've met this goal consistently with the sprained ankle and the slew of colds that knocked me off my feet...but I'm usually around that number when you average it all out.

2. Eat a Banana everyday, or, most days. If you ask me, bananas are pretty much here for runners. Here are some of the benefits.

3. Eat more greens, for calcium! Sometimes dairy isn't the best idea when you're running everyday, so it's important to look for green sources of calcium. Add kale to your soup, steam it, or saute it with almonds, garbanzo beans, and halved cherry tomatoes (my current favorite).

4. Develop your hill muscles. Running at work leaves me less time to get in a good distance, but that doesn't mean it's not worth heading out. There are some great hills on campus, and the track is perfect for speed workouts.

5. Acquire a taste for fitness food. I can't run with too much food in my stomach, and I don't like things that leave a strong taste in my mouth (like gatorade..). I'm not too satisfied with the GU gels I've tasted, so I need to look for other food options that will satisfy me along the way. Is straight up peanut butter a bad idea?

6. Run a marathon before the marathon. I know that I want to run 26.2 before the big day. I know that there needs to be a hill at around mile 13, and lots of hills before and after. It may also be smart to simulate race day...(I'll be awake at 3:30 to pick up the shuttle to Pfeiffer State Park, and then have plenty of time to hang out until the start). I need to know what's best for dinner the night before...and what I can stomach for a pre run breakfast.

7. Keep it fun. I bring Ginger with me on most all of my runs. She's a great listener, keeps a good pace, and is always down for some playtime at the beach at the end of a long run. She offers a special strength that I wouldn't trade for the world.

keeping your shrimps pretty in pink

2009-02-12T07:20:00.000-08:00

In case you were wondering, toes are critical if you're a runner. They're essential for balance, which is important for that perfect stride we all work so hard for. Don't believe me? Try running your next 10k without toes.

Normal socks act like an oven-mit around your feet, causing your toes to rub together and get all hot and sweaty. Subjecting your feet to such a miserable breathing environment could lead to blisters, black toes, and other nightmarish hot spots like this:

(photo from getty images by AFP/getty images)

If we don't wear mittens on our hands all day long then it's only smart to not wear them on our feet when we're running for extremely long distances. San Diego-based Injinji founders Randuz and Joaquin Romay made it their business to redesign the basic structure and shape of the traditional sock in 1999 with the Injinji endurance tetrasok. You can read about their story here.

These socks combine the comfort and dexterity of bare feet with the protection of a seamless sock, allowing your foot to perform freely and naturally inside your shoes. I received a pair of these bad boys for christmas this year.
I'm not the most foot squeamish person on the block.. even so, I never thought I was brave enough for toe socks. I have to admit, they are a little weird at first, but once I was off and running I didn't feel them at all. What's a little cloth between my toes anyway?

2009-02-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

My ankle is just about healed enough to get back into a regular training routine.

On saturday I enjoyed a beachside run with ginger.

(6 miles)

And then felt well enough to try for some more distance in Nisene Marks. Ginger has taken to my stationary routine and I literally had to drag her out of bed for our run....

(9 miles)

running partners

2009-02-06T20:15:00.001-08:00

I don't have many running partners..so the few I've had mean a lot to me. I generally like to run alone, or with my dog. Having a 2 hour stretch of time all to myself is the greatest! I can think about anything I want...or nothing at all. I can run fast when I feel like it, and slow down when I can't keep up.

My first running partner in California lived in an adorable little cabin just down the road from the beach. We would run a mile and a half along the promenade, do some adorable little stretches, and then turn around.
Not only would she meet me 3 days a week (sometimes more) at 7 AM for the same run, but she always offered a hot shower and a cup of coffee before my full day of classes.

here's her adorable little blog

http://boundlessoptimism.blogspot.com/

and here she is feeding cheezy soup to her hot brazillian lover

Springtime in February

2009-02-04T08:02:00.000-08:00

Cherry Blossoms en route to the east field.

coping with an injury.

2009-01-30T21:43:00.000-08:00

the best way to cope with injury induced depression is with...

and...
and...

Guess what?

2009-01-28T11:50:00.001-08:00

sprained ankle!

I'm healing quickly, and hope to be hitting the trails again soon...!

looking back...

2008-12-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

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

********************************************************************************************

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

********************************************************************************************

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

********************************************************************************************
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

********************************************************************************************
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

2008-12-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-05T07:28:00.001-08:00

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

red desert

2008-10-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-16T19:53:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-02T11:09:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-09-27T10:43:00.001-07:00

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

October 19, 2008.

9.24.08

2008-09-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

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

lunch:

2008-09-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

Tuesday: early morning 3 miler + hills

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

busy weekend!

2008-09-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-09-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-08-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

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?

8/28/08

2008-08-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

breakfast: coffee and a cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese

8/27/08

2008-08-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

lunchtime run: 6.5 miles

after the sun went down, we laced up our wheels for some sick move busting on the roller rink.

8.26.08

2008-08-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

breakfast
big late lunch: cheeseburger with salad.
dinner/snack: smoothie with bananas, acai, yogurt, blueberries and a packet of mystery chinese herbs.

8/25/08

2008-08-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

breakfast:

lunch: strawberries, grapes, peach, banana, and an apricot and nut granola bar

dinner: zucchini and spinach frittata with chicken soup

Lunchtime run: 6.5 miles

i <3 the olympics

2008-08-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

There is something so exciting about the olympics. Maybe it's that they only happen once every four years. It reminds me of my life in transit four years ago, stretching my legs in a filthy super eight motel in Albuquerque New Mexico. I was moving to California.
Or the time before that in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, stuck to the olive green leather sofa in my bathing suit.
Maybe it's the live editing and fancy camera work that I love. The on the spot artistry that transforms a spectacular event into one that our inferior eyes can manage.
131 years ago, Edward Muybridge devised an elaborate camera set up to capture the footwork of racing horses. To track a single stride Muybridge needed to set up a dozen stereoscopic cameras with trigger wires strewn about the track.
Now, the process of doing something like this goes unseen. Did you catch glimpse of the cameras zipping around the track at record breaking speeds? or the flawless panning on the pole vaulters? how about the still frames of the gymnasts in mid air, mid flip, twist or tumble? and the cameras mounted to the bottom of the pool?...a superb hiding spot for one that's starved for the underwater dance of a gold medal diver.

Maybe it's the spectacle that I love. The superhuman-ness of it all. The different shapes, sizes, and diets of olympic bodies.

How about you? why do you love the olympics? oohh tell me tell me! i want to know! what was your favorite olympic moment? was it Nastia Lucan's uneven bar routine? Michael Phelps' consecutive wins? that sassy tattoo hidden under his speedo? Matthew Mitchum putting the div(a) back in dive...with three twists and no splash? or was it (my personal fave) Usain Bolt's sick dance moves?

2008-08-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

saturday: 10 miles
sunday: 8 miles
monday: off
tuesday: 4 miles with hills
wednesday: 9 miles
thursday: 4 miles with hills and sprints
friday: off
saturday: 8 miles
sunday: off

some pictures:

last nights dinner was a puttanesca sauce with steak and pasta.
we had chocolate ice cream for dessert while we watched the olympics.
i finally went grocery shopping!
pictured here: mesa sunrise and organic square-ems cereal, spinach, eggs, cilantro, nancy's nonfat organic yogurt, zucchini, cucumber, strawberries, grapes, peaches, frozen acai, and frozen blueberries

this is a picture from friday night of ginger howling over the rooftop on a fallen redwood log

at 8,800 feet

2008-08-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

So long as you don't make cuts in line, I know of a place you can go where people get along.

it stands at 8,800 feet, overlooking a happy valley with happy accidents. with happy clouds, happy crooked trees,

and happy little squirrels.

a valley where the little 'possums and raccoons all have a place to sit and drink up the sweetness from the falls.

The valley is busy. the rivers are sprinkled with rafts, the meadows with fawn, and tandem bicycles with children. matchbox cars zip alongside the rivers. 300 miles away the water is salty and filled with romantic dinners.

there is no need to fear evil here, on top of our granite monolith !
night and day, winged-less gargoyles poise stoically from fastened strings like rusted clothes pinned puppets from fingers.
Chinese, Indian, French, German, Dutch, American, Israeli, Palestinian.....a place where women are just as strong as men, where children like the stories that old people tell, where the skinny, the fat, and the muscular do handstands for the camera, where brave people help those who are scared and scared people realize that being brave is part of being human, and we really have to be brave enough to feel it.

at this moment, this moment that we wish would last forever, in mid handstand, in mid war story, we are all so happy! so very thrilled to have defied death, to feel our knees shake, our lungs strain for air, to stand on top of this world together.
to violate our mother's wishes together.
to be greedy masochists, together!
all of us here on top of this rock are happy to feel pain and think pleasure, and together it is our secret.

naaaaaature!

2008-08-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

into the wild for another death march.

back with photos on monday.

8/4/08

2008-08-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

breakfast

lunch: yogurt, bananas, granola bar

dinner: kale soup with corn salad and toast.

monday: 7 miles
tuesday: 6 miles

weekend warrior

2008-08-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

our yard is great. sure it's dusty, and the stairs are crumbling, and you may have to dodge some crazy eyed coonhounds or a beagle....but when you get down to it, a simple picnic table, charcoal grill, and some rad friends are all you need to stay entertained on a summer night in the redwoods.

friday night:
caldo verde

Kelly serving up a delicious gingersnap nectarine torte

saturday morning went a little slower than usual, but i still squeezed in a good 13 miles at henry cowell. this is my post run snack.

we lost power in the afternoon so we took a drive into santa cruz for an iced coffee.

headed down the coast to catch the sunset. (aptos)
stopped for tacos
and then finished off the day with an ice cream
the next morning started as usual...
with a high speed chase down west cliff with Kelly and her all terrain roller skates! (7 miles)
we met up with some friends visiting from the east bay that evening...and like most friends, we shared stories..secrets.. baseball cards...needles...and a bounty of buffalo burgers...sadly, i failed to document this spectacular ending to my weekend grill-scapades.

weekend milage: 20

back on (the) track

2008-08-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

my planned 3 day recovery after the los gatos half marathon turned into a 3 week recovery.

so it goes.

rice bowl with cucumbers, carrots, avocado, seaweed and marinated tofu. thanks kelly!

biscuit with almond butter and jelly (thanks again kelly!)

stirfry

blueberry crisp (thank you....kELLY!)

salad with spinach fritata

afternoon swim at the garden of eden with henry and ginger.

lazy weekend on the shipyard.

2008-07-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

mister peabody on the poopdeck
too much coffee

sausage and bacon (saturday morning breakfast)
french toast warfare

plums
rabbit and rice

7/12 - 7/13

2008-07-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

some foodie highlights from race weekend

pre race dinner

short ribs

pesto and bread

salmon with couscous and raw zucchini salad

the next day...

post race lunch. left over couscous with kale, cranberries, carrots, zucchini and squash

snack. crackers with jelly.
dinner: homemade pizzas for tracy's birthday

a magnificent baked alaska for a magnificent day

and for good measure..an afternoon shot of ginger.

los gatos half marathon

2008-07-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

results:

1:49:07
8:20 minute mile

overall: 157 out of 739 runners
female 20-29: 17 out of 85

week in review

2008-07-11T12:44:00.001-07:00

potato leek soupspinach omelet with toast

wildflower salad with steamed cauliflower and tomato

humboldt bran muffin with walnuts and raisins. coffee

favorite snack. apples and peanut butter
mozzerella basil panini with tomatos and spinach. on focaccia with steamed chard.

snacking on seaweed
tomato and cucumber afternoon rainbow spread by Tracy

Octopus salad
sole with piccata sauce and veggies

monday: 6 miles
tuesday: off
wednesday: 7 miles plus pumping iron
thursday: 4 miles
friday: off

half marathon this sunday.!

7/6/08. big basin.

2008-07-06T19:25:00.001-07:00

big sur is on fire, so we hiked in big basin this weekend instead.

(packing for 3.)

fungus

green.

distance hiked: 10 miles

7/5/08

2008-07-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

early bird. peanut butter toast w/coffee.

post run breakfast: frittata with spinach and mushrooms. berry smoothie.

more bbq fun. cucumbers, cheese, olives and crackers

ziti with less red meat than the day before and an ear of corn (extended version).

coffee and cake.

distance run: 15 miles.

7/4/08

2008-07-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

sleeping in. breakfast:

lunch/dinner.

dessert.

wednesday: 0 miles

thursday: 0 miles

friday: 7 miles

7/3/08

2008-07-04T23:48:00.000-07:00

out to breakfast with coworkers

2 fried eggs with toast and potatoes.

coffee

afternoon bbq and birthday celebration

garlic bread

meat medley. plus avo's chourica.

my serving. one cheeseburger with ketchup.

dessert:

maple cake with berries.

easy rider

2008-07-02T09:07:00.001-07:00

In kindergarten i hopped for 15 minutes dressed as a bunny to raise money for children and adults living with neuromuscular disorders.

In 2nd grade i got a yellow skip it for my birthday. it had a counter on it to keep track of the number of times the plastic ball came about my ankle. I beat nuno cordeiro from portugal on the skip it count during recess, exceeding the 3 digit allowance of skip its per skip it.

i was also really good at hula hooping for one summer, and remember rocking a side pony, some pink spaghetti pants, and my hips for what seemed to be an eternity at my cousin's high school graduation picnic.

Sadly, after having lived a little, these great feats of human endurance seem downright silly...achievements just minor enough to know that hula hooping and eating a hot dog at the same time won't pay my rent. (even if i look hot in pink spaghetti pants.)

but let's not get too depressed on here. .

sure it's hard working a 9-5, paying college loans, keeping up with rising gas prices, making my own food, cutting checks for rent that makes my blood curdle, and having to stay fabulous like all the time..
but that's not to say that the daily grind has actually shattered my dreams of doing the things i love forever and always into googleplexinfinity and beyond.

thanks to the folks out there who are determined to do the things they love for a really really long time:

like dean karnazes, who can run 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states, 700+ miles down the pacific coast to san diego, and across the world's most extreme deserts and still feed his family and release best sellers.

or david blaine, who can encase himself in a block of ice in new york city, stand perched like a gargoyle for 35 hours on a 90 foot pillar in bryant park and make it to bed with a hussie like Madonna

then there's this asshole who calls himself an artist (i still give him kudos for doing something for a long time.)

sure, these folks are spectacular and practically superhuman (aside from that last gig i mentioned)

but how about
this person?

who seems normal like you and I, and is taking a chance by doing something for a long time without sponsorship from north face or a list of readily available celebrity hook ups.

he's taking the time to be extraordinary, because you wouldn't think it, but most everyday people (including you!) can swing that way.

He's biking from oregon to boston to raise money for his very own Trips for Kids chapter in Western Mass. That's about 65 days of riding, covering an average of 75-110 miles a day, and 5100 miles total, which (in my book) amounts to doing something great for a very long time.

so support him on his quest for endurance, for reminding us that we can all be extraordinary, and for his efforts in making the world a better place.

brief hiatus

2008-07-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

sometimes life gets really busy, and you pack your computer away, along with everything else, and high tail it to the middle of the woods.
here are some foodie highlights from this week.

snack: cracker sandwiches with cream cheese, cucumbers, sprouts and carrot sticks.

in a hurry green curry (with added zucchini)

strawberries

out to dinner with someone special.
prosciutto wrapped prawns in red pepper aeoli sauce.

venison with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies.

pre run breakfast

post run dinner: cheese ravioli with tomato sauce, salad and vegetable soup

saturday: 15 miles
sunday: 4 miles
monday: 3 miles easy. 5 x 200m hills
tuesday: 5 miles easy

6/22/08

2008-06-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

a familiar breakfast: cereal w/milk and bananas

post run ice cream with my buddy A:

late lunch: turkey and cheese sand wich

distance run: 12 miles

i'm very happy with the miles i covered this weekend.
but, i must admit that i'm even happier with laying on the couch and not moving for a while.

time for a movie.

6/21/08

2008-06-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

distance run: 14 miles.
chose to run through the woods today to avoid the heat. I left later than usual, and the high temps certainly caught up on me faster than I thought they would. Left ginger in the car for the first 7 miles, and looped back around to grab her for another 7. by the time i got to the car to get her my stomach was all cramped up and I thought I'd just end up driving home and calling it a day. instead, i drank a bunch of water, sat down for a minute and was good for another 7. ginger did great, though we did have our share of water breaks along the way.
coming home, the road to my house was blocked off because a tree had fallen, so I spent the day aimlessly driving around with the dog. it was fun for a little while...but i really needed a shower and some down time.
i made it home in the early afternoon, with enough time for a long swim.

pre run breakfast: cereal with milk

stranded and out to lunch: ceasar salad

still stranded, time for a snack: chocolate chip cookie and iced coffee

finally made it home and had a swim with my best buddy:

6/20/08

2008-06-20T14:49:00.000-07:00

another very hot day on the coast...hope to run later this evening when things cool down some...i certainly need to catch up on my mileage!

breakfast: (not pictured here) granola w/milk

a.m. snack: strawberries and banana

late lunch: cream cheese, carrot, cucumber and sprout sandwich on whole wheat bread.

dinner: spinach salad
distance run: 5 miles.

it was so hot today. running was miserable, but i'm glad i forced myself out there...and so is ginger, who finally got some swim time.

6/19/08

2008-06-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

breakfast: cereal w/milk

lunch: cottage cheese, veggies w/cream cheese, (not pictured here: luna bar)

dinner: two eggs over easy w/ toasted pita bread and rice with beans.

distance run: zero miles.

instead, I jumped rope and swam (floated) in my pool.

6/17/08

2008-06-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

breakfast: cereal w/milk

mid morning snack: banana

lunch: left over salad

strawberries

distance run:

yesterday: 6
today: 6

It's finally cooled down enough to go on my favorite lunch hour run. I find that missing out on this time for running proves disastrous in the afternoon when I'm dragging myself around the office like a whiny 2 year old.
(speaking of whining) I noticed some odd bruising on the upper part of my shin today, right below the knee. I've experienced lower shin pain since the winter time...and sort of ignored it. (no, really ignored it) this is my first time with shin splints. i realize there's not much to do about them once they're there....which is the most frustrating and terrible thing about them. So I'll be doing my share of whining for the next few days. brace yourself.

6/14/08

2008-06-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

distance run: 15 miles.
it was foggy this morning so i rushed out of the house to enjoy the cool air. i ran 8 miles into wilder ranch and along the ocean bluffs. circled back to the car to gather my dog and ran another 7 through the westside neighborhood and along westcliff.
15 miles is still a lot for me. i was really dragging myself at the end.

after my run i stopped at the westside farmers market. if i wasn't so tired i would have unwound for a while longer there...the pastries and coffee looked so good!

in the car, i had

breakfast: banana, white nectarine

and then when I came home I had
a more sufficient breakfast/post run meal: whole grain bagel with cream cheese

i napped for 4 hours.

and then had a snack while i prepared dinner: cottage cheese with a hardboiled egg. i shared half with ginger.

and the most satisfying dinners i've had in a long while:
Chicken with whole wheat penne pasta, and zucchini, squash, broccoli, mushrooms, onion in a roasted red pepper puree with sun dried tomato and capers. I had a side salad of mixed greens and wildflowers, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, green and red peppers, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, flax seeds and almonds dressed with olive oil and apple cider vinegar. whew!

i'm happy.

6/13/08

2008-06-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

breakfast: banana and cliff bar

lunch: quiche with snap peas, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, fontina cheese and a side salad.

dinner: tomato soup

distance run: 8 miles before work. very foggy and cool. perfect weather for an early morning jog.

santa cruz is on fire. look:

this picture was taken just moments after the fire started up on martin rd in bonny doon.

6/11/08

2008-06-13T21:06:00.001-07:00

breakfast: cereal w/milk

lunch: ceasar

dinner: too hot and lazy for cooking. leftover spinach salad w/parmesan cheese, almonds, flax seeds, green peppers...chickpeas....

day off today.

6/10/08

2008-06-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

Breakfast: cereal with milk

Lunch: turkey and provolone cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread

Dinner: spinach salad with green peppers, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, flax seeds, almonds, parmesan cheese, and olive oil/redwine dressing

yesterday was so hot and awful for running (especially at noon), I decided I'd run before work today. the fog and early morning sunrise made for a most surreal and beautiful welcome to the day.

distance run: 8 miles.

6/9/08

2008-06-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

breakfast: cereal and milk
Lunch: strawberries with yogurt

Dinner: walnut crusted salmon with penne pasta

distance run: 5 miles. very hot.

24 hour half dome hike.

2008-06-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

snow at the top.

view

tired and delirious at the base of nevada falls. it's magic!

to yosemite and back in one day for an 18 mile hike.

6/5/08

2008-06-05T17:04:00.001-07:00

breakfast: cereal and banana

lunch: pbj on whole wheat tortilla

Dinner: cheese omelete, brocolli and humus

no running today

6/1/08

2008-06-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

breakfast:
Lunch: spinach and zucchini soup

Dinner (not pictured here). left over lamb and steak w/brocolli.

no run today. still sore from yesterday.

5/31/08

2008-05-31T09:10:00.000-07:00

breakfast: (coffee, toast with peanut butter and jelly, and cereal w/bananas)

Lunch: (spinach and zuchinni soup)

dinner: (lamb)distance run: 12 miles, 1 hour and 40 minutes. felt pretty beat at the end.

5/30/08

2008-05-30T10:55:00.001-07:00

breakfast: (fiber cereal with non fat milk)

Lunch: (banana, luna bar, cherry tomatoes, red peppers)

Snack: Peanuts

Dinner: roasted peppers with curried garbanzo beans and spinach

toast with jam
Easy: 6 miles on lunch. still sore from wednesday and thursday.

Welcome!

2008-05-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my running blog! Here you will find a daily food and exercise breakdown of a youngish girl training for her first marathon.

A friend of mine on the east coast will be flying out in april 2009 to run the Big Sur International Marathon with me.
Sure, this is quite a ways away (almost a whole year!), but running 26.2 miles takes a lot of work...and to be honest, I'm pretty sPOOOked at the thought of running this distance.
Big Sur is my favorite place in the whole world, but it's certainly hilly, and the gusts coming off of the pacific can be brutal and unrelenting.

This is me looking tough:
Here are some things about me that you may not know:
I have a wonderful dog named ginger, who also likes to run with me. The most she's ever run is 9 miles.

This is her looking tough:
I really enjoy watching, making, and reading about film, a good hike, and spending time with my family. My favorite meat is lamb, and seafood is salmon.
I really like cashews, and last week devoured an entire bag in 3 days.
I would like to one day start a band called "zombie moshpit".
I would like to one day make a film about an overzealous aerobics guru who saves the world from zombie invasion with his/her chart topping zombie workout video. (zombies don't have the same muscle building/tearing efficiencies as us humans do...hence all the lumbering about. surely some exercise would save the human race from a doomingcatastrophicallysoullesssandssexy flesh party)
i would like it if zombie moshpit would provide the music for the work out video.
But wait! there is no time for pitching movies on here!
I've got miles to run, pushes to up, and omegas to 3!
Welcome to my blog!