SCENES FROM TRAINING RUNS ON SAN BRUNO MOUNTAIN

These are various photos I snapped during my last 3 or 4 runs on San Bruno Mountain. This run in my backyard is one of my favorites. The trails aren't super tough, but I can combine a few to make a great run. Plus there are spots that have a view of the bay, of downtown San Francisco, of Mt. Tam and of Mt. Diablo. Yet, a few minutes later I am on a trail that is isolated from everything.

RUNNING IN A FORST IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND

This was part of my run back to my hotel.....the run up the hill was a bit harder:



The leaves were an explosion of colors, the weather a bit rainy and cold....what you see in some photos is not fog or smoke, it is my breath.

PACIFIC COAST HIKE

Cori, her brother Derrick and I decided to spend a few hours doing about a 10 mile hike from Grey Whale cove to the North Peak. There was some nice climbs and great views.

























Near of the end of the hike, beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean welcomed us back.

FORT FUNSTON RUN

Today's training run was under blue skies at Fort Funston. This Pacific Ocean beach is right on the southern San Francisco border.

California Redwoods

Cori and I took the boys camping in the redwoods of the Northern California coast. The trails were amazing. There were banana slugs and raccoons to keep us all company too. Here are a few images:



A raccoon (one of two that visited us in the evenings):


Where are the smores?


Slugfest!

MORNING RUN IN WASHINGTON DC

I was in DC on business and Bob Ernest, a co-worker training for his first marathon, and I did a couple runs through the city. Here are images from day #2.

Bob taking a break:


Bob and I slowed to a walk through this memorial:



Then we continued on.

BLOG TAG

It has been awhile since us Ultraholics and friends have played that old game called Blog Tag. Here is how it works (or should work in theory). I pose a few questions, answer them and then tag three other blog owners to answer the same questions, and so on and so on (they also have to tag the person who tags them). So, here it goes:

1. Do you have a favorite race you ran this year - if yes, which one and why.

For me it had to be The Barkley. Although it was my second DNF, it was an unbelievable experience. The people who participate in this insane event are a wonderful group. The course is beyond hard but beautiful. I loved it.

2. Have you selected any race goals for 2010?

Yes, I want to do the "fun run" at Barkley. This is 3 of the 5 loops (I don't dare dream of being able to do all 5 loops.....692 out of 700 people have failed at the full 5).

3. Did you discover any new (non-race) trails this year?

I stayed mostly on my San Bruno Mountain trails, but did find a neat trail system in Central Park, Rome, Italy.

4. Why do you run?

I hate to swim. Seriously, I love being in the outdoors, seeing nature, burning off all my stress....it makes me feel alive.

5. There are extreme ultramarathons - Spartathlon, Run Across America, Badwater, etc. are you planning any?

I would really like to try Vol State one year....and Christian is planning a Run Across Georgia that sounds cool.

6. Favorite food during ultras and favorite post-race food?

I found that plain tuna fish is a great race fuel. I love hot cheese pizza after a race (although at Keys 100 MUST have conch fritters).

7. Are ultrarunners part of your life outside of races?

I consider some ultrarunners my best friends. People like Rajeev Patel, Chihping Fu, Bob Becker, Mandy Miller, and others are people that I am proud to call my friends. We talk of ultras, but we also share life experiences such as birthdays, weddings, new (and terminated) jobs, etc. The best part of ultrarunning are the people. Plus, of course, my wife Cori will be doing her first ultra - so, that would be a YES!

8. What do you consider the most beautiful ultra course you have run?

That is tough. Mont Blanc is beautiful - with its high snow covered peaks, European valleys and stream. Leadville is very similar. Barkley was beautiful also - loved the deep forests and the stream. I still think Badwater has some of the most unique and beautiful scenery.

9. Favorite race director?

Ouch - that is a tough one. Bob Becker and Rajeev Patel tie for first, Laz for second, and so many others coming in third.

10. What is your longest streak at running the same race?

I have done Ruth Anderson 50k two years in a row and I have done Keys 100 two years in a row. Only being in this sport for 3 years kind of limits my streaks.

I will tag Rajeev Patel, Chihping Fu, and Christian Griffith.

MY BIRTHDAY HIKE

On my birthday a few days ago, Cori's mom, Cori and our 4 boys joined me on a short hike on San Bruno Mountain. It was a great way to spend part of my birthday.



We hiked the Guadeloupe and Bog Trails




The blackberries were just beginning to ripen.



It was a great birthday hike.

TRAINING RUN ALONG THE SF ONE DAY COURSE

Today Cori and I went on a training run on what will be her first ultramarathon....the SF One Day.

PLEASE DON'T PICK THE FLOWERS

The scenery on San Bruno Mountain is a rainbow of flowers - makes the run that much better.

SAN BRUNO MOUNTAIN TRAINING RUN VIDEO

Short clip of today's run on the trails on San Bruno Mountain (you can stop it after 30 seconds....kind of stays the same).

HIKING MILLS CANYON PARK

Yesterday, Cori and I decided to take my 3 boys on a short hike through Mills Canyon Park in Burlingame. This is a small regional park located in right outside downtown Burlingame. One almost needs to know it exists or one would drive right by it.

The park has the Ed Taylor Trail...a short loop trail that goes along Mills Creek and around the Mills Canyon Nature Perserve.





My son Brandon was breaking in a new pair of hiking boots for an upcoming camping trip and also getting used to his new CamelBak backpack. The trails winds through some very pretty areas.


Along the route, we saw much poison oak

a lizard


and many wildflowers.



This is a pretty short and mostly easy hike for young kids. It would also work well for a good loop course for trail running (actually saw one trail runner out there yesterday). After finishing this one, my kids now want me to take them on a hike to the top of San Bruno mountain where they are hoping to see some snakes :)

HIKING IN ITALY

While we were on our honeymoon in Italy, Cori and I decided to do a nice hike in the mountains of Cinque Terre. Our hike started in Monterosso, a beautiful village on the Italian Liguruia coast.

We started "hiking" on a wide paved path that led up the first climb, past a statue of St. Francis

and to a small chapel and cemetary on the mountain top overlooking vineyards.




From Monterosso we climbed a trail that led up the mountain, sometimes steep and narrow, other times wider and more gentle. It was actually the hottest day of our entire trip to Italy. The closer we got to the first large climb (ending at a monestary) the more narrow the trails got and the hotter it became.
We were running low on water and then came across a small water fountain set up for hikers.


Nearing the monestary, the views were absolutely beautiful and the trails more single track and steeper.





Once we left the monestary, we continued on a paved road for maybe half a mile and then picked up the trailhead dropping down to Varnazza.


The views of the mountainside and ocean were beautiful...

We constantly saw large locust flying around.

We descended some very steep sections and finally came around a corner and the village of Vernazza came into view.


We descended down the trails past vineyards and olive tree orchards.



Then we entered Vernazza, a beautiful town on the Liguria shore.

ITALY RUNNING (PART 4)

Our final leg was the big city of Rome...and Cori and I find a trail! We were right at Rome's Central Park district. All photos were actually taken with my blackberry thus the blurry quality......or was it the grappa the night before?




I do not recall seeing the cat in this photo during the run.


The trail dropped down some nice hillsides and streams.


That is St. Peters on the skyline.






It was a great run....but now we had to finish and head back for more vino.

RUNNING IN ITALY (PART 3)

OK, time to travel south. We went down to Positano on the Amalfi coast. It was a bit of rain while Cori and I ran.....we did NOT want to leave.










Time for a breather: