Favorite Local Run - Elissa's Triathlon - New Hospital Building

(pic from last time I was up there)

I was stoked to run up Boney Mtn. in the Santa Monica Mountains this morning.  I haven't been up there in 5 months!.  Why the hiatus?  The last time I ran up there I got some nasty poison oak rashes.  The trail is overgrown, so I've patiently waited for the foliage to dry out a bit.  The poison oak didn't LOOK to bad today, and I scrubbed with Tecnu immediately after the run, my fingers are crossed.

Here's an elevation profile of my slow journey this AM... when I'm in shape, a couple pounds lighter, and do this on a cool day I can run every step to the top, not the case today unfortunately.

2,000' up in 3 miles, love it.  Didn't love the heat though, guess I need to start hanging out in the sauna again.

IF I don't get a gnarly poison oak rash, my plan is to run this route a lot in preparation for the Noble Canyon 50k coming up in September.  The competition will be stiff with the likes of Fabrice Hardel, Dean Dobberteen and Eric Clifton toeing the line, not to mention 220 or so others, and I'm sure someone I haven't heard of will tear it up... as per usual.

This trail is also great training for the next two races I plan on running: Los Pinos 50K & Ray Miller 50/50.  My route today didn't quite include any of the Ray Miller course, but I was able to look down on a lot of it.  It's going to be such a sick, tough race.  Stoked to have an awesome event coming up right in my backyard!  And I'm sure it'll bring out all the top dogs: it's a Keira race, there's a ca$h prize for the winners, and it's a gorgeous/brutal course.  BRING IT!

Elissa's First 70.3!

There she is, yellow cap, turquoise suit

I had a great long weekend crewing/photag'n my beautiful wife up in Windsor last weekend as she competed in a 70.3 mile triathlon.  Her fan club was rolling deep: me, her mom & dad, grandma, my aunt, cousin and cousin's daughter.  She finished well under her projected time and was walking around the next day in wayyyy too little pain.  Then we celebrated her dad's birthday and her birthday and dental hygiene graduation with her family up in Stockton.  It was great finally getting to see all of them again!  And of course we ate tons of delicious food.

Greg looks great for 15 doesn't he!

New Hospital Building:  most of the units at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have relocated to the new hospital building on campus.  I knew it would be difficult and there would be a lot of changes, but wow.  I had no idea it would be this different and that the move would require so much time, effort and resources.  I feel EXTREMELY fortunate to work with so many great people, and my hat goes off to all of my managers, putting in ridiculous hours to facilitate the move.

I had a tough time last shift, I didn't have a crazy assignment, or super sick patient, but there are many little stressors that pop up when so many actions I took for granted in the old unit, are now different, or require a couple phone calls before I can do what I need to do to take care of my patients.  

I'm telling myself that it's like running a long race... there are times when you feel great, times when you feel like throwing in the towel, but persistence and tenacity will pay off and things will get better.

I'M BACK... almost

After about a month of nagging injuries stemming from an awesome experience at SD100, I am almost 100% recovered.  After running 100 miles I think that I should do more leg strengthening exercises like lunges, calf raises, etc. to prevent shin splints like I got after the race.  I think I'll wear shoes with a little more cushion than the New Balance 101's as well.  It could be that running 100 miles is just hard on the body, and running in cushier shoes with slightly stronger legs won't leave me feeling any better after the next 100 I run... but there's only one way to find out.

Man, after watching Hardrock 100, I really want to run that race, but doing so will require traveling to another qualifying race between now and this time next year... then getting lucky enough to have my name drawn in the lottery.

Can't wait to see how Angeles Crest unfolds, have a lot of friends and acquaintances running it and I'm sure the're be countless stories to hear when it's all said and done.

Elissa and I just got back from a sweet 10 day trip to Colorado.  We both got a lot of training in for a vacation.  She's got a 70.3 coming up at the end of this month and I'm training for... uh... I don't know yet.  Mt. Disappointment 50k?  I put in about 50 miles of running last week, about 30 miles of biking and even a little swimming.  The biking seems like a good way to build endurance and strength back up while taking it easy on my improving legs.

While 50 miles isn't much running for a week, most of it was up in elevation and included some slow, steep stuff, and even some glissading.  Here's a fun 10 miler I did out of Boulder, CO up to Bear Mtn. then over to Green Mtn.:  Bear to Green by price.chris@gmail.com at Garmin Connect - Details

Elissa frolicking through the Garden of the Gods

Red Rocks amphitheater in the far left of the pic

Rocky Mountain National Park

Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs

Had a great time on vacation.  It was nice to explore Colorado, but it also felt good to go back to work, doing something that I enjoy with a bunch of coworkers that are great friends and a pleasure to work with.