Category Archives: Monthlys

Movember

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I almost missed December 1st this year. All I know is that November flew by and all of a sudden here it was: December. In all of it’s glory it brought with it unusually cold Santa Ana winds. I know, I know! The rest of the country is living through snow and ice while we always enjoy the best weather in the nation this time of year. There is a reason Californians are also known as “wuzzes”, “fruits”, and “nuts”! So what? We love our heat and get quite cranky when the temperatures drop below our comfort level of 90 degrees. And up until now it has been fabulous. Balmy, sunny days with endless blue sky, a heat wave even. I am not complaining! Yet! Maybe! Because December is the month where winter officially sets in BUT it is also the month when the days start to get longer again and my least favorite season – Fall – will be over soon. Spring is next!!!

And for running this past month has been excellent. There even was a race. Yes, only a Turkey Trot, over before you could properly warm up, but it felt good to line up at the start and be part of the yearly tradition here in the desert. It starts Thanksgiving day on the right foot. And we sure had a lovely Thanksgiving at our friends house. Great company and excellent food. Then I threw it all up. Not on purpose. Just to be clear.

But tummy troubles aside I did manage to get a decent amount of exercise in this past month. Here is to a jolly December.

Total Distance: 216.8 miles
Total Time: 59:34:47 min
Run Distance: 165.2 miles
Run Time: 21:04:47 min
Walk Distance: 51.6 miles 
Walk Time: 24:30:00 min
  • Shortest run: 5 miles
  • Longest run: 6.8 miles
  • Average speed: 7:39 min/miles
  • Strength & Endurance: 11 hours
  • Spinning: 2 hours
Today’s Running Tip: Sticking with a routine throughout the Holiday Season!
To prevent weight gain, loss of fitness and motivation during the holidays it is best to adjust your routine to something that is manageable with all other commitments you might have this month. Choose a schedule that is easier to stick with: run three times a week instead of you usual 5, run 3 miles instead of 6, run early in the day instead of later when other plans can get in the way, run with a buddy who will keep you motivated and hold you accountable.

November is here! Again!

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Well, here we are! In November! The official beginning of my least favorite months! I know, I know! With temperatures still in the 90s, bright sunshine, and endless blue skies I should just shut up and quit the whining. But, BUT… the glorious days are now numbered, even here! And soon enough there will be overcast days and rain! RAIN! I am not looking forward to this! Not one bit! OK, I do look forward to running in the rain (it’s actually my favorite. I am crazy like that.) but that’s about it. Add to that the short days and early darkness and you might as well just wake me in April. I suck at winter. Every year! And I take comfort in knowing that I am not the only one.

I go through these motions every fall, knowing all too well that by the time January rolls around I am totally fine with the long darkness (as IF it is really THAT long, I live in Southern California after all) and “grimy” weather (SoCal again). And let’s face it, there are some nice and cozy aspects to fall and winter: fireplaces, soup, hot salted caramel chocolate, chamomile tea, movies, fresh citrus fruit right from the tree, a month filled with Christmas Parties, and less stress to get everything done so one can head outside (like right now!).

Talking of the more positive aspects of this time of year; October was absolutely magnificent. We had perfect weather, even a last minute heat wave. It’s only been for this past week that we can no longer go into the (unheated) pool. Workout wise it was a good month as well, even if the Group X room at my gym has turned into a meat locker, thanks to a broken air conditioner. My hope is always that when an air conditioner breaks it stops working, but it is my luck that this one continues to work. In fact it works so well that no one can seem to switch it off, which leaves us working out at 57 degrees. No fun! My hope is that as a little token for November it will be fixed soon. Send warm thoughts!

The end of September, beginning of October is always a bit rough and I tend to not post my stats. This month I shall resume posting my milage:

Total Distance: 216.62 miles
Total Time: 52:12:21 min
Run Distance: 174.2 miles
Run Time: 22:08:21 min
Walk Distance: 42.42 miles
Walk Time: 18:04:00 min
  • Shortest run: 5 miles
  • Longest run: 6.8 miles
  • Average speed: 7:38 min/miles
  • Strength & Endurance: 8 hours
  • Spinning: 4 hours
Today’s Running Tip: Adjusting to fall conditions!
As runners it is often rather cumbersome to adjust to changing weather during the fall months. Often we dress too light or too heavy. Your best bet is to dress in layers that can easily be taken off and carried! Wear light colors and reflectors if you run during dusk and dawn hours! And don’t forget to hydrate!

August Review

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So this morning I woke up and it was September! How did that happen? Can it be that August is really over??? The dog days of summer are once again behind us? Yeah, that noise you are hearing! That is me! Wailing!

Everyone who knows me even slightly also knows just HOW MUCH I LOVE SUMMER!!! That’s right, I love it THIS MUCH!!! Even after moving to the desert full time, I can never get enough of the heat and endless summer days and nights. I love everything about it and this year it did not disappoint: hot, and at times sweaty, and tropical. We had lots of BBQs, play time in the pool, visitors, and frozen drinks! Exactly the way I like it! I even managed to continuously run outside, only hitting the treadmill for weekly hill workouts. Yes, you read that right, I used a treadmill. In a gym! Because after a month of looking I finally found a new gym last month and am loving it. New environment, new classes, lots of new people but also familiar ones from my old gym that closed its doors. Life is all good again! Even if it is almost fall. And I am not looking forward to the days getting shorter and the temperatures dropping back into the double digits. Not at all!

BUT… for now it is only the beginning of September and no tears need to be shed yet. We still have at least another couple of months where we can look forward to balmy days and warmish nights. But the heat, the HEAT is once again behind us. And boy, did it get HOT. After talking about how relatively mild our summer had been, August brought heat and humidity. BIG TIME! Even I found it to be on the sweltering side. Which says a lot as I can take a lot of intense heat and sweatiness. At least I should be well prepared for the heatwave that usually hits Santa Barbara on Labor Day weekend. Just in time for Pier-to-Peak.

See you on the mountain!

Total Distance: 195.35 miles
Total Time: 47:05:40 min
Run Distance: 176.35 miles
Run Time: 22:46:40 min
Walk Distance: 19 miles
Walk Time: 8:19:00 min
  • Shortest run: 2.8 miles
  • Longest run: 7.1 miles
  • Average speed: 7:45 min/miles
  • Strength & Endurance: 9 hours
  • Spinning: 5 hours

Today’s Running Tip: Hill training on the treadmill!

For those who do not have hills in their neighborhood there is always the option of the treadmill. In order to get a good hill workout in warm up at a zero incline. Then increase the incline by two levels every two minutes until you hit level 12. Run one to two minutes slower than your normal training pace. Descend in the same manner.

Good Bye July

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July! One of the three favorite months on my personal calendar! The other two being June and August! And as it does every year here in the desert: it did not disappoint! Temperatures reached up to 118 degrees and this girl was one happy camper. Summer dresses, tank tops, flip flops, Frappuccinos, al fresco dining, and frozen yoghurts! It does not get any better than that. And now we still have August to look forward to.

Here in the desert a lot of residents take off to more moderate climates during the heat of summer but I always like it best and never want to go anywhere, not even to the coast, which has been very cold, foggy and miserable this year. Yes, that’s right, California coastal summers are not what commercials want you to believe. When we lived in Santa Barbara we could always spot tourists by the way they shivered in their summer dresses and short shorts, locals knew better. I was definitely born for a warm no doubt. I only had to bide my time in Germany long enough to eventually find nirvana. I often look back on my childhood and how even then I always looked forward to the dog days of summer. Heading to the local public swimming pool with friends, popsicles, chilled watermelon and eating outside at night. Not to mention annual beach vacations in Southern Europe.

Even though temperatures have been steadily in the triple digits I do run outside and have been for the past two summers. Getting up early before the heat hits the ground. Those early morning runs are something to be cherished for sure. The air is balmy and the streets are quiet. Sprinklers are running and the damp grass still smells fresh and promising, water drops reflecting the sun rising on the horizon. I still have not found a new gym but took advantage of World’s Gym free 7 day pass.

I actually really enjoyed the classes they offered. The yoga on Saturday morning was the best yoga class I have ever taken, so was spinning on Monday, even though the spin bikes are an even older model than the ones at Gold’s. Thank goodness they did not have the same crappy belt problem that the bikes at Gold’s have but man are they old. And the first spin class I took last week the saddle was so worn out I ended up with quite a rash… I took a different bike on Monday and the class rocked. I also really liked the cardio and weight rooms and used the treadmill for uphill runs. BUT… having said all that there is something missing. I can’t put my finger on it but the atmosphere is weird there and I realized that for me it is too far away. It takes 15 minutes to get there if all lights are on green and all the snow birds are out of town. For working out that’s too much time. I know myself.

So, it’s back to the drawing board. Pier-to-Peak is just around the corner after all and although I will be well prepared for the annual Labor Day heat wave in Santa Barbara it was time to run some steep climbs.

Here are the running stats for July:

Total Distance: 213.26 miles
Total Time: 41:08:07 min
Run Distance: 187.1 miles
Run Time: 24:10:07 min
Walk Distance: 26.16 miles
Walk Time: 10:28:00 min
  • Shortest run: 5 miles
  • Longest run: 7.1 miles
  • Average speed: 7:45 min/miles
  • Strength & Endurance: 3:15 hours
  • Yoga: 1:15 hours
  • Spinning: 2 hours

Today’s Running Tip: Running hills is hugely beneficial for runners!

Hill running makes your body stronger, which in turn means you will run more efficiently. If you dread hills start slowly. Start at the base of a hill that is about 200 to 400 yards long. Run up it for 45 seconds (on a 1 to 10 scale your intensity should be about a 7). Jog back down for 30 seconds. Repeat three times. As you get stronger, increase the number of intervals up to eight and the length of intervals up to 75 seconds  but always maintain recovery time.

 

Summer Time

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I blinked and here is is: Summer! It has officially arrived, people! And not just per calendar! We are talking 100+ degrees, endless blue skies, blazing sunshine, and balmy nights. And this girl that runs is happy! Because, really, this is all she has been waiting for since last November. As if that was a secret!

Whenever I post our temperatures online friends, who don’t live in the desert, inevitably ask me how we can cope with the torturous heat. Well, just like you would adjust to living in a cold climate you also adjust to heat. In cold climates you buy thick clothes, boots, hats, gloves, and scarves. Here we buy sun dresses, tank tops, flip flops, sun hats and sunblock. We drink enormous amounts of water, the fresh and coconut kind, dip in the pool every chance we get, and sit outside during the evening hours without having to bundle up. It’s awesome, really!

As a runner I have even gotten used to running in this heat. I have been getting up early all month which has allowed me to still run outside, and by early I mean 6am, which has turned out be quite lovely. I am planning to keep this up all summer as I would like to use the treadmill for my regular morning run as little as possible. And although I try not to go out too late in the day I have been known to run in 100+ degrees, and have located all the water fountains on my route in the process, or shall I say, have found a route that passes water fountains.

The treadmill runs could be a problem anyway as my gym has closed its doors permanently last night. The gym that is a mere 2 miles from my house and had been my local hang out for the past six years. I mostly went for their group exercise classes: Boot Camp, Body Pump, Spinning, Yoga, and have made many good friends over the years, friendships that will last beyond our camaraderie of sweating together. At the moment we are all exploring different gyms in the area and most of us will hopefully end up at the same one again. Otherwise I will miss my exercise buddies terribly. We had a good routine going and it will be strange to find a new one. On the other hand it will be an opportunity for change and new beginnings, and hopefully more up to date exercise equipment… Just sayin’!

And new exercise equipment I need as this month will mark the start of the preparation for my favorite race. After months of flat runs it’s time to get my booty in gear and up some hills. I did my first hill run last Sunday and let’s just say it made a lasting impression. At least I’ll be acclimatized for the heat wave that usually hits Santa Barbara on Labor Day weekend. Once again I am hoping to just finish in a reasonable time.

Total Distance: 240.67 miles
Total Time: 54:54:34 min
Run Distance: 145.45 miles
Run Time: 18:49:34 min
Walk Distance: 15.22 miles
Walk Time: 6:20:00 min
  • Shortest run: 5 miles
  • Longest run: 7.1 miles
  • Average speed: 7:46 min/miles
  • Strength & Endurance: 8 hours
  • Yoga: 3 hours
  • Bike Distance: 58 miles
  • Bike Time: 3:55:00 min
  • Average Speed: 15.2 mi/hr
  • Spinning: 9 hours
  • Cross Training (Dance): 3 hours

Today’s Running Tip: Adjusting to running in the heat of summer!

Take your time adjusting to running during the warmer summer months! Drink plenty of fluids, and then some and make sure you replace fluids after your run. Remember that mornings are always cooler than evenings. Listen to your body and don’t push yourself too hard. It is better to scale back a bit than to exhaust yourself in the heat!