the ocean breathes salty

The last couple weeks have been tiring--on the weekends we've been camping and during the week we've been working (and getting ready to go camping).  This morning my alarm went off at 6:40am and again at 6:49.  Both times I turned it off and just lay there.  I knew I'd feel a lot better if I got up and went for a run but I convinced myself that I was simply too sleepy.  I also spent some time thinking about my dream which involved buying a mini golf course through an ad in an underground newspaper and setting up the holes under a couple feet of water.  The things that make sense in dreams . . .

Anyway, I didn't go back to sleep but I also didn't get out of bed to go to the gym.  Totally silly, I know.  I resolved to get in a run after work (something I had failed to do after hitting the snooze button the day before).

After work, the gym sounded just as unappealing as it had in the morning.  Outside though, the fog was rolling in and it was cool.  I realized I should just push myself out the door and down to the water.  I started out much faster than usual but I felt strong.  I ended up running 5.20 miles in 40 minutes.

I stopped about three miles in to take some photos (and also to catch my breath because I was afraid I couldn't keep up the pace if I didn't).  This is what I saw:

While I was running I was listening to this mix on shuffle.  There was the usual scenery--the San Lorenzo, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the municipal wharf, West Cliff Drive with its big houses to one side and water dotted by surfers to the other, Light House Field, other runners in neon attire, couples on their evening strolls and dogs of various sizes pulling on leashes--mostly I was in my own head though.  The pace felt hard but it also felt sustainable.  I felt good (really good, even).

----

When it's 6 in the morning and your covers are warm from sleep, it's sometimes hard to remember why you run (even if you have a list in your head ready for such occasions).  I run for runs like tonight--for the stretches where I don't have to distract myself with puppies(!) and waves and gardens and pretty houses; the stretches where my surroundings turn into a blur and I couldn't tell you what song just played; the stretches where I know I'm pushing myself but I also know I have enough left in me to finish strong; I run for the stretches where I am in that moment, fully (even if that feeling only lasts for a mile or two). 

After tonight, I'm feeling motivated and refreshed and content.  Sometimes I need a run like this to get me going again.  After tonight, I'm looking forward to a weekend spent in Santa Cruz (and a race over the hill).  And to finally getting around to more posts (about camping! our anniversary! and more!).

(ps: you can see my run here.) 

iSpy Spring

Since the official start of summer is just around the corner, I thought I should get around to posting some more photos from this spring.  Here is this spring, as seen through my iPhone:

This spring there's been some fog:

Fog at the Santa Cruz Wharf and Beach

Fog and tree lines . . .

Fog on a morning run

And a bit of rain:

But most days you could just lay out by the pool . . .

Or take a run:

Along Pleasure Point . . .

Or up through UCSC.

This spring we took a couple weekend trips . . .

. . . to San Francisco:

Where there were Backyard haircuts

And City Lights

 There was an afternoon in Moss Landing:

And a overnight stay in Monterey:

Where in the morning, the beaches looked like this

And we got to run along this!

 There were hikes . . .

With views

And picnic lunches . . .

. . . and there were walks through Pogonip and garden gazing.

This Spring I had a brief flirtation with adding light leaks to my iPhone photos:

Little yellow flowers

And afternoon light

Wildflowers on a run through campus

Another afternoon by the pool

(and my hair before bed)

I also had a couple of brief but intense affairs with the following tasty treats:

Trader Joe's Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

Post Run Burger and Onion Rings

And Boba Tea!

Throughout the spring, Buckwheat was reliably cute (as always):

Buckwheat and C

Buckwheat waiting outside Bay Photo Lab

Buckwheat hanging out with his grandpa (aka my dad)

Buckwheat in Moss Landing

And Buckwheat all over the couch . . .

(silly pup).

Buckwheat at the dog park

Buckwheat and C (again).

Buckwheat being a Sleepy Head.

Buckwheat with some Mornin Bed Head.

Buckwheat hanging out with his mom (aka me).

Buckwheat at the beach.

I never tire of Buckwheat!

And of course, this spring was full of flowers:

Wildflowers . . .

And wallflowers . . .

Flowers underfoot . . .

and flowers overhead.

Yellow flowers and Red Flowers . . .

And a single perfect flower found floating in the fountain at Mission Plaza . . .

Overall it was a pretty nice spring.  Now on to summer!