Great Holiday Run

 We had a great group join us on Christmas Eve morning, about 18 runners braved the cold temps, and we took off just a few minutes right after 7am.  We headed down the alley, went just a bit over a mile, turned around and came back.  We then went all the way up to the Totem Pole before turning back.  We completed 10.2 miles, did it just over 2 and a half hours and hit an average pace of 15:10 mile.

There were quite a few other groups out there, most of them starting from the Totem Pole, and it was great that Rusty and the LA Running Club had water stations set up at the usual spots for everyone, a nice treat.  The run was fairly routine, and everyone did really great....an easy 10.  The only mishap was Erica, one of our runners turned her ankle in the alley, and had to cut short her workout....I hope it wasn't too bad.

We will be meeting next Sat....same place ....same time....so if you're around please come out and join us.  Most of the folks parked in the streets near the school, I ended finding good non-metered parking on Windward..just east of the traffic circle.

I hope everyone had a great holiday...I ended up in San Jose with my family and in-laws...and had a pretty good day of eating and more eating...half watching all the football and basketball games..at least when I wasn't napping on the couch.  It's pretty standard fare....and I guess this is what is considered our tradition now, and especially for my kids, it's what we do every year, and there's nothing wrong with that...in fact I do look forward to it. There are less presents now under the tree, since the kids have all pretty much outgrown the toys....so now it's mainly gift cards and such, but we still gather around...and that's the tradition that's worth continuing.

Have a relaxing week as we head toward the new year....cuz we got some serious running to do right after that.

take care,

Walt

Primordial Ooze

I'm not one to dwell too much on hard luck and bad circumstances, but boy this week has really started off with a wrong step.  I actually hope I'm the only one going through some tough times, but maybe it's a bit more widespread.  It seems to have started after the weekend of the lunar eclipse.....good thing it doesn't come around too often.

In any case, lots of mishaps which started with a "must get there" shipment, which Fedex did not accomplish due to a plane malfunction.  This then led to a multiple series of phone calls, last minute changes, a few mistakes, lots of frustration, long days and nights, and a final hand delivery today. Ironically the non-delivery to New York ended up with a drop off in LA.  And then just when things were finally resolved, I got hit with yet another disappointment due to a mistake made on yet another project. Toughest week I've had in a long time.....and it's only Tuesday.

To put this in perspective...that being the only thing one can do it these situations....no one got injured, no life threatening situations, not even a bruise was sustained....only a lot of pride and a bit of money was lost.  Will I ever work in this town again...probably....will I get over this...of course...I'm just going to try and lay low for a few days.

Now I know that I'm still very fortunate, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few folks out there have it a lot worse, and this being the holiday season, that can really be difficult.  It's like having a bad trip to Hawaii....nothing like trouble in paradise...that really sucks....I know... cause I've had that happen too.

So today, when I did the special hand delivery, I found myself out near the La Brea Tar pits, and I decided I needed a little break from the craziness...I went into the park to look at the primordial ooze....just like it was so many years ago.  The tar and crude is still bubbling there, releasing natural gasses formed from the remains of a civilization long past gone.

  I just needed to take a break and it was good to see something so primal to remind me how infinitesimal our problems can be sometimes. The weird thing is that I crossed the street and there at the corner was all this crude oil bubbling up from the ground.....some DWP guys came by and started to deal with it, so it was interesting that in this day and age, the results of the past are literally still oozing out of the ground.  

One of the guys talked about how there use to be oil derricks throughout LA, but they are still pumping it out of the ground all along the Miracle Mile where we were.

Marina Del Rey

Echo Park

Huntington Beach

I'm not sure what all this means, or what this all adds up to....I just know it's been a while since I've had so many things go wrong in such a short time, but I also know that it's important to not let this stuff overwhelm me.  When things seem like they're out of control, that's when it's important to hunker down and not lose perspective.  I did a lot of apologizing and doing what was necessary to fix things right, and it was important to keep the communication channels open, and it was tough, but I still had to keep things positive.  It's about endurance, and I know I can do that....cuz I'm RW5...and that's we got going.

So as the holiday season comes on down....and if you just aren't feeling the holiday spirit...hang in there...times can me more difficult during these next few weeks, but know that you can keep it going...you can see it through...we're all RW5...and that means a lot.

take care and see you soon,

Walt

Tuff 16

This Sat. was a good tough workout.  We started with about 20 runners, and covered 16.4 miles, did it in 4:13 for an average of 15:21pace.  This wasn't bad at all given the amount of hill work that was done.  Definitely by staying on the North course, we're getting more than our daily requirement of hill training.  But I have a feeling, that even for those who are struggling a bit with this....we are all going to be so much stronger and prepared for the marathon, and we'll be thankful for this bit of hard work.

The morning started fairly chilly, and I kept my light windbreaker on for a bit, but as usual, by about a mile or so into it, I tied it around my waist.  Now that we've gone up to 26th and San Vicente a few times now...I could sense the group's strength and stamina in dealing with this.  Now we just got to keep it going once we get up there.  Doing the golf course loop, is a new diversion, and that we will also get more used to.  Then this week, they threw in the extra mile loop going north on 26th.  This is even more hill work, half a mile up, with a half back down. 

I had to leave the group early during the run.....just as we got into the golf loop, but I did drive the extra loop in the morning just to see what it was like, and there is a bit of climb right in the middle of it...so it sounds like the group hung in there to take care of this.  But don't worry, when we come back from the New Year...I'll get a chance to do this exact run in total.

So don't despair...this stuff is tough, and we'll get better each week as we keep this up, we're getting stronger bit by bit.

So have a great holiday coming up, and try and get some runs in if you're getting out of town, but if not, join us at the flag poles, we'll be there for a few fun runs.

Have a great week,

Walt
 

The Hills have It

Ready to hit those hills

Yesterday, we had about 22 runners join us for pretty tough run.  It started with cold temps, and a nifty lunar eclipse which one got to see heading out in the morning.  We started just a few minutes after 7am and went north.  The idea of the early start was to get going before everyone, and then finish within a reasonable time...and not be the last ones coming in all the time.  I think this worked out fairly well, and even though we got passed by the faster groups, it was actually nice to have company during our runs.

We went just a tick over 15miles, did in just under 4 hours, and averaged just a bit over out target pace.  We did take a bit of a bathroom break before heading up San Vicente, since by going this total north course, we knew there would not be any bathrooms once we headed up the hill. And we definitely got our dose of hill work.  Once we got up to the top at 26th St., we continued all the way to Bundy, which was basically flat with just a bit of downhill, and then proceed right and circumnavigate the golf course up there.  By extending the route with this south loop, we added a bit over 3 miles, to get the full 15. What was most interesting is that this was new territory for all of us, and even though there were a few hills thrown in, this was a very nice quiet residential neighborhood. 

A sunny day in the neighborhood

We saw quite a few great estates, and I guess this was officially the Brentwood area, but I liked the idea of going into an area we've never been before.  It was a nice diversion, and once we came back onto San Vicente, all we had to do was to head back downhill and finish the run.  I'm not suggesting it was an easy day...I was totally beat and sore by that night, and the bottoms of my feet were very sore, in fact I do believe it's time to switch to a new pair of shoes, this pair has seen it's day.  The fact that it did warm up a bit, but remained cool enough, did help, and I felt that even though the group was very tired at the end, we stuck together enough and really had a great workout. These are the kind of days where I feel we really elevate our ability and performance...to finish well in spite of a tough day.

Exploring new frontiers

We'll be heading up to the top quite a few more times, so I'm sure we'll just get more used to it, and for those who missed it...don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunity to join us for some nice tough workouts.

Keep up the good work,

Walt

Way Too Cold

This week, the mornings have been way too cold.  I did get out, but boy was that a chilly morning. It took me 20 mins. of running to warm up, and that was with a windbreaker on.  Hope you folks are doing okay too. I have to admit, I wasn't able to get a second run in...just couldn't do it.  I know that's a bad example for the group....but I have to be honest...it was just too darn cold.  Plus my week has been a bit busier, wrapping up my classes, and spending a few more hours with the students as final projects are coming due.

So this weekend, remember we're meeting a half hour earlier...try to get to the school around 6:30am...do your bathroom thing, and meet at the flag poles by 6:45am.  We'll do some warmup stretches and then start running by 7am.  If it's going to be as cold as I think, then we're not going to wait around for any late comers.  We will start off heading NORTH right away.  We'll be going all the way up San Vicente and 26th...then continue onward to Bundy, and then do a new loop, making a right and going around some golf course before heading back down.  This is something new for all of us. We'll be going for a 15 mile run.

Now if you've been behind a bit, that's okay...come out and join us for a partial run, and see how far you can go, and then take it easy heading back.  I would say try and keep up with us for the first 4 miles or so and then take your time heading back...that would still count as an 8 mile loop.

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A week or so ago, my youngest daughter, Anna, injured her knee again while practicing for basketball.  She's 16, and has played basketball since she's been 7, and in the last few years, this knee has been a problem.  I believe this is the third time she's dislocated it.  It's nothing real serious....it just pops out, and resets itself...but painful and this means she's out again from playing.   As a sophomore, she had made the Varsity, and the season was just about to start.  She did play during the preseason, and did very well, but this will set her back.....again.

But because of all the physical therapy from the last time....the recovery seems a bit faster this time....so it's still too early to tell, but hopefully it won't be too prolonged. I told the coach that if she wanted to replace Anna...that would be okay...because it's too hard to know if she'll recover in time to play this season.  The entire team was also scheduled to play a special tournament in San Diego during the Christmas break, and it's a great chance for the girls to bond since they all spend a few nights together in a hotel.  I also wasn't sure if Anna would go, since she wouldn't be playing that soon. But the coach said...of course she wanted Anna to go...she's part of the team, and she's not interested in replacing her.

I really appreciated this sentiment, and I told Anna...who is obviously frustrated by her condition, and a bit low in enthusiasm...but I told her....it's not all about her, it's about the team, and this sense of spirit and bonding is important...the team has to stick together...regardless of her  condition. I'm not sure if Anna will get all this, and there is no telling when she'll be back to full form...but I hope things will all work out.

I know that a few of our runners are also struggling to get back into full form for our group too, and some may be able to get there, and there may be some who won't... but know that just by trying, there is always the chance, if not this time, perhaps some other time.  I guess that's the lesson I'd like my daughter to learn...is that she has to keep trying, and get stronger.  Basketball may not be the best sport for her...due to her knee issue....maybe she can try the swim team, a sport with less physical stress....but I feel it's important at here age to be involved with a team sport.

Running may not seem like a team sport..since the marathon is such an individual effort...but the group runs which we do seem to transcend that...and in that way...we bond with each other. This may be a bit of a stretch..but I learned something from the basketball coach this week, and I hope that I can someway get that sense of group across to my daughter, and to our RW5.  It's something worth striving for...

See you there early,

Walt

Mile 9 - Feeling Fine

Mary brings the crew home

Beautiful day at the beach

This Sat. we had 25 runners, and even though it was a bit chilly in the morning, it warmed up a bit, but didn't get too hot. It was a great day to do the recovery run, and the group stayed tight all the way.

We covered our 9 miles and came in on pace.  We went North and turned around at 10th Street and San Vicente.  The major announcement this week is that we'll be using the North course as our primary route.  In the past, as we built up the mileage, we would use both the north and south courses to accommodate the distance, but because of the lack of volunteers and staff, this has limited the number of water stations. So the decision is to keep it all going in the same direction.  Some of the longer runs will involve looping around 26th and San Vicente and in this way, everyone is never too far from a water station, which is also a safety issue, in that the water stations also serve as medical stations, and if folks get injured, the people at the water station can pick up and transport folks back.
  
Now the other news is that RW5 will start meeting earlier from now on.  Starting this coming Sat. Dec. 10, we will meet at the flagpoles at 6:45am, and start our run at 7am. So try and get to the school by 6:30am, use the bathroom and head directly to the flagpoles.  We will head North and follow the course as listed. 

The only time when there is an exception to this schedule is if it's raining or been raining, and to avoid a muddy path up San Vicente, we will all head South.  Sometimes this decision will not be made till Sat. so always try to be on time. 

It's very important from now on to keep up with your weekly workouts...the mileage is going up, and everyone has to really commit to keeping up.  If it starts to get  cold, windy, or wet....try and scope out an alternate plan to do your workout indoors, even if that means spending time on an treadmill....it's better than nothing. You should be running at least twice a week...averaging about 45 min. workout each time.  No workout on Fridays...that's when you should rest up for the weekend.

RW5 will still meet as a group before Christmas and New Years, even though the school will be closed.  The trick is to find street parking near the start....just be sure to double check the signs as far as legal parking.  We know many folks may be gone for the holidays, but if you're around, come down and join us.  More details as we get near.

have a great week,

Walt

A Great Half

This Sat. it was a very unusual morning in regards to the weather.  Depending on which way you came to Venice, it was either pouring rain coming over from the valley, or totally dry coming from downtown.  In either case, the dark storm clouds hugged the coastline, but as we got set to run, it just started to breakup and eventually cleared for a great cool day of running.

We started with about 26 runners, and we did 13.2 miles, covered it with an average pace just a tick over 15min/mile and took about 3 hours and 20 min.  The big issue was that we did it the hard way, by going all the way up San Vicente to 26th street.  This route means that a major portion of the workout is going up hill. Everyone did very well, and we had a nice tight group at the finish, and this included people who had not trained much prior to this, people who had slight hip or leg issues, and people who just had to work a bit harder to stay with the group.

It was great just to get the half marathon distance done, we know there is a lot more to go, but it just feels good to reach this significant point.

Esther, Walt, Josie - 510 Grant Ave. S.F.

510 Grant Ave. today

Among the stories covered during this run was a story from my childhood, which was a bit involved, but ultimately it was about being able to go back home and revisit your old stomping grounds.  In my case it was a small park in San Francisco's Chinatown, and a few years ago, it was amazing to see how small it seems now and how the hill we would roll down is this little bump. 

I always believed that it's important to remember where we came from, whether it was good or bad, because it's a good gauge to see how far we've gone. As some of us head back to home or families for Thanksgiving, it might be a good time to revisit the old stomping grounds.  Either way, have a great time.

The group will be meeting as usual next weekend, so enjoy your holiday, but try to keep it reasonable, and if you will be out of town, just bring your running shoes, and do the best you can.  The group will be going for 14 miles, so it's more important to get some kind of run in, even if it's not the total distance, but just try and get some workout in.

Have a great Thanksgiving, I know I have a lot to be thankful for....

Walt

Short and Sweet

Academy of Entertainment and Technology, SMC

I found out tonight I got the teaching position at Santa Monica College!  I am more than beside myself with relief that I got this position.  I thank all those who were wishing me positive thoughts about this.  I tried to be positive, and though it might seem a bit much to put so much of my personal struggles and stories in these emails, I somehow hope you don't mind too much.  I thank you for your patience with me in regards to this.

For me, it's always been a challenge to do what I think is right and to try and live my dreams. I truly believe that if I can have the vision, I can attain the goal.  I believe in taking the time and figuring out what it takes, and to do what is necessary to create the foundation and do the work that is required to get what it is that I want.  I do the research and the analysis to do what I believe needs to be done.  I have been teaching in some respect for as long as I can imagine, and find that I really do enjoy sharing ideas with others.  I have been working on getting a job like this for a long time, patiently waiting for the right door to open.  This was not an accident, this was a calculated outcome....I just didn't know where or when it was going to happen.  I've been preparing for this position my entire life.

We all have to train and work towards our goals if we truly want to get there....we have to do our workouts, we have to improve our mind and body to be ready for it, and finally we have to be willing to stick out necks out and dare to believe in ourselves.  I had my doubts on this one, and I was in a mild depression and funk when I didn't think I did well in the last interview, but the person who called me told me I impressed everyone in the room, except for the President guy.....but one of the faculty members, really fought for me, and he was convinced. 

I basically did a very good job in the first interview, when I gave my 30 min. presentation on how I would teach an intro editing class, and they were very impressed.  I had really prepared and rehearsed for that and it paid off.  I paid a lot attention to detail and I guess I nailed it.

I hope we can all participate in the LA Marathon this coming spring, and I know if we all make the effort to train and prepare together, we will all be successful.  All it takes is some vision, a bit of heart, and a lot of faith....yes we can.

thanks to you all,

Walt

Half Way There

This Sat. we'll be going for our 13 miler....in fact, we'll try to hit at least 13.1 miles, because that would be exactly a Half Marathon.  Yes, we have already gotten there.  This is a great accomplishment, and you don't want to miss it.  Even if you've been a bit behind, come on out and even if you did a partial run, you can still be part of our main group that went for the Half.

What makes this a good challenge and one to savor is that it'll be done on the North course, so we got some hills to climb, but that's how we like it.  So please be on time, if not early, because we'll first start off by heading South through the alley to Washington, just to get warmed up, then head North all the way to the Totem Pole, take a right up Adelaide, right on 7th, and then a left onto San Vicente.  We head all the way up to 26th Street before turning back down. 

Just so you know, we'll be doing this a few more times, and the good thing is that, when we come back down on San Vicente from 26th street, this is in actuality the last 2 some miles of the LA Marathon finish....so this is our home court advantage.  Learn to love it, because it'll be our home stretch in more ways than not.

So remember, join us even if you're a bit behind, and do the best you can, it'll be a great workout either way.  Don't be late, because I'm going to push for us to start a bit earlier at the flagpoles, I don't want to be the last group out.  If you miss us, we'll be heading down the alley towards Washington.
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Whoville

This last weekend, after I had a tough time getting through our 12 miler, my whole family got up early on Sunday, and we did a fun run at Universal Studios and did a 5K as part of their benefit run for a cancer charity.  It was pretty fun, even though there are some wicked hills back there, we got to go through the entire back lot including Amnityville, the phony Mexican town (thank goodness they didn't turn on the water) , past Spartacas square, Euro town, western town, past the Bates Hotel, Wisteria Lane..home of the Desperate Housewives, and a whole bunch more.  Check out my blog to see pictures.

Scary scene at the Bates Motel...he came after us.

Mother's House

Then I had my second big interview with Santa Monica college.  This was a good tough interview with the top administrators, of which there were 5 people.  I was one of three finalist, so I feel good that I made it that far, but in all honesty, I felt pretty bad after the interview.  I felt I did the best I could, and if left up to at least 3 of the 5 folks, I think I might actually have a shot, but the last guy, the President of the College did not seem so impressed.
One can never know, one can never second guess these situations, so I'm just going to secretly wish for it to come true, but I'm trying to keep a pragmatic view that there are always reasons why things don't go the way we want, which we can't have any control over.

I imagine, I won't hear any word for at least two weeks, but I'll be sure to let you folks know as soon as I do.  In any case, it was a great experience going through the process, and confirms my desire to seek other teaching positions if this does not net out.

A family that runs together.....get very sore.

I'm into this for the long run.....no matter how many obstacles come my way......now you know why running marathons can be so much fun....

see you guys early,

Walt

Ebb and Flow

Cool start heading South

 Saturday started off pretty cold, and there was a constant threat of rain overhead throughout the morning, but a solid group of 26 runners came out to run...rain or shine.

We did our full 12 miles, did it in 3 hours for a near perfect pace of 15 min/mile.  On the way back, there were a few drops of rain here and there, but it never really opened up even though the rain clouds were looming overhead.  This also made for near perfect running conditions with the cool air temps.

Mothers' Beach

This being the first time the group has gone the South course, we took a bit of a bathroom break at Mothers' Beach, as I related a bit of the historical significance of the local area. Since this was a lot longer than we have ever gone, I just told the group let's just go 6 miles and then turn around and come back.


I find it helps to break down a run like this into smaller chunks, and if you can think of it that way, it's a lot easier to mentally overcome it.  Our 6 mile turnaround was just along Ballona Creek, and it was lovely this time of year.


During the run, whenever I started to fade a bit, and this was a tough one for me, because this past week I actually had to paint an entire office, and lay down some new flooring....I was pretty sore and tired, I knew I had to do something to keep myself going and to help the group out too.  So when in doubt, tell a good story, and I did so, about three times. 

A Man and His Manor

My stories this week was about some special people I had the chance to work with, and the circumstances of those special moments.  It's a bit too much to repeat all that here, but my point of the stories was that there are times when opportunities and circumstances are such that we realize how privileged we are to be there, and for me I told about those moments.  The first was about working on a tv series, and a very moving scene involving Esther Rolle, and how the entire cast and crew were left breathless, the second was about being in England with Audrey Hepburn and how elegant and wonderful a person she was, and finally the third story was about working with a few of my film heroes, all in one studio...Akira Kurasawa, George Lucas, and Francis Coppola.

On set with Audrey Hepburn...Gardens of the World

Surprise Birthday greeting from Audrey

It may seem like a Entertainment Tonight type moment, but it really wasn't, in all cases, it was something very unique and special.  I have a few more stories left in me, so don't feel bad if you missed these, but it really helped me get through the 12 miler.


With the highs come the lows...as we finished our run, I brought Patricia into the circle, and for those who may not know her, she is the one usually right at the front with the short hair, and her husband is Jamie, the tall guy who is also one of our PLs, and I shared with everyone that she had just lost her mother the day before.  Her mother, whom Patricia was caring for, had passed away, quietly in their home, she was 89 years old.  

Jamie had told me that morning that he wanted Patricia to come out and run with us, because he didn't want her to be alone, and I believe this was a very good decision. This is not the first time we have had runners in our group lose close ones, and it's good to know that just this act of running with a group, to get outside and work it out a bit, can be so therapeutic.  It has worked for me many times.
 
Family can be described and interpreted in different ways, and it may be a bit early for some of us, but I feel there is a lot of family in RW5.
We all got together for a group hug with Patricia, and it's moments like this when you realize how special this all can be.



have a great week,


Walt

Even Dozen

Ballona Creek Bike Path

This Sat. we'll be going for 12 miles.  It just seems like it was only yesterday that we started this season and here we are already up to 12 miles.  Since we'll all be heading South, not sure if they'll let the RW groups start earlier by heading north first or not.  So don't be late just in case.

The good news is that the South course is all flat and that might make it a bit better since we only did 9 miles last week.  And at this point, it's hard to know what the weather will be like, so just to be safe, bring an extra set of dry clothes and leave that in your car for after the run.

Basically, we'll head South and just go 6 miles out, turn around and head back.  This will mean we'll get as far as Ballona creek, and basically the South route is always interesting, because we go through a variety of areas.

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This week, a bunch of stuff happened..,.mostly good, some even great. For me the main thing is that I'm a finalist for this job I've interviewed for and that interview is coming up on Monday.  This is for a teaching position at Santa Monica College.  Will give more updates as this unfolds.  So thanks for all the positive thoughts from last time, and I'll be needing a few more to help me through this next stage.

But the other good news, is that if you remember from an earlier post, I was able to get a few of my former students an interview for a job at an ad agency, and the woman who got the job, my former student, got it because I believed she had a much more interesting personality.  I just got a call from the producer at that agency, who did the hiring, is now telling me how much everyone is so loving her, and how well she is doing.  On top of that the other reason he called was to basically give me a commercial to cut, and this is after about a year and a half of no calls or no jobs from this producer.  Things happen in strange ways.

This brings me to the conversation I had with a young producer (28 ish) who asked me how did I balance my life and career, my decision to have kids, and whether that changed my outlook on my life and decisions I made at that time.  I'm not going to go into my entire answer here, since we'll have to be able to get up early for the Sat. run....but....I did answer her, and it did take a while, but what was more interesting to me was why did she want to know.  Basically, she was getting frustrated with trying to figure out her own career path, and at this moment, could not see a clear goal, and what she thought she had wanted to do....being a filmmaker....was being clouded by the "disingenuous" people she had met in the business, and the struggles she was going through.  She related stories of how people she had dealt with all seemed to either be struggling or those who had jobs, had to work around the clock just to keep up, and perhaps not loving their jobs.

I wouldn't describe this person as being lazy, or not hard working, because she does work hard, I just basically told her, this is the way of the world.  We all struggle and we all have to work hard, and how I didn't always know my end goal, but basically I knew that I only wanted to work with good people...I really didn't care about the type of work per se, but more about the working environment.  Perhaps I was just fortunate, but I was able to pick and choose my way through my so called career, and if there was any clear goal was that I only wanted to work with good people and do good work.

I tell my students, never work for money, because then all you have is a job, work for the love of the art and craft of what you can create, and you'll have a career.

This is not to say I didn't have tough times or never worked for "disingenuous" people, I've had my share, but I made it a point to keep moving forward.  My only advice to her was that sometimes, it's okay not to have a clear vision, and that you have to try this and that till you formulate a better one, but the key is to keep moving forward, and to keep at it.

I feel we do have a say and we can plot our destiny, if anything, attributing things to fate is only an excuse, and then it's just a matter of figuring a work around, but to keep moving towards better things.  It's worked well for me so far.

So as we go and tackle this 12 miler, it's longer than we have ever gone, it's going to a place some of us have never been, but we know how we're going to do it, just keep moving forward, and I know we'll be doing it in the company of great people.

see you early,

Walt

Cool and Dry

Clear cold morning Santa Monica

This past Sat. it was definitely a cold morning, but it was dry down at the beach.  We had 28 runners, and we opted to do a full 9 miler, instead of the recommended 8, since next week, we'll be jumping up to 12miles.  The group stayed tight and finished with a very tight 14:59 mile pace. The group started South, turned at Washington and back up all the way to the Totem Pole, and then back. Both Mary and I missed the run, Mary was out of town with family, and I was working the first water station as part of the plan for all the PLs to do at least one shift during the training.

Looking North to the SM Pier

It was great to take care of the water, and to see all the groups come by, and this includes the Leggers who also run the same course.  I've helped out at water stations at other races and there is such satisfaction when you feel you're really helping these folks along.  I would recommend it if you ever have the chance, just to see the types of people out there running, and having been on both sides of the table, you realize how much more a small cup of water can mean during a race, especially when there are people out there handing them out.

300 cups filled and ready

RW5 heading North

 As we get into the winter months, I know how cold those mornings can get and how even more difficult it is to get out for your weekday runs.  But as we start building up that mileage, we all need to get out and do our runs.  If it's really miserable and wet, yes, that may not be worth it to chance getting a cold, so see if you can come up with some back up plan now to at least use a treadmill, or some other kind of aerobic exercise, such as a stationary bike, or swimming.  I too have that problem, and I know how hard it is to leave a warm bed and get out into the cold.  I can't run with too many layers, so I sometimes will put on light gloves, and I always run with a hat, and that at least keep the extremities warm.  I find that as soon as I get going, I warm up pretty well, and what's worse is to have too many layers, work up a sweat and then do the cool down and really get cold because I'm wet and it's cold out there.  So the best thing is to keep running till you get back to the house, or the car and have a dry warm sweatshirt to put on.  It's important to stay healthy as we get into these winter months.

Keep up the good work, and see you on Sat.

Walt

RW5 heading home

Great 10...do it again.

Halloween Snack bag courtesy of PL Nancy

We had a great 10 miler this weekend, we had 34 runners, we did 10.24 miles, kept a good 15:09 pace and finished in a bit over 2.5 hours.  It started very cold, but warmed up quickly and didn't get overly hot, so it turned out to be a great day to take on the 10 miles.  We did our usual south start, and then got all the way up Adelaide St. and 7th, before turning back.  The core group stayed tight the whole way, and I'm feeling that our group is really coming along. 

We still get a few folks joining in, which is fine, and I believe a few are still trying out the other groups, but we seem to be getting a good group about 30 runners every week, which is a great bunch.

Just to be sure everyone was doing ok, I took a 2 min. breather at the totem pole before we went up further, and we'll do these adjustments depending on the day, the weather, and how the overall group is doing.  We started up Adelaide with two intervals of 1/1s just to get everyone warmed up for the hills, eventually, we won't need these breathers, or the 1/1s. 

We'll be taking on more hills and more distance as we continue, and it's obvious that if you skip a training run during the week, you'll pay for it during our Sat. runs.  So please keep up the weekday work, it's really important in maintaining this training program.

Now next week, we're going to drop back to 8 miles, which is considered a recovery run, from the 3 weeks of progressive build up.  But what this means is that when we come back the following week, the mileage will be set at 12 miles, and we'll build up again from there for 3 wks, then get a recovery run, and continue building. 

I know we'll all do well, and as a group, we will do whatever is necessary to help all of us get through this, but you must keep up your weekday workouts, or you may start falling behind.
 
After the run, little halloween snack bags were given out to our group, and thanks to Nancy our PL for coordinating all this, it was a great treat to have, and I really needed those peanuts during the drive home.

Now on Sunday, a few runners did the Rock n Roll half in downtown LA, and sounds like it got quite hot.  So congrats to those who took it on, and good to know that next week we have a nice short 8 miler to recover with.




Keep up the good work,
Walt

Big Ten

 This weekend we'll be going out for our Big Ten run, that's 10 miles of satisfying work.  We'll meet at the school by 7am, should be at the flagpoles and ready to run by 7:15am.  As in the past we will head South first down the Alley, hang a right turn at Washington, and double back heading North.

To make the full 10, my calculations, using the nifty www.mapmyrun.com site would take us all the way to the Totem pole, and then we'll take a right and head up one of the nicest streets in the area, Adelaide, and then if we get up to about 7th street and then back down on San Vicente, by the time we get back to the flagpoles, we should be good for 10 miles.

Up on the hills of Adelaide Street

 I like the 10 miler, it's a good number, a bit tough with the hills, but yet very satisfying at the finish, Hakuna Matata.....that's our motto.....what's a motto....I don't know...whatsamatta with you.... sorry...you would get it if you had kids too.

Anyway, if you haven't gotten your water belt together, at least remember to bring some kind of supplement for the run....a energy bar, some gels like GU....and who knows if it'll be warm or not, but be prepared.

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These past few days, I've been feeling a bit run down, a bit of stress, and interesting enough, a touch of anger thrown in.  Not sure what I was angry about, it wasn't about another person, but I felt something brewing underneath, maybe it was just a mentally tough week, and this was the by product.  So a good brisk morning run was the antidote.  I pushed it a bit...trying to sweat these stress toxins out of the system, and it pretty much worked.  So now I'm just tired and sluggish....but at least I'm not mad anymore.  

So if you got to chill you mind down, ease up on the road rage, back down from the edge, go take a run, and get yourself sorted out....it's a lot better than going for that Fatburger.

see you early,

Walt

Cool and the Gang

We had 34 runners with us this Sat. and we had a nice foggy morning, which kept things cool. We did our full 9 miles, did it in about 2hr. 20 min. and averaged around a 15:20 pace, which is about right as we are definitely into our hill work.

We started as usual heading south to Washington down the alley, came back up along the Strand, and then continued north up the Santa Monica ramp, taking our full 2 min. run, but taking it easy, and Peggy called two 1/1 intervals at the top to let everyone recover a bit, and we kept it going till we hit the Totem Pole.  We did the turnaround and made it back to the start without incident.

The only tricky thing is that even though the fog stayed around for the full run, and that kept us pretty cool, the added moisture in the air still made for a denser air, and that can sometimes make for a bit more work.

I believe we are settling into a nice group sense, we're averaging about 30 plus folks every week, and even though we still are getting some new runners joining us, and a few shift in and out, I have a feeling the group is starting to come together.  This sense of group is an important one as we start building the mileage.  We all know it's easier to get things done when there are more people to help, and even though in running, it's really an individual effort, by running within a group, this effort is shared.  Even though we are not moving that fast, there is some advantage to the aerodynamics of the two-by-two lineup, by keeping everyone in line, and a tight formation, we act as a unit, and by being inside this unit there is a physical and definitely psychological pull that helps keep everyone moving together.

This is also why I rotate our pace PL at the front every several miles, to keep the lead person fresh, it's quite a responsibility to keep a steady pace, and to keep track of the intervals. But the other reason to rotate people around is so that we all get to know each other a bit more.  I don't expect that we can all be BFFs because we happen to be running together, but on the other hand, don't be surprised if a special bond develops because of what we about to go through.

On Sunday night I dropped off my oldest daughter back at her dorm in Irvine.  She had come home this weekend just to visit, and to do her huge basket of laundry. It's always good to have her back, and it's great to see her and her sister get back together the way they've always been, to hear the laughter and the hours they sit and watch their favorite tv shows.  So far she seems to be handling the college life well, she did good on one of her first midterms, and she gets along with her roommate. The roommate does go home every weekend, since she lives not far from campus, so the weekends are quiet.  My daughter has met a few other folks in her unit, but I don't think it's quite up to the hanging around type of friendship yet.  So when I helped her carry that large laundry basket up to her room, I felt the emptiness of the room, and I couldn't help feel a bit lonely for her. 

I didn't want to project my own sensibility, so we hugged, said goodbye, and I left without looking back.  I couldn't help feeling sad on the drive back, and I had the same feeling I had when I used to drop her off at pre-school, and even though she didn't cry then when I left, I'm not sure if I felt more insecure than she did back then. 

We all learn to adapt, and we all have to move on, whether it's just a matter of making it up that next hill or finishing a tough 9 mile run, we learn from each step we take and we know we'll be fine when it's done, but boy....sometimes it does take your breath away getting there.

Have a great week, get your runs done,

Walt

Local Time

I had to miss this week's run because I was going out of town. Not to gloat, but I'm sitting in my hotel room in Wakiki, having some coffee and just finished off my second malasada from Leonard's.  More on that later.

The purpose of this short trip is to attend the Hawaiian International Film Festival (HIFF) because a documentary which I edited will be screening this afternoon.  My producer/director, Carol Liu directed this doc in China, and the following link will give you all the information about the film.  http://www.restoringthelight.com ; Carol submitted the film to the festival and it got picked up, plus we are nominated for competition in the feature length doc category and that allowed them to sponsor both her and I to fly over and be put up in a neat hotel right on the Waikiki strip.

Sheraton Waikiki - great view towards Diamond Head...but not from my room.

Friday morning I was up at 5am, on the road by 6 and taking off on Hawaiian Air by 9am PST.  Arrived in Honolulu local time about 11:35, got a rental car and drove right into a downpour heading to the hotel.  By the time I parked and got set up, the skies had cleared into the standard postcard Hawaii everyone expects (see above).  I hung out for awhile, met a few other filmmakers and then drove over to the festival site at the former Dole cannery which now has an 18 screen multiplex just past Chinatown.

My true partial ocean view

On the way there got a bit mixed up, made a few funny turns and got immediately pulled over by a local cop...I pleaded ignorance, totally lost, and he just said take it easy brah and we were good.  Even the cops in Paradise can me nice.

Made it to the screening of the first film on my list barely in time, and watched a very interesting and intriguing doc titled "Marathon Boy" from India.  The best part about being in a film festival, is all the films one gets to see...for free.  This was an amazing doc about a 3 year old slum kid, who gets bought and sold to a local judo instructor, who ends up realizing this little boy can run forever.  By the time he is four, he had completed 48 marathons.  By the time he is 8, he had left his foster dad, gone back to his birth mom in the slums, and stopped running.  Very strange but interesting story.

I followed that by two more films, all shot and made by the local independent film community, and all very rich and full of great stories.  "6B" and "Paradise Broken".  The theater was packed and both these films were very well received by the local audience.  I was able to hook up with some old friends from the many years of coming to Hawaii, and it was good to see their work. 

By the time I got back to the hotel, it was around midnight local time (3am PST) so roughly a 20 hour stint. 

This morning, knowing the Roadrunners were heading up to the Totem Pole, I too was up at 6am local time and proceeded to do a very nice workout up to Diamond Head.  It was only about a 5.5 mile loop down Waikiki strip, past Kaipiolani Park, the Zoo, and then up to Diamond Head.  I didn't drop down to the other side, but took my time, took a few shots, and then headed back down and took the long way back along Ala Wai canal.

Running past Kaipiolani Park

Waikiki at 6:30am looking back to my Hotel

view from the top

Not quite the same as the Totem Pole

Ala Wai Canal - great running path

Traditional Canoes

Not haven eaten much in the last 24 hours, I had a strong hankering for some local food, so showered and headed right out to Rainbow Drive In and had a LocoMoco.  It's quite an indulgence, but what the heck...I'm in Hawaii.  For those who never had a proper plate lunch in Hawaii, a LocoMoco starts with a plate of steamed rice, covered with two hamburger patties totally drenched in their special brown gravy, and then this is topped with two fried eggs, and finally finished with a side of macaroni salad, JA style (japanese american).  

And then to add insult to injury, I drove up the block to Leonards and ordered a dozen malasadas...Portuguese fried balls of sweetbread dough, covered with plenty of sugar.  I had two and will bring the rest to the hardworking volunteers in the festival office.

I think I'm only going to concentrate on our film screening today, and afterwards, I made reservations at a local bar and grill...Home Bar and grill... which are famous for their tatertot nachos.

Okay, so if you haven't figured it out by now...in Hawaii, it's all about the locals.  These are native folks, not only the indigenous Hawaiians, but a lot of the Asian mix of Chinese, Japanese, Koreans and even the haoles who were born and raised in Hawaii.  They are always very cognizant of the "mainlanders" who come over and innocently say they are from the States, and even though the main industry is tourism on this island, there is still a lot about this local culture that is so specific and so richly intermixed, that most non-locals may miss it.

Because of the time I spent over here in the past, coming to the film festival, doing some teaching at the UH during the summers, it's always nice to come back and have a plate lunch, or talkstory with some old friends....hanging out with the locals.

I've got to get going....supposed to meet my producer over a bowl of udon....can't miss that.

mahalo,

Walt