March: No Bad Days
No Bad Days, footer in a mural in The Mission, SF
The plan for March was to run the Way too Cool 50 Km and Napa Valley Trail Marathon to prepare for the American River 50 Mile in April. I was particularly excited about the American River race because it would be an opportunity to qualify for the Western States 100. But after straining a leg muscle during Cool, and dropping from the race by mile 21, those plans changed. Continue Reading →
February: A Winter’s Test
Climbing out of the coast in Point Reyes
February started with a training run in warm and sunny Point Reyes that was supposed to be a mellow last long run before the American Canyon 50 Km in Auburn, but distracted by the views of the ocean around mile 5, I tripped on a rock and fell down hard for the first time in years. Fortunately, my right knee softened the blow to my shoulder, elbow, and hands. What’s a little blood and swelling over 15 more miles? Continue Reading →
January: Running in Winter
Limantour Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Running in winter has always been challenging for me. Even though we are in California, temperatures can drop close to freezing on some mornings, making it hard to warm up, even on long runs. So we layer, hope for sunny days, and search for new trails. Some of the new trails I’ve been running on are along the Point Reyes National Seashore. Starting at the Bear Valley trailhead by the visitor’s center, this area has it all — single track, technical descents to the beach, fire roads, and of course the climbs back to the start. From a short 10 mile out and back to longer 19+ mile loops, it’s hard to beat the view of Limantour Beach, and you might not see another runner or hiker for hours at a time. Continue Reading →
2012 — A Return to Running
The North Face 2012 Marathon, photo courtesy of San Francisco Running Company
2012 marked a long awaited return to running after one year of being sidelined due to injury. In that year, I learned a lot about my body, and the determination and patience it takes to heal. As the year ended, I was particularly grateful for pacing a runner at the American River 50 Mile, completing two long-distance training runs in the Sierras, running two 50 Km races, and finishing four Marathons. Continue Reading →