2007-01-27 * 7.3 miles * Running to the Beach in La Jolla
I just started running and ended up on the beach at sunset. Beautiful!
2006-11-12 * 8.7 miles * Northeast Urbana
Finally I am trying to get back into running again! Looks like we almost made it out to Frasca Field, which would have been cool to see, but we'll have to try for that next time.
2006-06-24 * 8.7 miles * Running in the rain in Woods Hole
Another short run. I got soaked, but I really needed this to burn off the free meals I had been getting at MBL. Decided to go back when it got dark.
2006-06-06 * 9.2 miles * The Hills of Santa Barbara
I went out running at night but found that I didn't have the motivation to do a really long run. I ended up going 9 miles and discovering that 9 miles is a now a "short run" for me.
2006-05-23 * 26.2 miles * San Gabriel Valley All-Night Marathon
At 2am, I decided I wasn't sleepy, so I went out and ran a marathon. It adds up to 26.2 miles as long as you count my (very slow) walk from the locker room to the hot tub and back. I felt a lot better this time than I did on my first marathon, because I took it really easy, ate a lot of food, and stopped at the restroom whenever possible. The strange figure-eight shape I followed, crossing the entire San Gabriel Valley almost twice, was a good choice because it allowed me to pass a 24-hour Ralphs Grocery in the middle. Six hours in total, counting all of the stops.
2006-05-13 * 23.8 miles * Mile time trial and run to Monrovia
Ran a 5:52 mile on the Caltech track, my fastest since 1997, then ran to Monrovia and back home. I stopped by a barbecue along the way, so I didn't realy get going until 9:45 pm, and I got back to Alhambra as the bars were closing at 2:00 am. Got some positive coments from fellow night owls at that point, which felt great after such a long and painful run!
2006-05-06 * 21.5 miles * Santa Monica to Malibu, and some KELROF
Took Ellen's car to Santa Monica and ran along the beach to Malibu. I didn't want to run back, because it was often necessary to run on Highway 1, and running in the same direciton as the traffic seemed too dangerous. So I ran until I felt totally dead, then hopped on a 534 bus back to within a mile or two of my car. When I got back to Caltech, I ran a couple of miles with some friends on a KELROF team.
2006-04-26 * 11.1 miles * Going home the long way
I ate too many cookies today, and when I felt the glucose entering my bloodstream my body decided it had to go running. So I ran home, the long way. Even though it wasn't very long, this was an interesting run because I passed through six different cities: Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Temple City, San Gabriel, and Alhambra.
2006-04-22 * 22 miles * Alhambra to Inspiration Point, Mt. Lowe
I had approached the mountains twice on earlier runs; this time I decided to actually attempt an ascent. The trail was mostly steep and exposed, but I was blessed with cool air and an overcast sky. In fact, I ran right up into the clouds, running the middle four miles surrounded by a cold white mist. Thanks to the 3500 ft ascent and rocky terrain, this was probably my most physically challenging run ever, so I took my time with it (seven hours). Along the way I ate four Ralphs snack pies, two cups of orange juice, a banana and a cappuccino (1500 calories!) I met Erin Takeuchi on the trail and hope that she'll write some time!
2006-04-14 * 6.7 miles * The Urbana airport shuttle
I took an all-night flight and arrived in Urbana at about 10 am. Fang was nice enough to meet me on her bike and carry my bag so that I could run into town. I wouldn't have done it if I knew that thunderstorms were approaching, but running in the driving rain turned out to be surprisingly energizing!
2006-04-08 * 17.4 miles * Alhambra to Hastings Ranch
I walked the first three miles, then helped Jennifer move into her new Pasadena apartment for a few hours. Immediately after that I headed off towards the Whole Foods Market in Hastings Ranch; I needed to stock up on oat bran. It was a hot day, so I experimented with stopping at a grocery store along the way to buy an orange juice; I think that getting used to eating and drinking while I'm on my feet will really help my stomach during the next marathon.
2006-04-01 * 14.3 miles * Downey to Long Beach
Jennifer was having a yard sale in Long Beach, so I hopped on a #30 bus then ran along the San Gabriel river to her house. I would have liked to make it a couple of miles longer, but I missed the daylight savings time change! It was warm and sunny, but I felt great and managed to finish it up in about 2:20, averaging perfect 10 min miles.
2006-03-26 * 18.5 miles * Alhambra to Altadena / Arroyo Seco
Fang was in town but feeling sick, so I let her rest and went out for a pleasant afternoon run up the Arroyo Seco. It took me more than four hours to do this run, so I was going slowly! For the first time, I packed food (a banana and a protein bar) and found places to refill my water bottle along the trail. I now think this strategy is essential to pulling off really long runs.
2006-03-19 * 26.2 miles * Los Angeles Marathon
I signed up for the Marathon on Saturday, the day before the even itself, once I was sure that my soreness from the previous run would dissipate in time for me to run such a long distance. I really wasn't sure that I would make it through this run, but I didn't know what to do except dress comfortably, pack some snacks, and do my best. I felt great up until mile 19, where I realized that I had now travelled even further than my longest hike, and I barely managed to limp through the next four miles. Every single muscle in my body was sore, and I was having significant trouble with my stomach. At least my feet felt great! As I crossed the marker for mile 23, I told myself that I had to run rest of the race without stopping; I managed to keep that promise. Final time: 4:31:47. Place: #3729.
2006-03-12 * 16.9 miles * Alhambra to Altadena / North Lake
I woke up on this Sunday feeling happier and healthier than ever. A series of great weight training workouts during the week had pumped up my muscles, lots of exciting things had been going on in my work and personal life, and my stomach was just finished digesting a tasty meal of shengjian dumplings from the previous day. Even in the San Gabriel Valley, I could smell Spring in the air, uplifting my mood even more. The LA marathon was coming up seven days, and some of my friends were in serious training. So I guess a number of things got me excited about running, and I hit the road first thing in the morning. I took a break to change shoes on campus, and stopped for a shower and a barbecue with some friends eventually making it home late at night. After this run, the longest I had ever done in one day, I was addicted.
Totals
238.5 miles
