Run DMZ

Yes, yesterday's picture was an interesting shot of a pretty basic piece of furniture. In this case, it was a dining table at Dos Coyotes in Davis around 9:30 in the evening. It sprinkled during this morning's run, after a brief downpour yesterday at the same time. I honestly don't ever remember it raining this regularly this late into spring. No complaints, though. I love this weather. And I love that I am finally well enough to enjoy it again.

Thanks to the generosity of my friend Sue in Florida, my husband and I flew up to northern California for a family reunion centered on a special event: our daughter’s dance showcase. I had a fever that finally broke at 3 a.m., just six hours before we were to board our flight. Unfortunately, other flu symptoms did not abate. In fact, they grew worse over the next two days. But there are some events you can never replicate and this was one of them. Both of our daughters started taking lessons at dance studios just after the diaper stage and continued through their college years. Our younger daughter is graduating early next year, so this was her final performance. That also means it was our final time as parents to attend one of their dance shows after 20-plus years. Students can choreograph dances, and Alex’s number last year was a huge hit (and that’s not just me sayin’ it, either). This year, she decided to stick with the fun vibe and also pay tribute to her many years of dance with ...

On Monday my friend Paul called to ask if I was sick. We'd gone to lunch a couple of days earlier at this great place called Tender Greens in Liberty Station. He thought our salad was the culprit, but I assured him I felt fine. Then I knocked on wood. Last night the same flu hit me hard. My entire body aches with fever, my head is throbbing and I can't stand the sight of food. I imagine those who engage in mixed martial arts feel a little like I do the day after a match, but for better reasons. The sport is enjoying its moment in the sun (perhaps even a renaissance if you're familiar with its history). So, in lieu of me continuing to whine about how awful I feel, I'll provide this piece by a promoter of the Mixed Martial Arts Industry that links runners to MMA athletes, thus proving there's more than one way to get beat up out there. Enjoy! MMA Workouts Can be as Beneficial to Runners as Much as Fighters By Alexia Krause MMA fighters are some of the toughest athlet...

Is there any athlete outside of a Boston Marathon corral right now who isn’t again vowing to be a better runner and plotting how to someday join this crowd? I admit I’m one that thinks this particular marathon is overrated, but it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate its historical significance or the hard training the majority of runners endure to get there. I’m up extra early to catch at least the beginning of the race on the Internet since West Coast folks are three hours behind in live coverage. And I’m rooting for a lot of people, but I’m singling out my former Cape Cod training partner Trish, who has been through some serious health issues in the past and, despite missing portions of her organs, still managed today to make it to the start line for the second time. Do us proud, girl. Which brings me to the giveaway. When Trish first became ill, she had three young children, a demanding job and a widow mother who relied often on her only daughter. We all privately wondered what would ha...

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of joining some friends to hear Dr. Joe Vigil discuss how he trains runners to become national champions and Olympic medalists (Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi among them). The man has quite a sense of humor and quite a resume, having coached 425 All-Americans and been inducted into 11 Halls of Fame. He’s also featured in the recent best-seller Born to Run , which helped spawn the current barefoot running movement. I thought I’d share a few bits of advice, both tactical and philosophical, gleaned from the coach’s talk at City College. In Joe Vigil’s world, they are pretty much one in the same because a truly competitive runner embraces a lifestyle and not just a sport. Be passionate. If you are truly fervent about running, you look forward to every workout and you do not fear the potential pain of long runs or speed work. Embrace the experience and be grateful for the opportunity to be helping your body stay healthy. “You’ve got to run as a style o...