day 256: 3.5 - the breaking point

This was the breaking point. I haven't posted anything since this day, because this day was so exhausting. I needed some time to come to terms with my decision. It was the beginning of October and for the few days before I was thinking of moving to NM. If I made the decision it was gonna be today. I had to give a 30 day notice to my manager. My roommate gave me his notice a few days earlier and said he would be moving to Colorado.
Factors in my decision were:
finances: I'm losing so much money by living in LA, and if I'm still unemployed at the end of my unemployment insurance, I'm not sure what I will do.
looking for another roommate: I figured my luck of finding another cool roommate was running out, between Duane and Lucas, I was very fortunate.
the rising unemployment rate: the national unemployment rate is 9.8%. I always forget that the beginning of the month starts with bad news.
holidays: most companies don't hire through the holidays (even when  the economy is good)
potential jobs: I had three potential jobs and didn't get any of them. This was a definite blow to my confidence.
my car: I've had some recent car problems... I swear, when it rains it pours. 
the moon: maybe a little bit of the full moon came into play. :P 
stress: each day I'm losing a little bit of myself: my confidence, my sanity, and my happiness.

I was so stressed I worked out 3.5 times (0.5 is the brisk walk): I ran 3 miles in the morning, rode my bike down to Redondo beach, came home had lunch and rode to Bel-air and then around midnight I took a brisk walk to Fairfax and back. The picture above is one I took in the morning: before the meltdown, before I made the decision. The photos below are in Manhattan Beach.

A huge "Thank you" goes out to Mark and Tim for making sure I was ok. I know it must have been scary for you, but thank you for talking to me so late at night. Thank you for being my friends.

 

day 252: laundry

There is so much that I love about my apartment. It's filled with so much character. This is a laundry line on the back porch that is now blocked by the huge plant. Before I throw my workout clothes into the hamper, I usually toss them on this line to dry out for a bit.

day 247: brick

I did a brick today, which is a Bike-Run-ICK. I stalled this morning and ended up running in the heat...ugh. Well it will teach me get going in the morning.

day 123: Hollywood reservoir/staircases & Franklin Canyon

When I set my mind to do something, there is little that will dissuade me from accomplishing it, call it determination or insanity. Today, I wanted to tackle the Beachwood Canyon staircases (and I was crazy enough to add in the 5 mile run around the Hollywood Reservoir). The staircases are intense. There are six of them, and even if I was supposed to only descend them, I would turn right back around, ascend them and then descend again. The last stair case was killer. It was one of the descending stairs, and it took everything in me to turn around and march my burning thighs up those steps. As soon as I got back to my car I inhaled my PB&J and protein shake.If that wasn't enough I drove to Franklin Canyon and hiked the Hastain Trail. Franklin Canyon is literally 15 minutes from my apt, and I can't believe I've never hiked it before. It's absolutely beautiful. It's so peaceful and quiet...it's like a hidden treasure in the Hollywood Hills.
This me almost near the top... don't I look exhausted?

day 121: fryman/wilacre park

I've hiked Runyon Canyon extensively, but have never looked into the other canyons in the Hollywood Hills. Today, I went for a hike in Coldwater Canyon Park/Wilacre Park/Fryman Canyon. I will have a lengthier post on another website that will detail the location, parking, trails, and an overall review, but for now this will be a short post. While this is not as challenging as Runyon Canyon, it is quiet and peaceful. If Runyon can be compared to a Hollywood Club (to see and be seen), Wilacre Park/Fryman Canyon is a nice hotel bar. The trails were not desolate; I encountered some runners. I opted not to run, because I didn't know the length of the trail. Next time I will run. It can be a quick hike or a lengthy small trail hike. It's versatile because of the parks adjacency to each other. There is a longer trail that I will do at some point, I only did part of that trail, because the map I had was not very detailed. Next time!

day 104: santa monica classic

Waking up this morning, my first thought was "sh*t, I forgot to turn off my alarm from yesterday." Followed by, "sh*t, I gotta get going: the race is today!" When I signed up for this race, I figured that I would be able to run 6.2 miles, because I would put the mileage and distance in. I think I've put the mileage in, but the longest that I've run is 3 miles.

I happy to say that I ran it, and finished it. This is 4 months after my surgery, so I'm am super happy! My next race: hmm? I have no idea. I want to finish a triathlon, so that is my focus now.

Fish & Amery ran the 5k and waited for me to finish my race. It was a beautiful day in Santa Monica. Why is it that every time we run this race there is a party the night before?

day 103: sand dune park/santa monica stairs challenge

I had the crazy idea to do this challenge today. I got the idea when I read a comment (somewhere, I think it was Youtube) where someone asked, "I wonder which is harder Sand Dune Park or Santa Monica Stairs."

Instead of waiting a week, when I didn't have a race to run, I decided that I would do it this week. Call it impatient or competitive, I couldn't wait. In addition to doing the challenge, I rode my bike to both of the locations. The ride was 42 miles round trip and, of course, was accompanied by two flat tires at about miles 28 and 33. It was due. The first flat tire was fine, it was the front tire. I had one CO2 cartridge, but the second was my back tire. By this time, I had finished two courses of the Santa Monica Stairs and was spent. The physical pumping of the tire was exhausting. Those last 9 miles on my bike were killer.
Ok, so which is harder? I can't quite tell right now. They are both physically challenging. Sand Dune Park: the picture doesn't do the hill justice. It's STEEP and every step I took I would slip down half a step. My calves were on fire. The park was also about 5 blocks in from the beach and a steep hill up from the coast. So my ass was already tired from the long ride and the steep climb. Santa Monica Stairs: 142 steps of pure (ass) hell. My butt/thighs were burning. After the second climb my thighs felt like they were in complete atrophy. hahaha Try it! It was tough, but I'll probably do this challenge again. What can I say, I'm a masochist. haha

day 102: running shoes

These are my running shoes. They are Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9. I started wearing Brooks when I was training for my first marathon in 2004. We had a shoe clinic where they would observe your stride on a treadmill and fit you with the proper shoes. I didn't have any feet problems: no lost toenails, no blisters, no stress fractures, so I swear by these shoes. I change them out every 4-6mos.

day 089: catch up

wow! I didn't realize how far behind I got on this...partially just being busy and partially because of the heat. I didn't want to be in my apt/oven.

On Saturday, I rode my bike to the beach and ran three miles. I forgot to figure in the ride back. It ended up being a 24 mile ride and 3mile run, needless to say, I took a nap. I did stop at the Farmer's Market in Santa Monica to fill up on some fresh fruit and admire the beautiful flowers.

day 013: inspired

This morning my friend, Vanessa, ran the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, CA. It was a beautiful morning to spend next to the beach. Vanessa was awesome. We saw her at mile 20 and Amery ran the last 6.2 miles with her. Amery looked worse than Vanessa at the end. hahaha Afterward we enjoyed a cold beer and welcomed her into the Marathoners' club. Congratulations Vanessa!!! You've inspired me to do it again!