It was nice when I started . . .

A quick update . . .

When last I posted, my cousin began running.  She's been keeping up with it and logged in 3 runs for a total of almost 8 miles.  We'll be going again tonight . . .

Last week I also ran pretty much every day.  On the days I've run solo, I've gone for 3 or 4 miles.

Last week I had also agreed to go on an 8 mile run in Santa Cruz with a friend.  A couple of years ago he ran his first marathon.  After that, he didn't do much.  Just ran to not lose it.  A mile here, another there.  When he heard I enrolled in the SVHM, he and his girlfriend signed up also.  His girlfriend was a cross-country runner in high school.  She's a twig and an over-strider.  She's having knee issues.  I promised her a book (Born to Run).

So anyway, if you click the title of this post it'll show you the route we took for the run.  I made a mistake though.  When we started our run, he started reeeeeal slowwwww.  A good power-walk.    And I kept with him for the whole run.  While we were running and talking, I'd be looking at other runners and checking out their form (or if they were hotties, really check out their form ;p), and checking out their shoes.  There were a lot of Fivefingers out and about.

At about mile three I saw one couple with Fivefingers.  The guy had the pair I've been looking for locally for a while now (Fivefingers Speed).  About a minute after they passed, I decided to go back and chase them down to find out where he had bought them.  I ran pretty hard to catch them.  I asked them where they had got them and was told REI.  I was thinkin to myself where in Santa Cruz is the REI.  Then his girlfriend says they picked them up at REI in COLORADO . . . crap.

So I said thanks and ran to catch up to Ern.  I finally caught up to him at the end of the Boardwalk and I was beat.  crap.  I struggled from that point on to keep going.  I finally had to stop at about mile six and ran/walked the rest of the way.  I've had this bruise buggin my left foot for a while now.  It's at the first joint of the second toe.  It gets me limping.  For some reason, it only bugs me this bad on longer runs or when I have my shoes on too tight by the toes.  This time it was combination of both.  On the last mile to the car, I took off my shoes.  That felt a bit better, thought it still had me limping.

Ern finished the run about 8 minutes before I did and he had time to take a dip in the ocean.  He left me a banana on my windshield.  I needed it.  I changed my shoes to my Merrell Trail Gloves to help stretch out he calf and achilles.  That felt real good.  I was runing in the NB Minimus Trail.  I walked a bit towards the beach on Natural Bridges and met Ern putting on his shoes at the visitors center.

After getting back to the cars, we headed over to Zachary's in Downtown SC on Pacific Avenue.  Must go to this if you've never been!  I've tried everything there and it's all incredible food, but the one thing I order all the time there now is Mikes Mess: bacon, mushrooms, eggs, potatoes, topped with cheddar cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, green onions and I always opt for some avocado.  From what I understand the potatoes are a bit special.  They're made with onions, tumeric and some other spices that are kept secret.  Trust me when I say they are worth it.  AND . . . it's a LOT!  I can go through most of it but end up with enough for lunch the next day.  And the coffee they have is fantastic!  It's from the Santa Cruz Roasting Company.  And being that it was a Sunday, I lucked out.  It's my cheat day for the 4-Hour Body.

I dropped 11 pounds the first two weeks and I've been floating a bit since then.  My clothes definitely feel much looser and I've had to punch a few holes in my belt every week.  The weight isn't dropping because I've been building more muscle with the extra running and the kettlebell workouts, but I'm sure seeing it with the way the clothes sit.

I've got a run with my cousin again tonight.  She's supposed to do 2 minute run, 1 minute walk.  She doesn't feel ready for it yet so we're going to try 1 and 1.  I'll let you know how it goes.

GD

p.s.
still didn't check