Wow, this running malarky is really sucking up my time. Hence the lack of regular posts, when I should be sitting here tapping away at the keyboard - these days I am either getting ready for a run, running or too knackered after a run to do bugger all.
Not going to improve any until after November 22 either - hopefully after that the postings will resume a more regular schedule. Not that it matters apparently cos I read an article the other day that claimed the blog was "officially dead" as a phenomenon. According to this article blogging was obsolete and a waste of time - apparently it is "soooo 2004". The last comment triggered a brief moment of vertigo in "Yours Truly" - suddenly my mind went blank as I though "shit what year is it then?!" assuming that some hideous amount of time must have passed since 2004 and I must have somehow missed it!
Well training wise things were going pretty well - the trip to La Jolla allowed me to get three solid days in (though the traveling cost me a day each end).; As mentioned last post Wednesday saw me trucking away on the treadmill for an hour before hitting the local state park for a slow 4 miler in the evening. Thursday was another treadmill day - another hour and 8 miles done inside. Friday was pay dirt though!! Conference finished at 3pm meaning I had several hours of daylight to squander! Running kit on and headed into the State Park equipped with map - initial plan simple run every bloody trail in the park. Turns out it is a pretty small park! Ran down the park road and took every trail and was finished after an hour, so it was down to the beach and I thought I would simulate the JFK 50 (in miniature) by after a hilly run (and the first hour up and down the cliffs was kin hilly) a dead flat section. So I headed south along the beach towards what I assume was La Jolla. Round a cove and I'm chugging away - no glasses on so I can basically see just as far as the end of my running shoes. After 15 or 20 min it starts to dawn on me that - either all the people on the beach are wearing very pale swimsuits or............. they are not wearing any swimsuits at all! Turns out it is the latter! I am running through a nudist beach - great! I am conflicted as to whether I should "declothe" but I reckon that the risk of sunburn in delicate places is too much of a risk.
What I notice, as I run though the nudists is something I have thought during similar runs in Europe, that by the time a person is comfortable enough with their bodies' that they are willing to go naked - perhaps they shouldn't! Lots of tubby middle aged men (many with ponytails for some reason - it was like being at a naked Status Quo concert).
Oddly as I emerge from the south end of the nudist beach I run through a group setting up for a surf competition. Here the people involved are all young fit and (of course) fully clothed - seemed the wrong way round for some reason.
On my way back along the beach the nudists had organized themselves into teams and were playing (of all things) volleyball! WHY????? If you are going to be old, overweight and naked fine, but at least keep still! Don't go jumping about like an idiot after a ball - aesthetically very unpleasing, I was glad I didn't have my glasses on.
After my encounters on the beach I climbed the trails back to the road then took one last trip down the road to the beach, just so I could run back up it - fantastic. By now it was close to 2.5 hours I has been out - desperate to make three hours I ran past the hotel and ran round the neighbourhood until the 180 minutes was up. Longest run to date - hopefully around 22 miles, even got into an "ultra-groove" at the end slow and minimal effort.
Back in Md on Saturday and realized Todd's Sunday "screw football - lets mountain bike" event was the next day. Having been away for four days already I was happy to forgo this, but SWMBO was insistent that if we could make it work I should go! Happily the planets aligned (just about) and although the guys had to wait for me I made it to Todd's in time for the ride. Five takers, Todd (obviously), George, Rodger, Mark (a friend of Rodgers) and DB. Some of the trail I had ridden perviously with Todd and George as a night ride, but most was new to me. Awesome fun, wicked downhills, rocks, logs and some lung bursting climbs - managed to clock a respectable 18 miles in just over two hours before impending dark, cold and the draw of a hot tub, food and beer drove us back to Todd's. Beers were opened, the venison sandwiches (oh yeah we know how to live) were made, music was cranked up and we all got naked on Todd's back porch to hose off and get our swim suits on for the hot tub!
Relaxing in the hot tub and the realization that today is actually my 12th wedding anniversary hits me! Fortunately MLW has forgotten so my life is safe - but I cut the relaxation short to head home via the store to buy flowers and champagne for MLW - what a guy! In a bit of a rush at Safeway - need to get home. Stick my wallet in the pocket of my cargo shorts, which I have thrown on after the hot tub ( going commando as forgot the "Hanes") and set off running across the car lot. Now.... all this running has had a toll on my weight, and I am not the same size that I was in the summer when I bought my cargo shorts! Result? With the weight of my wallet and car keys the shorts are pulled clean over my hips to my knees! And I am left waddling along with the "wedding tackle" on view for anyone to witness. Fortunately I don't think I was witnessed by anyone, but i do hope that Safeway doesn't have good security cameras!!
Cheers
Dogzbollux
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