Summit View Trails
Scoped out the view on a 92F degree afternoon. Short trail but definitely an option running the neighborhood.
CSM XCountry Course
I lucked out and found a nice short trail course just four miles from work. Cool views and wildlife.
Lunch run
This was one of those outings where I knew I wanted to get a run in, but also tried to make it interesting. This would have been my second run without music. I’m starting to get lazy about the whole earbud and iPod thing on the run. I really dig music but curious to know if I’d learn something more about myself if was not zoned-out by it. This run was a bit different. I cut through a park and at the other end was a trail along the shoreline. I followed it south and it turned into a paved path behind the athletic center next to sNob Hill Foods. I got off the path, cut through a parking lot and ended up on Twin Dolphins Drive. I honestly got bored, except for some of the views of the water and neighboring hotel and office buildings. So I decided to simply enjoy being out on foot around all the scenery. Was definitely better than being hunched over a table noshing on a salad incorrectly put together by the fine folks from Specialtys.
Have to cross train.
Through-out the previous marathon training plan I completed scratched off cross training. I basically considered picking up the kids for bath, meals, changes, and bedtime as my personal form of cross training. Well after a not-so-strong finish in The SF Marathon, I’ve come to believe that I cheated myself. I absolutely completed my goal of barely beating the 6 hour cut-off time, but a strong finish should also have been a goal that day. As a result I started cross training yesterday and just completed a quick session this morning. Squats, chest presses, dumbbell work, as well as stretching. These aren’t long training sessions, but I’ll take what I can cram into my schedule.
Run to the running store
I got up this morning and slapped on my Nike+ GPS Sportswatch and noticed it had a crack and small piece gone. Still was fine and all I had to do was cover it up with some black tape and no worries.
At lunch hour, I was ready for a run but not sure where to haul my fat ass. Perhaps a trail? Well not today. I need to research what is available and know what I’d be getting myself into on a work lunch break. So I grabbed a bottle of G2, got out the door, linked my GPS, and headed nowhere interesting with ear buds and music.
Earlier in the week I Google-mapped the distance and route to the local Road Runner Sports and found it to be 3.5+ miles to get there. I toyed with the idea of running to it and back. I was curious bit felt it would also be kinda pointless. It’s not like I was going to buy anything and if I did, I wasn’t going to run with it back. Pointless…until today.
About a mile into the run I decided I needed to talk to somebody at the running store about my damaged GPS watch. Plus since I had nowhere interesting to run, I now had two good reasons it no longer was a pointless out and back run.
In 80F degrees, it clocked 3.74 miles on GPS. I walked in and stood at entrance all shiny from sweat. A customer made his way towards me to exit and he looked freaked out. LOL. I thought “What? Doesn’t everyone run here?” 🙂
Someone on the sales staff greeted me, I presented him with my watch problem and he said his manager, Aman, might be able to help. With Aman already ringing up a customer, I checked out the shoes while I dripped on their newly remodeled store and enjoyed break from my run. A few minutes later I was able to catch Aman and showed him what was going on. He asked me how long I’ve had it. I guessed a month, but later realized it was more like two. Not expecting it, he offered to swap mine out for a new one. I was surprised and actually prepared to basically be told I was SOL. I was halfway ok with the swap, because even though I’ve synced my runs, from a sentimental level, I clocked a grueling 20 miler and my first marathon with my watch. Not to mention, what of my current run which was at a ‘PAUSE’? I wouldn’t be able to sync it and have it on record. Then quickly I got over it. F*** It! LOL
So just like that I got me a new GPS Sportswatch. I thanked Aman with a knuckle-bump and ran back to work completing somewhere short of 7.5 miles.