Stopping to Smell the Flowers

What a busy couple of weeks, but they've been packed full of all the things I like to do. The flight over here went smoothly, and it's great to be here with Conrad. Time seems to pass by so quickly at times.

I think I've done more cycling in the past 2 weeks than in the past 2 months. Actually I know I have. I did a handful of trainer rides in the weeks leading up to my trip, but in the winter I'd rather run. The dogs also prefer the runs, so the cycling has fallen a bit by the wayside.

I've made up for it though. Yesterday was a brilliant solo 6 hour "coffee shop" ride along the coast. Conrad had some crazy session and I heard he say something about 300 Watts and I said no thanks. My actual riding time ended up being about 5 hours and I stopped to watch seals play, stopped to just look at the stunning view, and stop to watch and chat with the surfers. Incredible views and weather!

It's fantastic to just enjoy life. Often we get so busy with work and waiting for all the fun things in life to happen. It's also a blessing to not be training and just riding for the sheer joy of riding. It makes me wonder if all the work is worth it, or if I could work less and live with less. What brings happiness at the end of the day? Unfortunately I have a fondness for shiny carbon fiber objects on 2 wheels. The rest of the rat race I can pass on, but I really enjoy being able to travel and have a nice bike or 2 or 3.

I see and work with so many people on the work treadmill. Needing bigger cars or bigger houses. Stepping back really makes me think what is my priority and why.



BBQ at Conrad's house.


The yummiest coffee ever!


The best swimming place (and napping place). 50 meter salt water pool next to the ocean.

Random Ramblings

First off. I did that 50K trail run last week and the only problem I had after the race was a little poison oak. Damn.... so itchy... and it's the smallest area. I was wearing full tights, longs sleeves, hat, didn't even stop to pee in the bushes (thankfully). Apparently there was a tiny area peaking out between my socks and my tights that was exposed. So very itchy this week! Forget knee or quad pain this is way worse.


Currently I'm sharpening my nails so I can get a good scratch in while I wait for my flight to South Africa. I'm feeling descent after a red-eye from SFO last night. The bike fee was $250, thanks United. The ticket counter lady snarkily said, "How do you intend to pay for that?" Seriously, like it's an option at this point. I'm standing at the counter with one bag, one bike box, and myself weighing a grand total of 230 pounds. Whatever, "credit card" I reply. I've gotten used to paying rediculous bike fees at this point, and it's not like I can just leave it behind. However, I am leaving the bikes and case in South Africa this time. Delta charges $300 for a bike, so I guess I'm getting a deal. I remember when they were free on international flights.

Only 24 more hours of travel to go! Definitely not looking forward to the next 20 hours wedged into the same seat. My recipe of choice for this flight is 1 ambien, 2 benadryl, and maybe a drink. Hopefully when I wake up I'll be at my destination.

Fingers Crossed

The most dreaded sign when driving in California is the chain control sign. Cal Trans does an amazing job in keeping I-80 open all winter, but they require you to chain up for the smallest snowflake. The road will just be wet and they require chains.

A couple weeks ago I signed up for a 50K race in Pacifica hoping to get out of the mountains for a couple days and to get in some riding in the California sun. The weather conspired against me and I-80 was closed on the day I was supposed to leave. Semis were playing bumper cars and everyone lost. I've lived in Reno a long time, but I've never seen this much consecutive wet weather. It's a desert!!

Anyhow, I left for the race Friday after the roads were reopened. I kept my fingers and toes crossed that I wouldn't have to chain up. Passing through Truckee the skies darkened and the carry chains sign was on. Clearing the pass I thought my troubles were over, but later realized that maybe it would have been a good thing if they had required chains....... on the semis at least. I was cruising along at about 35mph when the semi I was passing decided to slam on his brakes. Immediately his trailer was going sideways down the freeway inches from my front bumper. I tapped frantically on the brakes hoping against all hopes that there wouldn't be contact. Amazingly he took his foot off the brake and the trailer fell in line behind the truck.

At this point I was desperate to get around him, so I tried the slow motion pass again. The second I was next to him, he hit the brakes again, but this time the trailer was coming at the passenger side of the car. More frantic brake tapping ensued and I gingerly steered my car off the left hand side of the road. I've never had such a close call driving before and I think my heart rate was higher during that drive than it has been ever during a race.



Leaving Truckee the carry chains sign was on, but no sign of Cal Trans yet. Maybe they are on a coffee break.


Winter wonderland!


The unlucky people that were stopped on I-80 eastbound that had to chain up. See the road is just wet! Evil Cal Trans.


I eventually made it over the pass and to the race. Then I forgot to take pictures during the run. I did carry the camera the entire 50K though. Lots of ups and lots of downs. 7000 ft worth. It was beautiful, wet, and muddy. I loved every second of it!

In sun, or rain, or snow

I went on the most magical run last night. It was just as the sun was going down, but it was so bright outside. When the storm is actually here is the most fun. Cleaning up and the mess after never is. When it's snowing outside people stay inside.... meaning that I had the trails to myself! There is something special about running in a snowstorm.


Proof that I was breaking laws by letting the dogs off leash in the leashes required area at Rancho yesterday. No one was there.


Bliksem loved jumping over the creek. So back and forth she went chasing snowflakes.


People are always asking me why I run. It's for special moments like this, and I find them in almost every run. It's the free time to myself to think or to not think and just feel, depending on my mood. Today was about feeling alive and enjoying the magical moment.

Dog Days

Winter in Reno can be difficult at times. It's not really cold or snowy enough to go ski, and it's not warm enough to ride outside. I continue running all winter, but riding in 40F temps has no appeal. Last year I was able to motivate for the trainer, but this year I keep putting off rides.

Skiing is possible. It's about an hour drive, but then I feel guilty about leaving the dogs behind. When all else fails, I take the dogs for a run.

I enjoy the cold of winter, but I could do without the mud. The dogs love it. Kona pounces in it with a smug look on her face. Bliksem has longer hair and just wallows in. They love every minute. The trick to winter running is to go as early as possible when the mud is still frozen, or else you end up with this........

Mud stilts!!! 

Up and up and up we go. Above Reno the views are usually spectacular. Today I could barely see the city. There is an inversion layer stuck in the valley. My treat for running up above it is a temperature a good 10 degrees warmer than down below and sweet sweet sunshine. 

Kona and Bliksem's mud covered belly. 

Back home a while later the dogs are tired and happy. Another dog day!

Barefoot running?!?

So about a week ago I read an article on barefoot running that I found as a link on facebook. Interesting stuff, considering that I'm currently reading Born to Run which is about the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico. They run ultra and by ultra I mean hundreds of miles at a time. They do this without all of our fancy shoes and have no injuries that seem to plague most runners. Add this one to your winter reading list.

If anyone is interested in the article here is the link

http://isiria.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/the-great-marketing-lie-expensive-runners%20-will-prevent-injury/

Anyhow, barefoot running was on my mind. Here I am running in mountains above Reno on a 12 mile trail loop when out in the middle of nowhere I come across this. Okay, so it rained a lot, and for Reno this means anything more than 5 minutes of rain. The mud is shoe sucking deep in places, so I think maybe someone's shoe got sucked off.

There are more footprints and they go in both directions. I tracked the footprints for a while and it looks like the crazy shoeless runner went at least 6 miles in temps that have barely broken 40 F in weeks. 

Maybe the barefoot runner is onto something. Reno isn't meant to get rain. The dirt turns into this sticky glue like substance that sticks to the bottom of your shoes and adds 6" of height to my legs. I run a few strides trying to land on rocks and then stop and have to scrape it off my shoes. Another couple hundred meters and repeat again. and again. But the dogs love it and half my reason for going out instead of hiding on the treadmill is for them. So we will continue our hunt for the barefoot runner in the hills above Reno. Are you out there? She/he is probably wondering who is crazier.

My Running Partners

The original running partner was Kona. When we arrived at the pound 2 years ago she was leaping 3 feet off the ground and barking non stop. She is a great running buddy. Anytime I put on running shorts or shoes she starts quivering with excitement. It's hard not to be happy when you're running when she looks so happy. 

Kona needed a buddy though for those long days when I'm at work and Conrad is back in Africa. About a month ago when we heard that our price was accepted on the house, we went to the pound just to look. We nearly came home with 2 dogs. The Nevada Humane Society had a requirement that we do a dog meet dog at the pound before they would let us a take a dog home. Kona came back into the pound the same way she left 2 years prior. The dog meet dog took place in a 10x10 room with 2 dog handlers, 2 dogs, and 2 of us. It didn't go the way the pound workers liked and after 20 seconds and one raised lip they said the dogs would never get along and left. 

Bliksem's pound foto. She looked so sad, and I couldn't leave her there.

We left the pound that day not knowing what to do. A plan was hatched, and we obtained Bliksem from the pound by other means. Thanks Graham for the alibi. 

Bliksem enjoying her first snow day.

Kona and Bliksem enjoying a ski day at Prosser Lake.  See they don't get along at all.