Rostropovich

Dawn calls me a Rostropovich fanboy. What can I say? I want to purchase the Bach Cello Suites but have no money. Therefore, blogging about it here so I remember later.

Running Journal, Sunday, 2008-11-02

Running Journal, Sunday, 2008-11-02
Resting heart rate: n/a
Body Mass Index (BMI): n/a
Weather: partly sunny
Temp: 17 C
Time: 3:00--6:20 p.m.
Terrain: flat, mild hills

Comments: I didn't think about it until we reached the Parkway, but in a strange coincidence I wore my 2006 NYC marathon finishers shirt on the weekend of the 2008 NYC marathon. Noticed a Fleet Feet marking at mile 18.25 indicating a 12-mile turnaround point. It rained here from Thursday evening to Saturday evening, leaving the Parkway in a semi-dried, post-storm state of disarray today. Reflections of the tall, grey and white clouds overhead appeared in large, stagnant puddles along the bike path. The wind created mini-ripples in the puddles that obscured the reflections but remained beautiful in their uniformity. At mile 16, a flock of eight south-ward tracking Canadian Geese flew right over us, the rin-rin-rin noise of their flapping wings and the occasional, punctuating honk the only noises that indicated their presence. Some things never change--at mile 14, the California International Llama Association continues their presence as volunteer stewards of Parkway miles 14--15. About this time I realized I made an error in judgment regarding daylight hours remaining. Today represents the beginning of daylight savings time, so I looked up the time of sunset online. Unfortunately (which I didn't discover until I got home) in my haste I mis-read the sunrise time (6:07 a.m.) for the sunset time (5:04 p.m.). At mile 14.5, a black-tailed deer with antlers bolted across the bike trail and trotted back towards the William B. Pond park. The California sun set impressively, highlighting from behind the profile of a tall cloud on the horizon in beautiful orange and pink hues. At mile 16.75, we passed flocks of chattering birds as they settled in for the night in the branches of a tree near the American River. The contrast of a waxing crescent moon and a bright star became more and more stark as the daylight waned. At mile 17.75, we heard the sound of baying dogs--either coyotes or ferile dogs. At first just one, and we remarked at how one or two dogs might find the moon appealing to howl (somewhat pitifully, to me). Then a group of them began this strange baying, and then the howls began growing louder and louder, as though coming near us rapidly. As we continued to run, the baying dogs became distant. It weirded Dawn out; I'll admit I felt a bit weirded out too by the type of howl. Growing up in the country-side, I know how extremely rare it is for coyotes to attack humans. Most likely, the group had found something to chase and hunt, or they picked a fight with another pack over territory. It was enough for Dawn to want to only run during the day from now on, and I don't blame her. Up until that point, however, the Parkway had become very still and peaceful. At mile 16.75, we passed a small rabbit eating peacefully alongside the trail; it didn't even seem to mind that we stopped and watched it for several moments. As the temperatures cooled, a light mist arose, making the moon and stars look hazy. As we ran past the reflecting puddle we had passed earlier near mile 18.25, this time I saw the moon and the star in the clear waters, bouncing in time with our gait. By the time we made it to the overhanging oak trees at mile 18.5, the darkness around us reduced visibility to a minimum. An occasional early-evening cyclist drove by, bike light strobing through the darkness. At mile 19, we decided to walk the last mile, which provided the double benefit of both alleviating Dawn's exhaustion and providing a cool-down. We held hands to warm Dawn's fingers, first one and then the other. Walking the last quarter mile past the bluffs near the Bridge Street pedestrian bridge, we noticed the large, illuminated peace symbol that shines nightly at a home on the top of the bluffs. Crossing the bridge, we walked under the lone sodium light on the north end of the bridge, got in our car, and drove up the hill. Our reward this week: Jamba Juice for a Pomegranate Paradise and two apple-cinnamon pretzels.

Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): 19.3 km (12.0 mi):
Total Running Distance For Year: 64.79 km (32.25 mi)
Weight (after exercise): n/a
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: slightly sore muscles.

Running Journal, Saturday, 2008-10-25

Running Journal, Saturday, 2008-10-25
Resting heart rate: n/a
Body Mass Index (BMI): n/a
Weather: partly sunny
Temp: 17 C
Time: 12:13 PM--2:46 PM
Terrain: flat, mild hills

Comments: Animals seen: Jackrabbit, black-tailed deer, Canadian geese. A bicyclist with a helmet-cam rode past us twice. "Bright Little Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle" represents the name of the protected beetle along the Parkway. Another bicyclist rode past us dinging his bell and tapping his bicycle frame to make a rhythm. We came up with the nonsensical term "first second half" and wondered if such things as couples-straight-jackets exist. This represented Dawn's longest run evar.

Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): 16.1 km (10.0 mi):
Total Running Distance For Year: 45.49 km (26.25 mi)
Weight (after exercise): n/a
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: slightly sore muscles.