ONE HELLUVA RUN

Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach

A couple Saturdays ago the long run called for 14 miles. As it happens, my front door in Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach is exactly 14 miles. So I ran the length of the coast of Santa Monica bay.

From breezy Santa Monica, through the grungy stink of Venice, past the bobbing yachts in the Marina, through the wide-open beaches of El Segundo, hard-partying Dockweiler, and finally the multimillion dollar mansions of Manhattan Beach... it was nothing short of amazing. Traversing through the tapestry of cultures that make up the shoreline was akin to running across a continent.

Dare I say that I'm looking forward to when I can go for 20 miles?

WEEKS 12 & 13 SUMMARY

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Wake up. Work. Run. Work. Sleep. Repeat.

I never imagined that finding the 60 minutes to run would be more challenging that the run itself. Here's the last two weeks:

Week 12 miles: 27.9
Week 13 miles: 19.79

Total training miles: 213

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WEEK 11 SUMMARY

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This week was a bit of a disaster. Missed Tuesday's run for no other reason than I "didn't feel like it." Then almost missed Wednesday and Thursday's runs because I put them off until the end of the day. One way to guarantee you won't train is to put it off until after work.

Week 11 miles: 14.3

Total training miles: 165.3

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WEEK 10 SUMMARY

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Missed the Wednesday run because of plane rides and all-nighters at work. But Saturday made up for it with a half-marathon. Everything still feeling good and healthy.

Week 10 miles: 21.2

Total training miles: 151.0

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A CHANGE OF SETTING, PT. 2

Presenting: The Windy City

Getting the runs in while traveling always poses a challenge. But sometimes you cover some really cool stretches of the country. Consider this week's runs on Lakeshore Drive. Chicago has the best skyline in the country. The architecture is interesting, the buildings are giant, and it's all visible within steps of the city. Running north from Navy Pier affords the better view.

All that being said, I'm looking forward to getting back to LA and running in short sleeves tomorrow.

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WEEK 9 SUMMARY

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Week 9 miles: 24

Total training miles: 129.8

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THIS NEVER HAPPENS

This week something remarkable happened: It rained in Los Angeles. I'm sure that in most parts of the country people would complain about having to run 4 miles in the rain. But here it was delightful, if only because of the novelty factor. I had forgotten how much running in the rain makes one feel like he is in a Rocky montage. Very dramatic, indeed.

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WEEK 8 SUMMARY

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This was a recovery week. Back down to 20 minute runs on the weekdays to let the muscles rest. Funny, 8 miles didn't even feel like a big deal on Sunday.

Week 8 miles: 14
Total training miles: 105.7

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I EARNED THAT CANDY

Good to know that Nike+ recognizes personal sacrifice. I wonder what will show up after the 5 miles on Christmas day?

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WEEK 7 SUMMARY

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Water belts and gels! Definitely entering new territory. Also, logged my first double-digit run with Saturday's 10 miles.

Week 7 miles: 18.8
Total training miles: 91.7

FIRST MILESTONE

Nike+ always is good for a little motivation. This week I ran for 9 miles... apparently a personal record. It was also my first run with a water belt, which I'm sure is a personal record for ridiculousness.

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WEEK 6 SUMMARY

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Missed Tuesday's run on account of being on a plane. The iPod battery died during Sunday's 9-mile run, which made it slightly more grueling.

Week 6 miles: 14.9
Total training miles: 72.9

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A CHANGE OF SETTING

The setting for this week's runs.

 Sometimes I lament the fact that Los Angeles doesn't have a fall season (Natives will argue with me about this, but I maintain: Los Angeles has no fall). Growing up in the midwest, the fall season was woven into our beings. It was a time for introspection; Mother Nature's brilliant last act before dropping the winter curtain. The weather got crisp and leaves fell from trees. We pulled on hoodies, drank apple cider, tossed the football, and engaged in countless other rituals while celebrating the fleeting moments of outdoor weather. It was very humbling. Living in a climate that doesn't have that seasonal cycle of death and rebirth is something that will always feel odd to me.

Running an 8 mile stretch of Route 73 with Giant Mountain
in the background.

So what a delight it was to visit the Adirondacks of New York this week! The weather was crisp (if not downright cold) and the trees were exploding with color. Getting in a 3 and 8 mile run was the perfect way to appreciate it.

Consider my soul satisfied. I can now return to Los Angeles humbled and reverent towards the cold weather. And thankful for year-round 75 and sunny. I'll never stop missing Fall in the midwest, but they can keep January through March.

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WEEK 5 SUMMARY

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Up to 30 minutes per weekday run but, missed Wednesday's on account of being on a plane.

Week 5 miles: 14.0 miles
Total training miles: 58.0 miles

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WEEK 4 SUMMARY

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This was the last week of 20 minute weekday runs. Saturday was 6 miles. Some pesky blisters on the left foot, but everything feels good overall.

Week 4 miles: 12.2

Total training miles: 44.0

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CARPE'ING THE DIEM

Sunrise over Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice

On Saturdays, the long runs require waking up before dawn. Sounds awful, right? Wrong.

I've found that of all of life's pleasures, few rival the mania of being up at the crack of dawn. Maybe it's the psychological superiority you feel over the lazy masses still in their beds. Or perhaps it's the newness of the day; How it feels like a sprawling white canvas awaiting your grand designs. 

Both valid points, but I can't help but feel it's something deeper. Being up at the crack of dawn—to me—feels like humans in their most natural state. I'm taking about ancient humans. Humans who were up and dawn because the sun was their only alarm clock and their solitary flood light. Humans who used every hour of daylight before the nighttime exposed them as inferior mammals. 

This theory is hardly scientific. But when you're up at dawn, everything feels like it's in its natural place. So next time someone lectures you about eating organic food or wearing Vibram Fivefingers, ask them what time they woke up that morning. Then go do something productive with your day.

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WEEK 3 SUMMARY

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Still doing 2 miles per day Tuesday-Thursday, then up to 5 miles on Saturday. Everything still feels good and healthy.

Total training miles: 31.8

WEEK 2 SUMMARY

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2 miles on the track Tuesday-Thursday, then 4 miles on Saturday. Mileage is still in the neighborhood of what I usually run, so still no problems.

Total training mileage: 20.5

WEEK 1 SUMMARY

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2 miles on the track Tuesday-Thursday. Saturday's "long run" was 3.5 miles. Everything feels great.

BIG THINGS HAVE SMALL BEGINNINGS

Big things have small beginnings

This run marked the official kickoff of my LA Marathon training. If big things have small beginnings, this modest 20 minutes was right on target. Just me amongst a handful of dogs and their owners; All of us quietly taking care of business before the work day takes hold. 

So here's to small beginnings, and the hope that this will grow into something bigger than I ever could've imagined. Big enough to be considered "great."