Dallas X 2

As my life would have it, I have spent the past 2 weekends in Dallas, Texas. This was only the second time I have ever actually stayed in Dallas or surrounding area. The last time was way back in 2002 as I drove from SF to Atlanta and stayed in Plano, not far from Dallas. That was a visit that was strictly due to traveling across the country, but these last 2 trips were squarely on purpose and with GOOD purpose.

On October 23rd, as I sat in my house watching game 6 of the NLCS between San Francisco & Philadelphia, I knew there was a chance I would have to decide if I wanted to take a stab at acquiring World Series tix to one of the games on Texas. Going to San Francisco was out of the question as plane tickets were sky high. No pun intended. As I watched the Giants celebrate their NL Pennant win, I anxiously and nervously sat at the computer searching sites to find tickets to Game 1 in TX on Oct 30th. I looked & looked and finally found some that looked within my financial means. My heart was racing with excitement and then thinking, “Oh my god…should I do it, should I do it??” I texted 2 friends and their immediate answers were “YES.” I already knew the answer myself, but it was one of those times you just had to get affirmation from someone else, you know? I mean, c’mon…a chance to see the San Francisco Giants in the World Series? How could I pass it up?
With a click of a few buttons and a lot of jumping and screaming around my house, I had purchased the game & plane tickets.
Fast Forward to game day >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Kera & I made our way to the game at the beautiful Rangers Ballpark at Arlington.

We were both bursting with excitement although I was more like in awe and Kera was like a little kid. So awesome. The energy in the ballpark was beyond words. And that was BEFORE the game began. It was a serious SEA of RED and NAVY BLUE…mostly red…it seemed like everywhere I turned, people were wearing a Rangers Red Jersey or Red T-shirt.

Sprinkled in between the massive red/blue fan base were specks of Orange and Black. Actually, many more SF Gaints fan than I would have thought. When I say any of them, we exchanged hi-fives and I even got a picture with some serious fans.

Before the game began, I thought, “it doesn’t matter who wins this game, i’m just happy to be here.” And that was true…for the moment. I was happy for the fans of Dallas who have waited a loooong time for their team to come around. I was happy for the Rangers who were a spectacular team all season long and most deserving of being AL East Champs.
Well, my thought of “it doesn’t matter..” quickly vanished as soon as the Rangers took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning. When you are sitting in the oppositions house and are behind and all kinds of fans are madly screaming and waving their damn rally towels, you sure as hell want YOUR team to start winning.

My competitiveness took over and I was seriously hoping for a strong comeback from the Orange/Black. Kera was all in Ranger Red and rooting for her home team. We were both in a little quandry, i think, because we both wanted each others team to win….

When the Rangers went up 3-0, the ballpark was nothing short of THUNDEROUS. The noise level was unbelievable and even though SFG was losing, how could I still not be happy for those fans??
I don’t think I have ever been anywhere as loud. On the flip side, when the giants scored their second run to close the gap at 4-2 in the 8th inning, I don’t think i have ever heard a place so packed full of people get so eerily quiet within seconds. That run would be SF’s last gasp for THAT evening. Thank goodness we were still up 2 games to 1.

As we exited the ballpark via the circular ramp, fans were going nuts…hootin’ and hollerin’ the way good texas fans can. And you know what, i was truly happy for them. Kera and I were part of history. First World Series win, EVER, in Ranger Stadium. Pretty damn cool.

My second trip to Dallas took place this past weekend. This trip had already been on the books to go see Kera & friends. I stayed at the Hotel Palomar in Dallas and it was more than a perfect place to stay. Wonderful service, spacious rooms & L’Occitane products in the bathroom. What more does one need? (they are part of Kimpton Hotels)

We met up some other Dallas peeps on Friday night and that was a blast. Fun, laughter and good times. Good peeps! Saturday, we had no agenda, but we knew we wanted to hang more with Emery. She suggested the Dallas Arboretum. It was a prefect suggestion because I NEVER GO TO PLACES LIKE THIS. WHY? I HAVE NO IDEA. They were having some kind of Pumpkin Festival and I felt like I was in some kind of movie like the Wizard of Oz or something but Pumpkin Land. It was awesome and beautiful!

Kera's Pic

Weather in Dallas this weekend was spectacular. Clear, blue skies. No clouds in sight. Low 70’s. Ran on both Saturday and Sunday from Hotel and around the SMU area. Gorgeous neighborhood/homes. Peaceful and calm and FLAT. Yee-Haw! While running on Sunday, I came across women and a few men walking their 3rd day of the 3-Day breast cancer walk. AWESOME. I was inspired. I cheered them on and gave some hi-five’s to some of the lady. Saw a couple of funny signs: SAVE THE JUGS and TEXAS HOOTERS & HONEYS.

Back to back great weekends in Big D.

Oh, and in case you have not heard. What happened after SF lost the game to Texas? They went on to win 2 more games and became….CHAMPIONS

Wow. What a year! Congratulations, Giants!

T-19

There’s been so much going on and so much I have wanted to post, but the moment keeps getting away from me. And honestly, I have been spending so much time in front of computer at work, that I really don’t want to be in front of it at home…which is a little bit of a shame considering i have a sweet-ass iMAC!

So, since this has been a 3-day weekend, it’s a good time for me to post!

Last week was interesting. I was more stressed with work stuff than I have been in a while and then having some anxiety about the 40 mile plan. I also had some physical issues. major fatigue. fatigue like i’m standing up at work talking to a colleague and just feel like I will fall down right then and there. Thank goodness, I didn’t. Fall down.

Then, on Friday, i also had some kind of intestinal issue which was not fun. I left work early, went home and slept a lot for the next 36 hours.

Even though as fatigued as i was, i ran on Tuesday after work. Weather has turned about 10 degrees cooler with significantly less humidity. On Thursday, I ran in the morning and then again later that evening. I felt really good on that second run, but now i think it may have been my adrenaline-induced self speaking. Who knows…I ran 4.5 miles on Saturday on treadmill and was extremely dehydrated. Afterwards, I basically slept for the rest of the day off and on.

So, i tell you all that because it really did not make ANY sense what happened on Sunday. Sunday was to be my longest long run before taper for 40 miler. I had no idea what I would be able to do given what my body was going through Fri/Sat.

I woke on Sunday and felt ok. I definitely felt rested. Legs didn’t feel as fresh as I would have liked, but I was glad to feel rested and AWAKE. I figured since it was my longest run yet, i would just go ahead and run thru the city rather than go to the Silver Comet Trail. I wanted to be alone on the empty Sunday streets of Atlanta. I wanted to see the city in its calm state, to look at the different architecture of downtown buildings, and to zig zag my way through various neighborhoods.

I drove and parked my car along Peachtree Ave, put on my Nathan Pack and headed East. Starting temperature was 56 with low low humidity. HEAVEN!

I made a conscious decision to walk any hilly parts so I could save my legs and last for as long as I could. I felt a lot of peace. It was soooo quiet being a Sunday and a holiday weekend. I had the streets to myself. Love that! The first 12 miles took me through Midtown and downtown. Running along some of the outer streets of downtown is where I encountered some of the homeless folks. They are the only ones up at that time of day. A lot of them sleeping on the concrete. Man, can you imagine? Regardless of how they arrived at a place in their lives where they know sleep on the street, in vacant, dirty, trash-filled parking lots, every one of them deserves compassion. I wanted to go home and get them some blankets. Some part of me frequently feels that only a few pieces of different luck or different choices and I could have been there…could be there…you never know.

On a stretch over by Turner Field (home of the Atlanta Braves) a couple of fellas were sitting there smiling at me as i ran past. “Run it out, run it out”, they cheered! Thx, fellas!

Physically, I was feeling better than I had expected and mentally, i felt stronger than in a while. I KNOW a lot of the mental strength came from simply better weather and not having to battle the flattening humidity. It’s truly amazing how much that had beaten me down over a good chunk of the summer. I ran into Decatur and found the track at Agnes Scott College open so i went on it. I was relieved to take off my pack and run without anything. No water, no iPOD. Free. The track there is awesome. Beautiful grass. Nice track. Serene setting. There were only 2 other people there; an older couple who were walk/running. They were adorable. I thought maybe that is how me & my loved one will be when we get old. (Whomever that loved one might be…) I ran a solid 4 miles on the track and then continued on for the final 8 miles back to my vehicle. 24 miles.

I was pretty psyched when I was finished. Why? Because I did it on tired legs. Because I had about the same pace I had at the LA Marathon back in March. Because like all the other times, I could have stopped at any point and I didn’t. Because I pushed myself and gained more confidence with each passing mile. Because even though I will still need to go another 16 miles to reach 40, I know i can do it. I know it in my blood. I needed that kind of a day, that kind of a run more than i could possibly explain.

Below are some recent pics a friend took during some different runs.

ATL-LAX

Thursday – arrived into LA & drove straight to lunch at Urth Cafe. On to Peets on Sunset Blvd & then to hotel in Studio City/NBC Universal.  After check in process, etc…got my bearings, slipped on shorts, &  shoes and headed out the door. A short 3-3.5 miles from hotel through the neighborhood. Finished at a small park with towering Eucalyptus trees & some people practicing some kind of martial art on the greens. At approx 4pm, it was a very comfortable & refreshing 70 degrees.  It was not easy to go from about 7 hours of total travel time to hitting the ground running, but I had to get started. On route back to hotel, I ran up the incredibly steep hill that lead to front of hotel.

Friday – awake by 7am and in the hotel lobby for a very expensive $3.00 mediocre coffee! Drank half of it along w/ my Clif Bar. Went back up to room, changed & hit the pavement for another 6 miles, culminating with that damn hill leading to hotel. (I mapped the hill portion; .37 of a mile)  I would have loved to have run somewhere else..perhaps one of the many places that Josh mentions in his blog, but I just did not have time. Most of the short route was run along Ventura  Blvd, where I luckily located a Peets Coffee to hit post-run. After dragging my 2 friends/ travel partners to Peets in Studio City, I was on Hwy 101 for my jaunt up to Santa Barbara. The drive was a swift 1.5 hours north to the local airport where I picked up my best friend who had just flown in from San Francisco. A massive infusion of a bunch a good stuff in seeing her; humor, spiritual -realness connection, friendship of 18 years connection. I was so glad to see and to spend a little time together among the beauty of the Santa Barbara shoreline. Our hotel was literally across the street from the beach. Woke up Saturday & Sunday mornings and sipped coffee while looking out at the Pacific Ocean. The cool air refreshed my body, my spirit.  Saturday night, we had a delicious Lobster tail dinner.  We dined outside as the sun was setting, slight breeze off the water, and the intermittent faint sounds of the docked boats in the harbor. ahhh…i could definitely put that evening on repeat, repeat….

View from hotel

Back track to Saturday morning. I only was able to get in another 4 mile run. Afterwards, I had to head back to LA for an event.

Sunday morning was my long run, almost exclusively along the Santa Barabara Shoreline and then the tail end of it into downtown. Running parallel to the water on a quiet Sunday morning. Ahhhh….HEAVEN!!!!! What more can i say. I needed to see the water. I am not one who likes beaches for the purpose of going and laying out in the sun. For me, the water  is essential for grounding, for quieting, for healing. And for Hope. I always find some measure of Hope in just being near and watching the water.  Hope for what? Nothing in particular, and everything in general. ..hope for practicing non-attachment and hope for a better  existence for all those who suffer. Hope for my ability to be a good friend, a solid listener & hope for better education and greater compassion from us all.  As I ran alongside the shoreline these were some of the thoughts as i took my breath in the unbelieveable 60 degree temperatures. With the running, I felt rejuvented physically & mentally . It’s amazing how much of a MENTAL drain running in the stifling heat can be…It’s easy to notice the physical drain, but the mental drain is much more evident when going from one climate to another. Anyways. I ran a very solid 12 miles and felt like I had more in me, but had to stop and get on with the day.

Heaven!

Stretch!

Goofiness!

Me & Best Friend, Holly

Sunday Morning – ahhh–

We went for a wonderful breakfast at a cafe. Incredible sunflower wheat toast with 2 poached eggs. Yummy. I never get poached eggs! Then, off to drop friend off at airport and i made my way down to Santa Monica and LA. I specifically went to Santa Monica simply to visit the K-Swiss store and pick up a new pair of shoes. I got another pair of the K-Onas. This is my 4th shoe of this same type. Enough said. The only bummer was that I had to get a color I already had as the other 2 options were sold out in my size!

While in the store, I spoke at length to Michael, who was helping me. He is training for Malibu Tri and we got to talking about training & nutrition etc…I just love that…swapping stories.  Also, while I was there, another K-Swiss employee showed up, Joe. He had actually  helped me when i visited the store back in March for LA Marathon. He remembered me and asked me how the race went…how cool is that? The three of us talked for a bit; i shared with them my 40 mile run plan and they gave me a 15% discount on my purchase. I was thrilled!!  To be able to share about your passion with like-minded others is priceless. Thank you Joe and Michael and K-Swiss!

( i will most likely be purchasing the other color i wanted via online…i will need it with all these miles)

Earlier in the day, I had initial hopes of getting in a second run even if it was just 3 miles, but I just could not fit it in…however, all in all, I am really happy with the running I did get in on this trip.

Train hard, train smart and as K-Swiss says, “Have an Awesome Day!”

Road Trip

One of the reasons I love to travel is because my senses come alive. It’s as if they have been dormant, piled under papers, dust, daily routines and the unfortunate monotony that can happen in life at any time. Its easy to think about Monotony as a “bad” thing…but I will refrain from judgement — it just is.
New places, streets, architecture, shops, city and town landcapes…all those things awaken the senses. Monday morning, I drove from the hotel about 5 miles into more “downtown” Lexington. I parked in a little neighborhood with some fantastic old homes. To me, these homes were a cross between New Orleans, Charleston and Georgetown…tall, somewhat narrow, brick, half porches, some w/ columns. Visually stunning to look at. So different from what I pass on my usual jaunt to the office or just riding around Atlanta.
While running, I noticed some of what I thought were homes were actually businesses: a yoga studio, a lawyers office, etc…

Down the block from where I parked was a little Wine + Market. White coffee cups & baskets of long, slender flour dusted baguettes enticing me through the window. I walked in & smiled at the european styled decor..the painted floor, the array of cheeses, a separate, darker room called the Wine Salon. Two large wooden farm-like tables were in both the wine salon and main room…more enticement to sit & stay awhile. And I did, but I was drawn to sit outside in the morning sun.

Since I was feeling all decadent, I opted for a fresh Chocolate Croissant & Cappuccino. Ahh….heavenly.

The whole experience unscripted, unplanned, spontaneous..spontaneously coming across places that awakened my senses!

Next was the 1.5 hour drive to Cincinnati. This route along HWY 75 from Lexington into Cincinnati has got to be one of the most beautiful stretches of land. Trees and trees for as far as the eye can see. Gorgeous ranges!

Flash forward to my evening and the main event: The SF Giants vs. Cincinnati at The Great American Ballpark.

A bit early…it did fill up a bit. I was still surprised there were not more people in attendance since Reds are doing well this year!

So, I drove from Atlanta to Cincinnati for a ballgame? Why, yes I did. I sure did. If you know me, you will now this is COMPLETELY IN CHARACTER for me. I enjoy taking road trips…it had just been awhile. It was a beautiful, clear, not too warm of an evening. I had a great seat in left field. Watched my favorite team beat a team that has been better all year than Giants have been….so worth it!! A great game and Giants won 6-5.

I had a long 8-9 hour drive back home on Tuesday, but i didn’t mind. As much time as i spend alone, THIS was different. Being in your car all by yourself for hours is really alone. Not much to distract you. It’s easy to get re-focused on what’s important, what you need, etc….and it was wonderful to remember that I don’t need much. Shorts, shoes, t-shirt, money for gas & some food and all is well. Oh, and maybe some extra dough to catch a ballgame.

Don’t miss out on anything. Do what you want to do. This is life, baby!!

walk, run, hike

Greetings! I deliberately did not run last week Mon-Thurs. Just wanted to see how my body would feel, react, etc..
It was an interesting experience. I definitely do not like to sit around. In terms of movement or exercise, I spent some time at the gym with weights, crunches, pushups, etc.. I normally do these anyway, but this past week was without the running. I WALKED 1 mile on treadmill with a steady incline. BORING!!! REALLY BORING!!
Friday, I laced up the shoes and ran for 30 minute around my hilly neighborhood. Did almost the same exact run both Saturday & Sunday. 30 min exactly. I’m sorta trying to tweak the running a bit…more later on this.

I also went on a 2 hour walk/hike early this morning with these fine folks. We went to Sweetwater Creek State Park. Approx 25 min drive from my house. I’ve been there for trail running before so was happy to be back there again.

getting settled in

momma & son

I can do it!

he's a charmer!!

ahhhhh

A great way to start the day; in nature with friends on a gorgeous Sunday.

I found out, I did NOT get into the regular Dipsea race. (i am not surprised) So, now I gotta decide if I am 100% gonna run Double Dipsea on June 26th.

I am also making plans for a new goal. A new dream. Stay tuned.

Treat your body well. Love it. Nourish it. Rest it.

happy trails

Ever since the http://www.lamarathon.com on 3/21, I have been suffering from a tremendous amount of NOISE inside my head. The noise is mostly about whether or not to take time off from running and if so, how much. The battle in my head is freaking fierce. UGGH! Not pleasant. Some people might think this points to a running addiction. I don’t think that’s it at all. It’s more of a “i want to be out and active” addiction. I have to move my body. I need to move it. I need to feel it work and sweat. I need to feel my heartbeat go faster and my breathing get a little heavy. …running just happens to be my thing, so….

Well, since the marathon, I have not done much, but I have hardly just sat on my ass either. I’ve been trying to give my legs a rest from the pounding. I’ve been trying….The first week post marathon, I did VERY little. The next week, I have done more..but I have also been mixing it up. I’ve been getting on this spin type bike at the gym which has been awesome and challenging. This past weekend, I went for a trail run at http://www.gastateparks.org/FDR . The park is approximately 1.5 hour drive southwest of Atlanta. I’ve really been itching for some time in nature, in quiet, and so on Saturday, I made the trek down there. A beautiful place. I ended up running/hiking 7.1 miles of mostly single track with some good hills mixed in. I wore my Adidas Trail shoes for first time and they proved to be great! I wore my Nathan pack and had no iPOD. It was so refreshing to be in the quiet, big space…to hear my own breathing, the scampering of birds on the leaves, and my own footsteps on the pine ladden trails.

Afterwards, I had breakfast nearby at Eddie Mae’s in Pine Mountain, GA. An old, simple, southern place. breakfast served all day. That’s my kind of joint. I love having breakfast post exercise. Scambled Eggs, hash browns, bacon & a biscuit. Yum!