Redwood Forest Connections

I need my regular alone time, to be with my thoughts in my own world - Nature as untouched as I can find it. This first weekend of 2015 needed a post-holiday re-calibration. I biked out to the bottom of the Hoffmann Loop in Nicene Marks, and ran out to the Bridge Creek trail, to the Big Stump trail, to Hoffmann Site, the Hoffmann Connector, to West Ridge, and up to the top, at the Trail camp - a perfect late afternoon quiet spot for contemplation before running back down, arriving at my locked bike just as the sun set. http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/OtherAdv/WestRidgeRun1-15/index.html

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!

My November battle with the flu and pneumonia sent my bandwagon into the ditch. I had to work hard in December to make up for lost miles and get it done. I wanted to get 4,000 miles on the bike and 1,000 miles of running, most of all. Got it! Along the way, had some great moments in the forests and backroads. The latest was the Santa Cruz Track Club's second Fremont Peak Run of '14, which was this past Sunday.

Almost forgot - Mt Umunum Time Trial

This was my only other Low Key Hill climb this season, and Ferrell didn't join me - still recovering from the Morgan Hill Half 6 days earlier. Short - and steep. over 2,000 ft of climbing in just 4.5 miles. Glad I did it!
http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/triathlon/umunum14/index.html 

Mt Hamilton Time Trial, Rides Again

Been sick with the flu and pneumonia for the last 3 weeks of November... but I was well enough to do a Thanksgiving Day tradition - the final time trial of the "Low Key Hill Climb" series, from San Jose up to the top of Mt. Hamilton and Lick Observatory. Our adventure went well! http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/triathlon/LKMtHam14/index.html  Got in 42 miles and 5,000 ft of climbing, and only lost 2 minutes off last year's time. Gimme an inhaler and I'm good to go, I guess.

Morgan Hill's Pain Parade

November 2, and Ferrell and I were "all in" to redux our 2012 adventure at the Morgan Hill Half Marathon. That is the only race in which I have ever simply cried "Uncle!" before finishing, so bad was my left hip pain in '12. Revenge was going to be sweet! Or at least, it was going to be existent... http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/triathlon/MorganHillHalf14/index.html

A Run to Berry Creek Falls with Maria Nordh

My Swedish friend Maria was in town for a week - and wanted SO MUCH to do a good long marathon training run with me. She's entered the Stockholm Marathon and my pictures of my own runs through Big Basin had her all excited to get out there. We did, on Thursday Aug 28, and positively OD'd on the resulting endorphins! We did the 11 mile loop from Headquarters up to the ridge and the Sunset trail, to the beautiful series of water falls ending in Berry Creek Falls, and on down and around the loop and back to HQ.

http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/OtherAdv/BerryFallsMaria14/index.html

Sandman Triathlon - The Story Remains the Same

I improved significantly on my '12 performance - and felt good! What more can one ask? The pix page is here http://www.cabrillo.edu/~rnolthenius/triathlon/sandman14/index.html