For Memorial Day weekend, we flew to Chicago. May 29th was my dad's 59th and Joshua's 2nd birthday. My mom threw a BBQ party for them. Dimple and I got a couple of runs in through suburban Buffalo Grove's many municipal parks, as well as a 6-miler through the Forest Preserve which we both greatly enjoyed.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Oxnard Strawberry Festival
On May 20th, Dimple and I took Josh to Oxnard's Strawberry Festival. This is a huge event with lots of entertainment, food, drinks, arts, crafts, and everything strawberry. We had strawberry cake, chocolate covered strawberries, strawberry smoothies, strawberry kabobs, and even strawberry beer. Josh had a lot of fun, in particular while drinking his smoothie while dancing to a blues band, and when it was time to go we had to drag him out, kicking and screaming.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Malibu Creek Trail Challenge
I had been looking forward to and training for the 14-Mile Malibu Creek Trail Challenge all season. This was to be my first competitive event at a distance of half-marathon and above. Finally May 13th rolled around.
I had been sick most of the previous week, and was still congested. Dimple pleaded with me not to run the race, but I felt that I was good to go and I promised her that I would take things easy.
I woke up at 5:00AM, showered, had breakfast: some buckwheat waffles topped with frozen berries that I warmed up on the stovetop with honey and butter, and a cup of strong green tea. I finished my preparations, and started hydrating myself with water. I decided to bring only a single-bottle waist-pack with a 22-oz bottle filled with Gatorade Rain, with the idea that there will be fluids on the course. I was out the door at 6:30 and arrived at Malibu Creek State Park, in Calabasas around 7:00. I warmed up by jogging from the car to the check-in and back again, then used the rest room, and jogged to the starting line. It was 7:30. After making the runners wait around for about 10 minutes, the starting horn went off.
I had heard that while the first seven miles where demanding, the second half was mostly downhill. My strategy was to expend 75% effort in the first half, where we would gain 2000-2500 feet of elevation, and coast for the rest.
The race started out at a good pace with everyone in good spirits. I saw a guy running barefoot, which didn't seem like a good idea considering that much of the race was spent running on jagged rocks, but he said that it was "good for the chi". To each his own.
By mile 2.5, we made our way to the base of the Bulldog trail, the steepest and most feared portion of the course: 3 straight miles of uphill with a 2000 foot elevation gain. Within a half mile, most participants were walking. I had pre-run this portion, so I was pretty confident. I spent most of the Bulldog running 75% of the time and power hiking 25%. I was passing people left and right. Most were doing 25% running and 75% walking. I was working hard, puffing, and tiring myself out but I figured as soon as I get to the top of Bulldog, I'll be alright.
The Bulldog ends at the Castro Crest, which came up at mile 5.5. Boy, was I glad to get there. At the start of the race, we were promised the Crest would be sunny, with beautiful views of Malibu and the Pacific Ocean. Boy, were they off the mark. It was so foggy, you couldn't see for 50 feet. The trail turned into a downhill, and I took it rather hard. Because of the speed and difficult footing, I was starting to feel hotspots on my feet. I decided to stop and re-tie my shoelaces, hoping that would help. It didn't. My feet were starting to feel pretty banged up from the downhill pounding on the rocks.
At mile 6.5, there was an aid station at the Corral Canyon parking lot. I was feeling very tired, but I figured the rest of the race would be a breeze. 90 minutes had gone by from the start, and I was half-thinking of calling Dimple, who was meeting me at the finish, to let her know I would finish in less than an hour. At this point, I made a critical error. I failed to refill my water bottle, which was about two-thirds empty.
The fog got thicker; visibility down to about 20 feet. The trail was also more difficult to make out since we were at the ridge and there was little vegetation and thus little to mark a trail. I was desperately trying to stay within sight of the person ahead of me to avoid getting off the trail, or even falling off a cliff.
I was starting to worry about my fluids, as the aid station at mile 8 turned out to be just a medical station with no water available. I only had about 3oz left, and I knew I'd have to make due with this for four more miles.
The gentle downhill I was hoping for actually turned into steep up-and-downhill rocky trail. An intense tiredness took over me. The steep downhills were killing my feet, and I could no longer run the uphills. Many of the people I passed on the Bulldog were starting to pass me. Around mile 7, a bunch of people bunched up on a single-track trail.
Running with the group gave me a lift. We hit mile 10 at exactly 2 hours into the race. By that point, I had an overwhelming feeling of hunger coming deep from my core. In the pack, the conversation turned to pancakes and other food. It was too much. Soon the single-track turned into wide trail, and the pack broke up. I had a small energy bar, which I tried to eat, but couldn't stomach due to the fact that I didn't have any water left.
The next mile was very long. Out of water and very hungry, with my joints pounded on the steep downhills, and my feet burning up on the uneven footing, I found myself walking more than running. My problem was now my walking muscles were starting to ache as well. I started to run to rest from the walking followed by walk to rest from the running. I continued to alternate until I heard traffic from the Malibu Canyon highway, signaling that the aid station was close.
At the aid station, at mile 12, I filled up on water and Gatorade. Refreshed, I set out onto the short stretch on the highway to cross over Malibu Creek. At this point, my hamstring cramped up. I had to stop right on the road until the pain subsided, as I couldn't walk or run. The cramp came back a few minutes later, and I had to take it easy for the rest of the flat.
The last hill started at mile 13. The hill was tough, so I spent much of it walking. It seemed like the top of the hill would never come, but soon enough, it did. Knowing that I only had a half-mile left to go, I picked up the pace, and took the (thankfully) gentle downhill as hard as I could. As I turned to the finish, I saw Dimple and Josh cheering me on. I crossed the finish line at around 2 hours, 44 minutes according to the big clock at the finish. (Later, I found out that my official time was 2:41:55, meaning that the clock was a few minutes off.) After 14 miles of steep, rocky trails and approximately 3500 feet of elevation gain and loss, I was finally done.
As soon as I crossed the finish line, I took off my shoes and socks and poured water on my burning feet. Luckily, the anti-blister socks I was wearing worked and I had no blisters the next day. I did have a couple of bloody toenails though.
The following week, I registered for the Bulldog Run, a 25K in August that follows the same route but adds a couple more miles.
Here are some photos of Josh waiting for me at the finish:
Here is me finishing:
I had been sick most of the previous week, and was still congested. Dimple pleaded with me not to run the race, but I felt that I was good to go and I promised her that I would take things easy.
I woke up at 5:00AM, showered, had breakfast: some buckwheat waffles topped with frozen berries that I warmed up on the stovetop with honey and butter, and a cup of strong green tea. I finished my preparations, and started hydrating myself with water. I decided to bring only a single-bottle waist-pack with a 22-oz bottle filled with Gatorade Rain, with the idea that there will be fluids on the course. I was out the door at 6:30 and arrived at Malibu Creek State Park, in Calabasas around 7:00. I warmed up by jogging from the car to the check-in and back again, then used the rest room, and jogged to the starting line. It was 7:30. After making the runners wait around for about 10 minutes, the starting horn went off.
I had heard that while the first seven miles where demanding, the second half was mostly downhill. My strategy was to expend 75% effort in the first half, where we would gain 2000-2500 feet of elevation, and coast for the rest.
The race started out at a good pace with everyone in good spirits. I saw a guy running barefoot, which didn't seem like a good idea considering that much of the race was spent running on jagged rocks, but he said that it was "good for the chi". To each his own.
By mile 2.5, we made our way to the base of the Bulldog trail, the steepest and most feared portion of the course: 3 straight miles of uphill with a 2000 foot elevation gain. Within a half mile, most participants were walking. I had pre-run this portion, so I was pretty confident. I spent most of the Bulldog running 75% of the time and power hiking 25%. I was passing people left and right. Most were doing 25% running and 75% walking. I was working hard, puffing, and tiring myself out but I figured as soon as I get to the top of Bulldog, I'll be alright.
The Bulldog ends at the Castro Crest, which came up at mile 5.5. Boy, was I glad to get there. At the start of the race, we were promised the Crest would be sunny, with beautiful views of Malibu and the Pacific Ocean. Boy, were they off the mark. It was so foggy, you couldn't see for 50 feet. The trail turned into a downhill, and I took it rather hard. Because of the speed and difficult footing, I was starting to feel hotspots on my feet. I decided to stop and re-tie my shoelaces, hoping that would help. It didn't. My feet were starting to feel pretty banged up from the downhill pounding on the rocks.
At mile 6.5, there was an aid station at the Corral Canyon parking lot. I was feeling very tired, but I figured the rest of the race would be a breeze. 90 minutes had gone by from the start, and I was half-thinking of calling Dimple, who was meeting me at the finish, to let her know I would finish in less than an hour. At this point, I made a critical error. I failed to refill my water bottle, which was about two-thirds empty.
The fog got thicker; visibility down to about 20 feet. The trail was also more difficult to make out since we were at the ridge and there was little vegetation and thus little to mark a trail. I was desperately trying to stay within sight of the person ahead of me to avoid getting off the trail, or even falling off a cliff.
I was starting to worry about my fluids, as the aid station at mile 8 turned out to be just a medical station with no water available. I only had about 3oz left, and I knew I'd have to make due with this for four more miles.
The gentle downhill I was hoping for actually turned into steep up-and-downhill rocky trail. An intense tiredness took over me. The steep downhills were killing my feet, and I could no longer run the uphills. Many of the people I passed on the Bulldog were starting to pass me. Around mile 7, a bunch of people bunched up on a single-track trail.
Running with the group gave me a lift. We hit mile 10 at exactly 2 hours into the race. By that point, I had an overwhelming feeling of hunger coming deep from my core. In the pack, the conversation turned to pancakes and other food. It was too much. Soon the single-track turned into wide trail, and the pack broke up. I had a small energy bar, which I tried to eat, but couldn't stomach due to the fact that I didn't have any water left.
The next mile was very long. Out of water and very hungry, with my joints pounded on the steep downhills, and my feet burning up on the uneven footing, I found myself walking more than running. My problem was now my walking muscles were starting to ache as well. I started to run to rest from the walking followed by walk to rest from the running. I continued to alternate until I heard traffic from the Malibu Canyon highway, signaling that the aid station was close.
At the aid station, at mile 12, I filled up on water and Gatorade. Refreshed, I set out onto the short stretch on the highway to cross over Malibu Creek. At this point, my hamstring cramped up. I had to stop right on the road until the pain subsided, as I couldn't walk or run. The cramp came back a few minutes later, and I had to take it easy for the rest of the flat.
The last hill started at mile 13. The hill was tough, so I spent much of it walking. It seemed like the top of the hill would never come, but soon enough, it did. Knowing that I only had a half-mile left to go, I picked up the pace, and took the (thankfully) gentle downhill as hard as I could. As I turned to the finish, I saw Dimple and Josh cheering me on. I crossed the finish line at around 2 hours, 44 minutes according to the big clock at the finish. (Later, I found out that my official time was 2:41:55, meaning that the clock was a few minutes off.) After 14 miles of steep, rocky trails and approximately 3500 feet of elevation gain and loss, I was finally done.
As soon as I crossed the finish line, I took off my shoes and socks and poured water on my burning feet. Luckily, the anti-blister socks I was wearing worked and I had no blisters the next day. I did have a couple of bloody toenails though.
The following week, I registered for the Bulldog Run, a 25K in August that follows the same route but adds a couple more miles.
Here are some photos of Josh waiting for me at the finish:
Here is me finishing:
Chili Cookoff
Every year, the division that I work for host a chili cook-off. The event has become a big party of sorts, with lots food, games, and activities for kids. This year, it was on May 12th and we went.
Chuckie Cheese
Back on May 6th, my co-worker, Ashish, threw a party for his son's 6th birthday as Chuckie Cheese. I hadn't been to Chuckie Cheese in 20-some years, and it was interesting to experience it as an adult. Maybe when I was a kid, the food and the games were better, or maybe I am just jaded, but:
- the table layout made the place feel very crowded crowded
- the games were really old and many were out of order or malfunctioning, and
- the pizza was a couple of notches below off-brand frozen supermarket pizza
Been a while
It's been over a month since my last post. I haven't posted in a while because we have been very busy. Lots of things have happened, both good and bad. I finished the grueling 14-mile Malibu Creek Trail Challenge. We went to Chicago to visit my parents and celebrate Josh's and my dad's birthday. Unfortunately, we have been sick often. Josh was sick twice, including most of last week. Dimple and I have also been sick. Josh is finally feeling better, and literally running and jumping circles around me.
Today my parents were in a very serious car accident. Their car lost control and hit the road divider at 65 MPH on an highway in Wisconsin. The rescuers had to cut them out of the car. My mom phoned me from the hospital. She has a broken foot and is bruised everywhere. My dad is bruised all over the place, but has no broken bones. Seat belts and airbags saved their lives; they would have surely died otherwise.
Today my parents were in a very serious car accident. Their car lost control and hit the road divider at 65 MPH on an highway in Wisconsin. The rescuers had to cut them out of the car. My mom phoned me from the hospital. She has a broken foot and is bruised everywhere. My dad is bruised all over the place, but has no broken bones. Seat belts and airbags saved their lives; they would have surely died otherwise.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
10K PR: 46:06!
I chose the CSUN Run, Walk & Roll, held at the Northridge campus of Cal State University, as one of my only two 10Ks all season because it is a flat and very fast course, and I figured I could set a personal record there.
I did not choose this race for its scenic course, its atmosphere, or its expo/party. Because this is one of the Students Run LA-attended events, I knew that it would have none of those. Not that I have anything against SRLA, I think its a great program. Unfortunately, there are many SRLA participants who behave badly and exhibit everything from rude behavior (such as preventing faster runners from getting past them by forming block) to downright cheating by cutting the course.
I was shooting to break 48:00, which means keeping a pace slightly under 7:45/mile. I started off slow, trying not to expend too much energy getting around the SRLA kids, and trying to loosen up my legs, which have been tight all week. On the long Zelzah straight-away, I picked up the pace, and then dropped it down when we went back to the campus. By the end of the first loop (half-way point), my time was 24:30, slightly off the pace I wanted, but I was feeling good and running effortlessly. At mile 4, I picked up the pace, pushing myself to around a 7:20/mile pace. In the middle of the fifth mile, there came the Zelzah straight-away again. I really picked up the pace, running the next mile in less than 6 minutes. I also had to scream at some slow SRLA kids, still running the 5K, to get out of my way since they were connected by a rope and I was about to trip over it. I kept up the pace through the last half-mile and had enough to sprint to the finish. Unfortunately three rather wide SRLA girls, who were finishing the 5K, meandered into blocking my way in front of the 10K finish chute. I had no choice but to plow right through them--there was no way I was going to slow down at that point. After the, more forceful than expected, collision, and with barely enough breath to muster a "sorry", I crossed the finish line and into the chute, setting a personal record for a 10K of 46:06.
In the meantime, Dimple decided at the last minute that she would participate as well, and push Josh with the jogging stroller for a 5K. She started slowly, in the back of the pack, gradually making her way past the SRLA-ers. Josh was excited to be part of the race and directed Mommy to go faster by yelling "beep-beep" and telling the SRLA blocks "Bye-bye" as he and Mommy passed them. With Josh's competitive spirit as inspiration, Dimple finished with an official time of 29:08, a remarkable 5K time for someone pushing a stroller. Her watch time was closer to 28 minutes, since it took her a long time to reach the starting line, starting at the back of the pack. At the finish line Dimple said to Josh, "We did it!", to which he confidently replied, "I did it!"
I did not choose this race for its scenic course, its atmosphere, or its expo/party. Because this is one of the Students Run LA-attended events, I knew that it would have none of those. Not that I have anything against SRLA, I think its a great program. Unfortunately, there are many SRLA participants who behave badly and exhibit everything from rude behavior (such as preventing faster runners from getting past them by forming block) to downright cheating by cutting the course.
I was shooting to break 48:00, which means keeping a pace slightly under 7:45/mile. I started off slow, trying not to expend too much energy getting around the SRLA kids, and trying to loosen up my legs, which have been tight all week. On the long Zelzah straight-away, I picked up the pace, and then dropped it down when we went back to the campus. By the end of the first loop (half-way point), my time was 24:30, slightly off the pace I wanted, but I was feeling good and running effortlessly. At mile 4, I picked up the pace, pushing myself to around a 7:20/mile pace. In the middle of the fifth mile, there came the Zelzah straight-away again. I really picked up the pace, running the next mile in less than 6 minutes. I also had to scream at some slow SRLA kids, still running the 5K, to get out of my way since they were connected by a rope and I was about to trip over it. I kept up the pace through the last half-mile and had enough to sprint to the finish. Unfortunately three rather wide SRLA girls, who were finishing the 5K, meandered into blocking my way in front of the 10K finish chute. I had no choice but to plow right through them--there was no way I was going to slow down at that point. After the, more forceful than expected, collision, and with barely enough breath to muster a "sorry", I crossed the finish line and into the chute, setting a personal record for a 10K of 46:06.
In the meantime, Dimple decided at the last minute that she would participate as well, and push Josh with the jogging stroller for a 5K. She started slowly, in the back of the pack, gradually making her way past the SRLA-ers. Josh was excited to be part of the race and directed Mommy to go faster by yelling "beep-beep" and telling the SRLA blocks "Bye-bye" as he and Mommy passed them. With Josh's competitive spirit as inspiration, Dimple finished with an official time of 29:08, a remarkable 5K time for someone pushing a stroller. Her watch time was closer to 28 minutes, since it took her a long time to reach the starting line, starting at the back of the pack. At the finish line Dimple said to Josh, "We did it!", to which he confidently replied, "I did it!"
Roy's Restaurant
Thursday night Dimple and I went to Roy's Restaurant to celebrate five years of being together. The place is owned by celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi and serves "Hawaiian Fusion", which means a fusion of Hawaiian, Asian, and Western cuisines. Their specialty is fish, and the menu changes every two weeks.
Dimple got the Masters Sashimi Sampler, which was incredible. The sashimi was creamy, sweet, and very fresh with the consistency of toro. This was the kind of sashimi that you put in your mouth and close your eyes to really concentrate on the incredible texture and taste. She also got the Chilled Edamame Soup which had a very nice, rich flavor. It was so rich we had to soak it up with some bread. Last was the Mixed Greens Salad with Basil Dressing.
I got the Appetizers Sampler, which included a sweet & succulent grilled shrimp, a seafood dumpling (which was okay), and a tender, incredibly delicious baby back rib that just melted in my mouth with bursts of smoky Szechuan spices and went perfectly with my glass of Domaine Chandon. For my main course was a macadamia-crusted whitefish. The sauce, spices, and crusting were very good, but the fish was more than a bit overcooked. Considering that I specifically requested that the fish was to be cooked medium-rare, this put a bit of a damper on our culinary adventure.
Fortunately, the dessert, a melting hot chocolate soufflé, helped end the evening on a positive, sensual note with its decadent lava flow of rich dark chocolate.
Dimple got the Masters Sashimi Sampler, which was incredible. The sashimi was creamy, sweet, and very fresh with the consistency of toro. This was the kind of sashimi that you put in your mouth and close your eyes to really concentrate on the incredible texture and taste. She also got the Chilled Edamame Soup which had a very nice, rich flavor. It was so rich we had to soak it up with some bread. Last was the Mixed Greens Salad with Basil Dressing.
I got the Appetizers Sampler, which included a sweet & succulent grilled shrimp, a seafood dumpling (which was okay), and a tender, incredibly delicious baby back rib that just melted in my mouth with bursts of smoky Szechuan spices and went perfectly with my glass of Domaine Chandon. For my main course was a macadamia-crusted whitefish. The sauce, spices, and crusting were very good, but the fish was more than a bit overcooked. Considering that I specifically requested that the fish was to be cooked medium-rare, this put a bit of a damper on our culinary adventure.
Fortunately, the dessert, a melting hot chocolate soufflé, helped end the evening on a positive, sensual note with its decadent lava flow of rich dark chocolate.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Earth Day
On Saturday, we went to World Fest 2006 at Woodley Park, in Encino. Most of the (vegan) food left a lot to be desired in the form of taste. The vegetable oil-powered cars were cool, but all of the leftist attitude was not.
Nancy took some photos.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Josh at the Park
There is nothing Josh enjoys more than a day at the park. We try to take him as often as we can, weather and schedule permitting. Here is a slide show I put together from the past year or so from photos taken while we were at various parks.
Downtown Disney
Last Sunday, we decided to give Josh a good time and take him to Downtown Disney in Anaheim.
Josh was pretty happy to be there:
...although he was a little afraid of the parrot near the entrance:
...but he really loved the Lego store:
We built a Lego house:
He even didn't mind when we made him wear a silly hat. Daddy also wore a silly hat:
Josh was just happy to be there:
When it was time for lunch, we had to wrestle him out of that store. He didn't want to leave. But they had live jazz at the restaurant and he quickly got into the beat while Mommy and Daddy were waiting to order:
He was just loving the music:
But when Mommy's smoothie came out, all attention turned to that:
We wound up waiting forever for our food, but Josh was a trooper (and handled the situation much better than his Daddy).
After lunch, we had ice cream, and then went into the Disney store. Here is Josh asking for more ice cream at the Disney store while Mommy tries on a wizard hat:
Josh was fascinated by how many toys there were:
He loved all of the stuffed toys:
He tired Mommy out with all of his running around:
He found a make-shift slide where Daddy was sitting:
After the stuffed toys, we went to look at the figurines:
And tried on some hats:
Then, Josh played with the soccer balls:
After a long day, we rested next to a fountain:
After a brief photo-op, it was time to go home:
Josh was pretty happy to be there:
...although he was a little afraid of the parrot near the entrance:
...but he really loved the Lego store:
We built a Lego house:
He even didn't mind when we made him wear a silly hat. Daddy also wore a silly hat:
Josh was just happy to be there:
When it was time for lunch, we had to wrestle him out of that store. He didn't want to leave. But they had live jazz at the restaurant and he quickly got into the beat while Mommy and Daddy were waiting to order:
He was just loving the music:
But when Mommy's smoothie came out, all attention turned to that:
We wound up waiting forever for our food, but Josh was a trooper (and handled the situation much better than his Daddy).
After lunch, we had ice cream, and then went into the Disney store. Here is Josh asking for more ice cream at the Disney store while Mommy tries on a wizard hat:
Josh was fascinated by how many toys there were:
He loved all of the stuffed toys:
He tired Mommy out with all of his running around:
He found a make-shift slide where Daddy was sitting:
After the stuffed toys, we went to look at the figurines:
And tried on some hats:
Then, Josh played with the soccer balls:
After a long day, we rested next to a fountain:
After a brief photo-op, it was time to go home:
Saturday, April 22, 2006
The Rack
Last weekend, Dimple and I went to The Rack for dinner and a game of pool. The Rack is located inside the Westfield Promenade mall where Dimple works.
Overall, dinner was very tasty. The pool game was reasonably priced and we only had to wait 15 minutes for a table (on a Saturday, 9 PM). The beer on tap was adequate but the wine list was small and full of no-name value wines.
We went back for happy hour the following Friday. Happy hour is 4-7 M-F with appetizers and beer half-priced. This time, the food was average (chicken quesadillas and beef satay). Next time we'll order something else. But the was beer good and cheap and the atmosphere was fun.
Overall, dinner was very tasty. The pool game was reasonably priced and we only had to wait 15 minutes for a table (on a Saturday, 9 PM). The beer on tap was adequate but the wine list was small and full of no-name value wines.
We went back for happy hour the following Friday. Happy hour is 4-7 M-F with appetizers and beer half-priced. This time, the food was average (chicken quesadillas and beef satay). Next time we'll order something else. But the was beer good and cheap and the atmosphere was fun.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Seder
Last Thursday, Dimple and I (well, mostly Dimple...) put together a seder on basically no notice.
Thanks to Rose, we got some pictures!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
I have the best job in America
I have the best job in America according to Money Magazine. See here for the article. And, of course they are never wrong.
Well, actually my job is, comparatively, quite nice.
I am just wondering why they picked Mark Dochtermann, some manager at EA, to write a blurb for this article, considering that EA has reputation as being a horrible place to work.
Here is a quote from Mark:
Lets just agree to disagree Mark, and leave it at that.
Well, actually my job is, comparatively, quite nice.
I am just wondering why they picked Mark Dochtermann, some manager at EA, to write a blurb for this article, considering that EA has reputation as being a horrible place to work.
Here is a quote from Mark:
- I make a good living, and I'd rather work on a game I don't care for than write code for a financial company. I'm building a product that entertains. Unlike engineers in commerce or aerospace, I can push the envelope without someone getting hurt.
Lets just agree to disagree Mark, and leave it at that.
Who is your pharaoh?
Passover is arguably the biggest Jewish holiday. It is not as holy as Yom Kippur or as commercial as Hannukah, but it is by far the most popular.
It has everything one can ask for in a holiday: family, food, lots and lots of wine, fun, games, a very compelling story, and more food.
Everyone can relate to the story of Passover in some way. For my family, it is quite literal. Our Egypt was the USSR and our journey to freedom in the United States was, to us at least, nearly as eventful as the Exodus itself.
But even for those who have not experienced such an event, Passover can have a poignant meaning. Who among us does not have a pharaoh in our lives that keeps us slaves to something?
Whether its drugs, smoking, a bad relationship, or a dead-end job, we willingly stay and serve our pharaohs instead of throwing off our chains and setting a path to freedom.
But to go from slave to free can be a very difficult journey, because freedom is both mental as well as physical thing. After all, God waited 40 years to let Israel into the Promised Land. This was enough time for a completely new generation, not constrained by the mentality of former slavery, to come to be.
So who is your pharaoh? And what are you doing to free yourself?
As Bob Marley said:
Happy Passover everyone!
It has everything one can ask for in a holiday: family, food, lots and lots of wine, fun, games, a very compelling story, and more food.
Everyone can relate to the story of Passover in some way. For my family, it is quite literal. Our Egypt was the USSR and our journey to freedom in the United States was, to us at least, nearly as eventful as the Exodus itself.
But even for those who have not experienced such an event, Passover can have a poignant meaning. Who among us does not have a pharaoh in our lives that keeps us slaves to something?
Whether its drugs, smoking, a bad relationship, or a dead-end job, we willingly stay and serve our pharaohs instead of throwing off our chains and setting a path to freedom.
But to go from slave to free can be a very difficult journey, because freedom is both mental as well as physical thing. After all, God waited 40 years to let Israel into the Promised Land. This was enough time for a completely new generation, not constrained by the mentality of former slavery, to come to be.
So who is your pharaoh? And what are you doing to free yourself?
As Bob Marley said:
- Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Happy Passover everyone!
Monday, April 10, 2006
What's at the end of Calabasas Road?
I decided to find out, and knock out a trail run while I was at it. It turns out that this is Las Virgenes View Park, which is not to be confused with Las Virgines View Trail, which is not in this particular park. This park is right next to the 101, so hum of traffic is often in the background.
I drove down to the end of Calabasas Road, parked the car and went out to the trailhead, which is where the De Anza Trail begins. The nice thing about this trail is that it has lots of interpretive kiosks, and features a section of the original, stone El Camino Real. The bad thing is that the trails are completely overgrown. At one point I got completely off the trail and was chin-deep in grassland and had to backtrack to find the trail again. Also, I kept getting pricked with these prickly-leaf plants which grow right in the middle of the trail. (I wish I wore nylon pants instead of the light mesh pants.)
Inspite this, this is the worthy trail because of the many scenic points and solitude. At some secluded parts of the trail, I could imagine myself as a pre-Columbian Indian running messages from one village to the next.
I drove down to the end of Calabasas Road, parked the car and went out to the trailhead, which is where the De Anza Trail begins. The nice thing about this trail is that it has lots of interpretive kiosks, and features a section of the original, stone El Camino Real. The bad thing is that the trails are completely overgrown. At one point I got completely off the trail and was chin-deep in grassland and had to backtrack to find the trail again. Also, I kept getting pricked with these prickly-leaf plants which grow right in the middle of the trail. (I wish I wore nylon pants instead of the light mesh pants.)
Inspite this, this is the worthy trail because of the many scenic points and solitude. At some secluded parts of the trail, I could imagine myself as a pre-Columbian Indian running messages from one village to the next.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
The Ventura wine scene
When Dimple and I are able to get a babysitter for Saturday night, we try to go out and enjoy some nightlife. Clubs, pubs, and the whole Sunset Strip thing doesn't really work for us anymore. We tend to enjoy live music, good food in small plates, and especially wine. We never buy a bottle at a restaurant, because we like to compare and contrast many different kinds and pair them with food. Unfortunately, the wine-by-the-glass menu at most restaurants, even highly rated ones leaves much to be desired. Enter the wine bar, where you can a wide selection of wines by the glass or even half-glass.
The largest concentration of wine bars in Southern California is not in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, or Santa Monica. It is in downtown Ventura.
On Saturday, we brought Nancy along and visited Alegria, Rincon Cellars, and J's Tapas.
Alegria, which used to be tucked into the back of a coffee shop, has expanded to a new, much bigger location. The food and wine menu has also expanded, with around 30 wines available by the glass or the half-glass.
Rincon Cellars is inside a historic bank building, and shares the space with Natalie's Eclectibles and an art gallery, Ghost Gallery, upstairs. They only pour California central coast wines, and for $10 you can taste 7 of them. The menu changes every week. If you like a particular wine, you can buy a glass or a bottle. The wines they carry are very interesting, sometimes obscure, often excellent and always good values. Every one is hand-selected by the owners. The space itself is worth a visit. While tasting, you can help yourself to a complementary cheese plate.
J's Tapas has live jazz, a very tasty international tapas menu, and a decent wine list, although it could have more by the glass selections. The live music and atmosphere make up for that flaw.
Dimple and Nancy at J's Tapas:
More photos here.
The largest concentration of wine bars in Southern California is not in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, or Santa Monica. It is in downtown Ventura.
On Saturday, we brought Nancy along and visited Alegria, Rincon Cellars, and J's Tapas.
Alegria, which used to be tucked into the back of a coffee shop, has expanded to a new, much bigger location. The food and wine menu has also expanded, with around 30 wines available by the glass or the half-glass.
Rincon Cellars is inside a historic bank building, and shares the space with Natalie's Eclectibles and an art gallery, Ghost Gallery, upstairs. They only pour California central coast wines, and for $10 you can taste 7 of them. The menu changes every week. If you like a particular wine, you can buy a glass or a bottle. The wines they carry are very interesting, sometimes obscure, often excellent and always good values. Every one is hand-selected by the owners. The space itself is worth a visit. While tasting, you can help yourself to a complementary cheese plate.
J's Tapas has live jazz, a very tasty international tapas menu, and a decent wine list, although it could have more by the glass selections. The live music and atmosphere make up for that flaw.
Dimple and Nancy at J's Tapas:
More photos here.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Large numbers
What is the largest number you can think of?
In the article, Who Can Name the Biggest Number?, Scott Aaronson's quest for the answer takes a fun and fascinating journey through math and computer science theory.
In the article, Who Can Name the Biggest Number?, Scott Aaronson's quest for the answer takes a fun and fascinating journey through math and computer science theory.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
My run home
I was nervously excited the whole day, since the distance from work to home is one of the longer distances I've ever run and certainly the longest since my injury, by about 4 or 5 miles.
I changed into my running clothes after fueling up on a half-serving of pasta with red sauce & vegetables and hydrating myself. I was out of the office door around 4:00. I turned on my Garmin Forerunner and waited for it to find a GPS signal so I could start my run. After 15 minutes of the Forerunner searching and not finding GPS, I came to terms with the fact that I will not know my exact distance. This is only the second time the Garmin failed me, and it came at a rather bad time. At that point I started the timer and headed onto the sidewalk of Agoura Road with a course set for Cheeseboro Canyon.
This first third of my run was not so great. I felt sluggish, from the high-protein lunch I had (poor choice) and the fact that I hadn't had a good night sleep in a few days. Also, Agoura Hills is laid out as subdivisions so the only way to get anywhere is to take the main roads. These main roads (Thousand Oaks, Reyes Adobe, Kanan, Agoura) are too busy to run on, so I had to stay on the concrete sidewalks. Concrete is, depending on who you ask, 4 to 10 times harder than asphalt. For my joints, it certainly feels like closer to 10 than 4. With every step I could feel my knees and ankles getting more sore. I had to stop and stretch them often. Nevertheless, my right leg was starting to ache. Finally I got to Old Agoura, a horse community, where instead of sidewalks they have dirt trails next to roads for horses. I even saw a community park. I made a pit stop there and stretched out on the picnic tables. My spirits were finally soaring. I got back on the horse trail, my ankles and knees finally getting some relief. Shortly after getting to Cheeseboro Canyon Road, and approximately 50 minutes into my run, I saw Liberty Canyon trail.
I'd never taken this trail before since I always park at Cheeseboro Canyon trailhead. Overall, it was a very nice trail. Mostly grassland and oak groves. It has an abandoned ranch and bridges over a large creek.
At around 1 hour into my run, I got onto Cheseboro Canyon trail, but not before some self-doubt as to where I was. The trail was full of runners, mostly high school kids, presumably from Agoura HS. I made a right onto Cheeseboro Ridge Connector. I was a little concerned about the trails since it had been raining all week, and the trails were soft, but luckily not too muddy. At the intersection Cheeseboro Ridge trail, my trail became Las Virgenes Canyon Connector trail and proceeded to turn into a steep downhill. With the pounding of the downhill, my soreness in the right leg returned. I passed a runner puffing uphill. I am sure we both were wishing we could switch places. I was hoping Las Virgenes Canyon trail would come quickly!
Soon enough, it did. After dodging a gaggle of kids on dirt bikes, I turned left and started heading up Las Virgenes Canyon trail, when I came upon the water crossing. Normally, this is a small stream that can be easily hurdled, but with the recent rains, it swelled up to decent creek around 8-10 feet wide, certainly not a distance I can jump. I spent a good deal of time looking for a narrow section, but it was not to be found. I decided my best bet was to jump to an oak tree in the steam, closer to the other side, and use what appeared to be a large bird's nest near the bottom of the tree as a platform to jump to the other side. It almost worked. I nearly caught the trunk with my hands, but my right foot slipped and got wet. No big deal. I wondered why I didn't just run through the damn thing in the first place?
East Las Virgenes Connector (ELVC) trail came up soon after, and I crossed past the fence that marks the boundary of the old Ahmanson Ranch. At that moment, I had mixed feelings. On one hand I knew that from this point, it was exactly 3 miles to the Victory trailhead. On the other hand, ELVC is mostly uphill and fairly steep at certain points. I was also starting to feel the distance, and my whole body was getting tired. I remembered that just 15-20 minutes ago I was wishing that I was running uphill instead of down, and realized I was crazy. On the very first steep portion, I was smitten and forced to walk for a short time. Finally, the intersection with East Las Virgenes trail came. I made a left and was on very familiar turf. By this point most of my muscles were aching and my nipple was chafing. Muscle pain is easy to ignore, but the chafing nipple was a big nuisance.
Along East Las Virgenes, there is a point where you can continue on the main trail and take the high road, or take the low road on this single-trek trail running parallel to a creek that meets up with the main trail later. Since I didn't feel like running uphill anymore, I took the low road. Several minutes into it, the trail was getting muddier and muddier. I saw that up ahead, this trail was completely underwater, swallowed by the swelling creek. To turn back was demoralizing, but there was nothing else I could do. The uphill was brutal, and once again I had to walk much of it. On the rest of the trail, there were many muddy spots and at one point my shoes were carrying an extra two pounds of mud. Luckily, I was able to wash some of the mud off in a puddle. Soon I saw the rooftops of the houses off of Victory, signifying I was close to the trailhead. And, boy, was I glad to get there. By this point I was completely exhausted and was getting really hungry. The pasta had long been digested and burned off. Also, I was completely out of all my water and getting thirsty. I had been running for 2 hours.
I called Dimple to let her know I was ok. She tried to convince me to let her pick me, but I told her that I was intent on finishing unassisted. After I told her that I loved her and hung up the phone, I headed down Victory on the final leg of my journey. I ate an energy bar and tried to migitate the pounding of the steep downhill on concrete by going as slow as possible. My left foot was really starting to hurt, bringing painful memories of my plantar fasciitis injury.
At the bottom, where Victory intersects with Valley Circle, I stopped by a gas station and bought a bottle of Vitamin Water and a bottle of Fiji Water to replenish my water supplies. I headed towards Platt and made a right, and then a left on Calvert. From there I knew I had exactly 2 miles left till home. There is a very small hill on Calvert, something that wouldn't even be considered a hill on a trail. But today, this hill kicked my ass. Once again, I had to walk a bit to the top, feeling the lactic acid burning my muscles. By this point, keeping proper form was a constant struggle.
Coming up on Fallbrook, I was already anticipating the end. Unfortunately, Fallbrook is a very busy street and since there is no traffic light or stop sign at Calvert, crossing it is not easy. When I came upon the street, there was a break in traffic, so for safety I sprinted across to the other side. That sprint was quite costly, as my muscles, full of lactic acid, burned like fire. They felt like they couldn't take another step anymore. But there was only a half mile left, and I knew that I was almost done.
Two hours and forty five minutes after I started running, I finally walked through through my front door and asked Dimple if we had anything to eat. I was exhausted, all of my muscles were sore (especially my lower back) , my left nipple was completely red and excruciatingly painful, but actually I was feeling pretty good. As I sat down to have dinner with Dimple and Josh, I was thinking about whether I should repeat this experience next week.
I changed into my running clothes after fueling up on a half-serving of pasta with red sauce & vegetables and hydrating myself. I was out of the office door around 4:00. I turned on my Garmin Forerunner and waited for it to find a GPS signal so I could start my run. After 15 minutes of the Forerunner searching and not finding GPS, I came to terms with the fact that I will not know my exact distance. This is only the second time the Garmin failed me, and it came at a rather bad time. At that point I started the timer and headed onto the sidewalk of Agoura Road with a course set for Cheeseboro Canyon.
This first third of my run was not so great. I felt sluggish, from the high-protein lunch I had (poor choice) and the fact that I hadn't had a good night sleep in a few days. Also, Agoura Hills is laid out as subdivisions so the only way to get anywhere is to take the main roads. These main roads (Thousand Oaks, Reyes Adobe, Kanan, Agoura) are too busy to run on, so I had to stay on the concrete sidewalks. Concrete is, depending on who you ask, 4 to 10 times harder than asphalt. For my joints, it certainly feels like closer to 10 than 4. With every step I could feel my knees and ankles getting more sore. I had to stop and stretch them often. Nevertheless, my right leg was starting to ache. Finally I got to Old Agoura, a horse community, where instead of sidewalks they have dirt trails next to roads for horses. I even saw a community park. I made a pit stop there and stretched out on the picnic tables. My spirits were finally soaring. I got back on the horse trail, my ankles and knees finally getting some relief. Shortly after getting to Cheeseboro Canyon Road, and approximately 50 minutes into my run, I saw Liberty Canyon trail.
I'd never taken this trail before since I always park at Cheeseboro Canyon trailhead. Overall, it was a very nice trail. Mostly grassland and oak groves. It has an abandoned ranch and bridges over a large creek.
At around 1 hour into my run, I got onto Cheseboro Canyon trail, but not before some self-doubt as to where I was. The trail was full of runners, mostly high school kids, presumably from Agoura HS. I made a right onto Cheeseboro Ridge Connector. I was a little concerned about the trails since it had been raining all week, and the trails were soft, but luckily not too muddy. At the intersection Cheeseboro Ridge trail, my trail became Las Virgenes Canyon Connector trail and proceeded to turn into a steep downhill. With the pounding of the downhill, my soreness in the right leg returned. I passed a runner puffing uphill. I am sure we both were wishing we could switch places. I was hoping Las Virgenes Canyon trail would come quickly!
Soon enough, it did. After dodging a gaggle of kids on dirt bikes, I turned left and started heading up Las Virgenes Canyon trail, when I came upon the water crossing. Normally, this is a small stream that can be easily hurdled, but with the recent rains, it swelled up to decent creek around 8-10 feet wide, certainly not a distance I can jump. I spent a good deal of time looking for a narrow section, but it was not to be found. I decided my best bet was to jump to an oak tree in the steam, closer to the other side, and use what appeared to be a large bird's nest near the bottom of the tree as a platform to jump to the other side. It almost worked. I nearly caught the trunk with my hands, but my right foot slipped and got wet. No big deal. I wondered why I didn't just run through the damn thing in the first place?
East Las Virgenes Connector (ELVC) trail came up soon after, and I crossed past the fence that marks the boundary of the old Ahmanson Ranch. At that moment, I had mixed feelings. On one hand I knew that from this point, it was exactly 3 miles to the Victory trailhead. On the other hand, ELVC is mostly uphill and fairly steep at certain points. I was also starting to feel the distance, and my whole body was getting tired. I remembered that just 15-20 minutes ago I was wishing that I was running uphill instead of down, and realized I was crazy. On the very first steep portion, I was smitten and forced to walk for a short time. Finally, the intersection with East Las Virgenes trail came. I made a left and was on very familiar turf. By this point most of my muscles were aching and my nipple was chafing. Muscle pain is easy to ignore, but the chafing nipple was a big nuisance.
Along East Las Virgenes, there is a point where you can continue on the main trail and take the high road, or take the low road on this single-trek trail running parallel to a creek that meets up with the main trail later. Since I didn't feel like running uphill anymore, I took the low road. Several minutes into it, the trail was getting muddier and muddier. I saw that up ahead, this trail was completely underwater, swallowed by the swelling creek. To turn back was demoralizing, but there was nothing else I could do. The uphill was brutal, and once again I had to walk much of it. On the rest of the trail, there were many muddy spots and at one point my shoes were carrying an extra two pounds of mud. Luckily, I was able to wash some of the mud off in a puddle. Soon I saw the rooftops of the houses off of Victory, signifying I was close to the trailhead. And, boy, was I glad to get there. By this point I was completely exhausted and was getting really hungry. The pasta had long been digested and burned off. Also, I was completely out of all my water and getting thirsty. I had been running for 2 hours.
I called Dimple to let her know I was ok. She tried to convince me to let her pick me, but I told her that I was intent on finishing unassisted. After I told her that I loved her and hung up the phone, I headed down Victory on the final leg of my journey. I ate an energy bar and tried to migitate the pounding of the steep downhill on concrete by going as slow as possible. My left foot was really starting to hurt, bringing painful memories of my plantar fasciitis injury.
At the bottom, where Victory intersects with Valley Circle, I stopped by a gas station and bought a bottle of Vitamin Water and a bottle of Fiji Water to replenish my water supplies. I headed towards Platt and made a right, and then a left on Calvert. From there I knew I had exactly 2 miles left till home. There is a very small hill on Calvert, something that wouldn't even be considered a hill on a trail. But today, this hill kicked my ass. Once again, I had to walk a bit to the top, feeling the lactic acid burning my muscles. By this point, keeping proper form was a constant struggle.
Coming up on Fallbrook, I was already anticipating the end. Unfortunately, Fallbrook is a very busy street and since there is no traffic light or stop sign at Calvert, crossing it is not easy. When I came upon the street, there was a break in traffic, so for safety I sprinted across to the other side. That sprint was quite costly, as my muscles, full of lactic acid, burned like fire. They felt like they couldn't take another step anymore. But there was only a half mile left, and I knew that I was almost done.
Two hours and forty five minutes after I started running, I finally walked through through my front door and asked Dimple if we had anything to eat. I was exhausted, all of my muscles were sore (especially my lower back) , my left nipple was completely red and excruciatingly painful, but actually I was feeling pretty good. As I sat down to have dinner with Dimple and Josh, I was thinking about whether I should repeat this experience next week.
Running home today
Today I plan to do my first ever run home from work. Everyone is asking me if I will be running on The 101. The answer is, no. Not only is it illegal, but I will probably choke to death from exhaust inhalation. Instead my course will meander through scenic Agoura, Cheseboro Canyon and Upper Las Virgenes open spaces, and (mostly) side streets of Woodland Hills. It will be approximately 4 to 5 miles of roads, 5 miles of trails, and another 4 miles of roads for a total of around 13 or 14 miles. If it works out, I plan to do these runs on a regular basis.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Dimple's Head
At the gym where Dimple works, the management decided to take black & white headshots of all of the trainers to post up on their wall. I managed to scan in three of Dimple's before they went up:
Blueberry joy
I'd like to take a break from my trail running opus to bring you the following message:
At some point in our lives we forget the simple joy of eating messy blueberries. Let Joshua remind you...
At some point in our lives we forget the simple joy of eating messy blueberries. Let Joshua remind you...
Friday, March 31, 2006
Trail Running Basics (Part 4, "Natural hazards on the Trail")
So you decided that you want to try trail running, but you don't know quite know what to do. I will tell you exactly what you will need to pursue this crazy sport in a series of blog entries.
In parts 1, 2, and 3 I've told you how to prepare for the trail. In this section, I'll describe some of Mother Nature's dangers to watch out for.
Natural Hazards on the Trail
Rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes live all over the United States, and the Western Diamondback is found nearly everywhere in the American Southwest. Being cold-blooded, rattlesnakes are particularly active when its hot and sunny. Be especially vigilant around mid-day; they like to crawl out in the middle of the trail and absorb the sun's warmth. Make sure to scan ahead and listen for the rattle. Avoid stepping on any branches, which rattlesnakes sometimes look like. Also, avoid stepping on any mounds or holes in the ground, where a rattlesnake might be hiding. Most bites happen when you're not paying attention. Don't turn over any rocks or logs. If you do spot a snake, stop and relax. The snake is more afraid of you than you are of it. Now that you've spotted it, the odds that this encounter will end badly is nearly zero as long as you don't do anything stupid. Do not get close to it. Do not throw rocks at it or try to move it with a stick. Simply give it some time and plenty of space to slither off the trail.
If you do get bitten, call 911 from your cellphone and have an ambulance meet you at the closest road to your current location. From this point, you have about 40-50 minutes to get medical attention.
Any North American snakes other than rattlesnakes are completely harmless, so don't sweat it if you see one.
Mountain lions. Also called cougars and pumas, mountain lions are abundant in the western United States, though you'd hardly know it because these creatures are so stealthy. Attacks on humans do occur, but they are very rare. Only 6 fatalities ever have been reported in California. But because of a fairly recent fatal attack, mountain lions are on people's conscience. To avoid an attack, don't crouch down and appear to be a quadruped. This seems to be what happened to the guy that got killed. Also, be vigilant at dusk and dawn. When confronted by a lion, make lots of noise and try to appear bigger by opening your jacket. Most people are able to fend off an attack by rocks, sticks, pepper spray, or even bare hands. Mountain lions are very strong--males grow to 180 lb and can easily take down deer or even moose five times their size. But they have no endurance and not much of a will to fight, so unless they see you as an easy, painless meal they will back off.
Black bears. In the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, where I run, there are no bears. But they are almost everywhere else in California and the rest of the American West. They are less shy and more agressive than mountain lions, thus pose a bigger danger. If you run in bear country, bring pepper spray and do some research into how to fend off a bear attack. I can't help you.
Africanized honey bees. Also known as killer bees, these creatures have migrated from South America and are establishing themselves in much of the American South. They are already established in the LA area, so we might as well get used to them. The problem with these bees is that they tend to swarm when they sense that their hive may be in danger. To avoid bees, the most important thing is to avoid disturbing anything that looks like it could be a hive, especially mounds or holes in the ground.
Ticks. Ticks carry all kinds of nasty diseases, one of the scariest being Lyme disease. You can pick up a tick by brushing up against vegitation. After running, check all of your exposed skin for ticks. Wearing pants will minimize the risk.
Mosquitos. West Nile Virus has been identified in every state with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii. It's here; we have to deal with it. If you're going to run somewhere where there are a lot of mosquitos, wear deet to repell them.
Poison Oak. As I mentioned in part 3, poison oak grows almost everywhere in shady areas in California. Poison oak rashes can be excruciatingly painful. Inhaled or injested, poison oak can be extremely dangerous and may require hospitalization. Do yourself a favor, and wear pants when you run and avoid touching any leaves or branches with your bare hands, unless you have identified exactly the kind of plant that you are touching.
In parts 1, 2, and 3 I've told you how to prepare for the trail. In this section, I'll describe some of Mother Nature's dangers to watch out for.
Natural Hazards on the Trail
Rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes live all over the United States, and the Western Diamondback is found nearly everywhere in the American Southwest. Being cold-blooded, rattlesnakes are particularly active when its hot and sunny. Be especially vigilant around mid-day; they like to crawl out in the middle of the trail and absorb the sun's warmth. Make sure to scan ahead and listen for the rattle. Avoid stepping on any branches, which rattlesnakes sometimes look like. Also, avoid stepping on any mounds or holes in the ground, where a rattlesnake might be hiding. Most bites happen when you're not paying attention. Don't turn over any rocks or logs. If you do spot a snake, stop and relax. The snake is more afraid of you than you are of it. Now that you've spotted it, the odds that this encounter will end badly is nearly zero as long as you don't do anything stupid. Do not get close to it. Do not throw rocks at it or try to move it with a stick. Simply give it some time and plenty of space to slither off the trail.
If you do get bitten, call 911 from your cellphone and have an ambulance meet you at the closest road to your current location. From this point, you have about 40-50 minutes to get medical attention.
Any North American snakes other than rattlesnakes are completely harmless, so don't sweat it if you see one.
Mountain lions. Also called cougars and pumas, mountain lions are abundant in the western United States, though you'd hardly know it because these creatures are so stealthy. Attacks on humans do occur, but they are very rare. Only 6 fatalities ever have been reported in California. But because of a fairly recent fatal attack, mountain lions are on people's conscience. To avoid an attack, don't crouch down and appear to be a quadruped. This seems to be what happened to the guy that got killed. Also, be vigilant at dusk and dawn. When confronted by a lion, make lots of noise and try to appear bigger by opening your jacket. Most people are able to fend off an attack by rocks, sticks, pepper spray, or even bare hands. Mountain lions are very strong--males grow to 180 lb and can easily take down deer or even moose five times their size. But they have no endurance and not much of a will to fight, so unless they see you as an easy, painless meal they will back off.
Black bears. In the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, where I run, there are no bears. But they are almost everywhere else in California and the rest of the American West. They are less shy and more agressive than mountain lions, thus pose a bigger danger. If you run in bear country, bring pepper spray and do some research into how to fend off a bear attack. I can't help you.
Africanized honey bees. Also known as killer bees, these creatures have migrated from South America and are establishing themselves in much of the American South. They are already established in the LA area, so we might as well get used to them. The problem with these bees is that they tend to swarm when they sense that their hive may be in danger. To avoid bees, the most important thing is to avoid disturbing anything that looks like it could be a hive, especially mounds or holes in the ground.
Ticks. Ticks carry all kinds of nasty diseases, one of the scariest being Lyme disease. You can pick up a tick by brushing up against vegitation. After running, check all of your exposed skin for ticks. Wearing pants will minimize the risk.
Mosquitos. West Nile Virus has been identified in every state with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii. It's here; we have to deal with it. If you're going to run somewhere where there are a lot of mosquitos, wear deet to repell them.
Poison Oak. As I mentioned in part 3, poison oak grows almost everywhere in shady areas in California. Poison oak rashes can be excruciatingly painful. Inhaled or injested, poison oak can be extremely dangerous and may require hospitalization. Do yourself a favor, and wear pants when you run and avoid touching any leaves or branches with your bare hands, unless you have identified exactly the kind of plant that you are touching.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Trail Running Basics (Part 3, "Preparing for the Trail")
So you decided that you want to try trail running, but you don't know quite know what to do. I will tell you exactly what you will need to pursue this crazy sport in a series of blog entries.
In parts 1 and 2, I've talked about how get the right gear for the trail. In this section I will talk about pre-run preparation.
Preparing for the Trail
Select a course. I recommend running with a group or an experienced friend for the first few runs. They will certainly have a lot of opinions about where to go. If that's not an option, look for books describing local hiking trails. Trails that are rated "easy" or "moderate" are runnable. If you live in Southern California, pick up 50 Trail Runs in Southern California by Stan Swarts, et al. for some great ideas.
There are three basic kinds of trail course geometries: out-and-back, loop, and point-to-point. You can combine one or more loops with out-and-back or point-to-point courses for variety. An out-and-back is a little more boring than the other two since you will have to return on the same path, thus seeing the same scenery (albeit, in reverse). A point-to-point is more interesting, but requires either two cars, or a ride to the starting point or from the end point. The loop is best because you only need one car and will not need to backtrack.
Your first trail run should be an out-and-back with no loops. There are just too many places to get lost or go the wrong way when trying to make a loop, avoid loops until you're a little more familiar with the trails.
Get a good trail map. A good trail map can provide invaluable information that the little maps in you hiking book cannot. It can tell you how all the different trails fit together, where to park, which roads to take to get to the trailhead, and most importantly, how much elevation will you have to gain in what distance--this will roughly tell you how steep the trail is. For Santa Monica Mountains running, pay a visit to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area headquarters where they have a wealth of trail maps for sale (or as handouts). Once you select the trail, study the trail map and bring it with you on the trail.
Wear the right gear for the weather, and be prepared. The weather can change very quickly in the mountains, especially at higher elevations. If there is even a tiny chance of rain or strong winds, bring a jacket.
Wear pants. Unless you are sure your entire run will be on a fire road through grasslands or chaparral, always wear pants. Poison oak grows nearly everywhere in shady areas (and is not so easy to recognize), so you must protect your legs. A case of poison oak can last up to 4 weeks and is not something that you want to deal with; believe me.
Fuel up. Before hitting the trail, eat a snack, such as an energy bar, an apple, or some toast. Avoid anything with a lot of protein, fat, or fiber and don't overeat. Also, throw a bar or a couple of gel shots into your pack in case you run out of energy on the trail.
Drink some water. Make sure you start out fully hydrated before you run. I usually drink 1 liter of water (two 500ml bottles) on the drive to the trailhead. You know you are hydrated properly if you have to "use" the side of the trail about 10 minutes into your run and your urine is clear.
Fill up your hydration system. You need to drink to avoid dehydration. But you also lose electrolytes and deplete glycogen while exercising. Drinking water does not replace these. In fact, if you drink too much water while exercising you may be at risk of hyponatremia. This is a serious problem, and occurs much more frequently than you would think. So you reach for a sports drink, like Gatorade...
But wait a minute. At 212 calories for every liter, plus a huge wallop of sodium, full-strength Gatorade may not be the best choice, unless you are doing some serious distance (more than 2 or 3 hours) . In fact, you may gain weight during your run if you drink a full-strength sports drink. A better choice may be to water down the sports drink, say one part Gatorade and 4 parts water. Or you can just get Propel, which is pretty much 1 part Gatorade and 4 parts water. I love their 700 ml bottles which fit perfectly into my waist packs.
You don't need Propel; you can make your own from almost any sports drink. Just stay away from anything with high-fructose corn syrup. Fructose does not help replace your glycogen reserves. In fact, it is metabolized in the liver directly into fat, making it about as helpful as a stick of butter. (In fact, the butter probably is less stressful on the liver.)
If you are going out for a long run with a Fuel Belt, you have more options. I typically will fill up my belt with 4 bottles of plain water, 2 bottles of 50% sports drink and 50% water, and 2 bottles of full-strength sports drink.
Other things to bring on the trail.
I recommend bringing the following things on the trail:
In parts 1 and 2, I've talked about how get the right gear for the trail. In this section I will talk about pre-run preparation.
Preparing for the Trail
Select a course. I recommend running with a group or an experienced friend for the first few runs. They will certainly have a lot of opinions about where to go. If that's not an option, look for books describing local hiking trails. Trails that are rated "easy" or "moderate" are runnable. If you live in Southern California, pick up 50 Trail Runs in Southern California by Stan Swarts, et al. for some great ideas.
There are three basic kinds of trail course geometries: out-and-back, loop, and point-to-point. You can combine one or more loops with out-and-back or point-to-point courses for variety. An out-and-back is a little more boring than the other two since you will have to return on the same path, thus seeing the same scenery (albeit, in reverse). A point-to-point is more interesting, but requires either two cars, or a ride to the starting point or from the end point. The loop is best because you only need one car and will not need to backtrack.
Your first trail run should be an out-and-back with no loops. There are just too many places to get lost or go the wrong way when trying to make a loop, avoid loops until you're a little more familiar with the trails.
Get a good trail map. A good trail map can provide invaluable information that the little maps in you hiking book cannot. It can tell you how all the different trails fit together, where to park, which roads to take to get to the trailhead, and most importantly, how much elevation will you have to gain in what distance--this will roughly tell you how steep the trail is. For Santa Monica Mountains running, pay a visit to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area headquarters where they have a wealth of trail maps for sale (or as handouts). Once you select the trail, study the trail map and bring it with you on the trail.
Wear the right gear for the weather, and be prepared. The weather can change very quickly in the mountains, especially at higher elevations. If there is even a tiny chance of rain or strong winds, bring a jacket.
Wear pants. Unless you are sure your entire run will be on a fire road through grasslands or chaparral, always wear pants. Poison oak grows nearly everywhere in shady areas (and is not so easy to recognize), so you must protect your legs. A case of poison oak can last up to 4 weeks and is not something that you want to deal with; believe me.
Fuel up. Before hitting the trail, eat a snack, such as an energy bar, an apple, or some toast. Avoid anything with a lot of protein, fat, or fiber and don't overeat. Also, throw a bar or a couple of gel shots into your pack in case you run out of energy on the trail.
Drink some water. Make sure you start out fully hydrated before you run. I usually drink 1 liter of water (two 500ml bottles) on the drive to the trailhead. You know you are hydrated properly if you have to "use" the side of the trail about 10 minutes into your run and your urine is clear.
Fill up your hydration system. You need to drink to avoid dehydration. But you also lose electrolytes and deplete glycogen while exercising. Drinking water does not replace these. In fact, if you drink too much water while exercising you may be at risk of hyponatremia. This is a serious problem, and occurs much more frequently than you would think. So you reach for a sports drink, like Gatorade...
But wait a minute. At 212 calories for every liter, plus a huge wallop of sodium, full-strength Gatorade may not be the best choice, unless you are doing some serious distance (more than 2 or 3 hours) . In fact, you may gain weight during your run if you drink a full-strength sports drink. A better choice may be to water down the sports drink, say one part Gatorade and 4 parts water. Or you can just get Propel, which is pretty much 1 part Gatorade and 4 parts water. I love their 700 ml bottles which fit perfectly into my waist packs.
You don't need Propel; you can make your own from almost any sports drink. Just stay away from anything with high-fructose corn syrup. Fructose does not help replace your glycogen reserves. In fact, it is metabolized in the liver directly into fat, making it about as helpful as a stick of butter. (In fact, the butter probably is less stressful on the liver.)
If you are going out for a long run with a Fuel Belt, you have more options. I typically will fill up my belt with 4 bottles of plain water, 2 bottles of 50% sports drink and 50% water, and 2 bottles of full-strength sports drink.
Other things to bring on the trail.
I recommend bringing the following things on the trail:
- ID
- cell phone--in case you get lost
- credit card--in case you need to call a cab to take you back to your car
- $15 in cash: 2 fives, 5 singles--for parking or just in case (parking at the parks usually runs $3 to $7, but typically there will be street parking nearby if you want to avoid the fees)
- Pepper spray (we'll talk about this in part 4)
One thing not to bring. Don't bring your iPod, CD player, or anything else that impairs your hearing. You will need all of your senses to avoid dangers on the trail.
Finally, make sure someone knows exactly where you're going and what time you're supposed to be back, and let's hit the trail!
Monday, March 27, 2006
Trail Running Basics (Part 2, "Trail Running Gear")
So you decided that you want to try trail running, but you don't know quite know what to do. I will tell you exactly what you will need to pursue this crazy sport in a series of blog entries.
In part 1, I showed you how to select the right shoes for the job. In this section I will talk about the other gear you may want. All of this gear is optional, but highly recommended. It sure makes trail running a lot more comfortable.
In part 1, I showed you how to select the right shoes for the job. In this section I will talk about the other gear you may want. All of this gear is optional, but highly recommended. It sure makes trail running a lot more comfortable.
Trail Running Gear
Technical t-shirt. If you're planning on running less than 3 miles on a partly-cloudy day with little wind and temperatures around 60F, then you can get away with a cotton t-shirt. Otherwise, you'll want a technical t-shirt. A technical shirt is typically made out of a poly-blend and has some kind of moisture-wicking technology such as Coolmax or Dri-FIT. It's a lot lighter than cotton, so it keeps you much more comfortable in the heat--it doesn't get wet & heavy like cotton. When its cool, its even more important to wear a technical tee as your lowest layer, as cotton will get wet from sweat and give you hypothermia when the temperature drops or the wind kicks up. When running in temperatures below 45F, you should use a tight long-sleeve shirt. This way, your arms don't get all wet inside your jacket. You don't need to pay an arm and a leg for these t-shirts. While Under Armour has some excellent and expensive products, you can find an Athletic Works t-shirt with Coolmax at your local Wal-mart for under $7.
Nylon-shell Running Jacket and Pants. For rainy and cool-weather running, a nylon-shell jacket and pants are a must. Try to get a jacket with a little vent in the back to release heat and moisture as you run. Also, it should zip all the way up your neck. The pants should have zippers at the bottom of each leg so you can get them on and off without taking off your shoes. Both the jacket and the pants should be light enough that if it gets hot, you can take them off, tie them around your waist, and forget that they're there. Once again, these things can get pricey, but Wal-mart is there to the rescue. An Athletic Works nylon jacket and pants run around $13-15 each.
Gloves. For cold weather running, gloves are a must. Make sure to get breathable ones or they will get completely wet inside.
Hat. A hat is recommended for all occasions. For cold weather, a lightweight (wool-blend or poly-blend) beanie or ski hat works best. No cotton or anything too heavy; its easy to overheat even when the temperature is well below freezing; and once you take off your hat to cool down your wet hair will freeze--a very bad thing. For cool or rainy weather, a baseball cap works pretty well, keeping your head slightly warmer than normal and the rain out of your eyes. For hot weather, use a white mesh hat with a long brim, which provides protection from the sun and keeps persperation out of your eyes.
Shorts/underwear. I highly recommend compression running shorts. They actually help keep your quads from getting tired. Also, they are acceptable to wear in public (in case you want to take off your pants), although people will certainly get more information than you may be willing to share. Otherwise, anything will do as long as it doesn't chafe. Avoid cotton for runs longer than 45 minutes or so, as they will get wet and uncomfortable. Also avoid baggy boxers, as they are just uncomfortable.
Lightweight jogging pants. When the weather is warm and dry, you will want some lightweight jogging pants. Once again, avoid cotton. Why not just wear shorts? I'll explain in part 3.
Socks. For cold or wet conditions (including water crossings), wool-blend socks are a must. Although almost any old athletic ankle socks will do for dry conditions, don't underestimate the comfort and injury prevention that the right socks can provide. Speaking of "right socks", I highly recommend the excellent WrightSock products for blister prevention.
Hydration System. A hydration system allows you to carry fluid without having to cramp your hands by holding water bottle(s) for the duration of your run. In my experience, you will need need at least 600 ml (20 oz) of fluid per hour of running, assuming you start fully hydrated; more if its a hot day or if you weigh more than 180 lbs.
There are two types of hydration systems: bottle carriers and bladder-based systems. The bladder-based systems are typically worn on the back and can provide a very large volume of fluid. The also typically provide lots of space for food and other supplies. Because of the difficulty in cleaning the bladder (you may run into issues if the fluid is anything other than water) and the tendency to "bounce", I don't use a bladder-based system.
Bottle carriers are much more convenient but can carry less fluid. The most convenient is the single-bottle waistpack. Such a pack will have small pockets, for a cellphone, car key, ID, and a gel shot. If the bottle position is upward-facing, the pack should be worn low on the waist, with the bottle holster at the side and resting against a hip. This position virtually eliminates bounce. Most sport-drink bottles are 20 oz, which will keep you hydrated for an hour (normal conditions, fully hydrated initial state), but you can find bottles that will hold as much as 28 oz and still fit into the standard bottle carrier.
Double-bottle waistpacks have bigger pockets, allowing you to carry larger things, like snacks, cameras, and gloves. Two bottles give you twice the range, but the positioning on the waist is a little trickier and in most cases, some bounce is unavoidable.
For longer ranges, step up to the 8-bottle Fuel Belt. The Fuel Belt is by far the most comfortable hydration system with the weight of the water evenly distributed around the waist. It comes standard with a 7 oz bottles, but 10 oz bottles will also fit, giving this system a possible capacity of 80 oz or 2.4 liters. That's enough for 4 hours on the trails! The downside to the Fuel Belt is that it is rather time consuming to fill all the bottles up. Also, the tiny pocket doesn't have much space for anything more than a key and some ID. Finally, with so many different bottles, you will find yourself spending a lot of mental energy managing bottle placement by shifting bottles around. It's a bit annoying, but still better than a Camelback.
Another option is the hand-bottle carrier. I haven't tried one, but it may be a promising option for those who don't like things against their hips.
I have a single-bottle pack, a double-bottle pack, and a Fuel Belt. I use all three regularly, depending on the length of my run.
Watch. Of course you will need a stop watch to track how long you've been out and to tell what time it is. But a watch can do so much more. Especially if it has GPS. After all, there is really no accurate way to tell how far you've run without a GPS-based device. (That is, unless you are running the exact path that has been previously marked by someone with some kind of distance-measuring device). Plus, the device can tell you useful information such as altitude, calories burned, current pace, and the path back to start if you get lost. I swear by Garmin's Forerunner 201. (Prices have dropped significantly since the 205 and 305 came out; the 201 is only $99 at Buy.com, can you believe it?)
Sunglasses. The sun can do some serious damage to your eyes. So can bugs, dust, mud, and other debris. It is recommended to have glasses with some kind of sun protection. They will, incidentally, protect your eyes from debris and flying insects as well.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Trail Running Basics (Part 1, "It's the Shoes")
So you decided that you want to try trail running, but you don't know quite know what to do. I will tell you exactly what you will need to pursue this crazy sport in a series of blog entries.
First you have to decide what kind of trails you will be running. There are two kinds of trails:
there are the ones that go from the baseball diamond to the monkey bars in your local park and there are ones that people hike on in your local mountain range. If you will be running on the former, you don't need my help. If it's the later, you'll need some gear.
It's the Shoes
The most important gear are your running shoes. One thing to remember about trail running is that you will be, umm..., running. Never buy any trail running shoes that you wouldn't be comfortable running in on pavement. In fact, you don't really need "trail" running shoes at all. All you need are a good pair of stability running shoes, especially if you won't be running in too many rocky, sandy or muddy conditions. Of course, you may want to get the trail shoes for their more aggressive tread (for traction) and their earth-tone colors (so they look better dirty).
Never buy adventure racing shoes. They are designed for races through the Costa Rican jungle, where the trails are muddy and soft. They don't have the cushioning nor stability to stand up to the trails of hard-packed earth and rock in the western United States. Rememeber, if you can't run in them on pavement, don't run in them on trails. I made that mistake once, and couldn't run for nearly half a year.
When you are shopping for shoes, stick with well-known brands that concentrate on running shoes. Do not buy a running shoe from a company that specializes in boots, sandals, or snowboards. Also, do not buy a running shoe from a company that emphasizes style over substance. Stick with big names that you trust. Running shoes have a lot of complicated technology in them that is expensive to research and develop. Small companies usually don't have the budget for it.
Some trail running shoes that I like: Asics Gel-Trabuco, Asics Gel-Eagle Trail, and Montrail Hardrock.
In my experience, its nearly impossible to find a good pair of running shoes for under $80. And since you will need at least four pairs per year (and typically more), this can be a significant expense. Budget for it. Trust me, do NOT skimp on running shoes. If you do, you will not be running for long. If you want to save some money, you can purchase last year's model (they usually run $10-20 less) if you can find them.
I recommend having two different kinds of running shoes (not the same model) to alternate. While this is not necessary, it is a little kinder to your feet since you will expose them to slightly different forces on every run.
Replace your shoes every 3 months or 300 miles, whichever comes first. If you're alternating, replace every 5 months or 300 miles.
The first time you buy running shoes, make sure you go to your local specialty running store where they carry a wide-selection of brands. (Do NOT go to Niketown or Sportmart or DSW.) The people who work there will help you pick out the right shoe for you after taking measurements and watching the mechanics of your walk. The $5 extra you will pay over Sportmart is more than worth their expert advice.
If you choose to replace your shoes from an online store, remember the following: Each shoe model will have different sizing, even within the same brand. For example, you may wear a size 10 medium for the Asics Gel-Kayanos, but you may need a size 11-wide for the Asics GT-2100s. Also, every time a model gets upgraded, the sizing may change.
First you have to decide what kind of trails you will be running. There are two kinds of trails:
there are the ones that go from the baseball diamond to the monkey bars in your local park and there are ones that people hike on in your local mountain range. If you will be running on the former, you don't need my help. If it's the later, you'll need some gear.
It's the Shoes
The most important gear are your running shoes. One thing to remember about trail running is that you will be, umm..., running. Never buy any trail running shoes that you wouldn't be comfortable running in on pavement. In fact, you don't really need "trail" running shoes at all. All you need are a good pair of stability running shoes, especially if you won't be running in too many rocky, sandy or muddy conditions. Of course, you may want to get the trail shoes for their more aggressive tread (for traction) and their earth-tone colors (so they look better dirty).
Never buy adventure racing shoes. They are designed for races through the Costa Rican jungle, where the trails are muddy and soft. They don't have the cushioning nor stability to stand up to the trails of hard-packed earth and rock in the western United States. Rememeber, if you can't run in them on pavement, don't run in them on trails. I made that mistake once, and couldn't run for nearly half a year.
When you are shopping for shoes, stick with well-known brands that concentrate on running shoes. Do not buy a running shoe from a company that specializes in boots, sandals, or snowboards. Also, do not buy a running shoe from a company that emphasizes style over substance. Stick with big names that you trust. Running shoes have a lot of complicated technology in them that is expensive to research and develop. Small companies usually don't have the budget for it.
Some trail running shoes that I like: Asics Gel-Trabuco, Asics Gel-Eagle Trail, and Montrail Hardrock.
In my experience, its nearly impossible to find a good pair of running shoes for under $80. And since you will need at least four pairs per year (and typically more), this can be a significant expense. Budget for it. Trust me, do NOT skimp on running shoes. If you do, you will not be running for long. If you want to save some money, you can purchase last year's model (they usually run $10-20 less) if you can find them.
I recommend having two different kinds of running shoes (not the same model) to alternate. While this is not necessary, it is a little kinder to your feet since you will expose them to slightly different forces on every run.
Replace your shoes every 3 months or 300 miles, whichever comes first. If you're alternating, replace every 5 months or 300 miles.
The first time you buy running shoes, make sure you go to your local specialty running store where they carry a wide-selection of brands. (Do NOT go to Niketown or Sportmart or DSW.) The people who work there will help you pick out the right shoe for you after taking measurements and watching the mechanics of your walk. The $5 extra you will pay over Sportmart is more than worth their expert advice.
If you choose to replace your shoes from an online store, remember the following: Each shoe model will have different sizing, even within the same brand. For example, you may wear a size 10 medium for the Asics Gel-Kayanos, but you may need a size 11-wide for the Asics GT-2100s. Also, every time a model gets upgraded, the sizing may change.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Golden State Wine Tasting with Whole Foods Woodland Hills
Today, I went to a wine tasting at the Woodland Hills' Whole Foods. Cliff Riley, the wine buyer for the store, and Jim Griffin, a wine distributor, were hosting the event at the store's patio. The crowd was small, divided equally between customers and Whole Foods employees. There was toast and a cheese & olive plate to munch on. Eleven wines were being poured. Here are my notes:
- Scott Pail 2004 Pinot Noir "Martha Pirrie". $22. This Williamette Valley pinot was light bodied, with a bright acidity and minerality, and a peppery finish with hints of slightly under-ripe red berries. Very pleasant and seems like it would pair well a wide variety of foods. Alex's score: 8 (of 10).
- Fife Vineyards 2000 Merlot. $30. Bright red; not showing its age in color. Tannic merlot, a bit unbalanced in acidity and alcohol. Showing age on the palate, but grows on you. Alex's Score: 4 (of 10).
- Summers 2003 Reserve Merlot "Knights Valley". $22. Fine tannins and bright acidity. Understated fruit on the finish. Alex's Score: 4 (of 10).
- Fife Vineyards 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon. $40. Pretty bouquet of stone fruit and a touch of sweet oak on the palate. Long, satisfying finish. Alex's Score: 6 (of 10).
- Fife Vineyards 1999 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. $50. Beautiful aromas of cherry, cassis, and blackberry. Perfectly oaked with silky tannins. Very long finish. Drinking well now but should last for another six years. Alex's Score: 9 (of 10).
- Summers 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon "Adriana's Vineyard". $30. Warm-weather cab with great fruit and alcohol, with a streak of complexity. Alex's Score: 7 (of 10).
- Origin-Napa 2002 "Heritage Sites" Red Blend. $38. A right bank-style blend with 75% merlot. Hyped with only 600 cases made by two Napa dignitaries, this wine was quite a disappointment. Minty aroma, with menthol and bell pepper dominating the palate. Alex's Score: 2 (of 10).
- Arns 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon. $70. The only long ager in the group, this wine is a baby at 5. A well-oaked, technical masterpiece with excellent structure, perfect balance, and a long earthy & fruity finish. Alex's Score: 8.5 (of 10).
- Summers 2002 Zinfandel "Adriana's Vineyard". $22. Elegant Zin; well-balanced and fruity but not jammy. Subtly oaked with a curious complexity. Alex's Score: 8 (of 10).
- Fife Vineyards 2000 Petite Syrah "Redhead Vineyard". $30. With a very pretty bouquet of blueberries and earth, this Pet is well-aged and thus restrained on the palate, with low tannins. The finish lasts forever. Alex's Score: 8 (of 10).
- Elimilio Lustau Sherry "Rare Cream Superior". $13 (375 ml). With a sickeningly-sweet aroma of crème brûlée fresh from the torch, I was prepared to hate this wine, but it was surprisingly balanced on the palate, with bright acidity and simply delicious flavor. A sure hit with almost any kind of food, this Sherry can also be enjoyed on its own as well. Alex's Score: 7 (of 10).
All in all, I had a great time. Kudos to Dimple for buying me the ticket and making me go!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Inflammation and injuries
On a beautiful Tuesday afternoon in late July 2005, I went for a run of 5 miles on a very steep trail at Ahmanson Ranch. This was supposed to be a recovery run from the previous Sunday's 10 miler at Point Mugu that I did with the Trail Runners Club. For the past two weeks, I was wearing flimsy adventure racing shoes that did not have proper cushioning or support (but sure looked cool) for trails. At the tail-end of the run, I took the downhill particularly hard. As soon as I got to the car, I knew something was wrong. My feet hurt like hell. It was a different kind of hurt than normal. I ignored the pain as usual, assuming that it would feel better tomorrow, or at the worst, in a couple of days. Of course, it didn't. I had plantar fasciitis.
Five and a half months later (and after a month of intense stretching and icing therapy), I was finally able to complete a flat one-mile run without too much pain.
The root cause of my plantar fasciitis, as well as most over-use injuries, is inflammation.
This article talks about a supplement to help with inflammation. This "HIMF" thing sounds promising. I may just give it a try. Will it'll help with the knee problems that I'm currently having? Time will tell.
Five and a half months later (and after a month of intense stretching and icing therapy), I was finally able to complete a flat one-mile run without too much pain.
The root cause of my plantar fasciitis, as well as most over-use injuries, is inflammation.
This article talks about a supplement to help with inflammation. This "HIMF" thing sounds promising. I may just give it a try. Will it'll help with the knee problems that I'm currently having? Time will tell.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Ahmanson Ranch after the fire
On September 28th a small brushfire started in Chatsworth. Blown southwest and enflamed by the Santa Ana winds, the Topanga Fire (as it came to be known) burned through a large chunk of the Simi Hills and affected much of the Conejo Valley (where I work) and the western-most San Fernando Valley (where I live). For several days, we stayed inside with the windows closed and the air conditioner on full blast, trying to avoid the smoke (with little success). Outside, ash was raining down on our neighborhood like snow. Luckily, the winds died down and the fire was contained. There was remarkably little property damage and no lives were lost. Nevertheless, the area stunk like smoke for weeks (if not months) afterwards.
Much of the fire fighting effort was centered around Ahmanson Ranch, an open space preserve where I spent a lot of time trail running in the spring and summer of 2005 (before my injury). The fires there were threatening communities in West Hills, Hidden Hills, and Calabasas.
In December, I went back to Ahmanson Ranch. Nearly three months after the fire, it still smelled like smoke. But it was starting to recover. I felt like I was witnessing a moment of birth. It was a magic, beautiful landscape that described the cycle of life in stunning detail.
I went back to running in Ahmanson Ranch in February. By then, the landscape had changed. There are still many reminders of the fire, but the magical moment has passed.
Here are some photographs that I took.
Much of the fire fighting effort was centered around Ahmanson Ranch, an open space preserve where I spent a lot of time trail running in the spring and summer of 2005 (before my injury). The fires there were threatening communities in West Hills, Hidden Hills, and Calabasas.
In December, I went back to Ahmanson Ranch. Nearly three months after the fire, it still smelled like smoke. But it was starting to recover. I felt like I was witnessing a moment of birth. It was a magic, beautiful landscape that described the cycle of life in stunning detail.
I went back to running in Ahmanson Ranch in February. By then, the landscape had changed. There are still many reminders of the fire, but the magical moment has passed.
Here are some photographs that I took.
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