Run DMZ

She’s pink, but not pink-pink. I always thought I’d be attracted to blues or greens or reds, but I liked her the minute I set eyes on her. She’s a Diamondback hybrid, more on the road than comfort side, I’m told, though her wheels are good for the dirt trails closest to my house. The guy who sold her to me, Ian, says she’s good with klutzes like me. I woke before everyone today to take her for a test ride, and I was the one tested. Within minutes my heart was racing and sweat was forming on my brow, no matter which settings I chose. I made it midway up the first hill before I had to dismount and walk the rest of the way. It happened again on the return, which ended up, oh, 14 miles shorter than intended. This is going to be harder than I thought. I now understand the bond between [wo]man and bike. In our case, we’re both heavy lightweights who need each other to make this work. Speaking of work, I’m obviously going to have to build up to commuting to mine. I like it though. I like the ...

This is my last Saturday morning at home for the next six months, give or take a week. Next Saturday is the first run of the 4th Annual Half Mad or Whatever Marathon Training Program. Given it’s already the midyear, and the first half of the year hasn’t gone as planned runningwise, I’m going to treat it as a fresh start. Not another false start. What I’m doing differently: 1. Buying a hybrid bike this weekend (yes, finally!) to commute and to hit the canyon trails some evenings. 2. Signing up for a hatha yoga class that meets Tuesday evenings. This precludes me from joining the track club for speedwork, but in my current state I can’t do sprints or hill repeats for awhile anyway. 3. Signing up for a Sunday morning yoga/Pilates combo class. I decided on this instead of a spin class because I’m finally recognizing I need a kinder, gentler regime to avoid being sidelined so much. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to buy a bike after breakfast and then get the house ready for out-of-town c...

What does it say that I know every person in this article , which is all about the back of the pack crowd and their different marathon experience? There’s: Michael, Irene ’s husband; John Cross, an octogenarian I’ve welcomed home in many races; Chuck, Louise’s old training partner (old as in former, Chuck, not agewise); Erin, who I’ve shared a run with and who is part of our core SDTC half marathon training program; and Sue, who I just spoke to on the phone the other day. I hope they and everyone running this Sunday are greeted by cool weather, great music and a spectacular group of spectators. I’ll be thinking of you.

Many of us have trouble falling and staying asleep these days, so it's no wonder that articles on sleep are popping up all over the place. This morning's local newspaper has one such item on the issue that I thought was worth passing on , particularly since sleep is as important as nutrition and fitness to runners. Here's an excerpt that might prove useful: "Although we spend one-third of our lives sleeping, many of us don't do it very well. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says about one in five adults fails to get the necessary seven to eight hours a night, and the economic downturn is making things worse. The trick to catching this elusive bedfellow is learning how to let it come to us. 1. You can't fall asleep . Don't stay in bed. It turns your sanctuary into a torture chamber and actually decreases your sleep drive, says Zee. Instead, practice good “sleep hygiene” by reducing your caffeine intake, exercising (but not too close to bedtime) and av...

It felt good to sleep in my own bed again. It felt even better to wake up and run 20 minutes early this morning.

If I have to be sidelined with an injury, I can think of no better time than now. We're taking a week off to drive to northern California and celebrate family. I've put my to-do list in the sidebar. Notice there isn't much involving computers and emails on it? That's why you won't hear from me, on this blog or yours, for a bit. Enjoy.