Visit from my brother

My brother is visting from Montana. I took Tom sailing for the first time since he was a kid. Here's a photo of him steering a Catalina 270 with me next to him.

Wait a minute, Buster!

I managed to ding my left Achilles a little.  No running til that's ALL better.

Happy new year!

Today I went for my first run since getting my new hip 6 months ago. It was my first run in exactly one year. Ben, Terry, and I walked out Spring Canyon for 2 miles and then ran a mile and walked a mile. It felt good to be running again, but a little rusty. Getting my weight up to 186 recently didn't help. No aches or pains during the run - just huffing and puffing.

3 days to go

I'm resting up for my first run in a year. Saturday morning at 7:30, I'm planning to test out my new hip with a one mile run. I've waited the recommended 6 months since surgery, and my legs feel good, so I'm not anticipating any problems - at least not with my new hip.

Trails not quite dry yet

Terry and I went for a hike in Mission Trails Park this morning. The high water from last week's rains was gone, but it was still wet out there.

Terry headed up Oak Canyon





One of the waterfalls in Oak Canyon



A little mud on the way back

Here's something you don't see every day

A waterfall on Cowle's Mountain - Dec. 22, 2010

The rains stopped and I managed to make it up and down the mountain without getting wet. I did get kinda scratched up while getting close enough to shoot this photo. The road up the mountain has some major gulleys in it now - just a couple weeks after SDG&E spent a few days grading it.

Kind of like an MRI

2 weeks til my first run in a year

On January 1, I will go for my first run since last January 1.  I could run today, but I'm supposed to wait til it's been six months since getting my new hip last July 2.  Here's what I'm planning to do on January 1, 2011: walk 2 miles out Spring Canyon in Mission Trails Park, turn around and run one mile back towards the car, then walk the last mile, and then see how I feel the next day. The surgeon suggested that it would be a good idea for me to never run "much", but I couldn't pin him down on recommended mielages. So, at this point I'm not planning on ever running more than 3 to 4 miles. I'm thinking I might try running faster than I used to run - trying to squeeze more fun out of fewer miles. Fascinating, huh?

20 days til I try running again

I went for a sunset hike on Cowles Mountain today. I came down in the dark and really enjoyed it - I've gotta take more night hikes. It's a good time of the year for that - no rattlesnakes. I hiked late in the day because I was down at San Diego Bay all day taking a sailing class.  If I won the lottery (or had a decent job) I'd be down there a lot.

City lights from Cowles Mountain

View of lake Murray from Cowles Mountain

The kind of boat I was learning to sail today

4 weeks til I try running again

It's been 5 months since I got my new hip - one month to go til it's okay to run again. I'm really looking forward to a little running to go with the hiking and swimming.

Won't someone please bring me a wafer-thin mint?

I finally finished the leftover Thanksgiving food. No, not the pie - I finished that last Friday.
I ate slightly less than this guy: http://tinyurl.com/2c2hblz

Happy Thanksgiving! (and Boxing Day or whatever it is at the South Pole)

I'm thankful for the cast iron digestive system that will get me through this day of somewhat immoderate eating.

40 days til I try running with my new hip

I feel like a million bucks today. Had a great swim workout this morning. I'm even tempted to get a little more exercise on the mountain this afternoon. Must be the half a pumpkin pie I ate last night.

Blue moon hike

I went for a sunset/moonrise 3-mile walk on Cowles Mountain - I took it easy except for some attempted springiness on some of the steeper uphill sections. I enjoyed having the mountain to myself - and the nice damp surface after a day of rain.

42 days til I try running again

Sue and I already ate the whole carton of butter pecan ice cream I bought last night. Sue didn't actually have any, but it was available if she'd wanted some.

More dorky "fast walking"

details: http://tinyurl.com/2etv8dc

Uphill fast-walk intervals

8 x 1/10 mile uphill on Cowles Mountain - 15% grade. Average uphill time was 88 seconds. Walk back down - approx. 2 minutes. Average HR for uphills = 145. Max HR 167. It's kind of a drag doing "fast-walk intervals" because when I reach a certain speed, I want to break into a jog. Life's tough, eh?

52 days til I try running

In 52 days I will try running for the first time in a year, as far as you know. In the meantime, I did a brisk 5+ mile hike on Cowles Mountain this morning, averaging 17:03 per mile.

Photo of the day

Chick on a boat

Nov. 5 - Uphill fast-walk intervals

Same workout as October 22 and 28 - 8 x 1/10 mile uphill - 15% grade, average uphill time was 86 seconds. Walk back down - approx. 2 minutes. Average HR for uphills = 141. Max HR 167. I pushed a little too hard today - the last few weren't much fun. I should probably go a little easier. I'm trying to simulate a little of the cardio, muscle, and tendon stress that I'll get when I'm able to start running again after a year (or more) off. I'm not supposed to run "much" when I start running again, so I'm planning on running at what will pass as "fast" for me. Gotta have some fun!

Halloween candy powered workout

I made a sugar-fueled trip up & down the neighborhood mountain.  I won't give you all the details because it wouldn't be safe for you to try it on your own.

Simulating a running workout

I did an uphill fast-walk interval workout on Cowles Mountain this morning - 8 x 89 seconds, approximate 2 minute walk down to start after each. I'm trying to prepare for when I might be running again.
Details: http://www.herbsrunninglog.blogspot.com/

Coming Soon! I will attempt to run again

January 1st will be 6 months since I got my new hip joint. The surgeon told me not to try running for at least 6 months. He also said that I should not run "much". Hmm. It's all about the pounding, I guess. I'll worry later about how to define "much". I probably shouldn't run at all unless I lose some weight, but that's easier said than done. The Pepsi & burrito diet isn't working so far. At any rate, you may commence snickering now. The guffaws will ensue on January 1.

No trip to the Grand Canyon this weekend

Something came up and Mark needs to stay home this weekend.  The Grand Canyon isn't going anywhere - we'll go another time.

Last workout before the Grand Canyon hike

I did an easy mile on Cowles Mountain this morning. I worked on calf-stretching going up and quad-jarring on the way down. I'm as ready as I'm going to be for Saturday's hike.

5 days to go

1 hour swim workout this morning. Felt good and swam hard.

6 days til the Grand Canyon hike

I did a short (1 mile) hike today - a half mile up Cowles Mountain and then back down. I went up pretty much as fast as I could, and then made a point of jarring my quads on the way down - trying to prevent day-after soreness from all the downhill I'll be doing next Saturday. I think my taper is working - my quads don't feel beat up anymore and I actually felt semi-energetic.

BFR and one week to go

No exercise today.  My taper (Big Fat Rest as Rick calls it) for the Grand Canyon hike next Saturday is in full swing. I've had 7 rest days in the last 2 weeks. I'll be resting 3 of the last 6 days before the hike. If my calculations are correct, I should be no farther than 2,000 vertical feet from the finish when I run out of gas next Saturday.

Checking to see how the carrots are growing

I had a great swim workout this morning after 3 days of no exercise. I had a little more energy than usual - my Grand Canyon taper is starting to work. After swimming, I went over to Cowles Mountain and hiked up a half mile fast and then back down. It felt good and I've decided the small amount of discomfort I have in my hip area is probably a slightly strained hip adductor muscle. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

hmmm

My new hip feels a little achy. I'm gonna skip swimming & hiking the next 3 days to give it a rest. That'll fix anything, right?

Gotta start tapering NOW

I did a one hour swim workout this morning and then went for a hike on Cowles Mountain. I cut my hike short because my quads are completely exhausted - no soreness, just tired. The Grand Canyon hike is in 15 days, so I'd better get serious about goofing off and resting.

Last "long" hike before the Grand Canyon

Today, Mark and I drove 6 miles up Nate Harrison Grade Road on Mt. Palomar and then parked the car. We hiked down 6 miles and then turned around and hiked 6 miles back up to the car. The hike was shorter than we'll be doing at the Grand Canyon in 3 weeks, but we'll be hiking at an easier pace then. I was barely hanging on for the last half mile today - and I used to be able to RUN up that mountain!

Here's a map of the route. There was a 3,000 foot elevation difference between the start/finish and the turnaround point.

4 weeks til the Grand Canyon hike

Today's hike was just what my head needed - I feel ready for the Grand Canyon now.

5 weeks til Mark and I hike the Grand Canyon

Mark and I did 10 miles of ups & downs on Cowles Mountain this morning in 3 hours and 47 minutes. I was still tired from Wednesday's hike, so could only manage an average pace of 22:41 per mile but was still pleased to have gone that far - especially when already tired. I gotta keep reminding myself to be grateful for no longer having a painful hip instead of being greedy for greater performance. I should have brought a real camera, here's a cell phone photo from the top of Cowles Mountain.

















I've gone from a 5-mile "longest hike since surgery" to 10 miles in just 2 weeks - time for an easy week of swimming and a couple of SHORT walks. Mark took some video on our hike today. You can see them on his blog: http://surlyrando.blogspot.com/

Another "longest hike since surgery" - 9 miles

I did 9 hilly miles on Cowles Mountain this morning, average 19:47 per mile. It kicked my butt pretty good - and I have to go twice as far (with a LOT more climbing) at the Grand Canyon in 5 weeks. I look good in the photo though, don't I? That's because I took it after only 30 minutes of hiking.

New "longest hike since surgery" - 7 miles

It's been 10 weeks since I got my new hip. I'm slowly getting my strength back, but I am already enjoying pain-free sleep and sitting, as well as enjoying not limping. Terry and I did 7.3 miles on Cowle's Mountain this morning, averaging 19:18 per mile. I was very pleased with the hike and now feel that I'm on track for being in sufficiently good shape to complete the Grand Canyon hike 6 weeks from now without being miserable.

7 weeks til Mark and I hike the Grand Canyon

Mark and I did almost 5 miles on Cowle's Mountain this morning, averaging 19:43 per mile. Mark recently missed a few weeks of exercise due to an illness but is doing great now and obviously benefitting from the crosstraining effects of all the cycling he does. We'll be hiking the Grand Canyon 7 weeks from today, on October 23 - 16 weeks after my hip surgery. Today was my 7th hike since returning to Cowle's Mountain 5 weeks after surgery.

New "longest hike since surgery" - 5 miles

Terry and I did 5 miles on Cowle's Mountain this morning. We averaged 20:13 per mile. It ain't runnin', but it's good to be out there.

Another Cowle's Mountain hike

Up & down the mountain this morning in 63 minutes (22:21 pace).

8 weeks til Mark and I hike the Grand Canyon

Today I did the same hike as August 15th & 17th. My time today was 70 minutes. I think that for the next 8 weeks I won't try to go "fast" like August 17. I think that took too much out of me. I'm going to try to go a little farther every Saturday for the next 6 weeks and then taper and hope for the best.

Back from Montana

I had a great time with my brother in Montana, camping, fishing, swimming, hiking, eating, snorkeling, inner-tubing on the Bitterroot River, and just goofing off in general. Thanks, Tom! Click here for more photos: http://tinyurl.com/2cgbl62

Flying to Montana this morning

I'm going camping & fishing with my brother. I'll be back next week,

More progress

Same hike as 2 days ago. This time I did it in 55:40.

Getting stronger

Had a pretty good swim workout this morning. Still only doing about half the workout, but did my first butterfly swimming since before my surgery. Better energy level today - I was exhausted all day yesterday after the morning hike.

To the top of Cowles Mountain and back

Terry and hiked the Cowles Mountain road to the top & back today - my first time up there in 3 months. It took a long time, 78:15, due mainly to very low energy on my part and also somewhat to a sore back. My hip was not a problem - the right leg is still a little weak, but at least as good as before the surgery. It was a slow hike, but it was great to make it to the top again.

10 weeks til Mark & I hike the Grand Canyon

Mark and I are planning to to do our semi-annual hike down the South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch and then up the Bright Angel trail on October 23. Seems kind of "iffy" at the moment since I'm still tired from walking 3 miles a week ago and have only had a couple of abbreviated swim workouts since then. I assume the fatigue has something to do with the healing process following the surgery. I don't care for it much.

Back to swimming

I had my post-op doctor's appointment yesterday and was cleared to return to swimming. I didn't swim a whole lot this morning, but it was great to be back at swim practice for the first time since June 30.

36 days after hip surgery - Payoff Day!

I walked 3 miles this morning, mostly pavement, but also one third of the way up Cowles Mountain - it sure felt good to be back there. My hip is now more functional than it was before surgery, so I'm calling today the Payoff Day for having the new hip joint installed.

30 days after hip surgery

Walking in Fern Canyon in northern California.
More trip photos: http://tinyurl.com/3yl9mke

Day 26 - hmm

Apparently I wasn't quite ready for the half mile walks around the neighborhood that I did Monday and Tuesday. No hurry - I like loafing too.

Day 24 - walking without a cane

I started walking without a cane (around the house)
yesterday. Now I have to work on walking without
a limp. Video: http://tinyurl.com/24au9ut

Day 20 - first work appointment since hip surgery

Sue had to drive me, and I had to use a cane, but it was great to
be out working again.

19 Days after hip surgery

Happy to be working again.

Day 17 - still using a cane

video: http://tinyurl.com/2b4hkvt

14 days since surgery - real shoes on my feet

Waiting for a haircut. First time off the block (Danny gave me a ride) since coming home on July 4th. I'm walking with just one cane now.

"Payoff Day"?

When people have surgery, they generally anticipate getting a better quality of life than before the surgery. Nobody would expect this to be the case immediately following the surgery - you have to allow time for healing. So, on some day following the surgery, the patient presumably gets to a point where they decide that their overall quality of life is now better than it was before the surgery. I'm going to call this point the "Payoff Day". In my usual naivete (stupidity?), I was anticipating a Payoff Day at 2-3 weeks after surgery. It looks like I may need to adjust that estimate for a variety of reasons which, if detailed, would sound suspiciously like whining. At any rate, this presents the opportunity of organizing a pool at your office/bar/cave to see who can most closely predict the Payoff Day for my recent surgery.
Hint: it's not tomorrow.

8 days after surgery - hill repeats

6 days after surgery

It looks smaller in this photo, but the incision runs approximately from my ankle to my armpit.

2 days after getting a new hip joint

Trip with Danny to Humboldt County

Danny will be transferring to Humboldt State
University in August. He and I went up to
find him an apartment. Did a little hiking, too.

Swim meet this morning

I swam 3 events - no PRs.

Mark in training for our next hike

I'm not sure what he's doing here, but he's smarter than I am, so I'll assume he knows what he's doing.

On the rack

Hip surgery scheduled for July 2

I've been doing swimming workouts since the Grand Canyon hike, but no hiking or running due to my crummy hip. I'm scheduled for hip resurfacing (titanium ball and socket) on July 2. I don't yet know what to expect recovery-wise, but I might have to skip the Coronado 5k on July 4. The left side of the diagram shows what Dr. Janciewicz is going to install in my right hip. Slicker than deer guts on a door knob, eh?

Grand Canyon hike - April 24, 2010

My camera battery started failing early in the hike and died a few hours before we finished. But we had a great time - an easy-paced day of hiking in the Grand Canyon in perfect conditions.
Partial video of the hike: http://tinyurl.com/2doplgr

3 days til the Grand Canyon hike

I'm not goofing off, I'm tapering.

I actually did something smart

30 years ago today, I married Sue.
Click here to see how we look today: http://tinyurl.com/yjbddyd

Help is now available 24/7

Have you recklessly made an entire chocolate layer cake without considering the caloric damage it could do to you and your spouse? Did a dinner guest leave three quarters of a chocolate cream pie behind? Were you gifted with a two pound box of See's Nuts & Chews? What are you going to do - eat all that stuff and get big as a barn? No! Pick up the phone and call San Diego Dessert Disposal! Our specially equipped and gluttonous technician will rush to your home, office, or picnic site and neutralize even the most dangerous dessert hazards. Upon arrival, our technician will assess the situation, select the proper hazard abatement tools (usually a very large serving spoon), and immediately begin to clear the area of any sugary threats to you and your loved ones. So, the next time you're face-to-face with six thousand calories of gooey danger, call San Diego Dessert Disposal and you'll soon have nothing to eat but that lame stuff you keep in your cupboards. And remember, when our technician arrives, it all happens pretty fast, folks, and it's best if you don't watch - it's not a pretty sight.

5 weeks to go

Today I did the same hike as two weeks ago - 12 miles on Cowle's Mountain with about 3200 feet each of climbing and descending. It was warmer this time and I drank about 80 ounces of water. The hiking time was 3 hours 45 minutes. I'll do one more "long" hike like that before the Grand Canyon hike.

7 weeks til the Grand Canyon hike

I did a 12 mile hike again today. There was considerably more up & down than last Sunday's 12-miler. Today's hike was all on Cowle's Mountain and it took 3 hours and 57 minutes, not counting a few brief breaks. My hip behaved pretty well once it got warmed up. My lower back has almost returned to normal but I'm having some sort of piriformis/glute issue on the same side as the bad hip. I have to admit, though, I had absolutely no problems with dozens of other body parts. The weather was cool and it even rained a little. I only drank about 30 ounces of water and had a granola bar - I've got 7 weeks to get back to October's Grand Canyon hiking weight of 170 - I'm at 177 now. Lotta 7's there.

Ready enough for the Grand Canyon

Mark and I have a Grand Canyon hike scheduled for April 24. We'll be doing our usual route down the South Kaibab Trail from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch and then back up the Bright Angel Trail to return to the South Rim - a total of 17 miles (oh, yeah - and about a vertical mile each of descending and climbing). With that in mind, today I hiked 12 miles in 3.5 hours: 4.5 miles flat in Spring Canyon, then 7.5 miles on Cowles Mountain - 17:30/mile average. Kinda gimpy but good enough.

Two Terrys and a Herb

Purty pichurs from the mountain

Did the same hike as 2 days ago. I pushed the pace a little and shaved 13 minutes off Wednesday's time. I stopped the clock to take some cell phone photos. These are flowers behind Big Rock Park.


Lichens on rocks near the start.


Cowle's Mountain.

Between Cowle's Mtn & Pyle's Peak - Lake Murray in the distance.

Agave plant along the trail.


The trail to Pyle's Peak.

Here we go again

[view from the top of Cowles Mountain]
It looks like Mark and I will be hiking down to the Colorado River and back 66 days from now. After more than a month of various afflictions from my lower back on down, I finally got in a decent Grand Canyon prep hike today because my back, at least, is starting to feel better. I did about 7 miles of ups & downs on Cowles Mountain at 19 minutes per mile (yes, NINETEEN - running's not an option with my crummy hip). I hiked from Big Rock Park over the top of the mountain to the Mission Gorge overlook and then back. Tomorrow I'll probably be limping so much that I'll think the Grand Canyon's out for me, but after a few days (or several days), I'll be ready for another prep hike. I'd rather be running, but it's still great to be out on the trails.

Mission Trails Park after 4 days of rain

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJYKOK9I1dc

Happy New Year!

Christmas wish list

Just this one thing. Thanks.

First run since turning 60 yesterday

Waking up 60

The "rainy season" is officially here

October at the Grand Canyon - Part 2

video (part 2): http://tinyurl.com/ylo8opt (watch part 1 first - see below)

Hiking the Big Ditch in October - Part 1

video (part 1): http://tinyurl.com/yjq44we
photos: http://tinyurl.com/yzesawt

July in Montana

July 17-22 trip to visit my brother in Missoula, Montana.

Photos: http://tinyurl.com/knuavj

Video: http://tinyurl.com/lnecvx

Half-mile repeats

First run after the Bellin 10k

video, click here: http://tinyurl.com/md2qrw

Bellin 10k race report

The good news: I had a great time with my mom, sister, and Paul in Mukwonago and then a great time with Rick and his family in Green Bay. Rick & I enjoyed a pre-race dinner of baked salmon at Terry & Mary Vandertie's home and then went back for a post-race feast and extended-family gathering the following day - including Belgian sausages and homemade rhubarb pie. The bad news: the virus that Rick caught on the plane from New Zealand changed his race strategy to run, cough, walk, repeat. We still had fun - lots of good food and lots of great stories from Terry & Mary. This is Rick finishing the race:

Here's a little video footage - before I started having battery problems:

Though it felt like 90 degrees during the race, the temperature somehow dropped to around 70 a little while after the finish. Huh.

Preparing to fatten up the competition

Eat, my little friend, EAT!

Resting up for the race in 11 days

I'm reducing the volume of my workouts (both running and swimming) until after the Bellin 10k. I'll be cutting out most of the slow stuff for the next 10 days, while maintaining the "fast" stuff. This may allow me to get rested up enough to keep up with some of the moms pushing strollers in the race. Okay, maybe the gimpy one pushing twins.

From my running log - 40 years ago:

"April 21, 1969 - 2:51:12 at the Boston Marathon - 95th place out of about 1,150 starters. I held myself back slightly for the first 10 miles, averaging 6:36-6:42 per mile. From the 10 mile to 17 mile mark was a lot of downhill. I was waiting to get tired but I didn't, so I looked forward to the hills, which it seems to me now, are really not worthy of their notoriety. I got to the top of the hills easy enough and then had only 5 miles to go. I would guess I ran the last 2 miles in about 12 minutes - gradually increasing my speed so that I was really hauling for the last 44o (yards). I passed a lot of guys in those last 2 miles, as I did during the entire race - especially the second half of it. I ran every step of it without stopping, and I had nothing to eat or drink." Note: do not try this yourself. Just because I was a dumb teenager who ran a marathon without drinking anything, does not mean anyone else should try it. This race was my second run at Boston - I had done the 1968 race as a high school senior. The 1969 Boston Marathon was also my second of three marathons in a one-month period. I had run a 2:57 marathon on a 12 degree day in Redfield, Iowa on March 31, 1969 and then 5 days after Boston, I ran a 2:53 marathon in the rain on April 26, 1969 in Des Moines, Iowa. Being 19 was as close as I ever got to being Superman.

More anonymous racing

Lacking an invitation to a Memorial Day barbeque or anything else, I went to an inaugural 5k in Lake Elsinore (the town, not the lake) this morning. It occurred to me that racing these days is like visiting your home town - there's nobody there that you know. I wonder if other people who stay holed up in their garage with a keyboard on their lap have that problem? I guess I could take up drinking and join the Hash House Harriers. Is there an equivalent group for pie eaters? Anyhow, so there I was - standing in the street outside the Lake Elsinore Storm baseball stadium with 300-or-so other runners waiting for the start. When I was racing regularly in Wisconsin in the early & mid 70's, you knew exactly what to expect around you at the starting line - RUNNERS. Thirty-five guys, maybe a token woman, and everybody skinnier than the next guy. Now it appears to be a carefully randomized sampling of the population from the nearest shopping mall. No, wait - not the mall. The mall's "Food Court". By the way, most of these people manage to beat me by cheating somewhow, but I digress. There we were, waiting for the start. The weather was horrible - 60 degrees, calm, and cloudy, rather than the preferred 62 degrees with a constant tailwind no matter which way the course turns. After the Zero-Tolerance Non-Firearm starting beep, I took off down the road, surrounded by the very same people who trampled that poor guy in a Walmart last Christmas. After a few minutes, I began to hear very loud drumming as some of the largest of the herd around me began to slow. I checked my watch at the "One Mile" sign. My watch read "7:30" and I realized the course for this first-ever race had probably been measured with the stadium groundskeeper's golf cart. Oh, well - I'm already here, I might as well keep running. Besides, this doesn't feel too bad. Funny, though - I kept going at the EXACT same pace and in another mile it didn't feel so good. I had figured out that the drumming was coming from my chest. Now it was accompanied by desperate gasping sounds, a rolling head, and mouth-corner spittle. I was given plenty of room as people passed me, averting their eyes to avoid glimpsing their futures. After several minutes of enduring this intense discomfort without the benefit of ANY pain medications, I became aware that the stadium was coming into view. The finish line was IN THE STADIUM! With renewed hope, I valiantly maintained my elite sub-eight-minute pace while listening for runners behind me. As I turned to run down the ramp into the stadium, with probably less than a minute left to go, I took a quick look over my shoulder and saw that nobody was behind me. Okay, I'm down the ramp, running along the leftfield wall, circling the stadium - spiraling in to the finish line. Nobody ahead of me, nobody behind me - nice. I'm minding my own business, running along the centerfield wall, heading for rightfield, when all of a sudden a little girl pops out of a hole in the ground, or so it seemed, and flys by like I'm walking. She looked like she'd just been let out for recess. She might have even been shrieking - or maybe it was me - I don't know. Where'd she get that energy? Fortunately immune to embarrassment, I was able to keep running another 10 seconds until I made it to the finish line. I could see the little girl in the stands, already picnicking with her parents. I barely managed to stay standing while I made my way through the chute and walked past the groundskeeper who was raking the dirt along the third base line, wearing his new, NON-EARNED race T-shirt. I swear he smirked at me as I went by, still wheezing. I expertly kicked dirt onto the seat of his golf cart and left the field in search of something sticky to eat.

Race report - Encinitas 5K

I ran a 5k in Encinitas this morning. I saw it on the calendar and realized that running it would give me at least SOME idea of what kind of pace I should shoot for in the 10k on June 13. After having a leg problem early in the race, I pulled to the side of the road to stretch my left hamstring and calf. I did this a couple more times and considered dropping out to avoid any actual injury that might interfere with the 10k next month. Then I remembered that I had to return the timing chip that was attached to my shoe. So, I rejoined the race, accompanied at this point by an assortment of body types and sizes, many pushing baby strollers, shopping carts, or small pianos, it seemed. During the final half mile, I searched in vain for the guy handing out paper bags for anonymous finishes, and then realized a head bag was unecessary since there was NO chance I'd be recognized by anybody there. I managed to finish in 24:39, which was slower than my somewhat delusional expectations, but at least I wasn't last in my age group like I always am in swimming races. And I didn't hear any spectators cry out, "Mommy, is that man OKAY?" It's good to be easily pleased.

Pounding pavement - 37 days til race day

Sundays are for "long" runs

First run in 10 days

Grand Canyon hike - the HARD part

My photos of the hike: http://tinyurl.com/c38j7q

Mark's photos: http://tinyurl.com/dbf59m

Mark's blog of the hike: http://tinyurl.com/cjbuxj

Grand Canyon hike - part 1

Tapering for the Grand Canyon hike in 4 days

7 days to go

10 days until the Grand Canyon hike

I'm in full-on rest mode now. I'll do swim workouts on Friday, Monday, and maybe Wednesday, but I won't be doing much on my feet - maybe go for a short hike on Saturday or Sunday. I won't do any exercise at all during the last few days before the hike. Gotta get the legs rested enough to climb out of the Grand Canyon on April 25.

Trying to get a little exercise

I've gotta run a race, WHEN?!

Larry, Darrell, & Darrell hiking on Cowle's Mountain

Still in one piece

Hiked a couple hours on Cowles Mountain with Terry this morning - same as Saturday. Everything felt good. Lots of energy - probably from the half a banana cream pie yesterday.

Gentlemen, place your bets!

Another rest day today, but the Grand Canyon hike is only 19 days away. This might be a good time to call your bookies and place your bets, if you haven't already. I hope nobody has bet against me finishing, because I can alway get Mark to tow me to the top. I haven't checked with the Las Vegas oddsmakers today, but I'm guessing the best odds are on betting against me finishing under 8 hours because the last time took me 10 hours. You might also be able to get a side bet on how long it will take Mark and I to get thrown out of the nearest buffet after the hike.

Okay, I MIGHT have overdone it a little

I had a good 2 hour hike on Cowle's Mountain yesterday morning with Terry. I carried a 16 pound pack to slow me down a little from the previous day's pace. I felt great before, during, and after the hike. But later, in the evening, I felt a new twinge in the vicinity of the hernia surgery incision. It's still a little swollen down there, so I suppose it's not completely healed yet. No pain today, but I'm taking the day off from exercise of any kind - just to play it safe. A day off will heal anything, right?

23 days til the Grand Canyon hike

Back on the hills

Back on the trails

7 days since surgery

5 days since surgery

Poor baby!

Home sweet home!

Mobile blog from the recovery room

Waiting to go home after surgery

I could live here

photos: http://tinyurl.com/amu9sf video: http://tinyurl.com/bhyn7n That's it folks, I glimpsed paradise and left it behind. #@&!!

Ready for the Canyon - too bad it's not today

It's not a girdle!

TWO pairs of compression shorts

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video: http://tinyurl.com/de6h5b

It's not a pulled muscle

February in Mt. San Jacinto State Park

Had a great day snowshoeing in Mt. San Jacinto State Park with Terry. The park got 2 feet of new snow a couple of days ago.

You won't believe it

Grand Canyon prep - part one

Mark and I (and hopefully, Ben) are planning a hike/run down the South Kaibab trail and then back up the Bright Angel trail at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on April 25. Mark's been cycling about a million miles a week ( http://surlyrando.blogspot.com/ ) and I've been running, but today we did the first of what will hopefully be several training hikes to get used to actually walking. I'm looking forward to longer hikes that will justify bringing sandwiches.

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcC1pmg2zGU

The missing tapes

There has been some concern expressed that certain portions of my run up the back side of Cowle's Mountain may have been edited out of yesterday's video. Though every possible effort was made in my attempt to give an accurate portrayal of the experience, the time constraints inherent in the production of professional quality video occasionally result in the omission of details that may, on subsequent examination by the cinematographically uneducated, appear to have been intentionally deleted in an effort to mislead the viewer. Though I categorically deny any involvement in anything as despicable as a deliberate attempt to deceive my viewers, I have decided, in the interest of clearing the air, to cough up the following:

Weenie Loop

Upper body workout

Didn't even get out of breath.

Video: http://tinyurl.com/bkff52
Slideshow: http://tinyurl.com/ama9f2

Mt. San Jacinto State Park in January

Solo daytrip in Mt. San Jacinto State Park.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S7n2Y2lF9A

Slideshow: http://tinyurl.com/bq6zjk