Xterra Laguna Woods 16k Sept. 20 by Michael

Xterra Laguna Woods 16k Sept. 20

Really more of a day after and shoe review than a race report, though that’s not what I was thinking Saturday morning at about 9:30 when the race was over and my heels were suffering like they have after almost all of my trail runs this year.

At that time I was questioning the wisdom of signing up for the Twin Peaks 50k next month in the O.C. I did because it gives me another chance to visit my mom before moving to Panama. It’s also a very challenging race that I’ve never done before, though I’m familiar with most of the trails. It’s been quite a while since I’ve run any of those trails so I’m hoping for that quasi-déjà vu experience that comes with revisiting some old stomping grounds. It also gives me a chance to up my win ante giving me another opportunity to notch 10 age group wins for another year. I don’t know how many years I’ve done that, but for the last few years it’s been a fixation of mine. I’m at 6 now with 3 months to go.

But with my heels fluctuating between bothersome and wincing during a relatively flat 10 miler, I was doubting I’ll be able to hold up through about 5 hours of the difficult roller coaster ride Twin Peaks will be.

Then came a relatively short 10 miler on Sunday, the Ray Miller Trail, with our trail runners’ club, that I had planned to take at a gingerly pace given that it was the day after a race and I was almost certain my heels would act up again if I pushed it at all. I hadn’t worn the Hoka Rapa Nui’s in a while but wasn’t expecting much relief as I recall that the last time I wore them my heels still hurt, but what the hell; why not give the oingy-boingy shoes another shot. And WOW!, I’m not a drop down to my knees hallelujah kind of guy but I believe - Turkel, my prayers have been answered. I ran down a long hill stretch of trail with a carefree smile on my face only my fellow congregation would understand, or at least not be overly frightened by.
I was so overjoyed that I immediately googled some reviews for the lightest Hoka’s out there - the Cliftons - and ordered a pair. Took them out for a two hour jaunt on Los Liones Wednesday morning and again ran a long steep downhill stretch misery free. They’re not the perfect shoe for me. Like all Hoka’s the sizing’s a tweener; either I live with my normal shoe size and get that squeezed mid-foot yet still slightly loose heel feel or I go up half a size so my toes can stretch but risk a real floppy feel in the heels which I find very annoying. I opted for the tight forefoot.

 I now have enough hope that it might be possible to race the Twin Peaks without at least my feet suffering. I know it’s a big jump from half marathon training runs to 50ks, but I’m a lot more optimistic now than I’ve been for months. I’ll give the Cliftons a good push the week before Twin Peaks at the Xterra Pt. Magu 18k and will hopefully find out at the end of that race’s long downhill stretch whether I should still be jumping for joy. But for now “I’m singing in the …?” whatever that stuff was that use to fall from the skies over Los Angeles, ash… smoke…smog…glass…something. Whatever. I’ve got happy feet again and that’s what counts.

Now it’s almost time to get back out there and play.

Michael

Meandering Mondays by Kimme

The first day of Fall.  This is my last Fall season before Michael and I move to Panama.  I have about 3 months to wrap up my life here in a thoughtful way.  I have to:

1. Design a mini Fall collection: dress, skirt, pants, two tops and a simple bag.
2. Thank the people that have supported my business for the last three years
3. See my friends before I go.
4. Consolidate what I want and need to take with me.
5. Find people to give what I don't need.
6. Sell equipment that I don't need.
7. Try to document my life here in Los Angeles: food, shelter, clothing and exercise.
8. Somehow stay calm and  balanced through this move.

Blog by Kimme

The first time I heard the idea that the most basic essentials of life are food, clothing and shelter,  I knew that it had to be an oversimplification.   But I was transfixed by the simplicity.   I was intrigued by monks and other ascetics who further simplified these most basic needs in order to focus and think about what is most important to them.  So I kept my life simple and chose a career that gave me freedom and time to research,  think and explore.  What about?  It turns out that I love to think about simplifying food, clothing, and shelter, and how I can design and make it myself.   And I also noticed that I think best while running so I have added exercise to my basic needs list as well.

Soon after getting to know my husband, Michael,  I found out that he had the same interests and preoccupations.  So now we are on a quest to design and build our first home.  We can't afford to do it in Los Angeles right now and we don't want to wait so we looked up where we could afford to build and decided to check out Panama.  We liked it.   So that is where we are going to try first.  We plan to leave in 3 months.  The next three months are going to be a whirlwind.  It seems counter-intuitive to start a blog with so much going on but as I pack and dismantle my L.A. home and begin the slow process of building a new home I may find comfort in an online home where I can put the stuff I can't just throw in a box.