Saturday 051714

Wonderful article on Pikes.

Slept pretty well last night but I was pretty sluggish in getting up.  I laid in bed for at least an hour after waking up, just reading and not wanting to roll out.  Maybe it was the spirit of Shabbat?  I paid for my sloth like nature though by missing the cooler temps of the AM.  It was hot again today.  I took it easy.  I am not sure if one day of running creates adaptation, but it did not seem as bad today (I did do less miles too so there is that).   As we actually get to work tomorrow on a normal schedule, I expect to get up earlier and run in the AM.

I find it difficult to convey the beach and river scene of Tel Aviv on Shabbat to those that have not seen it.  Thousands of people out.  All ages, all types, engaging in a variety of outdoor activities.  Singing, dancing, cooking, eating, soccer, ultimate, biking, running, playing with kids, enjoying the surf.  Dogs, cats (lot of cats, particularly in Joffa).   Sometimes the people were so thick I felt I was on a city street and I was unable to run but just had to stop and go with the wave of humanity.  For example, these were just outside my hotel:

I took my time today, watching people, taking in sights.  I saw a TV show being filmed.  I could not make out what it was but it seemed like some cheesy soap opera.  

11 miles.

Updated later in the day, various pics I took today.

Friday 0511614

Breakfast view
Much of where I ran today was coincident with the Israel National Trail.  This is a marker.
Jogged a bit with co-workers LG and TK first (6 miles) (see the marker?)
Then decided to take on some miles and figured I’d look around.  After about an hour though, I was cracked in the heat.  It was not too hot (80?) but pretty humid, and I just melted in it. In looking at many of the locals, while some had a sweat going, I looked like I was just leaking.  Some in fact were not sweating at all.  And some of the walkers I saw actually had sweaters on.   It was a slog back to the hotel. 
Here is a pergola I took respite into try to cool off for a few minutes. Most of the trail parallels the Yarkon River.
There were (as there always seems to be) hundreds of walkers, bikers, runners and families out on the parks along the river and the paths. The track however was guarded by a pretty angry fence.15.1 miles for the second run, but I completely caved in the second hour.  21.1 on the day.

Other pix from the day.  Chandelier from where we ate tonight.
Looking back at Tel Aviv from Jaffa.  The hotel I am staying at is nearly all the way to the left, about 2.5 miles away.
Overlooking the water from Jaffa. “
The hotel I am staying at.
There are several of these outdoor gyms along the beach ever couple of miles.  They are pretty heavily used.
Overlooking the beach at Tel Aviv.
Some towers and buildings in Jaffa.   

Thursday 041514

Relatively speaking, an uneventful trip over.  Got a couple hours of fitful sleep, but stayed up most of the stretch here.

My flight had probably 200 Orthodox Jews on it.  It made for an interesting flight as they seemed as to be a big group that was all together, that was very identifiable and very much not interested in following instruction like:  “you have to sit down and be seat belted for this plane to take off.” 

I watched a bunch of action movies that were mediocre at best:  X Men First Class, and World War Z.   Skipped the alcohol, but took the midnight take off steak.  Skipped breakfast – which locally was like 3 in the afternoon.   Got in and even though I felt pretty fuzzy, I decided to get a few miles in.  6.2, sub seven pace along the beach easy breathing but good sweating with the humidity. 

Joined some of my work colleagues over here for dinner (I was not hungry actually but I had a few french fries).
I took a sleeping pill (some generic stuff I grabbed at the grocery before) I left and that seemed to knock me down for 7 hours fairly well. 

Wednesday 051414

Off to Tel Aviv this AM, so a quick run before I took off.  5.2 miles, kept the tempo up and rolled into it. 

Good interview with Will Leer over on HOR, including his take on USATF governance, the LA running scene, the beer mile, and racing in Jamaica.

Even he is not as accomplished as he was in 2012, he can write.

DIA seemed to be a bit a mess today – I couldn’t park at the garage as it was full, which is an outcome of the garages being smaller due to the construction.  And the security lines seemed ridiculous:  a lot of folks shouting about getting your liquids out of your bag that probably could have opened another lane or two.  As I was flying United rather than the typical Delta, I did not get a fly through with the TSA Pre check.  Ah, first world problems at their finest.

Finished The Secret Life of Walter Middy and also caught Captain Phillips on the leg to Newark.   I guess the Captain Phillips tale is pretty close to the truth, but I’d have to research that more. 

Good read on our education system from a woman I went to school with nearly two decades ago now. 

Tuesday 051314

10.3.  Decided to test myself after a short warmup and few strides.  5:16 for a mile, which ain’t great but it is the best time for me this spring and my first time under 5:20 this year.  Like to think I’d get another handful or so with some competition and some better pacing (I probably hit the first quarter in sub 75).  Recovered from that and tried to move from easy up to steady. 

Monday 051214

10.2 miles.  Started slow, feeling a bit rough, but opened up a bit over the run.

Sunday 051114

Spring snow and all that.  I was plenty beat from the weekend camping/backpacking.  Carrying a pack with near 30 lbs of gear for a 17 something miles plus with 3000 feet of gain left my hips a bit tired than I care to admit.  All good I guess.  Easy jogging in the snow back in Broomstock – 7 miles.

So either 65.2 of running or 81.9 miles on the week if you count the hiking. 

Golden Gate Backpacking 0509-1114

As part of planning the summer backpacking trip on the CO trail with my son and his Scout pals, we have been looking to get in some prep hikes.  This weekend was a 2 night, 15 miler up in Golden Gate park.  The goals included to get in some actual backpacking, some longer hiking with the weight of the gear on your back, deal with a bit of altitude, and to start to think about what adjustments you’d make for the summer trip.  We were about 20 in number, with about a dozen Scouts.  Of course, spring time in the Rockies pitched up some interesting weather to make it more challenging.  Our guys did great – handing the walk, the camping, the cooking, the gear, the weather – all without any significant incident. 
  
Elk on the way up Coal Creek CanyonReady to hike Friday night – with all the gear.  Some snow, moonlight, all good.
Spring time in the Rockies, I guess.  We woke up to below freezing temps, but made way through breakfast, breaking down camp and out for a long day of walking on the trail with all our gear.

We woke this morning to a good ole Rocky Mountain spring dumping.