Running Commentary

This is not a running related picture, but I'm avoiding writing about running for the moment, so here it is. This is the kitty who has adopted us. We're trying not to continue in frozen mode, where we are right now--as in, is she really homeless? If so, has she been fixed? If not, is she expecting? And regardless of all these questions, should we take her in to the vet for a check-up sooner rather than later? (I think the answer on that last one is "yes.") She is very sweet, rather shy but no so much that she won't come in and snuggle down on the futon. Blah, blah, blah--and me a dog person! About the running. Yesterday I ran the LMJS 15K at Lake Merritt. It was hot and I did not do well (1:44:13--5 minutes slower than my 15K time a year ago). I'm surprised at how negatively that affects my peace of mind. I've always given lip service to running for the joy of it and not worrying about times. I've never been particularly fast, even in my younger day...

The run and the post. Both miniature sized. After yesterday's 7-miler I went for only 4 this morning. Sometimes it strikes me that as a so-called running blogger I need to include a few more hard facts about my running experience. Well, here's one: For a long time (years) I have aspired to have 20 miles be my consistent average weekly mileage. Seventeen? Okay. Twenty-three? Okay. Eleven? Not so okay. Twenty-eight? Probably too many. So that's what I'm working on now--getting that weekly average close to 20. This morning I went back to my regular route, the Ohlone Greenway and environs, to increase my existing 17.5 to around 20. Did it! And along the way took this photo of the wonderful Ohlone memorial bench that sits by the path, across from the BART tracks. In my perambulations around the Bay Area I see isolated indications such as this that tell me how once this region was inhabited by many native peoples. Time is what time is, and what has been done to the natives h...

This is just a quick check-in to affirm that I'm still alive and I'm still running. I had a lovely meeting with Chief Pocatello a couple of weeks ago when I spent a few days in the town named after him. I was visiting my sister and her family--a good time was had by all. I met the chief on one of my morning runs. I managed to run four times in five days. One thing I love about traveling is finding trails and tracks to support my habit. I also love seeing other runners, and during this trip I had a fine time spectating at the finish line of the Pocatello Marathon . It seems like a fine race. My fabulous niece and I talked about coming back to the chief's town next year and participating instead of just looking. Hmmm. Always good to have a running goal--maybe this will be it. Since I came back from the land of ID, I've kept busy working and running. I hadn't taken any more freelance jobs recently, as part of my attempt to find more "free" time in my life, b...