Michael: Improvise and Improve

A rattle snake’s tail
Slithers into the speckled light
In the nearby bush.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

It’s always a bit of a devilish pleasure when you can ditch a plan at the last minute and come out ahead. And that’s what happened at Saturday’s Billy Goat half marathon.

The plan was to go with my usual hand/butt cheek held 20 oz. Hydrapak flask. But I really don’t like carrying anything in my hands, nor do I relish wearing a pack if I can avoid it. But it was going to be hot, and getting hotter due to the more than half hour delay in an already late planned start time of 8 a.m. And since the race website was unclear as to whether there were aid stations, I filled up, looked around, and figured it was what seemed to be the thing to do.

Yet that itch to race unencumbered got me to ask a race assistant about aid stations, and since there was going to be water at miles 3, 6, and 9, I decided “nothing ventured; nothing gained”, and jogged back to my car to leave the water behind.

And it paid off. I came in third overall in 1:54:21; 9 minutes faster than ultra signup calculated.

However, that doesn’t mean I’m just going to throw caution to the wind and never plan. Strategizing is half the fun of racing; executing even better (I know that doesn’t add up, but it sounds about right.). Yet it can add to the excitement of it all if, once in a while, you allow your last minute gut instincts to be your guide and give in to a little devilish tweak here and there.

Michael: Panama Dog

A royal gauntlet
Of  purple wild flowers
Greet us on the trail.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Our dog, Luna, whom we brought back from Panama, has without a doubt benefited the most from our move back to the states. Not that it’s been all chasing cats and belly scratches, but her life, relative to ours, sure seems to us to be a big step up.

She does live in a smaller space, both indoors and out, but hey, real estate is expensive here. So there’s that downgrade. But she had it pretty nice relative to many Panamanian dogs whom are often chained to their houses for all of their lives, or let loose to roam and fend for themselves.

 And that means when we walk her now we no longer have to  worry about confronting either a loose dog or a whole unruly pack. The dogs are more civil here, or at least they’re all leashed. And that makes what use to be a major fret…well, now it’s both literally and figuratively, a walk in the park.

Plus she’s now got her own poop valet service. In the hill country of Panama we just let her have to it and walk away. But now we bag it and dispose of it like all good dog owning Angelinos. She neither seems grateful, smug or puzzled by this new habit of ours.

But it does confuse her that most people here are happy to see her and even ask if she’s friendly or can be petted. Often, when this happens she’ll jump on either one or both of us as if to confirm the pack’s still alright, right?
In Panama most people shy away from dogs and often ask if they bite.

The one downside that we all seem to share, Luna included, is what to do about healthcare. We didn’t worry about any of that in Panama. Here, well we’re hoping we can at least afford decent care for her. People in Panama would look at you like you were crazy if you talked about insuring a dog.

Michael: A Minimum Information Puzzle

Violet painted skies
Hang beyond the golden hills
This bright spring morning.

Monday, June 18, 2018

Typically, going into any race over a 10k, I’d like to scout out the race website for as much information as I can glean from it. But when pulling up the Billy Goat half marathon this Saturday there just isn’t much there, and that’s kind of a challenge in itself.

Bare bones pretty much sums it up; it’s a half marathon that starts at 8a.m., goes up a hill for 5 miles, rolls for about a mile and half, then turns around and heads back to the start. What’s at the aid stations? Are there aid stations? That’s not info found on the website.

I suppose I could search for blog reports, but I’m kind of enchanted by the challenge of the minimum information given by this race director.

I did, however, cheat a little to help me plan. I went to ultrasignup.com to look over past results and noticed that the winners are going slightly under two hours and the best person in my age came in third last year with a time slightly over two hours. Extrapolating from that information, I’m going to presume there is at least one aid station at the turn around point slightly after the top of the climb. That station, I presume, will at least have water.

That means starting with a 20 oz. bottle with Skratch Labs electrolytes, two Hammer gels, and a pack of Run gum. I’m hoping that’ll get me through and it’s probably what I would’ve carried even if I knew they had plenty of stations. But it’ll give me a little extra joy if I finish well with planning this as a minimum information race puzzle.

Michael: The Wise Man

The spiked amber globe
Hangs like a vicious planet
Over the desert.

Monday, June 11, 2018

After three years away from the states, I naturally expect to see friends and family a bit more, maybe even run into an old acquaintance now and then, but what’s really a kick in the pants is running into those odd once in a lifetime characters that I’ve completely forgotten that I’d crossed paths with until that special moment of odd recognition recurs. Such a moment happened on my bike ride Sunday.

I hadn’t ridden Fernwood in over three years and was really looking forward to approaching that climb from an inland start as opposed to my old West side ride up PCH to Topanga to Fernwood. And though the approach was different Fernwood itself was just as fun and tough as ever. Having nearly peaked out as I approached  Shueren and Stunt, I was looking forward to the long lazy descent and a coffee and treat at Starbucks before heading home.

But at the stop at the overlook, not only were there a few other riders and motorcyclists, but also the old wise Japanese marathon man who notoriously hangs around that junction. I had completely forgotten about our meeting 5 years earlier when I was running part of the Backbone trail for race preparation.

When I came across him then I had just finished running a trail marathon and was waiting for my wife to come and pick me up. Without allowing me a word in edge wise, he told me how he was once a very good marathoner and that I looked like I had the build to be one as well, if only I applied myself like he had. This after I just had run a marathon to reach the point where we both stood. But I didn’t press that point. I could tell he wanted to talk so why not indulge him?

On Sunday I was a bit disappointed he didn’t recognize me or at least try to convince me to take up running as opposed to riding. But he was engaged with another rider whom he seemed to recognize from previous encounters.

Regardless, it was oddly delightful to see him and know there is some continuity in the craziness of the world.

Michael: Humbled

Seven years to bloom
The majestic yucca plant
Reigns over the brush.

Monday, June 4, 2018

Yesterday, in the State Street Mile, I was humbled. I was hoping the race would show that I could be competitive in my age group in races from a mile to 50 miles. Perhaps, but yesterday’s results definitely show that I’m not capable of that all at the same time.

I was humbled, not humiliated. I came in 4th in my age group in 5:37. The winner finished in 5:26 and I was only two seconds from the third place finisher. But it is rare that I’m beaten by so many men my age or older.

And I’ve only cranked up the speed work and formalized it on the treadmill during the last month. And though I’m going to continue to sharpen up, I’m not under any illusions that I’m going to convert to a miler or a middle aged middle distance track star anytime soon. I enjoy trail running and racing too much to give it up to give the time and energy over to the work that would be necessary to try and become a decent miler. Maybe sometime down the road.

For now, it’s back to the dirt. Next up the unique challenge of the Old Goat Half Marathon June 23rd.

Michael: Old Man Sisyphus

 Wednesday, May 30, 2018

This is going to be my last “whoa is me, I’m getting old” story until my memory goes and I start repeating these same stories over and over.

Given my recent running times it’s sadly apparent to me that all the time, money and energy Nike has put into the sub 2 hour marathon project isn’t going to pay any dividends to me as I slide further and further away from the summit from my athletic prime.

All right, I’ll take the gut punches at the finish of running events.

However, I was hoping the tech on the bicycling side of the spectrum would keep me near the summit of bygone highs and make up a bit in what I may have lost in the way of lost youth.

In that regard I was hoping the purchase of a fantastic climbing bike for my 60th birthday would put me in the same ball park of times I use to do routinely as near as 5 years ago. Back then I always climbed my test ride - Latigo - in under 50 minutes. But on the new bike I’ve yet to crack 54.

I’m not giving up yet. Just as I plan to crack 20 minutes again in a 5k. I plan to crack the 50 minute barrier up Latigo. I have a plan for how to accomplish the running goal, but I’m not sure how to approach making any improvements in my riding time given that I’m only riding twice a week. I haven’t been back in the saddle that long, so I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that persistence will pay off more than time will tax my abilities.

Michael: Forwards and Back

The yellow flowers
Small and wet cover my legs
Like I’m a hippie.

Monday, May 28, 2018

Yesterday I ran my first flat fast road 5k as a 60 year old and at least it was prettier than I’ve ever danced.

At the Lake Balboa 5k I came in 4th place overall and won my age group with a time of 20:19; after that it only figuratively goes down hill.

That time was much slower than I was shooting for so I decided to look up a past race to get a reference point for what age has done to me. And just for kicks I looked up the Santa Monica/Venice Christmas 10k/5k 2011 results. In that race, I ran a 19:02 5k after finishing a 38:45 10k half an hour earlier. It was kind of fun to note that my pace for those two races was exactly 6:14 per mile. Yesterday, on rested legs, my pace for the 5k was 6:33 per mile.

But I’m not going to slump into using that “well, at least for my age…” bullshit. I’m not satisfied. But I am going to try and be realistic. I just started serious calibrated speed work a few weeks ago, so I’ve got to give it some time to hopefully show some dividends. I’m hoping I can at least push back the devil’s stopwatch to under 19 minutes for a flat fast 5k. I haven’t got one in mind, but I’m sure there’ll be a few to choose from on July 4th.