Ten miles of dusty trail...

I've been a bit out of the loop this week, since I've been traveling for work. The good news is that the weather and terrain of Northern California are highly conducive to outdoor training, so I've been able to stick to my training schedule... for the most part.

This past week's runs have been pretty standard stuff; general base-phase jaunts of between 4 and 6 miles. Very pleasant and not too taxing. The only run of note during the past week was my 10 mile effort last Sunday (7.19.09). Here's what it looked like:




Funny what heat can do to a man's brain.
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Time: 1: 18' 46"
Pace: 7:47 min/ mile
Distance: 10.11 miles
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For this run, I went around Spring Lake, then on up into Annadale State Park... and when I say "up into Annadale" I do mean UP. This was the most significant hill work I've done yet. For those who aren't familiar with Annadale, I should explain that it's a fantastically beautiful and surprisingly rugged state preserve on the east side of suburban Santa Rosa, CA. I used to spend a lot of time up there when I lived in the North Bay and I still find it hard to believe that there could be anything so wild that close to SR's eastern edge. It's a haven for local hikers and mountain bikers, though I now understand why I've never seen too many runners on the trail. Oy! Annadale offers a range of trail types; from wide, even bridle paths, to terrifying single-tracks riddled with ankle-turning stones and sunbathing reptiles. A genuine, arid Northern California summer landscape.

The ascent was an object lesson in the value of willpower. Willpower and proper hydration. After a long, hot, dusty climb along a ridge-line, I treated myself to a brief swim in the murky waters of Lake Ilsanjo, followed by a punishing singletrack descent. This trail is serious mountain goat material; scenic but nerve wracking.
(Thanks to www.parks.sonoma.net/ for the photo of the Lake!)

All things considered, a joyous workout! Running in such a beautiful spot helps me remember to keep my head up and my eyes open, regardless of how painful a run might be. When I watch my fellow runners I all too often see them withdrawn into themselves. The internal struggle of the run seems to consume all of their attention, blocking out their surroundings. But this is counter-productive, since extending one's attention beyond the discomfort of the moment can be a wellspring of inspiration.

Obviously, this principle applies to life in general. It seems to me that 90% of intelligence consists of just being awake to (and curious about) the world around us.

So let's run and live with our eyes open.

Forward!