Sure FELT like Ten Miles!


Beautiful Lake Hodges

Today's run was supposed to be ten miles... it ended up being shorter than that, but more on that later. I couldn't run with my group so I decided to do my run on the trails around Lake Hodges. Lake Hodges is in north San Diego County, about 15 driving minutes from my house.

Lake Hodges was just one of the areas hit hard during our last wild fire in the fall of 2007. Several homes burned down and the landscape was blackened by burned trees and brush. The damage caused by the fires is still visible but there is regrowth everywhere. The flowers are abundant, the blackened trees have leaves, and there are little animals scampering around.
It's beautiful again!






Burned tree





Miscalculations

Poor me. I don't have a Garmin. It's OK, you may cry on my behalf. Would you like a tissue?

I decided where I was going to run today based on a route I found on Mapmyrun.com. I've run at Lake Hodges before but only as far as 8 miles. There are no street names out there on the trails so I had to try to figure out from the map where to turn around and head back. I thought I had it right... even thought I might have gone too far... when I turned around. After I got home, I logged my run on the map. I was able to find the approximate area where I turned around and it turns out I only ran 8.64 miles. Ugh! I was mostly disappointed because it felt like I ran so far!

Sunny and Warm

I love sunshine. I love warm. The problem is, running makes "warm" turn into "hot" pretty quickly. At around mile six, I was very uncomfortable. Before I left home, I put on SPF 50 sunscreen but it felt like I was getting burned by the sun. It was almost 80 degrees at 10:45 a.m. I should have started my run much earlier than I did... I knew it was going to be warm but didn't think it would make running so much harder. Now I know.

New Stuff

I ordered an ID wristband from Road ID and it came in the mail yesterday. I love it... the strap is pink and has my name & emergency phone numbers engraved on a metal plate. It is very comfortable to wear and I feel better knowing that if anything ever happens to me on a run, my family can be contacted. Even if I get eaten by a mountain lion, it's bound to poop the medal part out eventually, thus making my fate obvious.

I also got a new iPod (Nano) for my birthday. I had been using my husband's iPod Shuffle. I love that I can make playlists on the Nano. Now I have only stuff I like on my music player. I'm also looking forward to downloading audio books to listen to while running. Any suggestions?

California Poppies

So many beautiful wild flowers are in bloom around the lake. Among my favorite, are the Poppies. Here are some pictures I took as I finished up my run.









That's all! Have a great weekend, everyone! And good luck to all those who have races this weekend.

Comments

Aka Alice said…
Great photos. It's nice to see Lake Hodges coming back.

I don't listen to many books while I'm running, but the iTunes store has TONS of podcasts (all free...we like free), both of radio broadcasts (I'm an NPR junkie) and some running music podcasts...very cool. I listen to those as well.

I hated it when I would use trackmyrun and I'd think I was running 10 miles, and it'd come back saying 8.5...GAH!
March 28, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Unknown said…
Bummer that your run ended up being short.

I don't listen to music or anything when I run so no help from me on that.

I find running in the heat (and humidity particularly) to be very uncomfortable. Definately need to get out there earlier if you are having days that warm!
March 28, 2009 at 6:19 PM
RunToTheFinish said…
what a wonderful place to run!!! oh man I just have houses and streets.

I love listening to audio books that are more like learning type things or inspirational things. I review a lot of them in my monthly book reviews. they work for me!
March 28, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Felice Devine said…
Wow -- those pics are so beautiful! You have a great place to run.

I don't have a Garmin either :-( so I know that feeling of thinking you've gone longer than you have. You weren't that far from 10, though!
March 29, 2009 at 7:56 AM
Marathonman101108 said…
I HAVE a Garmin Forerunner 305, and it's the best investment I ever made. The freedom to run wherever you want and have it do all the work for you is great. Speaking of great, great scenery you have out there. I wish Connecticut had better scenery. By the way, remember the days when you felt you weren't a runner?! Well, even though you ran less than you had planned, 8 plus miles means you indeed ARE a runner!!
March 29, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Kristen said…
Beautiful pics! How great to such nice scenery on your runs.

Great job on the run though even though you didn't quit emake 10 miles - you were sooo close! I do have to say though if you invest in anything as a runner a Garmin is worth every penny you pay for it. Although, sometimes I wonder what it would be like to just go run and not know the time, my pace, how far I have gone, etc. Maybe one day . . . :)

I cracked up at the road id/mountain lion! I don't have one but really should get one. I think everyone should.
March 29, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Oz Runner said…
lol at the lion pooping out the metal part of the road ID! I've thought about getting one of those bracelets too...

And I'm with you on needing to get a garmin, i am still using my nike+ which is very unreliable....
i mostly listen to running podcasts on my long runs, music on my shorter runs...

And I love those flower pictures! And 80 degrees by 1045am??? wow...I am jealous...
March 29, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Anonymous said…
Those poppies are gorgeous! 8.6 is still a good number also considering the temp change.

You asked - yes I lived in SD in 2007 for 9 month. In Hillcrest.
March 29, 2009 at 5:22 PM
joyRuN said…
You get to run in some gorgeous surroundings!!

I got a Garmin cuz I was sick & tired of the disappointment I'd feel coming home & realizing that I didn't run as far as I'd thought.
March 29, 2009 at 6:10 PM
MCM Mama said…
Great pics! I have to have my garmin. I'm a little too obsessive about my actual distance LOL. Good job on the run and what a gorgeous place to run!
March 29, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Unknown said…
Sara, great photos. "Must download" audio books - "Ultramarathon Man" and "50/50" by Dean Karnazes. They are the best, especially for the long run days. With the Nano, in order to pause (and be able to resume during your next run), when you finish, hit "pause" and then shut the unit off. You can recharge it and - when ready - "un-pause" and resume listening.
March 30, 2009 at 4:45 AM
Glenn Jones said…
Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing Sara!
March 30, 2009 at 5:22 AM
Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said…
Great photos.. My Garmin 305 is from Costco.com :) And I did shed a tear for you, running life is MUCH easier with a Garmin.

Good work!!
March 30, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Mel-2nd Chances said…
LOL... poor lion if that happens! LOL I have the pink anklet... Too bad the run ended up being short, but loved the pics!
March 30, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Black Knight said…
Wonderful pictures. What a beautiful place to run, you are very lucky.
March 31, 2009 at 8:06 AM
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