Run From San Juan Bautista to the top of Fremont Peak

This is another annual tradition - of the Santa Cruz Track Club. Usually we do this in the Spring when temps are more moderate. This year, July 6 - which fits nicely with the hard training leading up to the Pikes Peak Half Marathon. Good experience doing a long run which is STRICTLY uphill, so I could see what effect that would have on my hip flexors, and also on recovery. Good on both counts, it turned out. Here's more pix and story

A 5th of July Ocean Swim with the Santa Cruz Masters Swim Club

This is an annual tradition with the SC Masters, and it's summer so the water's warm (well, relatively). Today dawned foggy, and some turbulence the past week had brought in cold water. The water temp was 56F. Still a "go" since we could warm up with hot chocolate waiting for us at "The Picnic Basket" across from the Boardwalk when we finished. The swim was from the Dream Inn, to the Harbor, and back, a little over 3 kilometers.

Nicene Marks State Park - A Run and Hike

This is a photoshop'd version of a photo I took of a little friend Ezra, on a walk through the redwoods last Fall, after I did a long run up West Ridge in Nicene Marks. I just like the feelings this bit of art evokes; it was a nice day with Becky and Ezra exploring the stream after an invigorating long run. I've finally gotten to the photos.

HellYes! Pikes Peak Here we Come!

Our Santa Cruz Track Club pod decided early this year that we wanted to do the Pikes Peak Half Marathon. Certainly the toughest half marathon I have every heard of. Over 7,000 ft of climbing, no downhill, and all in the "death zone" (OK, maybe a little over-wrought on that part) ending at 14,100 ft summit. We can't enter w/o submitting a recent half marathon qualifying performance under 2hr25min. The Hellyer Half Marathon in San Jose, along Coyote Creek, was the obvious choice, since race entry opens and closes in mid March.

A Winter Run Though Fall Creek

This year has turned into Run, Rick, Run! Since my '07 surgery, running has been what I need and love most for getting right with the World. Fall Creek has begun to edge out Nicene Marks as my favorite venue - the trail along Fall Creek is just about the most inspiring stretch of running mileage I can imagine. After recovering from the Rio Run Jan 1, my next long run was Jan 18 at Fall Creek. I made it an opportunity for experiencing my love of this Earth as viscerally as I know how. 10 miles and about 1500 ft of climbing, captured here http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/triathlon/FallCrkJan14/index.html