And by crop it, I’m not talking about the picture.
Circa summer 1998, post Cuba
#tbt 24 – Crop It
Comments 4 StandardCategory Archives: Travel
WW #24
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Not One Cup
Comments 3 StandardFirst, I would like to say that today’s run in Carmel was simply gorgeous and amazing. The 9 mile route was hilly but manageable. And really no one really cared about the hills because the route was so awesome.
Carmel Bay – mile 1-2
About mile three
Point Lobos State Reserve -mile 4-5
Second, I would to say that this run was so clean, it was incredible. East coast runners are disgusting! Hahaha! Water spilled, gatorade dumped making a sticky surface, crushed cups everywhere despite the garbage bags or recycle boxes, Gu packs, spit gobs every other step. Not here! You can feel the California pride in having clean communities! There was not a single cup on the ground. No orange peels. No Gu packs. Hardly any spit. It was a miracle! People can run and get the cup in the recycle box! It’s possible!
Most organized!
Third, the Marathon Village was awesome. There was no crowding in the finish area. No lines for food. They gave you a little tray box for your goodies which included oranges, bananas, apples, strawberries, bagels, muffins, cookies, pineapple juice, milk and then outside was the beer tent. Now, I love the Rock n’ Roll events, but Big Sur had them beat! I’ll be back 🙂
Yum!
West Coast Run
Comments 5 StandardWell, this weekend is my first west coast run, and I am so excited for it. This one has been a long time coming because I registered and planned this one starting the fall! Yes last fall! I had to get in!
Flew into San Jose last night and driving to Carmel in a couple of hours. Yes, folks. This is the Big Sur run. On the PCH! Ah! I can’t wait. I’m just running the 9 mile, and I plan on stopping to take photos. How could I not?
Keys to Unwinding
Comments 2 StandardThe idea of vacation itself is enough to help us begin to unwind. The fact that you are leaving, detaching from your regular life and daily routines – delicious! Yes, the physicality of removing yourself can be enough at first, but actually, it’s how you spend your time on vacation that is critical to unwinding – I mean really unwinding and unloading your mind.
My mini-vacay to Florida this week served me well in unloading mental stress and refocusing on being mentally clear. I think I was pretty successful at achieving what I went there for.
Here are some keys to unwinding:
1. Go somewhere that forces you to relax. Choose carefully and think about the purpose of your trip (which is probably de-stressing, decompressing, de-elevating, unwinding, searching for mental clarity). Going somewhere that offers tons of activities will keep you too busy. Go to those places when you don’t need to de-stress. Many times people return from vacation saying they need a vacation from the vacation they were just on.
*Note: If you are not able to actually go away-away – by plane, train or car – then find a “redemption place” that is your mental clarity spot. A place you can visit daily if possible.
2. Choose the right amount of time to be away. If you are not away long enough, you will not allow yourself to truly relax.
3. Physically detach from people! Don’t talk to anyone. Seriously, unless you have to. Talking is a really exhausting exercise.
4. Read books unrelated to your job. And read books you’ve had on your shelf for a long time. Let your mind go. Escape into whatever you choose to read.
5. Have a glass or wine, beer, or cocktail a day. One or two – and really enjoy the taste. Enjoy the moments attached – sitting, sipping, not talking, not checking your phone – just being in the moment. Allow yourself to relax with your alcohol instead of getting drunk with it. No hangover this way!
6. Sit. Observe. Try not to judge, but instead, just enjoy watching people. Make up stories about them in your head. Make yourself laugh.
7. Realize when you are ready to participate in interaction again, and do so meaningfully. Say something nice to someone. Offer help. Give up your seat.
Pay attention. Marvel. Savor. This is why you left in the first place. To regain your clarity.
tbt #15 – Old Boarding Passes Make Great Bookmarks
Comments 3 StandardYou already know that I was reading Someone Knows My Name for about three years.
My bookmark was proof it’s been at least that long.
This boarding pass was from my first trip to Orlando in June 2010 with my buddy Alaa.
Eeeeek! 2010? Then it was longer than three years…
I can’t tell you if I started reading the book then, but it’s an indication of the all the journeys this book has been on with me.
Wow! 2010?
Time does go faster as you get older.
Must be all the fun!
WW #15
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WW #14
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aroundthegrove.tumblr.com
Bummed Runner
Comments 4 StandardAnd bummed for a few reasons…
Prologue: I’ve been looking forward to the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in DC for months. So excited to see the blossoms on this lottery run. A run that thousands of people try to get into and Kristine and I were chosen in our first time entering the lottery.
I was a little worried the last couple of weeks that there wouldn’t be any because of the late ending winter – but luckily we saw some yesterday around the White House en route to the expo. Yay! There were going to be these beautifully blossomed trees to run through along the river and the paths!
Side note: The expo was held in the National Building Museum – gorgeous! Well organized and a decent amount of vendors.
Bummer 1: Back to the blossoms – the stars of the run…
So we get all staged this morning, started running and blah, blah, blah – blossoms nowhere to be seen. Yes, there were tiny buds on many trees, but basically nothing, nada – the whole way through except for three trees at the start/finish area. Don’t get me wrong, the run was still along a nice route, but I was still bummed. So to make myself feel less disappointed and commemorate the namesake of the race, as I was running my last three miles, I envisioned the most beautiful blossoms during a “regular” spring run, surrounding me on the path. I visualized the pink hues and imagined the perfumey smells wafting in the air. And that was lovely.
Bummer 2: My right knee basically gave out on me just before mile 6. There was no compromising with it – it would not stretch, I couldn’t rotate it out, zippo. I don’t usually stop running even with some pain, but I had to go to the medic tent. I sacrificed a decent time to sit with the medics for 10 minutes and ice my knee. The girl wrapped some kind of funky non-stick tape around my knee to hold the ice pack in place and then I ran the other four miles. Yep, a bit wobbly and with that ice pack taped on my leg creating a bulge under my pant leg. But I ran; I would not walk across the finish line.
Bummer 3: There was no food except bananas! What? How were we to replenish ourselves? Are you kidding?! Bananas? And watered down Gatorade? Apparently there were also granola bars, but I guess they ran out… Bummer again.
So the moral of my story is: enjoy the scenery, clutch the nice medal at the finish, then go for brunch with a friend and forget about the disappointment because life could be worse.
#cherryblossom10mile
Wordless Wednesday #12
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Jibber Jabber & Happenstance 