Coronado Bridge Run

While on a business trip to Cali last week I ran in my first official Run. The 22nd annual Coronado Bridge Run happened to fall the same weekend, and it looked like a fun opportunity. 8000 entrants ran the 4 miles from the convention center, over Coronado Bay, ending on Coronado Island in the smallest National Park on record. It was fun stretching at the starting line, watching all the conference attendees in their suits weave their way amongst us with odd looks. The bridge was intimidating, especially the incline. Here's part of the bridge from a distance, it curves around another quarter of its length off to the right. The pics are worth clicking on to get the full image. It was pretty hot in the sun, and I was worried about getting over the bridge, so ran at a fairly easy pace. By the end I was glad I did, it took more effort than I'd expected, but I was glad to have made it over without stopping. Here we are heading up the on-ramp to the bridge. Once on the bridge it was clear it wasn't the angle of the incline, but the length of the overall hill that was tough. Well, tough for me at least, my triathlete friend running with me didn't seem to have a bit of trouble, and was incredibly encouraging throughout. He even took this spiffy action photo of meThose tall buildings are the beginning of the convention center area, where I spent most of my week. The race results were a little jumbled, as my friend and I crossed the exact same second yet were listed 10 places apart, but officially I was 2169/8000. Don't know how much this says, since the winner did the 4 miles in 20 min. flat and the last person was an 82 year old woman. Still, I had a great time, learned some interesting ways to stay refreshed while running, and will definitely sign up for another run soon.

Prepping for travel -- knitting, that is

As some of you know, deciding what knitting project to bring on a trip is of the utmost importance. It has to be small but long-lasting, entertaining but not attention-requiring, and easy to drop and pick up at a moment's notice. Socks fit this perfectly. These socks kept me company on a prior trip, and I'm almost done with them. I knit them both separately, then put them on the needles together so they could be exactly the same length with no wasted yarn.

Thanks to Windy for holding the needles down so I could take this picture. She didn't want her photo taken but was willing to suffer for my picture. I have to get them finished very soon so I can use the needles for the next pair.



So on to the next sock project! A fabulous sock addicted friend who travels a lot herself hooked me up with the COOLEST sock pattern I've ever seen. It looks like a tree growing up around your foot and leg. It inspired me to dye some yarn for the socks, and I'm ready and excited to get traveling so I can start knitting them.

I like to protect my yarn ball so it doesn't get all smooshed and ravely being stuffed in bags and such. But the normal "yarn bra" always ends up compressing the ball in a messy way towards the end. Well, I had an epiphany, and put the bra on sideways and threaded the yarn through a hole in the mesh. The yarn is much more secure and I think will work very well. Here's the yarn I dyed for my next socks in the sideways yarn bra.

I love the whole world

I love this new commercial from Discovery Channel, featuring all the shows they produce. It always makes me smile.
I love the whole world.

Personal Triumph

Five years ago while I was in chemo, my oncology nurse suggested I try walking the Huckleberry Trail with the dog for some exercise. She told me where the trail starts behind the mall, and cautioned me to only walk as far as the big bridge (maybe 10 minutes?) and then turn around no matter how good I felt. And she was right. At the bridge I was very tempted to go further, but heeded her advice and was literally trudging back up the mall hill and went straight home for a nap.

I just came home from my first run on the Huckleberry. I started at the base of the mall hill -- I've biked up it, no way was I including it in my run. I ran to the first bridge past Merrimac and back, 3.7 miles. I've never run hills before, it certainly adds something! I'm glad no one was around to hear, because the last hill made me start cheering myself on trying to get past it. And I did!

I saw a male & female cardinal doing a courting ritual on the path. They would hear me coming and fly about 20 feet ahead and start up their dance, again and again. They looked like they kissed at one point. Very cute.