That Girl Runs

January! The first month of the new year! New beginnings, fresh possibilities and the prospect of spring! I have always liked this month even if it means we are still in the middle of winter. And we definitely had to deal with some weather conditions that reminded us that even here in Southern California we get to enjoy our version of winter.

David and I had a busy one. We went back to the Bay Area for a few days (THANK YOU, Chris and Greta for making us feel welcome again!) and a couple of weeks ago spent a long weekend in Santa Barbara. A few of my former students whom I stayed in contact with over the past two years (Facebook ROCKS!) graduated and I did not want to miss the ceremony and party.

We stayed with my dear friend Dilys, someone I also met at work when she was hired as the Director of Alumni Relations, a job she had previously held at Claremont McKenna where Adrienne went to school. While David met up with his best friend and business buddy Nelson and I had a great time hanging out at Winter Session. It was really like old times and I almost felt as if I had never left my job. A job I loved every day!

Before we left to go back home we met up with some of our best friends for breakfast:

I spent some of the best years of my running life with these people and love them beyond measure. The Mullens, who are a gazillion shades of awesome, live in New York City now so it was extra special to have them present for our little reunion. And I had not seen Becca, who has the biggest heart of anyone I know, in four years! Four years!!! She is a nurse (I am so jealous!) and two days after this photo was taken she traveled to Haiti with Project Hope to volunteer her time and services on this ravaged island. And then there is Analise whom I had last seen at Adrienne’s funeral. We all met through Ana, someone who has an almost uncanny ability to connect people, not to mention that her fashion sense puts us all to shame and that she kicks my butt on the track. That girl is one awesome runner and definitely helped me step it up to the next level. We trained and ran San Diego in 2005 when we both qualified for Boston and then trained and ran Boston together as well. I could not have wished for a better partner in running. And boy did we run! Hard! And solved many a problem on those long, endless routes. Problems that shall remain unwritten!

Some of my best memories include the people in this photograph and I am positive we will remain friends forever no matter where life will take us (although Nick and I have been dreaming of becoming neighbors for years!).

A few years have gone by since we all first met and we have definitely been through changes, some minor, others major, in our respective lives but in the end we have remained the same. Good people, who can just pick up where they last left off!

Through it all I ran of course. I do like to get out of town for a lot of reasons but one of them is definitely the chance of running different routes and exploring new trails. In Santa Barbara I took the opportunity and ran hills for all three mornings I was there. One of them in an hour long torrential down pour. If nothing it made me feel alive.

Shortest run: 4 miles

Longest run: 6.1 miles

Average speed: 7:28 min/miles

Strength & Endurance: 3 hours

Weight Training: 2 hours

Yoga: 3 hours

Today’s Running Tip: Mix it up!

Once you’ve made running a routine it is easy to get into a rut and run the same route every day. To keep challenging yourself and improving your endurance it is important to mix things up by running different distances and terrain at different speeds. That way your body can never get used to your workout.

Living in the desert region of Southern California we tend to forget sometimes that the rest of this country experiences a phenomenon called “weather” on a fairly regular basis. Here in our neck of the woods we basically have two seasons:

• summer, which delights us with temperatures of 100 plus degrees from the beginning of April until the end of September, the height of which is reached in July and August when temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit are not unheard of. I always find it ironic when I compare running habits with runners from different parts of the country who are usually forced to run on the treadmill during winter months whereas I tend to hit the gym more often during the summer, although over the years I have gotten used to running in 100 plus degrees
• and fall, which usually does not set in until Thanksgiving when right on cue the thermometer does a double digit dip from the 90s into the 70s

We do get the occasional rainfall during the months that the rest of the country experiences as “winter” and have even had some night frost in the past. In August we also tend get monsoons that come over from Arizona and bring humidity not unlike the one Florida is known for. For someone (yours truly) who loves heat, and by love I mean LOVE!!!, the summers in this region are my favorite time of year and if it was up to me, they would go on forever. I even love the humidity that the monsoons bring and make my hair curly and my skin luminous. When you live in parched conditions every bit of moisture is welcome!

So for the most part we bathe in eternal sunshine and live under endlessly blue skies, even when the rest of our nation is digging out of five feet or more of snow. And then, then a winter storm hits us and everything comes to a screeching halt. Literally! If you followed the news this past week you probably know that I am talking about this puppy that came upon us in California:

MODIS

If this looks Hurricane like to you you are not far from imagining the reality that hit us Californians. And yes, most of us do not know how to handle such a force of nature, let alone know how to drive in it… and that’s only the beginning of our troubles in the rain. Our roads turn into raging creeks, fit for white water rafting – people have been known to kayak down Mission Street in Santa Barbara -, our hillsides slide towards the ocean and the entire state threatens to erode into the Pacific.

But after a massive rain storm like the one from last week also has us waking up to the this scenery:l

The white stuff you see on the top is real snow! As seen from the desert (!!!) floor. And so yesterday morning, as we woke up to observe the image above from our kitchen window, we decided to play hookie and let Nelson experience something he has never experienced before: snow under his paws

I am honestly not quite sure what exactly it was we expected but Nelson could have cared less about the strange white substance except for the fact that it made us walk awkwardly to the point of him looking at me as if to say: “What the heck, Woman! Why are we walking in this that makes us sink to our knees if we can just walk on the road?”

Unfortunately the snow was not as powdery as it looked from our back yard and did not invite for a snow ball fight or snow angels. Next stop: Big Bear!

Today’s Running Tip: Running in snowy conditions!

Running after fresh snow has fallen can be quite treacherous and you need to be extra careful. Even if the snow seems soft and non slippery there can be ice hiding underneath. If you live in a climate where snow is a regular part of winter invest in running shoes that have a a sole appropriate for less stable road surfaces. Trail running shoes are a good option. Beware of black ice!!!

Did you hear that rumble? Did you? No, that was not yet another earthquake our neck of the woods has been experiencing on a regular basis for the past few weeks. That rumble! Well, that was Ted Kennedy turning over in his grave!!!

As unbelievable as it might have seemed only a few weeks ago, the seat held by the “Lion of the Senate” for 46 (!!!) years, a man who was re elected to said seat nine (!!!) times and who had made it his life goal to get affordable health care coverage for all citizens of this country, has been replaced by a Republican! In the bluest state of the nation! On the eve of passing a major reform bill that would bring this country closer to universal health insurance coverage than ever before in its history! No, the irony is not lost on me. Neither is the fact that the unimaginable took place exactly one year after Barack Obama’s inauguration as our 44th President.

What the fuck happened?

Of course the pundits on both sides are out in force today. I have not looked at anyone’s column or watched cable news as it would be too overwhelming to digest. Everyone is pointing fingers, analyzing, trying to blame the next person. The G(rand) O(bstructionist) P(arty) is gloating of course, as the Democrats would be had their candidate won this special election. Of course looking back it is really no wonder that their candidate did not win. Since she was arrogant enough to think the seat would be hers no matter what she seemed to have forgotten that although Ted Kennedy occupied it for almost five decades, it was not actually his, but that of the people of Massachusetts. And he had earned it! Something she still needed to do! Meeting and greeting the people of her home state would have been a great start. Maybe even at Fenway Stadium! In the cold! Shaking actual hands! Voters like to meet their candidates in person, a lesson Martha Coackly had obviously never learned, or thought she was above!

So, here we are! Down to 59 democratic seats in the Senate, one vote short of ending a filibuster, because one thing is for sure, Scott Brown will certainly not take a lesson from the majority party and break with his own. No, he will align himself right with his own party, the one that is still in the minority but seems to be running the country anyway because the majority lets them. Our Democrats on Capitol Hill actually allow the minority to sabotage Barack Obama’s Presidency into failure. A minority whose main goal it is to oppose our President no matter what, delay or stall confirmation of key administration officials, and bring him down with every step. And so it really makes not much of a difference now that the Democrats no longer have the magical 60 seats in the Senate. It’s not that they accomplished anything when they had all of them and the White House. Instead of standing united behind a President that was elected under such promise, they just showed us once again how little they can accomplish but how much they can screw up.

And of course our general public only makes matters worse. A public who seems to suffer from severe short term memory loss. A public who only a year ago remembered all too well that it took George W. Bush and his henchmen eight long years to burn this country to the ground, yet expects our new President to fix the disaster we emerged from in 12 short months. Do the people of Massachusetts truly believe that Scott Brown is the shining star that can lead this country back to prosperity? Of course I understand that this country has a long history of voting against the incumbent majority every four years as if it will actually accomplish anything. It hasn’t so far, so why would it now? Insanity is often defined as doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a different outcome…

A year ago we called for change in an election that gave Barack Obama more popular votes than any other past President. Did we not realize that change cannot come overnight, or even in 12 months? Yes, I am frustrated at times that things don’t get done fast enough but I also realize that change in Washington can only come slowly and with a lot of patience. Moving mountains takes time and can only be achieved if we stay united behind the cause long term. I fear that this year’s mid term elections will be the repeat of the old voting statistics of the past. Which means nothing will actually be achieved. And those who feel disappointed that the promise of change has been unfulfilled might as well pack up.

We live in a Democracy where elections have consequences and yesterday Democracy was certainly at work in Massachusetts! And now we will have to live with it! Just as we still have to live with the consequence of voting in George W. in 2004… And now we also have to live with a guy who is mostly known for his past spread (ahem!) in Cosmopolitan Magazine:

Today’s Running Tip: Misery loves company!

During these cold and dark winter months where it would be just so easy to stay in your warm bed or on the couch, it is a good idea to schedule runs with a buddy or a group of people. It is much harder to talk yourself out of missing a run when others are counting on you.

While on yet another road trip yesterday I checked my iPhone obsessively for Twitter updates as is my habit, when around 2pm PST CNN reported that a 7.0 earthquake hat struck the island nation of Haiti. Not exactly the news I was looking for during a joyride through California, a state that has had its fair share of earthquakes big and small, some that could be felt only this week. Yet, as Californians we are so used to our earth shaking beneath us we hardly ever stop whatever it is we are doing when our immediate surroundings rock and roll. Not that I have even the slightest intention of comparing earthquakes that hit California with the enormous catastrophe that has come upon the people of Haiti, a country that has had challenges of enormous proportions since the beginning of the 20th Century, if not the beginning of time, that has left its people struggling for survival on a daily basis. Without doubt the latest disaster is going to unimaginable consequences for the future of this beautiful nation. Chris Sacca put together a

list of charities and ways you can help.

Remember that no matter how small your contribution, every single dollar counts!

Our thoughts are with the people of Haiti!

Today’s Running Tip: There will be no tip today!

I never wanted to get married! Ever! Even as a child and young adult I found the institution of marriage so “old school”, something so mundane I did not want any part of it. In fact I still did not want to get married on December 1st, 1994.

Yet! Fifteen years ago today I woke up, went for a 6 mile run, took a shower, put on a pair of white jeans and black hiking boots, went down to the Santa Clara Superior Court House and tied the knot!

When I say I did not want to get married just over a month prior to this event I have to qualify that the subject of marriage had definitely come up a couple of times, but David and I never really elaborated on the possibility. It also needs to be mentioned that he was still legally married on December 1st, 1994, a status that would not change until New Year’s Eve ‘94. Happy New Year indeed!!! Even though marriage was talked about openly I never really seriously considered it until my now sister- and brother-in-law came to visit us that Christmas. Anne and I had always gotten along, even before David’s divorce, and one of the first things she asked after stepping off the plane was when David and I were getting married. The proverbial “Never” flew out of my mouth immediately but Anne did not think I answered to her satisfaction and over the next few days she did not hesitate to bring the subject up a few more times. That New Year’s Eve David’s divorce was officially final and as we toasted to a New Year and a new era, a thought formed in both of our heads simultaneously: “We might as well!” Wait! What?

The next morning we told Anne, who had been in a limo on her way home with her deathly drunk ill husband, when the clock struck midnight and David realized he wanted to not just be any husband again, but mine! Anne was so excited for us and “since we had already decided it was going to happen we might as well do it while she and Phil were still in the States”. Whoa! It was a Sunday so nothing could really be done that day but first thing Monday morning I called the court, asked what needed to be done to get this accomplished and after finding out that all we needed were birth certificates and David’s divorce papers we set the date for the following Friday, even though David had a meeting scheduled in the early afternoon. Yes, that’s right, this is how we like to roll.

And sure enough, Friday rolled (!!!) around and we all filed into the Jeep and made our way to San Jose through pouring rain. David picked up his freedom papers, which quite appropriately were being held in the basement of the Family Court, then we went over to the main court house where we found the “Wedding Counter” (I am not even kidding!), filed all the necessary paper work and got our marriage license which allowed us to get married anywhere in California within the following six month. We chose the venue we were already in and scheduled the afternoon for our ceremony. We might as well! Phil, Anne, and I went to lunch while David went to his meeting at Oracle before we all met up again for the actual wedding on the third floor in Municipal Court Judge John Pasco’s chamber. But not before Judge Pasco presided over a criminal case where the subject was brought into the third floor courtroom in an orange jumpsuit and shackles, and we stood in as witnesses for the happy couple who was in line before us. Afterwards it was our turn and over before we knew it. Anne cried, I smiled!

My mom was stunned into silence when I called her after the fact, . Believe me when I say that this had only happened a couple of times that I remember, one of which was the time I blacked out from alcohol poisoning in High School. Her only daughter, heck, her only child, had gotten married without her even knowing! In jeans! She eventually got over it and both her and my dad welcomed David into their lives as if he was their own son (the son my mother had hoped for when she was pregnant with me!).

15 years have passed since that day I threw out all of my resolve to never be a wife. I never looked back! To say that my change of heart was the right decision is an understatement. Although I had known for quite some time that David was the man I would spend the rest of my life with, license or not, I could not ask for a better husband. It has certainly not been all champagne and chocolate covered strawberries over here but we both realized early on that compared to what we had been through before we finally made our relationship official, nothing could tear us apart. Absolutely nothing! In fact every challenge has only brought us closer. Of course it also helps that David has the patience of a saint, is more driven than any other person I know and as hard a worker. His undying optimism has helped us weather many a storms, and so has his amazing ability to always work through any challenge that might be thrown his way. From the first day we moved in together David has always put me and our relationship first, has supported my need for running freedom, and accepted my weird attitude towards food and eating dinner as late as possible. He also buys me soy lattes or caramel frappuccinos whenever I want one or the other. We have had some incredibly good times together and I cannot wait for the adventures our future may hold.

Looking back on that day 15 years ago I quickly realized that this was really the only way I was ever going to go through with a “wedding”. David was game to do whatever I wanted, big or small, and the way it turned out was truly my day, including the reception dinner at TGIF (hey, it was good back then!).

At least my jeans were white!

Today’s Running Tip: Getting married? Go for a run!

Going for an easy run is one of the greatest stress reducers. So any time you face a situation that could potentially freak you out a run can do wonders for calming your nerves and refreshing your mind!