Running Commentary

That was the question posed my first run in Phoenix, on March 24. It was already warm at 6:40 a.m. when I headed out from the Super 8 Motel on East Van Buren Street in the direction of the canal and its long, sandy path. But it was a weekday, and traffic was fierce, so I decided to cut north on 37th street to the canal. By about the second block into the shortcut I started hearing barking. I realized the street was lined on both sides with fenced-in, snarling dogs, all of whom seemed to think I looked a lot like breakfast. These weren’t your family puppy dogs -- these were guard dogs, long of fang and glittery of eye. I averted my face as much as I could (aren’t you supposed to do that?) and jogged on, confident that I’d be at my destination soon. As I approached the end of the street, first I saw a dog that was unfenced and off-leash, and then I saw a high, chain-link fence with a padlocked gate in it that was the only possible exit from the street onto the canal path. I contemplated ...

Quick thought this morning. I want to share a weight-loss tip that has worked for me in the past when I've taken the trouble to follow it. You know those handy bags of pre-washed salad you can get at the grocery store? Well, here's the tip. When you do your weekend shopping, find some on sale. If you're shopping for five days ahead, buy one bag per day per person who wants to try the gimmick. Then go to the salad dressing aisle and buy some fat-free rasberry vinaigrette or some other pretty flavorful fat-free dressing (there are many good ones available). Then, for the next five days, eat whatever you'd normally eat for lunch or dinner, except only about half the amount you would usually have. Also dump half a bag of salad (Mixed greens? Romaine? Spinach? Your choice--) in a big bowl, toss with two tablespoons dressing, and eat it with your meal. One caveat: if your bag of salad comes with nuts, raisins, or its own fatty dressing, use your discretion. A few nuts are OK,...

Light by the time I finshed my run this morning. At 6 a.m.! I've taken a freelance copyediting job, on top of my day job, so my time lately has been at a premium. But my running continues, albeit a bit creakily. Saturday I did 6 along the BART path, then Sunday 5 more with my sometimes-running partner, John, along the Bay Trail heading toward Emeryville. This morning I was out the door at 4:40 and in the middle of the road before I realized—hey, it's raining! Showing my usual wisdom and discretion in matters weatherly, I headed out and ran 5.5. As usual, I felt great by the time I hit mile 3, and finished feeling pleased with the world. Since my recovery from my fall I find myself plagued with various small pains, the causes of which aren't easily apparent. My left heel hurt all last week, throbbing as I ran until the endorphins kicked in. Aggressive icing and steady ibuprofen seem to have alleviated the intensity of that pain, at least for now. Also, my left hip has been ...

Can't believe a week has gone by since I posted here. Too much work. Luckily I'm hatching a plot to get shed my office-mole identity. Missed my run Tuesday because of rain. Oh, misery. But this morning I went, and it was lovely. Also, last Saturday Z and I ran the running club's fun run, which went out the Bay Trail to the Richmond harbor and back. Felt good, felt strong, oh yay. I haven't felt like going to the gym lately, which is a bit of a worry, but as long as I'm running I don't beat myself up too much.

Got in my 5 miles this morning in the cold and blustery dark. Can't fathom where my 4:30 a.m. energy comes from, but rather than question too hard I just give thanks that I have it. I took a new route today. Ran straight up Allston Way to Oxford--a gentle but unbroken climb. Then I headed north, eventually ending up running down Hopkins to Gilman and back via my old friend the Ohlone Greenway path and then stopping briefly in Dark Park (my name for it) to do some crunches and push-ups. I can now do 10 of the latter if I push up from a bench that is about 2 feet from the ground. That's progress from a couple of months ago, but it's rather glacial progress. I've about decided to skip my gym workout tomorrow afternoon. Last week being at the gym was a gruesome experience--I was one crankypants dudette. I have free weights and ankle weights at home, and hereby pledge to do a home workout to combat "torpor and sloth" (a Buddhist phrase). If I ride my bike beforehan...

That was me yesterday morning. Got all of three minutes into my run before the skies opened up. I ducked under a sturdy tree for a few moments, but upon realizing it was either get real wet or bag the whole thing, I got sensible and headed north into the storm. I got in my five miles, and actually felt kind of refreshed by it all. Reminds me of a VERY old Doonesbury cartoon in which Mark Slackmeyer is interviewing a pain specialist. "And when did you really get into pain?" he asks his subject. "I think it was right around the time I started jogging," comes the reply. I'm happy my energy is back, even if pain is its companion. Last night I rode my bike up the hill to my Tuesday night meeting--the sky was bright with stars and the air was--like gin? Like crystals? Dunno, but it was mighty nice. Today I'm in my office at work. As my dad used to say about our family bathroom after three girls finished their ablutions, it looks like it's been shot at and hit....

Written 3/04/06 I hope my timing luck didn’t run out on me today. Out riding my bike on a leisurely 10-mile jaunt out to the end of the BART path, and noting that many runners were taking advantage of the dry interval to get in their miles. My plan is to go tomorrow morning, but the forecast gives a 50 percent chance of rain at 6 a.m. I just didn’t have it in me to go today, however. Z and I went to the gym last night and I whined and groused my way through about 25 minutes of lifting some sissy weights before I cried uncle. The bike ride today was a pleasure. It was the first time I’d been to the end of the path in a couple of months, and I was thrilled to find the Baxter Creek restoration area is open. By the time the path gets out three or four miles north of Berkeley it has made its way into a pretty hard-scrabble neighborhood in Richmond, so what a treat it was today to see a smooth ribbon of new macadam winding its way along next to the recently uncovered and restored creek. I sa...

I was working in the lab early one morning. . . I've run twice since I did the Couples Relay 5-K last Sunday, so I guess I can call myself officially recovered. I did the 5-K in 32:27:79—not exactly a blistering pace. But I felt elated to run, and delighted to feel myself put the hammer down a little bit at the end. I've decided to go for the half marathon rather than the full on March 7, but am now looking at the San Francisco full, which falls on July 30 this year. It was the first I ever did, and that was 10 years ago. I feel as if doing it right before I turn 60 would feel like the closing of a circle. Tuesday morning I did 5, and again this morning. Today I started in the mist but ended in the pouring rain. It didn't start until about mile 4, when I was thoroughly warmed up, so it didn't even bother me. It felt wonderful, if you must make me confess the extent of my insanity. I thought of all the sweat running off my body and down through the storm drains of Berkel...