Data Fitting to Theory

"As a Professional scientist, I'm continually observing" (Indiana Jones in "Temple of Doom"). But yes, it is definitely good advice! I've continued with my lateral hip stretching for not just ~1 minute like we used to do at the SCTC workouts, but for 10+ minutes on end, with short break, then again (like, when watching Warriors playoff games), and I can gratefully say that I've had no left psoas or hip flexor pain, despite now running 3-5 miles every day for the past 2 weeks. And that includes barefoot running on hard beach sand as well. It also includes no special medial glute work on the machines at the gym, which I used to think might be the secret. For today, just a short 2+ mile run to the beach for a cool ocean swim with the Santa Cruz Triathlon Association; it's summer and the Friday evening mile swims around the wharf are now getting some good participation. Beautiful sunny clear day today.

Testing a New Hip Stretch

My left hip's psoas/hip flexor has been bothering me again lately. I am really tired of this! My lateral flexibility isn't good at the hip joint. I suddenly recalled a moment I had with the gymnastics coach at U. Az back in my post-doc days, who showed me what it meant to really get a stretch to achieve new levels. He had me bend over on the floor, legs spread wide, and he pushed on my back - hard. Hard enough to hurt, and only just a bit less than the point where my body would involuntarily contract from perceived damage. It was far beyond the comfort point. Those incredibly flexible young gymnastics ladies got that way with a fair amount of pain, it seems. So with new determination, I got a heavy ankle weight, wrapped my left knee, laid on my back, opened my hip wide, and let the weight stretch my hip for ~10-15 minutes. The word these days is that you need to hold a stretch for at least 5 minutes before it really makes for the possibility of a new level being "permanent". It was just a stab in the dark, if this might help alleviate how quickly I've been getting inflammed psoas and hip flexor. I was quite happy to be able to run 9 hilly miles yesterday in Nicene Marks without the inflammation (but still getting tired and a bit overworked on some of those hip muscles, but that's a different sensation than inflammation). Then I ran 2 + 2 + 8 miles today. So that's 21 miles in 24 hours, and no hip inflammation! This is intriguing!

A Run Through the Rain at Fall Creek

Last Sunday's planned Oakland Half Marathon got a "nope" vote from my hip when I was awakened at 5am by Rick Ferrell's call. Instead, I got some work done in the morning, then in the afternoon did my own low-key easy trail run (10 miles) on my favorite loop at Fall Creek State Park near Felton. A bit sore on my hip towards the end, but nothing serious - kept up the pace all the way since it was raining harder as time went on, and I brought no jacket or wool cap. More pix are here

Low Key Finale - Mt Hamilton Hill Climb

The Arctic Oscillation in late November decided to wander down and cover California. It was chilly! Ferrell and I double checked at the last and the race was not cancelled, although there were warnings of black ice up near the summit. I bought some wimpy (all they had at Outdoor World) gloves the night before, but had no toe covers for my cleats. So, I'd be darn cold coming down, but OK going up. Before the start, I told Rick that if I hit black ice, I'd not go further - a slip out and hitting the pavement, especially on the downride, could crack my hip - not a good risk. Thankfully, I didn't see black ice till almost the top, just a corner before the driveway up to the old 36" scope. Rick had already topped out and was coming down and met me just as I was arriving at that spot, near a driveway for one of the mountain staff at Lick Observatory. In the last mile, I saw a number of riders heading down, and many were whimpering loudly about their numb fingers, toes, and one fellow exclaimed "my brain is so cold it hurts!". It was snowy at the summit. BUT, still a great morning and great way to start Thanksgiving! Ferrell continued on from Scotts Valley to SF for family get togethers, and I headed to Diane's for a feast with the Delucchi's.

Low Key Hill Climb - Old La Honda Rd time trial

Rick Ferrell and I were both game for doing at least 4 of the Bay Area's most interesting cycling race series - the Low Key Hill Climbs (which are NOT "low key" in the quality of the competition). Local clubs show up, and for $10 you get to challenge all comers to the top of one of the Bay Area's beautiful and challenging hill climbs. This week - Nov 14 - we ascended Old La Honda Rd, which starts in Palo Alto and tops out on Skyline Rd. It's short and sweet - 3.35 miles and 1290 ft of climbing. Ferrell had me drive us over, and he continued on south on Skyline, down Mtn Charlie to Scotts Valley and his car. I followed till Page Mill Rd, then down, through the Stanford campus, and back to my car. 30 miles and 3000 ft of climbing for me, and more for Ferrell. Great morning! My other pix

Sublime Solitude Running the Caliente Range

I combined an important astronomical research expedition with a soul-satisfying run to the top of Caliente Peak in the Caliente Range of Carrizo Plain, last Thursday. A 17 mile hilly trail run, and in fact this was the 2nd time I'd done a short 24hr overnighter drive/astro/trailrun to the top of Caliente Peak in just the past 5 days! I'll send a link to the first one, after the pictures are posted. For this one on Oct 22, I've put together a story page, pictures, and astronomical reductions of the occultation of a star by the asteroid Eukrate as well, here http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/events/eukrate15/story.html. My

left leg illiotibial band was nagging me this time, so I did some power walking as well (which was painless), and stopped often for interesting pictures of the crystal clean skies looking down on the Cuyama Valley and also Carrizo Plain, and the local wildlife.

Beach Run sans Orthotics

Am I close to tossing my long-dependent orthotics? I'd like to think so... after the Sandman Tri last week, my orthotics were hurting my arches, and I pulled them out of my shoes just to see if I could run OK w/o them. Actually, it felt great! Lighter shoes, softer feel... I ran to/and/along the beach 3 days in a row w/o the orthotics, for a total of about 12 miles. Then put them back in for a Fall Creek long trail run. I plan to use them only when my arch begins to complain