Bobble bottle!

Meet BB, my latest attempt to live healthy and drink more water!!!!!



The filter is built in so I can have filtered water anywhere. Needless to say this is all part of the Ultra Campaign!

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Speechless and perhaps a little insane

Speechless and insane may not necessarily be related....but they could be!  I am speechless because I literally am speechless.  That cold/flu travelled rapidly downward to my voice box and I am down to a whisper.  Based on the blog history I have lost my voice 4 times in the last two years.  I am not at all sure what that means but a consultant without a voice is a little ironic.
Insane as I have registered for the 50 miler, going against some of the advice I have been reading about the type of race to choose for your first.  I've chosen the Tahoe Midnight Express Ultra (check it out on the right).  Actually it's really just a "bit" player inside the 72 miler and a whole bunch of other activities happening over a three day period.  Some key facts:

• Held at Lake Tahoe: in context Tahoe is 72m/115kms around the rim as compared to Lake Taupo which is 119m/193kms
• Elevation ranges from 6300ft - 7000ft: so start high and go up, then down and more up and down
• Night time road running - starts at 10pm so you run through the night
• No aid stations until mile 46 - I have to have my own support van with all my food etc etc etc

I don't think it's the easiest race to have chosen but it appeals in a bunch of ways.  Like the idea of running at night and like that it's roadway.  Like that my peeps are with me the whole way.  Like that it is small (seriously around 20 started the 72miler last year and only 8 did the 50miler.  We all start at the same time but my expectation is I'll be about last in the pack.......start slow and taper......
Now I have my heart set on it I just have to do the work to achieve it, one step at a time.

Sad.....

This is a sad post so if you aren't up for sad today skip on by.......
Last year when mum was here we travelled up to Folsom and I spent a day volunteering at the Rock n River 50 Ultra Marathon.  It was an awesome day and at the end of it I decided that this was the race I would choose for my first ultra.  The race directors were Robert and Linda Mathis. About a week ago I emailed Linda and got no reply, I thought it was odd.  Today I went on to the race site to check out registration and saw this:

We are sorry to announce that this race is cancelled until further notice. Sadly, Robert and Linda Mathis (race directors) were tragically killed on Friday, December 30th. 


Needless to say, more than shocked.  I googled to discover they had been hit by a drunk/drugged  driver while crossing a road on a pedestrian crossing.....not out running, not doing anything remarkable, just doing their business in their home town.  They were legends in the ultra community and I really enjoyed my day with both of them.....particularly Linda. They ran their race with integrity and a genuine caring for the runners, that's why I had wanted to run it as my first.
The whole thing has just made me more determined to do a 50 miler.  If some drunken arse can take it all away so quickly then best we all think hard about what it is we really really want to do while we do all those other things like paying mortgages etc etc.
I have new plans for my race, but will save it for another post as this is not so much about me as tipping my hat to some inspirational people who have undoubtedly helped many aspiring runners achieve their dreams.  A sad loss.

Getting all homey

Very successful Ikea visit. New lamp for the lounge.



Combined with some shuffling of furniture.



Has made for a very comfy nest.
New rug and curtains for the, about to be painted, dining room where my newly acquired NZ wall hanging will be hung.



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Adventuring....

Two days indoors, home sick.....bleech.  Ventured out today though.  Off to Ikea buying homey things then Fort Funston after a very wet stormy night.

The "Grand Canyon"......Irene taking me and Lotte a little off the beaten path!

Arborist

Had some "pruning" to do.



Brave, sweet French guy climbed the ladder in the rain.



Did an impressive job.



And sorted this weirdness....






Schweet.


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Martin Luther King Day

9 miles done! Cool crisp SF day. Back to my old stomping ground.



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More holiday stuff

Irene arrived from Australia on Boxing Day and we hang out in Havelock for another two days, checking out the Napier Art Deco and Irene river swimming while Janine and I watched followed by a yummy lamb chop dinner.

Cruising in Rose's car we then headed back to Auckland via Taupo and Rotorua.  This was fun as it's always interesting to see the country through the eyes of someone who has never been there before.  We stopped at Huka Falls.  I haven't been there in about 15 years I think.  All still rather impressive I have to say.
As we travelled a couple of things I really noticed; how clean the country is, very little trash at the side of the road and the lack of roadside advertising, even as you approach small towns; a general air of well being, really not a lot of "rundown" or poorly maintained farms or houses in evidence (it all felt much "wealthier" that I remembered); good roads, really good roads, startlingly good roads; good driving, seriously I expect most NZers wouldn't think so and the road toll was horribly high for the xmas period but I saw very little bad driving and people mostly kept to good speeds without going crazy (of course it only takes on person to stray across the line and it's carnage.....).  I wouldn't say there was no traffic but it was pretty low stress.  I think I'm immune these days.  Everyday I battle the freeway to and from work - that's alot of traffic, so NZ did feel relatively light weight on the traffic front.
Arriving in Auckland we stayed at Rose and Jos (both out of town so just us) and went out to dinner with Gwenda (I had stayed with Gwenda and Karen my first night/day in NZ so it was an additional bonus to spend time with G. again).  We went to Soul Bar which has been around for ever it seems.  The Viaduct it self looked amazing, clearly benefiting from the Rugby World Cup in terms of it's development.

While not in this shot (which I didn't take btw), there is a whole new area that has been developed, also full of restaurants and street art.  A small area but all quite impressive.
Following day we headed up to Rawhiti to meet "the girls" and enjoy a new round of adventures!

13 Weeks to Milan

Yikes, I just did the numbers on training days between now and the Milan Marathon in April......those days, weeks and months tick past fast!  Official training program starts tomorrow.  It also happens to be Martin Luther King Day - given the client takes it as a holiday (we don't), most of the team are taking PTO, me included....yippee three day weekend.

Meet the peeps

.....known these folk 20+ years.  I came out to these people, they were there, they'd been around, out long before I even thought about it.  I didn't need "It does get better" because  they were there and all mighty out when I came out......they were my people that told me it was okay.....and so much more!
We've all kept in touch, we are all friends but this New Year was the first time we've all been together in 15yrs.....before that Andy's 30th.  All of us have kept in touch individually and in random groups.  So much history.  It's kind of amazing and I gotta say I never did think I was even one centimeter shorter than the rest......I might have been though.....just a millimeter or two........

Andy, me, Rose, Michelle, Ruth

These are the people I've known since I was 22.........they've tolerated the best of me and the worst of me, they've laughed at me, celebrated with me and cried with me (well we've all kind've cried together at different times).  
P.S my mum told me recently if you have even one good friend you are lucky....you know I have these four and a couple more (at least one or two who read this blog).....talk about them/you later......no limit to good friends who I think have my back and I have yours......"It does get better".

Back in the US of A

I'm home and delighted to discover that I have my own little community here too.  It's not got the history of NZ but it's been a very sweet landing both at home and work.  At home Irene and Lotte picked me up at the airport. Lotte was all squeaky and sweet (Irene didn't squeak but was smiley!). It was lovely to be met then whisked back to my little house......all tidy and neat after friends of Irene's stayed.  I do love my little house and my "neighbours".
NZ was a total blast, I didn't get enough time with anyone really; but enough time with everyone to know that I've got some great peeps around me!  The family were great and I love the "Havelock" house.  It's peaceful surrounds and it's calm beautiful interior.

Getting ready to shoot!

Jam on it!

This is Dudley and Buster (above).....they are supposed to be "miniature" somethings.....not so much of the miniature!
Me and Jam went shoot'n. Claybird shooting in the "backyard". Awesome fun with some very beautifully crafted rifles and the  scariest little mechanical thing that flings the clay birds!!!!!

Awesome view

Doing the biz

Is it bad to say that I do really love shooting.....not animals, but targets!
Jam and I went on a 14k (8.5m) bike ride too.  Seriously I don't bike so that was was all a little freaky.  We were on mountain bikes too but on the road, I am more comfortable with them.  I was really not at all sure that after the ride I could make it back up the driveway to the house without getting off and pushing (well that would be a little humiliating, right?).  As it turned out running has put me in good stead and the gearing on the bike meant I did actually make it up the hill.....lowest gear, Jamnie was about three gears higher....cripes.  Still it was really lovely to get out there and spend the time chatting and loving the rural atmostphere.

Travelled all over NZ and had a great time. NZ is always a little complicated for me as I have different groups of pals to catch up with.....more later.

The holiday that was....

Back from NZ, lots of photos to share and adventures had.  All to come! Meanwhile, back home, my little house is lovely, the weather in San Fran fantastic.  Irene, Lotte and the fishes all here.  Gorgeous (albeit painfully slow......xmas cheer and all) run out at Fort Funston while Lotte and Irene played "throw the stick".....finally finally finally got the lock to the back door (seriously this has been a saga and a half to order and actually get it......designer doors should be banned!) and have had a lovely evening at the local wine bar (which I now feel I have discovered!) with a friend I haven't seen in 12 months.  Sweetest part of that story is Dee and I met probably four years ago so I actually have some history with her as I transited through my various living and working arrangements!