Running

I'm running a lot. I didn't intend for this to happen, but its hard to avoid when so many of my friends also run a lot. Its amazing how my attitude changes when 26 miles is "only 26, why don't you come and do 46 with us?" This time, a friend (well, actually three of them, but Dave asked first), needs a pacer for the AC100. So I get to run the last 25 miles of the course (assuming all goes well), starting at some absurd hour...like around 1-3am ish. To even pace, I had to start training. Turns out though, running 26 mile training runs is actually pretty (as in extremely) fun, especially when you bring a pizza long for when you start to lose energy. The mountains are beautiful, even at 6am after driving over an hour to get there. The morning goes from dark and foggy and cold to a little lighter and warmer to hot and almost painfully sunny at noon. Granted, I went from about 5 miles to 26 miles in one day which might have been too much of an increase but so far my body is taking it pretty well. I just need to eat a lot of carbs, per doctor's recommendation. Its just simply fun to be out there running in the mountains. In the end, the goal is to make it through AC pacing, then stay in shape until the end of September when I am flying home to join Derek for his birthday race in Vermont. A couple of friends from college are also planning on showing up...I find it pretty funny that we can plan to get together for an ultra. THAT is what it takes for us to hang out? Not to mention this is what Derek wants to do for his birthday. In huaraches.

Running in the angeles national forest, AC training for some, pacing for AC training for others, photo by Andy:

And super thanks to Josh for being awesome and getting up at 4:30am to drive us to Chilao since he has a broken foot and can't really do 26 miles right now!!!