A fun berkeley weekend

Well, I just got back from an enjoyable time returning to my trail running roots in Berkeley for the weekend :). Sarah invited me up to joined her running group, The Luna Chix (btw...if you're a woman runner in the bay area, check them out, they put on great runs!), on an enjoyable run around redwood park in Oakland. I planned to wake up at 4:15 to get ready and be out the door by 5:15 for the drive up. Unfortuatly, I didn't wake up until a bit after 5!!! Frantically I rushed around and still made it out the door by 5:20. I tried a new way up (taking the 238) and got there with time to spare :)

Now, I thought I'd interject here with something sort of odd that I'm experiencing on account of Tahoe. Suddenly, I've become someone who 'does ultras', as Sarah expressed to the girls on the run :) Immediately, people seem to think I'm some great runner! It's really a bit confusing, to them as well, when we actually start running and I can't keep up :). I really feel the urge to do a 50 miler even more now, though, because right now 50k doesn't seem so different from the marathon, so it doesn't feely as ultra-y. Still though, it's sort of fun to be seen as part of this group now.

The initial plan was to follow the PCTR course and do 30k, i.e. the 20k loop plus the 10k loop. However, while out on the 20k, we realized we weren't going to get back in time to meet with the new people joining us at 9 for the 10k, so we cut it short to about 9 miles. We (rather Sarah) was definitely pushing the pace, so we were getting a great workout in getting back. We got back and had a bit of time to rest while the new group arrived. After some last minute bathroom stops, we were off again. Unfortunately, at this point I started feeling sort of sick. I was trying to keep up with the girls but finding it painful to run and so was mostly hiking, falling further behind. Finally, I shouted out to them to wait (about 1.7 miles into the loop) and handed over my directions so that they could continue without me. I went out another .2 and then headed back alone to make it an out and back instead. It's funny, I've been wanting so much to run with people, and now that I finally had people to run with, I just wanted to be alone :)

Unfortunately, with being alone, I got a tiny bit lost, as I got confused by the trail markings. I headed up on the wrong trail for a bit, and then decided that it was really unfamiliar. Just slightly freaking out about becoming lost in the forest, I played with the features on my garmin, and found a "back to start" button. Yes! It was like the car gps, alerting me to turns and such, and just helped boost my confidence that I knew the way back. It was slow going, taking me an hour and 11 minutes to go just 4 miles, but it really was beautiful out there. Miraculously, by the evening I felt normal again, so who knows. My body is weird sometimes. The other runners arrived, having finished the full loop, 15 or so minutes later, and we snapped a quick group shot before we took off for food.


After the run we headed to a brunch place at a chocolate factory and had a lovely meal. All of Sarah's teammates were super nice and fun to hang out with.

Next Sarah and I headed to the Monteray Market to pick up items for Jasper (the winner of the TRT 100!)'s get together. We planned to make an almond torte from the Chez Panisse Cookbook (which turned out amazingly!)

For Sarah (of PCTR) here's the recipe :)

Introduction

This cake is for marzipan lovers and is nice just powdered lightly with vanilla powdered sugar and served with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of sherry, or better, an Italian Aleatico or Passit. It is also good with sliced peaches or nectarines and creme anglaise.

Ingredients

	1¼	cups sugar
	⅞	cup (about 8 oz.) soft almond paste
	1¼	cups softened unsalted butter
	1	tsp. vanilla extract
	6	eggs
	1	cup flour
	1½	tsp. baking powder
	¼	tsp. salt

Steps

1. Beat the sugar with the almond paste until the almond paste is in fine pieces. Or, better, pulverize it in a food processor. Beat in the butter and the vanilla, then cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the whole eggs, one at a time — the eggs should be at room temperature — beating well after each addition so the eggs are thoroughly mixed in. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt, and beat in just until thoroughly blended.
2. Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan and turn the batter into it, smoothing the top evenly. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the center feels springy when you push it gently.

_____

After making the torte, I popped down for a bit of a nap (4 1/2hours of sleep is certainly not enough!) and then it was off to the party. It was amazing the number of amazing runners that were present. Just hearing casual conversations about what hundreds people were doing or how their WS went. It was pretty awesome.

I had a bit of a foot in the mouth experience talking to Mark Gilligan, the 2nd place finisher of TRT (who did the 129 mile death ride the weekend before), because, while I knew his name was Mark, I didn't realize he was that Mark! So, we're talking about Tahoe, he congratulated me on my finish, and then I asked him if he met his goal for the race and was happy with his finish? He made a seeminly knowing smile assured me he was very pleased :) When I was alerted to my ignorance a bit later, Sarah tried to console me by telling me that it was a good question, maybe Mark did want to beat Jasper! It's funny, I've read Mark's name so much for various races, but I just didn't have the face to go with it. Oh well, now I know :)

Something sort of fun was that a few people apparently recognized me from reading my blog! Sometimes it seems like only the people that post are reading, but I guess there are lurkers following along as well. If you're reading this, by the way, leave a post to say 'hi'! I'd love to get to know more of the readers :D It is nice to know that my words aren't just going into empty air.

As talks of hundreds was going on, I asked Sarah (of PCTR) about what she recommended for a first (non WS) 100, to which she answered, half jokingly, "of course, Headlands Hundred!" While it was somewhat said in jest, as she began telling me about it, it did sounds pretty good. Could I possibly be ready for 100 next summer? Seems a little crazy :D It'll be nice checking out the race this weekend, when Sarah and I volunteer at it (we'll be at mile 58 at the Rodeo Aid station!).

Thanks Jasper for a fun evening!
Sunday Sarah and I decided to have a lazy sleeping in day, and then went and saw Hairspray in the theaters. I highly recommend the movie! The music is fabulous, and I can't wait so see it again :D It's a bit addictive!

I got home and honestly felt like being lazy. But, having only done a 13 miler the day before I knew I needed to do something. I had to finish an essay first (ah the life of a student) but then I got myself to amazing campus 1/2 mile track, perched on a hill overlooking monteray bay and santa cruz. Lap after lap I watched the sun set and twilight approach. A few deer came over to enjoy the view. I finished about 9, having done 7 miles, and now finding myself on a track far too dark to continue. 20 miles for the weekend was okay though. Next weekend Sarah and I hope to run an 18 miler followed by a 20! We'll see how that goes..

Now off to do 10 or so :)