Why do I run?

                                             LEONA DIVIDE TRAINING RUN
                             (lots of PCT single track... http://leonadivide5050.com/)


Every once is awhile I ask myself... why am I slogging away on the trails, hours and hours every week.  Here's what I've come up with so far:

-It's fun (see picture above).
-The people I run with are amazing individuals (see picture above).
-It's a good way to clear your head/decompress.
-I feel so fortunate that I am healthy enough to run.  Working as a nurse I see thousands of kids who are temporarily or sometimes permanently disabled.  You never know when something could change your whole world in an instant... so I'm going to run while I'm able.
-My dad says, "it oxygenates your brain," and I could use some extra brain power.
-It's good for you.
-It gives me an excuse to wear short shorts.

So, why do YOU run????

"I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"

After watching a couple inspiring videos of Jack LaLanne this morning I was struck by a reoccurring feeling... that I must be taking crazy pills.

I work at a world renowned children's hospital... that has a G.. D... McDonalds inside the hospital.  How can a place that exists to improve people's health be poisoning them, there families, and workers with such horrible food?!

Being a nurse obsessed with nutrition, exercise and overall health I am continuously baffled at how many in my profession, who are brilliant caretakers and much more intelligent than myself can ingest such filth and live such a sedentary life when it is so well known that this is bad for your health.  I must admit that I cave in and gorge on cookies and treats that people bring in, but I don't like it, but no one else seems to care.

I think I'll go for a run to clear my head and cool my jets =)

Junk Miles?

After watching the Krupicka, Roes, Mackey and Jurek interview: http://www.irunfar.com/2011/01/video-qa-with-jurek-krupicka-roes-mackey.html.  I started thinking about what Anton said about "junk miles,"  and how some people might consider a lot of the miles he puts in junk miles.

Do I run junk miles?  Doubtful, considering how little I usually run... but what about the 4 miles I run in the morning before I head into work, do those really help me in any way?  Anyone have a good definition of junk miles?

Thousand Oaks Ultra Runners... join the T.O.U.R.?

Went exploring a bit on my run today and found two new hills to climb... absolutely brutal in 80 degree temps, I am weak in heat, something to work on.

The more I run around TO, the more I realize how lucky I am to have so many great trails around here.  I occasionally run with others around the TO area, so why not form a running group: Thousand Oaks Ultra Runners.  Eh, sounds like too much work.

Here's a pic looking west from lizard rock, the three mountains pictured all have trails to the top =)

First 100 mile week.

I know I have to step up my training to prepare for my first 100 miler this summer: San Diego 100.  I finally started running before work, which means getting up at 4:30am.  I've also started double days on my days off, running once in the AM and once in the PM.  While I miss my single long runs on my days off, I am able to recover a lot faster and log more miles with these double days.

I wonder if running my first 100 mile week has anything to do with me sitting here sick?  I hardly get sick, maybe running more and being around lots of kids with viral respiratory infections got the best of my immune system.  I hated calling in sick for work today... but when I don't feel like getting off the couch I probably shouldn't be taking care of critically ill children.