Day 46: In pioneer days: a visit to Santiago Canyon sixty years ago

Around 9 this morning, I left the dentist office. It was a wide open, blue sky day with loads of possibilities. The thought of riding a century to San Diego and taking the train home crossed my mind, but soon was dispelled by the realization that I really only had 8 hours of daylight and no provisions or maps. So I headed inland and headed up the Aliso Creek trail on Little Red. Happenstance, I met a friend from church on the trail who may be running the tri with me. She pointed out how to navigate the trail.

Years ago, around the era of Theodore Roosevelt, Santiago Canyon was considered Southern California's premier big game hunting reserve. Grizzlies still ran wild here. There were few houses. I just read a great article about a man who went hunting here with some buddies and shot a grizzly for meat--totally worth reading.

In pioneer days: a visit to Santiago Canyon sixty years ago

Even now, with the fresh asphalt and reflective tags, Santiago Canyon has an air of wild that transcends time. I need to go back there. New favorite ride.

All in all, my ride was only 30 miles. I got lost a couple times in Tustin on unfamiliar bike trail, but eventually found my way to JE's work. We went to SW Seafood for lunch-Shrimp with Snow peas and Broccoli.

This morning's run was really invigorating. 3 miles-35 minutes. And tomorrow we head to an Olympic size pool to test that out.

Day 45: Rest Day

This is the little bear I made for my dad when I was quite young. He is my reminder of how far in my sewing skills I have come. I think I need a reminder for myself tonight with my training.

A month and a half ago:
Running: 2 blocks on, one block off for a mile and a half with major tendinitis of my Achilles tendon.
Swimming: A couple laps with huge gaps of frustration in not understanding the physics of swimming, also figuring out how to breath.
Cycling: long and lackadaisical.

Day 45 of training:
Running: 3 miles in 30 minutes. Usually walking only in the later part of the week and only for short distances. I have figured out how to manage my Achilles better by warming up, stretching, wearing better shoes, ice, and meds.
Swimming: Still figuring out the physics of swimming, but able to swim 480 yards solid- including flip-turns. Also 320 yards combined of warm up/cool down
Cycling: Improving my cadence, one ride at a time. Still prefer long and lackadaisical...

I think my eating habits have actually gotten worse over the past few weeks. I'm just not being responsible. Time to stick with my cardinal rules for baking and sweets in general:
1) don't bake unless I have company or someone/where to take it.
2) Don't keep it in the house--Give it away!

This weeks plan:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Warm up/walk 10 min, Run 30 min, Cool down 10 min)
Cycle commute when accessible
15 push-ups, 25 crunch sit ups, 15 body weight squats, and 12 lunges, each leg. Keep good form and if you feel good, do THREE sets!


Tuesday Thursday
Warm up/easy swim Freestyle 600 yards (15 laps) Cool down 100 yards (4 laps
Warm up/walk 10 min, Run 30 min, Cool down 10 min
Cycle to and from work 7-10 miles each way
10-15 minutes basic flow yoga, 15 steps up, 12 reverse lunges, 20 crunch sit ups – if you feel good, do THREE sets!

I think this week I am a bit frozen in time with my running. I just don't think I'm quite ready to move on. I'd also really like to start running each day. We shall see!

Day 44: Josh

Little Red was having a click problem in her crank yesterday, so I took her in to see Josh, the world's best bike mechanic. He took the time to check her out then and there while I sat and chatted. He often brings his French bulldog, Mo, into the shop. Mo loves to greet cyclists by liking their salty ankles.

Josh has a great understanding about all things bicycle. At one point, he studied to be a welder, but didn't love it. There is joy in doing things you love, and making a living from it there is even more joy in being good at it.

Last spring while I was preparing for my cycle tour, I was in the bike shop fairly regularly. There was a lot to digest in regards to that journey, and I wasn't in a great place emotionally, to boot. As I visited with Josh one day, I mentioned my fears. He replied with, "I don't think this trip is going to be as hard as you think it is." That statement changed my outlook and preparations. Suddenly, it was going to be fun. It was a life changing moment. Thanks Josh!

Today JE and I ran to Trader Joe. It was A fun run that made the world seem a whole lot smaller. Who knew I could run to my TJ's? Umm, alert to all who love candy cane Joe Joes. They're here!!! Rumor has it there is a candy cane Joe Joe ice cream on it's way too! Yikes

Day 43: TALL

Lately I work with a 4'11" Vietnamese lady who prides herself on her tiny wrists. "I'd like to be tall. You know, five-two or five-three." She is the same lady who told Erik she is so small because she drinks mouse milk and then asked Erik, "What type of milk do you drink, Erik? Cow milk?"

We had been discussing my height and I was ranting about people having no scruples or manners when it comes to pointing out my height. A couple weeks ago, I was waiting outside a Trader Joe when a man approached me and told me all about how a shorter woman walked in front of me as he was driving up. He went on and on about how he thought I was on stilts or a pedestal advertising something. Really? What could I say? "nope, I really am this tall!" I used that line within the same week at a friend's party. A woman walked in and saw me and began with the "are you really that tall???!!!" and continued on. "Are you really that short?" Yup, she was.

It bugs me when women ask for a bit of my height. Seriously, what would they do with it? Pan fry it? Braise it in milk and serve it to their family? Make a smoothie and top it with frozen berries? Nope, I get to keep it all.

Being tall is amazing. Imagine being in an SUV amid smart cars and minis, being able to regularly use the cabinet above the fridge, not owning a step ladder, having a greater stride when swimming or running. I'm learning how to use that.

Today I rode the coast into a headwind and with a tailwind. It was a brilliant day for cycling. There were so many dolphins along the coast today!

Day 42: Brew

As a missionary in Australia in 1993, I attended a church Christmas party one evening. Someone had brought home brewed ginger beer, explaining that they had used the non alcoholic recipe. It sure didn't taste non alcoholic! The bunch of good church folk got a bit louder as the night progressed. I barely touched the stuff. I drove home with my companion and two of the male missionaries. On the way home we met with a mandatory breath check from the Melbourne police. I was laughing too hard to blow into the breathalyzer. When the cops heard my American accent they became really friendly and they asked where I was from and what I was doing in Oz. I told them that I was a missionary, and that that was why it was so funny that I was doing a breath test. I passed the test and drove home, but I never lived down that story while I lived in Australia.

JE is in the kitchen brewing kombucha. He has a fabulously disgusting SCOBY. The kombucha itself is fairly good, very vinegary, but tasty. I think I may try my hand at a non alcoholic ginger brew this season.

We have started to swim at night. It gives us a better opportunity to dry out before bed, and doesn't rush us to be finished to get to work in such a hurry. It's also really relaxing to play in the pool and sit in the hot tub for a few minutes before heading home, making for a bit of excellent relax time.

Day 41: Judy

The other night, I was off early and began walking toward JE's work. It was after the time change, so it was fairly dark. I turned down a different road than my usual straight shot. As I approached a traffic signal, I saw a figure coming out of the park. While waiting for the signal to change, the woman engaged me in conversation. As she talked, I recognized her and told her so. She immediately recognized me as the girl with the bike, and asked me if I had done my trip.

Days before I left on my cycle tour, I was riding through Crystal Cove State Park. My toe clips were new to me and as I rounded a corner I saw a couple of women walking towards me. I hit gravel and came to a screeching halt on one knee, bloodying it. The two women came to my aid, helping to lift me (or at least my spirits) out of the dirt. They made sure I was OK and able to find a guard for some clean up and gauze. We talked for a while, about the day, my upcoming trip, the art unveiling that was happening in the park soon, and about "women warriors." They were kind and enthusiastic.

Apparently, Judy's late husband helped to establish a library for the theater department at UCI, and a very busy and talented designer and tailor. What a happy coincidence. And here she is: http://www.yosemiteconservancy.org/joseph-le-conte-legacy-society

Currently awaiting a pumpkin pie to come out of the oven so we can go swim--can't wait for Thanksgiving. I canned the pumpkin last year from a huge Cinderella pumpkin I bought. SO much better than most canned pumpkin, and such a simple process. Chop a good eating pumpkin into large chunks and steam until tender. Scoop the meat from the shell and allow to drain if really watery. Use in place of canned pumpkin.

Day 40: Preparations

In 1998, I was dropped off at the airport in Moscow with two fat suitcases full of warm clothes. I had no idea I wouldn't be catching my plane to Nar'yan Mar that day. Sitting at the gate with a number of other travelers, I heard the overhead speaker say something in Russian that made everyone stand up and walk down the corridor. A woman came to me and said, "Come." I had no idea what else to do, so I went. I don't speak Russian, not really, though I had prepped for my three month teaching trip by taking a beginning Russian class.

Apparently the airport in Nar'yan Mar was experiencing something akin to the beginning of The Day After Tomorrow, where the helicopters froze in mid air. The temp had dropped to below minus 80 with a wind so swift all air traffic had been stopped and school canceled. The airport put all of my fellow travelers and I into a swanky hotel for the next three days.

When I was finally able to fly into Nar'yan Mar, the hoarfrost was incredibly thick on the trees, the Pechora River was a white field, and all humans were wrapped in double thicknesses of fur and wool. It had warmed to a balmy negative 50 with only an occasional light wind.

Tatiana Ivanevna handed me a fur hood and a pair of huge thick mittens. "You will need these, yours will not work." I had brought a pair of snowmobiling gloves a friend had given me as a farewell gift and a couple woolly hats and scarves. I made light of her assumption that all of my preparations were in vain and left her contributions to my personal warmth on the bed when we went out later that day.

By the time we had walked the block to the bus stop, my fingers and head were freezing. We ducked into a shop to wait for the bus. The bus came, so loaded with passengers that Tatiana Ivanevna had to shove me in. With her hands on my rump, she said, "if I don't make it on, your stop is the last stop, just get off there." This was my first day in Nar'yan Mar, this was the first day I had met Tatiana, this was the coldest I had ever been and the thought of getting off a bus in the middle of a beyond freezing nowhere, unable to speak and barely able to read the language scared the pants off me. When Tatiana stopped shoving, I emerged head and shoulders above a sea of fur capped Russians, packed in a bus with frosted over windows. Half an hour later, the bus had partially emptied and Tatiana Ivanevna sat next to me with a huge grin saying that she had barely made in on--she rode at the base of the stairs jammed against the door.

We got off on our stop, but discovered that classes were canceled because the pipes in the school were frozen. She showed me around and then we headed home. When we arrived home that night, I vowed never to go out without that fur hood and mittens. It took ages to get warm again. Nothing could have prepared me for that bitter cold, except someone who lived in it and a bit of humility.



Saturday evening we dined with a new group of friends. When our host, Jay, discovered that I am training for a triathlon, he told me of the time he had trained for a triathlon. He and a friend found a program that claimed to prepare them for the race. He said he expected it to get progressively harder, but it never did. The week before the race, Jay had to have emergency back surgery and had to withdraw. His friend, however, did compete and said later he thought he probably came in last. This is my biggest fear about my preparations, that I am not doing enough to get in shape for this thing.

Even though I am now running over 2 miles, swimming over a quarter mile, and cycling, I don't have the speed I feel I need to have. And I have no idea how to get that speed, except to ask my friends who do these things/have done these things.
Or maybe join a club...