Harbor Run

I was okay with not getting my Friday hike last week, mainly because I got in a good 11 mile hike the day before. Friday (1/25) , I had a faculty meeting 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. After that I set up office at the downtown Starbucks, right up from the harbor. I accomplished much over two large coffees (with added heavy whipping cream that I brought in myself!). Later, I enjoyed a small amount of nuts, cheese, and salami for lunch (or rather breakfast, because it was my meal of the day). This was a great big Starbucks, with lots of room. I have to say that I felt quite comfortable working away at the big desks they've got set up there.  I parked myself next to an outlet so that when the batteries ran low, I was back online.

I think that I packed up at Starbucks a little after 2 p.m. Being that I was already dressed for a hike (because I originally thought that I might do that, but decided that I had just too much to do), I decided to go for a short run (umm . . . TROT) down at the harbor. It really was a perfect day for it -- mild weather, cold but not cold enough to require extra clothing more than a thin long sleeve. So, I strapped on my Amazfit watch and hand held my phone for 4 miles, mostly along the marina, and then out to the beach past The Marine Institute. There were plenty of people mingling about, but nothing like tourist season. And there were lots of birds. Wildlife on the seaside on this particular Friday was mainly birds (but lots of squirrels too). Pelicans hung out at the wharf, seagulls swooped low to the water, and ducks dilly-dallied around the marina waters. Talk about pleasant.

To think that I have driven thirty, sixty, ninety minutes to hike or run elsewhere, when I have this a half mile from my home!

I can't get a very good account on my speed because of the little stops I make along the way to snap the photos that I just cannot resist taking. I can't imagine that it added up to more than ten minutes though. Nonetheless, here are some of my Amazefit Stats (as they do differ from my Strava stats, and that still annoys me):

Miles: 4.00
Total Time: 59:44
Calories (allegedy!): 301
Avg heart (bpm): 165 (doubting the accuracy here, seems high for an average)

Who knows when I'll get out there again. Happy for any opportunity. It makes life so much more bearable.

Harbor Daze

My Friday hike wasn’t a hike, but instead a nighttime run. I’m not talking about yesterday Friday – I’m talking about last week Friday (11/30)Times have been busy, actually hectic a bit. But hectic might just be a state of mind. My hike wasn’t a hike because Friday morning I had a faculty meeting. Got out about 10:00 am, then had breakfast with my husband at a local Mexican restaurant (eggs & chorizo). That all seemed well-worth it, except for the fact that I was scheduled to teach a 6 hour Microsoft Excel class the following day. So, I really needed to get out and move my feet on Friday. But I didn’t. In fact, I did everything else instead of that. And then finally, I resolved to do a cardio workout at my gym. I even packed a gym bag (which is different than my running bag). So, even as I drove away from my home, I was planning on hitting the gym. But I didn’t hit the gym.  I hit the harbor with a quick 4.24 mile run (not hike).

I forgot to bring my ipod, but I still had music in my ears. On the island, there were a couple of seals barking in the harbor waters.  Waves crashed down on the jetty rocks, and though I could not see them, I could hear untold numbers of birds squawking away on the jetty rocks. There were musicians playing Christmas music over by the restaurants and the entire place was lit up in perfect glory (perfect glory because of the lights reflection on the water). It’s no wonder the Impressionists were so enthralled by light’s reflections.

With my To Do snowballing, I did not get out for another run again until Pearl Harbor Day (12/7). And that barely didn’t happen. We got two days of solid rain here (Wednesday – Thursday), so I could not do the hike I had planned. All the trails in the coastal hills were closed “due to wet and muddy conditions.” And I wasn’t feeling confident enough to venture out into the mountains the very first day after a big storm. So, I spent the day doing chores, much needed chores, like grocery shopping, which had been long neglected. Also, we had plans for the evening, and time was fleeting (our middle son played in the pit crew for a high school musical and we had tickets!) It was just one of those last minute things – just trot a couple miles I told myself. With the promise that it would be quick, I made a smaller loop at the harbor. 2.25 miles in total. The reflection of light on the water was beautiful.

What to do when rain muddies the trail? Hit the Road.

Rain fell down upon us in sunny California on Tuesday and Wednesday. I didn’t hit the trails on Tuesday, as hoped. Thursday, I thought, Thursday I’ll run trails. (Oh so desperately whispering in my mind : ) But this morning, I didn’t want to make the drive out and back to Aliso and Wood Canyons only to learn that the rangers had closed the park. So, instead I decided to lace up those road shoes and head down Highway One for a run. (I desperately need new road shoes.)

The sky was gray, the breeze cool, but not cold, and the waves were choppy, uneven sets running high up on the beach. Pelicans were off playing or feeding elsewhere; seagulls ruled the skies. I set no plan where to run, or exactly how many miles to run. I was thinking somewhere around ten miles would be nice (that cracks me up -- ten miles! I remember weeping the first time I ran ten miles.). Anyway, last minute, I decided to run through the state beach and campground, and I ran it all the way until the sidewalk ended. I didn’t feel in tip-top shape this morning, but let me tell ya! What a delight it was to get out and run, especially after having missed my regular Tuesday trails.

Tourists have pretty much vanished from these parts. The wharf was empty. Locals walked their dogs, sat at the harbor side coffee house and local breakfast joint. I didn’t have to squeeze through clusters of walkers, nor did I run through puffs of cigarette smoke. Eventually, my headphones died, and I figured it was about time I headed back– I still had laundry and a kitchen to clean, not to mention a soap to watch (which I didn’t really watch), and a class to get ready for.

The “big hill home”, though a challenge, was no problem at all.

Miles logged this Thursday morning: 9.21
Total # number of people I saw running during my beach/harbor side run: 8