I crossed the 1K threshold on 11/06/2016 and then promptly slowed waaaay down. Part of the lack of miles can be attributed to switching to the new office in Santa Cruz–you’d think that all that saved commuting time would have gained me a little extra time in my running shoes! But, as it turns out, we had some pretty critical hard deadlines at work, so I spent most (nay, all) of the commute time in the office! However, I love being back in town. We can get the kids ready for school with a lot less stress and I can (and have) pick up the kids from the school nurse’s office on a moment’s notice.
Also, clearly, I had done enough running earlier in the year that the dramatic drop in monthly miles for the last 2 months of the year were not enough to keep me from reaching 1K!
After I passed 1K, I created a stretch goal of 1100…not terribly ambitious! But as the end of the year approached, there was no room for me to miss a running day. As I did last year (I think?), I finished my miles in LA. There was a 5-mile run just going up and down Ventura Blvd and then there was a 5-miler in the in-laws’ neighborhood. It was 1.7 miles up, up, up to Mulholland with a little flattening out before hitting the Overlook. I was pleased that the climb didn’t kill me. Also, it was exhilarating to do the 1.7 downhill!!
Once back in the neighborhood, I still had over a mile to go to finish up the 5 miles I needed to get to 1100. I chose to go straight up Dona Pegita and back down the short stretch of Mulholland to Laurel Canyon. Going up Dona Pegita was very tough…I had to enter the cul de sacs to rest up on relatively flat terrain! Overall, though, the run was surprisingly exhilarating!
The view from the top:
There is so much satisfaction in finishing…and so much thinking through of things during running. There have been so many days that I think I would much rather stay in bed than to freeze for the first mile or so, but at the end of every run, I always feel so glad I got out there, so much more centered, and so much better prepared for whatever the day throws at me. I am once again setting a mileage goal of 1K for 2017. We shall see if I can hit it….I’m ready to keep on trying to keep up with my kids!