An All-Too-Typical Saturday Morning

Once again I sat out what appeared to be another superb Saturday morning run with our training program. I guess when you re-aggravate a tenacious ankle injury that took months to heal, it takes more than a couple of weeks to mend again.

Instead, I volunteered at our aid station at Morley Field, near North Park, which meant sitting in a cushy director's chair with my spiced chai latte and shooting the breeze with fellow volunteer Erin while runners came and went. I also shot photos for our online album, some of which I'll share here.


First, the group decides on a route - or several options, in this case. Ordinarily we follow a map with a prescribed run, but today everyone decided to wing it. That flexibility and innovation is what I love best about this group.


We always do a warm-up first.




Oh, come on...you wouldn't have been able to pass up this shot either. (Besides, it's not like I was 'behind' everyone.)


Most of the group just before everyone took off in all directions.


That's fellow San Diegan running blogger AKA Alice, who ran with part of her herd this morning.


Just as our runners were finishing up, the men's USATF Dirt Dog Championship Race was starting.


More from near the front of the pack.


And our fearless leader with a boo-boo on his arm where he fell down on the course. He skinned his knee too. Gotta love the additional challenges of cross-country.

I wish I could have stayed to watch the women's race. I'm sure it would have inspired me. But I had to get home in time to make a salad to complement the fixings at Christine and Todd's place, where we intend to enjoy an afternoon of football and fellowship. I better watch what I eat, though, since you don't burn nearly as many calories running your mouth all morning.