Welcome to Resistance

I gazed outside...tut tut, looks like rain!

conundrum...do I go to the boring workout room or take a chance and head for the hills?

The sky is dark. Even the lamp posts have not shut off yet. The wind is blowing...the heavy dark rain cloud the looms above my head is moving, rather quickly in fact. Perhaps it will blow away and not rain at all?

I want to run at least 5 miles today. The thought of 5 miles on the tedious treadmill forces my face to contort.

My spirit longs for the wild. I need hills! I need fresh air! I need...RESISTANCE!

What the hell...I'm a brave girl.

I left the house and headed down the hill with my sights set on Hidden Gold. I ran past 4 Hispanics doing some yard work. I think one of them said something to me, but I didn't hear it. My ipod was turned up to loud. Given past experience, it's a good thing I didn't catch it.

Going up the hill to Sweetwater, in the same spot I observed a banana peel take months to degrade, I discovered yet ANOTHER banana peel. Only this time, the contents with said banana peel remained. One discarded yellow ripe banana replaced the old one. I wonder how long this one will take? Perhaps an animal will want it. Or maybe it might be enough to catch a security guards attention. I doubt it.
Most likely some kid will pick it up and throw it at someone on his way home from the bus. I'm sure that's how it landed in that particular spot to begin with.
I've seen all kinds of things along the road while running...besides fruit I've run past veggies, beer cans, music cds and busted tapes, wrappers, perfume bottles and coins. I would pick it up if I were walking...but I'm running. I hate to carry anything while I'm running.

So I continued with the question of mother natures breakdown in my head. Last night we had some pretty whippy wind rush through.
Around the corner on Sweetwater, I glanced to my right so I could see up a known dirt driveway. This wild vacant lot will be the home of Katie's current teacher by next year. I was looking to see if his house was under construction yet. Nope. In fact, you couldn't even get up the driveway right now if you wanted to. The largest branch of the biggest tree had snapped. It was blocking the road.
I wonder if Mr. Wood knows? Hey, that's kinda funny- a tree breaks on his property and his name is Mr. Wood. I guess it's not that funny.

I ran on. The wind is providing some good resistance today. My legs are feeling very heavy and the uphills are difficult. I don't want to stop. My right knee is hurting. I can feel the blister on my right big toe beginning to puff up again, like it has the last 3 times I've run.

A rain drop lands on my face. Another one hits my thigh. Soon I'm lifting my chin to sky in hopes of catching one in my mouth.

I ran past the Hispanics again, not looking at them. I don't like to be gauked at. Call me prejudice...but I swear it happens everytime.

I did the run today in 46 minutes. Good run...Good day.

Forgot to write about Monday...oops.

MB & I went to the workout room yesterday. He ran 3 miles nonstop. Good for you! He hasn't done that in a long time. Feels good, huh?!?

I ran 4 miles at 6mph. A ten minute mile pace for me. Not bad. I did sweat like a swine in the south though.
I think that's because the people who were using the room before us, had the heater turned up. I don't normally sweat like that.

Then we went home and I made meatloaf for dinner. The smell made me hungry, so I had some for lunch as well.

Workout Room

This painting is horrible! Can you blame me for wanting to keep the door open? I didn't think so.

Not to shabby, I think.

It's a Passion

The workout room called me. I woke up this morning a little sluggish, but that's only because I'm not a morning person. In my heart...I wanted to run.

I ate my cereal and started reading my book of training secrets. I flipped to the pages that talk about speed training. I know that interval speed workouts are important...I just needed more info. I had a ton of questions.

Why is it good?
When should I start interval training?
How long should each interval be?
How fast should I go?
How many should I do?
Which is better, treadmill or track?
How long do I rest inbetween intervals?

Luckily, all of my questions had answers.

I decided I would shoot for 3 intervals.

I went to the workout room where I could get an accurate reading of my distance. I warmed up at 5.5 mph for the first mile. Then I jumped to 7.5 for the 2 laps (800 meters or half mile). I slowed to 4.5 the next lap. Then back up to 7.0 the next 2 laps.
I rested for about 1.5 laps going a speed of 5.0mph. Then kicked it into high gear of 8.0 for one lap (400 mph). I tried to watch the clock as I forgot my watch at home, hoping I could do this in 90 seconds. That's what the book said most runners do for a typical speed interval...400 meters in 90 seconds.
I did.
However, in order to keep up- I found myself taking shorter steps...fast little steps with my knees high. It worked.
I turned down the speed to 4.5 and jogged. After a while I turned it up to 7.0 and did 2 laps. Back down to 5.0 and another round of jogging, I decided that was good. I had run almost 4 miles and done 4 intervals...that was fine.

But then a song came on that rocked me. I didn't want to stop...instead I wanted to run again!

So up went the speed...5.5, 6.0, 6.5...

Dance, Dance
We're falling apart to half time
Dance, Dance
And these are the lives you'd love to lead
Dance, this is the way they'd love
If they knew how misery loved me

When that song was over...I figured so was my fun...but then the next one rocked me even more!!!

7.0, 7.5, 8.0....8.5!

rhythm is a dancer,
it's a soul's companion,
you can feel it everywhere

Lift your hands and voices
free your mind and join us
you can feel it in the air

Ooh, it's a passion
Ooh, you can feel it in the air
Ooh, it's a passion
Ooh, ooh, ooh, oh

A far away light in the futuristic place we might be,
It's a tiny world just big enough to support the kingdom of one
knowledgeable,
throw away the loneliness and head back down,
I'm going too fast, I'm going too fast

I plunge right on through the office door,
and into the arms of the bottomless negro of love,
suddenly I can't remember,
how to stop, or turn around,

Do I have to get behind myself,
Do I have to turn around before I can point,
I flip 'til I can breathe


Finally I stopped after 5 intervals and 5 miles.

I came home and used my new yoga mat for nearly an hour.

Muddy Funny

Muddy Leg

Muddy Feet

Quarry Road Trail, 13 miles

Trail Head, I know the sign reads 1.2 miles, but trust me...it goes on farther.

My lunch


Distance: 5.6 miles each way

Difficulty: Easy

Description: Wide level trail (yeah, right!) offering some of the best scenery in the American River Canyons. Trail is 11.2 miles round trip with several side trails that can be used to create even more challenging loops. Trail intersects twice with the Western States Trail (WST). At 3.5 miles the trail intersects with Brown's Bar Trail. The Quarry Road Trail ends at Maine Bar.

I edited much of the description.

Now you see how easy it is to take wrong turns. Today was no different. I first planned on running just to Brown's Bar, but when I got there, I felt so good that I decided to keep going. This trail was beautiful! Again, I left my camera in the car. I need to get a pack that I can use to carry my camera. One that I don't hate. It drives me crazy to have to carry anything...even water.

Starting time: 11:38am

Today I ran through lots of muddy puddles and hurdled several fallen trees. A couple other trees were to big to hurdle. Those I had to figure out a way around. The trail pretty much followed the river. I can't believe how lovely it is back there. I worried a bit about the animals...but not enough to stop me.

At one point the trail took me right down to the river where I navigated over hundreds of smooth white river rock mixed with dark grey beach sand. A little ways up from there, the trail had been totally wiped out...I mean it was gone. You could see where the large chunk of earth had fallen away. Luckily a small narrow sliver still remained. Just enough to reach the other side.

I passed a few other runners. That made me feel a lot less slow. Perhaps I do have what it takes to run races? We'll see.

When I reached Maine's Bar...I sang along with my music and did a little victory dance. Who cares? Nobody was out there.

A couple minutes later, I started the track back. I crossed back over several small streams that ran across the trail. Twice the stream was kinda large and I had to first step on a rock and then take a nice big leap to clear it. Much of the trail was wet and by the time I got back to the car, I was caked in mud.

Everything was going great and for a first...I thought I might actually NOT go the wrong way. Nope.

With only a little over a mile left to go, I saw a sign that pointed up a small trail and said "Quarry Road Trail". I wasn't sure, but for fear of taking a wrong turn, I got off the nice wide trail and started up the detour. What a mistake! It was VERY rocky, VERY steep and VERY narrow. After a while, I realized this was not right, but I kept going thinking that it would spit me out onto Hwy 49. From there I could just run back down to my car on the paved road.

So I kept going up and up. It got so bad that I couldn't run it. I was hiking and trying very hard not to slip and fall. This wasn't a trail...it was more like a huge rut, sliced up the side of the canyon wall. Then I stopped and took out my headphones. I could hear trucks. At first I thought they were going through the canyon...like I always do, but then I realized they were Quarry trucks. I was on the OTHER side of the quarry and heading back towards ALT. That is NOWHERE near my car!

I got very upset at myself. Mad for taking the wrong trail, mad for not turning back sooner but mostly mad at that stupid trail sign for messing me up and making me stop!

I went back down, running where I could. I slipped and fell, but I caught myself before my butt hit the ground.

It was a 2 mile detour. Back on the right trail, I ran the last mile hard. I always seem to run faster when I get ticked off!

On the bright side, there was a very pretty waterfall on the detour. Plus I got to drink some water and rinse off the salt from my face. Refreshing.

I finished the route at 2:02pm. Total time: 2 hours, 20 minutes. 13 miles. That's a half marathon. I can SOOO do this!

February 21st 4 mile run

For some unknown reason, my laptop no longer lets me change the date for posting. It's driving me crazy! It happens, because I forget, I wait a day or two before writing a post. I used to just change the date, but now I can't do that unless I use my desktop. O'well. I'll change it later.

Again...Yesterday (Tuesday) I ran Otter trail and Second gate. My best educated guess is 4.? miles. It took 38 minutes. Yeah, I'm getting better folks.

I am really enjoying my running very much. I can't explain how much.

I'm going to register for a 10k next month. Then another 10k in April. However, what I'm really looking forward to is the half marathon I'm going to do in early May.

I have plans. I want to run races. Someday I'd like to be competitive.

Even if my steps are small...they're still moving me forward.

February 20th 5 mile

Yesterday I wanted to run my 10 miler. Unfortunately my body wanted sleep. I slept in late and didn't get out to run until almost 11:30am. By then I didn't have 2 full hours before MB needed to leave for work. Darn it. It was a nice day too.

I ran to Hidden Gold. There were some patchy spots where the sun doesn't shine on, leaving the road icy and dangerous. I had to really slow down on those parts and watch my step. I crossed the street in front of the big rich house...the one with the funky brick chimney. It was a little sunnier over there.

Just before I got to Hidden Gold, someone honked at me. I looked up and waved. It was Mimi. She is also a runner. She is much more advanced than me, but I'm working on it.

Overall, the run felt good and I was pretty strong. No worries, not much pain.

Snow Covered Land

As much as I wanted to run in this...I chickened out. Me and my thin California skin. It was just TO COLD for me. Granted, everyone on the east coast would scoff at me. You think THAT'S COLD? Kathy, you have NO IDEA. I'm sure you're right. I'm a wimp and I don't like to be cold. I'm more of a hot weather person. I get cold easily.
But I wasn't going to let this beautiful scene stop me.

I went to the workout room and ran 3 miles on the treadmill. I might have run longer, but MB needed to go into work. That's okay anyway cause I hope to still do my 10 miler tomorrow. It is supposed to snow again...but given how much I enjoy running in the rain, I would like to experience a good snow run as well.

However, I am going to be out late tonight, so who knows?

Shocked for Six

Hey that sounds like it would make a great name for a band, huh?

Actually I have a very good reason for titling this post that way. Here's why...

It starts with the weather. What the heck happened? We went from high 70's to low 50's! I'm such a wimp! It's freakin cold! Don't let that sun shiny day fool you...

I knew if I ran outside, my fingers would stay frozen for more than half the run and my nose would run longer than that! Phewy!
Besides, my self imposed training schedule says "Work Out Room"

So I hoped on the treadmill and left the door open so I at least can look outside.

After half a mile at 5mph (12 min. mile pace)...I felt like kicking it up a notch. With my nano in my left hand, I touched the up arrow button on the machine. All of a sudden something sparked and the treadmill died! Zip, zero...nada!
I looked down at my ipod to make sure it wasn't fried. Dang! Wouldn't that just suck! I've already killed one ipod...I didn't need to go killing another one.

Thankfully the nano was fine.
So was the treadmill.
I hit the big red START button and all was well again. However it did wipe out what I had already done...and it made me stop for a few seconds. How rude!
I set it on 6mph (10 minute mile) and just left it alone. After 3 miles, I didn't feel very at all tired. I was careful not to drag my feet because everytime I touched the metal bars, I got shocked. Hmm...must be a lot of electricity in the air today.

I ended up doing a nice 6 mile (1 hour) run.

At one point, while I was gazing out the window, a security truck pulled up and pointed to my open door. I wondered if he was going to come up and tell me that I can't leave the door open like that, but he didn't. Good. You'd think they can at least point one of the treadmills toward the big glass window...but the tv is a much better idea. Right. Hear my sarcasm?
I need something real to look at. Right now it's just the tv or that horrible old olive green 70's painting. Wretched!

Real Trails!

Finally I got up the ovaries to run some real trails. I live 5 minutes away from some of the most challenging trails in the country. This is the place where people come from all over to run 100 mile endurance races.

Last month I bought a book that describes all the canyon hikes. I decided on Stagecoach Trail. However, I read the book wrong. I thought it said 2 miles ONE WAY. It said the first 1/4 mile is uphill, but levels out after that.

I wasn't worried about a quarter of a mile.
But after a while, I started thinking..."hasn't it been a quarter of a mile yet? Dang this trail is kickin my ass!" I tried to remember what the book said about this trail. I didn't see a bench or any blackberry bushes. I saw rocks mixed with red dirt and green patches of grass. But I kept running, up and up and up. Twice I had to walk for a bit, cause it was tiring. My trail ended at a green guard gate on Foresthill road. Hmm. I looked at my watch. It had only been just over 15 minutes since I started. Is that right? Can't be.
I got back down to my car and looked at my book. It was just as I thought. Somehow I missed the turn for Stagecoach Trail. I guess when I got to the quarter mile point, I kept going up instead of making the sharp left turn. Oops. O'well. It made me sweat anyway. Still, I felt like I needed more.
I flipped through the book again and decided on a trail to Lake Clementine.

Just as I was starting out, I met a man named Norm. He looked to be in his mid 60s. He asked me if I was going to hike to the dam. I didn't remember reading about a dam, so I asked how far it was. He said it was only about a mile up the trail. I immediately said "oh, sure...I can do that."
He had a tear in his eye as he described how beautiful the waterfall was. He said it was so wonderful that he'd already hiked to it 4 times this week. That was it...I was hooked.
I thanked him and set off.
I ran for what seemed like more than a mile, over big rocks, down a narrow trail that would land me right in the river if I fell and up a gradual wider trail. I kept going thinking...Where is this paved road he was talking about? And damn, that guy must be in great shape to do this!
I finally got to the paved road. Typical of how this day was going...I accidentally took the wrong paved road. I didn't see the smaller one. I ran uphill for a while until I heard the roaring sound of A LOT of rushing water. It was so loud, I heard it over the music of my ipod. Then I saw the dam on my left side. It was beautiful...but I knew I wasn't as close to it as I should be. I looked for the dirt trail he talked about, but I couldn't find one. I decided I had gone the wrong way and ran back down to where I had originally found the paved road. There I saw the right one, just beyond a large green gate. It took me straight there.
Next time I'll bring a camera. It was absolutely gorgeous and I understood the illustriously luring effect it had on Norm. I stayed for only a couple minutes to enjoy the cascading white water and brilliant rainbow.
It was Valentines Day and there was a couple sitting on one of the huge rock formations eating a picnic lunch and kissing. I didn't want to ruin it for them.
I ran back through the familiar woods, under the fallen tree and down the narrow trail.
BTW- the dam was 2 miles up the trail, not 1 like Norm thought.

Total mileage for this day was approx. 6 miles.

I was so happy to get back to my car and eat the turkey sandwich I had packed. Yum.

4 miles or so

I got up and out earlier than usual. The kids didn't have school today and I needed to drive down to Sac to pick up Megan. She had spent the night with grandma.

I really wanted to get in a good run.

I ran Otter Trail and Second Gate.

It was typical. I am getting bored running around here. I can hardly describe the dullness going through my mind.

uhhh

A Tough Day

I can't begin to tell you what a sucky day this was. But here goes anyway...

First, I ran 5 miles. I love to run, but this was not one I will want to remember. It was hard. I don't know why...it just was. So many times I wanted to stop. I got tired easily and my stomach kept hurting. My breathing was difficult to control and the sun made me sweat a lot.

I did see one of my friends (Tiffany) as I was running. She was walking with 2 other ladies, one pushing a stroller.

I ran to Hidden Gold. I did it in a fair amount of time...49 minutes, but it wasn't very pleasurable.

As for the rest of my day...I had a talk with MB and it didn't go well. I rounded off the lovely evening with a middle school dance that I chaperoned. Katie told me it was formal and wanted me to wear something pretty. I choose a black skirt and pink silky shirt.
NONE of the other moms were dressed up like me and 2 of Katie's friends kept asking me to dance and saying I looked "hot". Oh brother, how embarrassing!

I'll be glad to put this day away.

Good Little Girl

The sun was shining so bright! I was tempted to blow off the workout room in exchange for some pavement. However, I was a good little girl and stuck to my training program.

I did 3 miles on the treadmill, taking intervals of high and low speeds. Then I did some stretching while talking to an older man about everything from Apple computers to the harmful effects of deodorant. His daughter works for Apple. He has 4 Macs (including the newest one with Intel) at his house that he will never use to their fullest potential. To bad. I didn't offer to take them off his hands...that would be rude!

He was a nice man. He left after I did my leg weights and just before my sit up routine.

Then I went home and spent the rest of the day doing some MUCH needed spring cleaning.

Spring in early Feb?

Well, yeah...the temps have been in the mid 70's all week.

Come Alive! Baby are you sleeping?

Hey runner lovers,

Yes, I know- I've been off schedule. I knew it was coming. I left Friday morning to spend the weekend by myself. Lots of reasons...but the main one being I wanted to write. And write I did. I devoted the whole 4 days to it. I even went to the movies to watch Harry Potter again for inspiration. I just love the way J.K. Rowling writes. Genius really.

Anywho...I got home early yesterday morning, but I couldn't run on account of my enormous headache. Knocked me right out.
So today is Tuesday and my training schedule says it's a 3 mile day. I mulled over the idea of running more than that to make up for the last 5 days off. But then I remembered reading an article that pointed out my idea is a rookie mistake. Not wanting to get injured, I decided to stick to the game plan. But hey- it didn't say anything about running my regular route HARDER than usual.

I guess it was three mile?? I ran Paymaster, Pointed Rocks and Westville. I felt my legs stretch way out and my feet lifting high into the air. I pushed myself. Half the time I wanted to throw up. My breathing was labored and my eyes focused. I had good form. My arms, my legs, my posture, my head and my ankles, heels...they all did what they were supposed to do.
It was nice. I enjoyed this run very much.

BTW- my time was 24 minutes. (give me a break! I did have some hills in there ya know). That's an average 8 minute mile.

New song to rock the ipod...FRIDAY NIGHT by The Click Five.

5..7...9!

No, I am NOT talking about the clothing store.

I'm talkin miles, of course. I started out today with my sights set on 5 by going to just a little past Hidden Gold. But on the way back I kept on going past my turn off to American River Trail and headed to the 2nd gate. When I got back to A.R. Trail, I decided to tack on a little more by running around Otter Trail.
When I got back to my street, I did another Forest Gump..."Well, I figured since I gone this far..." So I kept going. I had Westville on my mind. I remembered how difficult that hill used to be.

Man, I thought...I haven't done that hill in a long time. I wonder how I would do now? Especially since I've already run about 7 miles?? Hmm.

For the record...I did GREAT. I was strong. I ran up that hill with absolutely NO fear of stopping. When I got to the top, I couldn't believe how easy it seemed. Wasn't it just last year (or longer?) that I couldn't even get up this hill without walking? And that was without all the extra mileage before hand.

Wow. What a difference a year makes. I wonder what next year will see me doing?

Mt. Whitney? Sure, why not!

BTW- Keeping a running log (actual book) next to my bed is a great way to keep a mileage count nice and handy. It's hard to believe that I've already run 87.5 miles this year! This month!

At this rate, I should hit my 1000 mile goal by the end of 2006.
Oh, here's hoping!

I need to get some cool pictures on here.