kerClunk

On Friday I did one of my favorite new habits - run from home up through the Pogonip to UC Santa Cruz to attend one of the weekly astronomy, physics, or geophysics seminars. In this case, the IGPP Friday seminar, on chondritic meteorite age dating and what they reveal about the major impact events in the history of our solar system. It's a 9 mile total run. But after 3 miles I could tell my hip was not good. I didn't want to be late so I pressed on, and figured the ~70 minute rest during the seminar would give enough recovery for a relatively pain-free run back down the mountain before it got dark. But, this one hurt. What's interesting is that my left hip "clunk" which disappeared about ~18 months after my '07 surgery with strengthening and stretching, is back (to a minor extent). Not painful, but perhaps predisposes me to painful runs. Maybe the ~1000 mi/yr pace of the first 2.5 weeks of the year was too much, combined with missing a couple days of roller work? I'm speculating, don't really have answers. Anyway, I can still bike and swim OK, which is what I've done the past 3 days. Enjoyed biking around Pescadero (sunset pic above) and harvesting kiwis on Sunday.  Back to heavy roller work. We shall see...

A Fall Creek Runners High

A frosty morning to try a new trail - at Fall Creek State Park. I wanted to test my mettle after a long 60 mile frosty ride yesterday, with a 9 mile run today - again in prep for a Yosemite ski backpack next weekend. I'm gratified it all went very well. Awesomel scenery and very quiet trails. I ran to the tippy top of the Park on the Truck Trail, then back down to the Big Ben trail, to Fall Creek, and then miles of beautiful creekside running back to the start. No issues with my usual soft spots - again thanks (I assume) to the diligent scar tissue breakup work with the roller.

Cold Training

I hope to do a solo XC ski backpack in Yosemite next weekend. I celebrated my hours of Astro classes prep this week with a little Cold Training to prepare for Yosemite. My favorite long ride - 60 miles into the mountains and redwoods north of Santa Cruz on a very crisp January morning. My toes were not happy as I pedaled up Eureka Canyon with my cyclocomputer's thermometer reading 41F, and I couldn't wait to switchback up higher and get out of the cold air pooling along the canyon, and maybe see some sun. Turns out, I'd miss those balmy 41F miles, because as I climbed higher the thermometer dropped further. 37F as I got to Ormsby and headed downhill towards Camp Loma. As I got into the sun later, the temp climbed back up to 40F as I arrived at Summit Store and had my little reward - an avo+kale sandwich - and bantered with a few hardy mountain bikers sharing the patio. Darn if the temps didn't drop back to 37F as I continued on to Mountain Charlie Road and the bumpy descent to Scotts Valley. I nursed my Cliff bar and Chomps for every calorie. Arriving back at InShape gym, I couldn't feel my feet as I hobbled in on frozen stumps, and a welcome soak in the hot tub. Maybe that wasn't so bad! Next weekend in the snow will be great.

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaalllllllllllll !!

Got my running goal for 2012 met, this fine Christmas day - 600 miles! Wonderful time with the Delucchi's and friends last night - that was my Christmas bonding time. Today would be for work, and for a good long run. The skies were dark and getting darker, with the first few sprinkles coming down ahead of a powerful storm. Not good for a bike ride, but perfect for a local run, up into the Pogonip to the University and back. Met some interesting mushrooms, ancient gravestones, fallen trees, lots of mud puddles, Bay trees, redwoods, and an occasional other runner getting in some inspiring miles. Brought my pocket camera for a few shots. http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/triathlon/Xmas12/index.html

Swamped!

I'm STILL swamped! Literally, actually, today. Just got back from the North Face Challenge championship at Marin Headlands. The half marathon, alas, was cancelled when high winds blew over the potties and the main tent etc. Our gang, alone, persevered and ran it anyway! Soggy fun! Pix page to follow, after school is out and I have some time...

Scar Tissue?

That's my new theory - I've been working harder on using the foam roller and also my 'dumb bell' roller on my left leg. Especially, I'm using it to work the upper inside of my thigh, where the psoas attaches. This is only accessible by the foam roller. This was a decision after a frustrating Morgan Hill Half Marathon, which I turned around on at mile 4.0, turning it into a 8 miler. Much frustration! I felt my left psoas and IT band go bad after the first mile, and only got to mile 4 just to greet Derek B who came out to say high (he lives on the course, near Chesboro Reservoir). Miserable!  But since then, I've been running very well. Dave D told me he'd been rollering every day, which is something I have not tried. Time to try. And it's working. I did 13 miles in Nicene last weekend, more running mid week, and did 9 miles to/from UCSC (and an IGPP talk on solar system formation theory) yesterday afternoon - and feel fine! Will post recent events a little later.

"I'll be Back"

I've been doing much, but no time to post! Sorry about that. Briefly, I've done photo workshops, a graze, Field astronomy classes at Mt. Lassen and at Pinnacles National Monument, half marathons, and today - my first "Low Key Hill Climb" time trial on my Serrotta, with Ferrell. I've got pix, all waiting for me to work on. Alas, my new class on "Planets and Climate" is taking all my available time (that and Cabrillo Observatory work, teaching of course). So, don't give up! "I'll Be Back"....