Detour to the Kadugodi Rail Track (8.6 Miles) -- 01/02/14
Imadihalli - Chansandra: 0:26:15
Main Road: 0:06:55
Detour, out and back to Kadugodi rail tracks: 0:19:27
Hope Farm - Elim - ECC - Lake Trail - Pattandur: 0:25:40
Time: 1:19:17
Mileage: 8.6 Miles
Wght: 70.3 kg / 155 lbs
Not too bad, in spite of this persistent cough.
I had this small detour in mind for a while. No bad encounters there,
on the contrary, a peaceful road, surprisingly well paved for something
that doesn't really lead anywhere, so quiet that it's favored by walkers
and runners (mingling with a steady stream of labourers).
-- The changing face of Vartur --
Shamnam (13.6 Miles) -- 01/05/14
Vartur market - hanuman crossroads: 0:56:03
Muthsandra: 0:20:46
Back via Ajgondanahalli - Imadihalli: 0:48:35
Time: 2:05:24
Mileage: 13.6 Miles
Wght: 70.4 kg / 155.2 lbs
Feeling really good actually, breathing impeccable. Some leg soreness, but
that's to be expected. Chilly morning, with dense fog in places. Ruksanna
scolds me for going out in the Shamnam, everyone stays inside. She would
only go out helpless, needing to earn.
She ends up being kind of right, renewed coughing and sore throat in the
evening.
Completed Sura Zalzala.
-- The big Banyan tree in the village --
EPIP Zone (9.9 Miles) -- 01/10/14
W. Trail - Dunmore House - Accenture: 0:25:42
Epip - Dead-end detour - BassavanaNagar - Hoodi: 0:28:40
Kodigehalli - Sadaramangala - ITPL: 0:36:49
Time: 1:31:12
Mileage: 9.9 Miles
Later start today (around 7:00). Tried another route through the EPIP
zone to avoid the busy main road, but no luck, the trafic area cannot
be avoided. I can think of a few things to explore around this route,
so I'll be sure to come back with a little more time.
-- Surah Alaq --
Surah Alaq (12.8 Miles) -- 01/12/14
Imadihalli - Naugondanahalli - Samethanahalli: 0:39:11
To Muthsandra. / Muthkur road and back: 0:40:09
Naugondanahalli - Midway temple - Imadihalli: 0:39:33
Time: 1:58:52
Mileage: 12.8 Miles
Wght: 71.7 kg / 158.1 lbs
Near Samethnahalli, a man shows me a scorpion he has caught in a can.
Learning Surah Alaq, the second of the ones I've chosen from
the Sudais recordings.
Alleys of BassavanaNagar (9.8 Miles) -- 01/20/14
Epip / BassavanaNagar / Hoodi / Kodigehalli route
Time: 1:30:54
Mileage: 9.8 Miles
Wght: 72 kg / 158.7 lbs
Detours through the alleys of Bassawanagar. Those are
nice and intense, but lead nowhere.
After the Gym (9 Miles) -- 01/21/14
Chansandra via North Trail - to Side Route to the Tracks: 0:39:39
Back and forth to Whitefield Station Railway: 0:17:17
Hope Farm - Elim - ECC - Lake Trail - Pattandur: 0:26:02
Time: 1:22:57
Mileage: 9 Miles
Gym: 0:45:00 - Heavy Back and Biceps/Triceps
In the gym at 6:15, run starting at 7:00 (no morning meeting due to
MLK holiday in US).
In Pattandur, meet Sonu Khan, greet "Kharyet, Allhamdoulillah", he's
talking on the phone to his mother. Meet the other man soon later
near the lake. It has been a while.
-- In Krishnagiri --
In the morning and in the evening (13.4 Miles) -- 01/27/14
Morning: ---------
Vartur - Low Road - Ajgondanahalli - Naugondanahalli - Midway Temple -
Vijay Nagar Hill - Sachin House - Holy Cross - Elim - ECC - Lake trl -
Time: 1:25:16
Mileage: 9.2 Miles
Evening: ---------
Pattandur - ECC - PM Hamlet - Around the lake - T-Zed
Time: 0:38:44
Mileage: 4.2 Miles
Total: -----------
Total Time: 2:04:00
Total Mileage: 13.4 Miles
Very pleasant morning. Spend a while talking to Sonu Khan, who
invites me to the Gulbarga Dargah.
After work, run back home for the first time, as it is
take your ass to work day. Definitely not as nice, as the roads are
busier with aggressive trafic, air feeling more polluted (I cough
quite a bit), and tired from the day. But I do eventually warm up
into the run, reach quieter areas. I actually run into Sonu Khan
again, on a bike with a friend, who calls me for "cool drinks", but
I don't take the time to stop. At the Palm Meadows Hamlet, I circle
fully around the lake (with a delicate crossing on the far end), which
continues to be developped.
The start of Yaseen -- 02/12/14
Hagadur - Borewell rd - Sai Baba
Gym: 0:30:00 - Lat Pulldowns
Run: 0:38:58
Mileage: 4.2 Miles
Wght: 72.8 kg / 160.5 lbs
Started learning Surah Yaseen. Long road ahead...
I'm still a little sick, but decide to run anyway. Small thing, after
praying Namaaz at the Gym, wear my kerchief through the run.
Into the mud -- 02/14/14
Chansandra - Hope Farm - Dog Alley
Time: 0:54:25
Mileage: 5.9 Miles
Wght: 73 kg / 161 lbs
The road in front of hotel Savanna is blocked by a trench that's being dug.
Two women cross it by foot, so I follow them not thinking much of it. But
in the semi-darkness, my feet suddenly sink knee deep into mud! Fortunately
no hurt, but I reach work very very dirty! :)
I carry rocks through Dog Alley. Sure enough, I'm chased by the nasty dog
there, but stand my ground.
Hagadur Festival -- 02/20/14
Chansandra Night Route
Time: 1:03:00
Mileage: 6.5 Miles
Wght: 72.9 kg / 160.7 lbs
Was going to the gym, but Ruksanna got up at 3.30 after a night of
coughing, so I stay with her, as she practices her tailoring.
The road even through Hagadur is particularly dark today, as if the
electricity had been diverted from public lighting to illuminate the
various displays for the annual festival.
Along the Main Road (10.7 Miles) -- 02/23/14
Vartur main road to approx Greenwood High and back -
Time: 1:39:15
Mileage: 10.7 Miles
Wght: 73.1 kg/ 161.1 lbs
Left at 6, pleasantly cool and comfortable.
Decide for the main road for a
change, like in the very first days in India. Luckily
not too much traffic yet.
Early Starts -- 03/05/14
Tuesday 03/04/14 -- Chansandra Night Route
Time: 1:00:56
Mileage: 6.5 Miles
Wght: 73.3 kg / 161.6 lbs
Wednesday 03/05/14 --
Gym: 0:35:00 - Back
Run: Hagadur - Borewell Rd. - Nellurahalli - Pattandur
Time: 0:34:50
Mileage: 3.7 Miles
Wght: 73.3 kg / 161.6 lbs
Friday 03/07/14 --
Gym: 1:00:00 - Chest, Leg Extension, Calves
Run: W. Trail - Nellurahalli - Pattandur
Time: 0:33:55
Mileage: 3.6 Miles
Wght: 73 kg / 161 lbs
Particularly early today, a 5:15 start. But feel strangely good, in spite
of insufficient sleep last night.
Weather has noticeably warmed since yesterday, feeling heavier and humid
even in the morning. More mosquitoes too.
Another very early start, hit the gym at 5:05am. Mtg again at 6:30.
And didn't sleep till 10 something last night as I accompanied
Ruksanna on a food delivery. But not feeling that bad overall....
I reassure myself on the way that, in spite of learning Yaseen,
I am not forgetting all the other Surahs...
Very tired unfortunately, having gotten up at 3:45, woken by Ruksanna
coughing.
Yaseen: The first Moubine (9.3 Miles) -- 03/10/14
Vartur - Valepura - Ajgondanahalli - Naugondanahalli - Midway Temple -
Vijay Nagar - Holy Cross - ECC - Lake Trail - Pattandur
Time: 1:26:23
Mileage: 9.3 Miles
Wght: 73.2 kg / 161.4
Excellent relaxed run. Left around 7. Overcast and not too warm.
Rehearsing Yaseen carefully, in which I've reached the first Moubine...
The Doukhan -- 03/13/14
Time: 1:01:01
Mileage: 6.5 Miles
Wght: 73.9 kg / 163 lbs
Up at 4, with Ruksanna who, having obtained her Doukhan yesterday woke up
early to peel garlic. It's nice to chat in the morning. I feel great again
today. The mornings have become again clear and somewhat chilly, postponing
the arrival of hot summer. Early daybreak almost at the start, at 5:40.
I master Yaseen to the first Moubine quite well by now, and rehearse other
Surahs as well.
-- Along the Imadihalli trail, early morning --
Away from the scientific approach (9.1 Miles) -- 03/15/14
Imadihalli trail - Ajgondanahalli - Timandihalli - Beautiful trail to
Harohalli (with exploratory detour towards the river) - back via other
trail - back through Imadihalli Hagadur road.
Time: 1:24:06
Mileage: 9.1 Miles
Wght: 73 kg / 161 lbs
Fantastic run, actually. Beautiful sunny crisp weather, morning mist, a
perfect morning. Enjoy the scenery, take pictures. Perfectly relaxed pace.
I've gotten into the habit now of running without a watch, less precisely
measuring my time on my IPhone, which continues my welcome drift away from
the scientific approach.
-- Along the Imadihalli trail --
Beyond the First Lake (14.8 Miles) -- 03/17/14
Montfort Lake School (Holi holiday)
Kodi - W. Trail - Nellurahalli - ITPL: 0:32:44
Railtrack to Hoodi Jct - right to Kodigehalli rd. - straight on the trail,
working my way to Montfort Lake School (Yele Mallappa Shetty Lake,
Sonnenahalli): 0:33:04
Back through slightly different trails - than left on Kodigehalli rd to
loop back the other side to the tracks - ITPL: 0:40:27
Back via Nellurahalli - PM hamlet - TZed shortcut: 0:30:47
Time: 2:17:03
Mileage: 14.8 Miles
Wonderful run! I have been wanting to explore "beyond the first lake"
for a long time, and this is my chance. As usual, discovering new
roads, and the slight uncertainty of making it, is thrilling. I do
reach close to that other lake, but not knowing the exact roads,
and already overtime (my target was 2 hours), I turn back around
the Montfort Lake School. This area, like many others, is being very
actively developped. I feel witness to a disappearing world.
Deforestation (10.7 Miles) -- 03/23/14
W. Passage - Imadihalli trail - Ajgondanahalli - Tiamdinahalli - Beautiful
trail to Harohalli - back small trail to Low Road - New trail to Kotur
jct. - Valepura - Ajgondanahalli - Imadihalli. Trl - New cut to Hagadur.
Time: 1:38:34
Mileage: 10.7 Miles
Wght: 72.7 kg / 160.3 lbs
Started later (7:30), much warmer, but still a pleasant breeze. No fog. A
little tired at first, but the relaxed running wakes me up wonderfully.
Try two new trails, the first between Harohalli and Kotur being actively
deforested (i meet the workers).
Getting confused with Surah Yaseen, having tried to learn too fast.
-- Construction in Nellurahalli, early morning --
Yaseen, the second Moubine (8.6 Miles) -- 03/27/14
Tuesday 03/25/14 -- Chansandra Night Route (Prashant Layout, ELIM)
Time: 1:01:12
Mileage: 6.5 Miles
Wght: 73.2 kg / 161.4 lbs
Wednesday 03/26/14 --
Gym: 0:45:00 -- Abs, Bench Press (2*27.5kg = 55kg = 121lbs = 2*60.6lbs)
Run: W. Trail - Nellurahalli - Pattandur
Time: 0:35:56
Mileage: 3.8 Miles
Wght: 73.6 kg / 162.3 lbs
Thursday 03/27/14 -- Chansandra Night route
With detour to the Kadugodi Rail Tracks
Time: 1:20:00
Mileage: 8.6 Miles
Wght: 73.2 kg / 161.4 lbs
Early start at 5:10 (up at 4). Feeling surprisingly great actually,
faster pace at a very well controlled effort.
This time, more firmly reached the second Moubine, although it might
be wise to pause a little so the knowledge doesn't slip from under
me as I continue to move forward.
In spite of being quite tired, pretty heavy session in the gym,
*with no help*.
In Nellurahalli, I see a tiny little girl just coming out of her
tent. I think of the picture, but like the other day, pass on,
pretexting that the people might object, that I don't have enough
time, that I have enough pictures like that, etc. But I regret enough
that I retrace my steps a little later, too late for her to still
be there. I photograph a group of workers in a structure against
the sunrise instead, and vow to from now on, "when in doubt", stop
and take the picture!
How unpredictable things are! In spite of having woken up way too early
(3:45), I feel fantastic on the run, and have the time to add the side
road detour to the rail tracks, where actually a lot of people walk,
run, or otherwise exercise (very low traffic). Parhai is going great as
well, full successful rehearsal of all Surah's including Yaseen up to
the 2nd Moubine.
Unplanned Long Run (18.4 Miles) -- 03/30/14
Vartur - Left at Police Station - Hanuman Mandir: 0:56:40
Road and trails through the fields to the village down the hill
(Madappanahalli) - Trail through the rice fields to the river: 0:19:43
Back on the road to the Hanuman Mandir: 0:15:51
Right - Belikere - To Muthsandra: 0:22:04
Back via Valepura - Ajgondanahalli - Imadihalli trail -
Short cut to Hagadur: 0:55:36
Time: 2:49:54
Mileage: 18.4 miles
Wght: 72.9 kg / 160.7 lbs
Did not plan on such a long run, but it organically happened.
In the spirit of renewed exploration, (which by nature has
to happen farther and farther from home), I take a trail after
the Hanuman "crossroads" Mandir, by the new developments
(which have sprouted here in the middle of nowhere). This
dirt road gets more and more tentative, petering off into the fields,
but I stubbornly try to make my way. In the middle
of nowhere I meet an old woman about to cross a ditch. I politely
extend a hand to help her, gently expressing my intention in half
Hindi half Kannada, but she stares at me speechless, grabbing her
meagre bag against her chest. I retract in front of her obvious fright,
try to explain the misunderstanding, but she seems paralyzed with fear.
I keep a distance then continue my way through a tenuous trail, through
the plantations, sometimes falling in mud, finally to the road.
Ruksanna later tells me that I should not act like this with a woman
even with the best of intentions, that here even an old woman might
fear getting raped.
At the village down the hill, I continue the exploration, taking a
wide dirt road to the left which also peters out into the rice fields,
down to a tiny path that dead-ends at the river. I ask my way back
to Muthsandra.
Back to the Hanuman temple, I take the road to Muthsandra, stopping
at the first village for food and water. But the bananas are not ripe,
and I have to settle for cookies. The woman in the shop first warns
me that she has no "Bisleri" water, I explain in Hindi that I can drink
whatever she drinks, so she nicely goes fill my water flasks
in her home.
Long way back home, but I don't struggle that much. Passing the little
tent community by Imadihalli, along the half trail by the stream,
I spot a woman half naked washing, sitting on her heels on a flat
rock village style. I obviously pass my way as discreetly as possible,
trying not pay heed to her nudity. I experiment yet another
trail back into Hagadur, and am extremely happy to drink a Seven-Up
nearby the Siva Mandir, almost done with the run. I wonder if today,
like on other such runs, I'll end up drinking frantically thoughout
the day and into the next, causing excessive weight in the next
few days.
-- Tirupattur, the Shared Auto station --
The run back home (11.4 Miles) -- 04/01/14
--------
Morning:
Chhota Rasta (PM Hamlet, Nellurahalli)
Time: 0:32:52
Mileage: 3.5 Miles
Wght: 73.6 kg / 162.3 lbs
Came back from Tirupattur by bus last night, therefore didn't get much
sleep. But feeling ok...
--------
Evening:
ITPL - Pattandur - Lake trl - Workers trl - ELIM - Holy Cross - Vijay
Nagar North Side - Midway Temple - Naugondanahalli - North Route -
Imadihalli trl - Passage to the West - Ozone.
Time: 1:13:09
Mileage: 7.9 Miles
--------
Total:
Time: 1:46:01
Mileage: 11.4 Miles
In the evening, not having VT, not having an extra set of clothes for the
next day, and work waning down early following Ugadi, I take the unusual
step of running back home. I am shocked by the heat as I exit the building,
but the running strangely dissipates that. I start with a heavy stomach
and short of breath, but relax progressively on the trails, mostly downhill,
and completely free of traffic. My throat feels extremely parched with
thirst (in spite of having drank before leaving), but all in all, this
is a great relaxing end to the day, freeing me up of all fatigue.
Having left around 4:45, I reach comfortably by 6, in the waning sun
but still full daylight.
-- Finally reached Yele Mallappa Lake --
Yaseen, the end of the Juz (13.5 Miles) -- 04/07/14
Reached Yele Mallappa Lake
W. Trail - Dunmore House Short - Nellurahalli - Accenture -
Epip Zone - BasawanaNagar - Hoodi: 0:55:14
Across the tracks - to Yele Mallapa Lake (by Montfort School): 0:26:57
Back the other way - ITPL: 0:43:01
Time: 2:05:11
Mileage: 13.5 Miles
Wght: 73.3 kg / 161.6 lbs
This time made my way all the way to the lake, through little trails
and alleys. I was actually really close last time. What looked on
satellite maps like a road along the its bank is actually some sort
of jetty that cannot be crossed.
Hot weather, but pleasant (it peaks at 37C these days). On the way
back, I stop to buy bananas which I eat on the run. Very slow pace,
but feeling great, no struggle.
Missed a photo again in Nellurahalli. I have to force myself to stop.
This morning, I have tentatively reached the end of the Juz in Yaseen,
to "mouh'tadoun".
-- Musicians in Hagadur, early morning --
Musicians in the night -- 04/09/14
Chansandra Night Route
Time: 1:04:38 (will have been a little shorter, as I stopped for photos)
Mileage: 6.5 Miles
Wght: 73.3 kg / 161.6 lbs
Left at 5:10 (at night). Stopped in Hagadur where the village fair is
still running. Took pictures of the light chariots, and a group of
people assembled around musicians, a great site at this early hour.
Several fighting packs of dogs, but no incident.
I'm confirming my knowledge of Surah Yaseen.
-- The changing face of Vartur --
New buildings (11.2 Miles) -- 04/13/14
Vartur - Baligere short loop
Time: 1:44:00
Mileage: 11.2 Miles
Wght: 73.1 kg / 161.1 lbs
A later start, around 7:45. It's been hot lately, and I'm only carrying
a single water flask, but manage well. This has been a huge week, and
I'm only planning to cap it off with 1 to 1.5 hour run, but will be
very surprised by the time!
I explore my way a few times, first through Vartur then Baligere, and
even closer to Ozone, through new alleys and dirt trails, sometimes
having to retrace my steps in dead-ends, or asking my way back to the
road.
Even more than any other, this area illustrates the crazy development
eating at he farmlands. The roads, once dirt trails, have been widened,
half finished appartment complexes, big bars of concrete, have sprouted
in the fields, with a lot more to come, huge signs taunting these new
high-end living quarters, as if overdoing each other.
This caps a huge week, with over 7 hours of running and nearly 9 hours
overall. But running on the hard squats from yesterday will leave me
very sore, with a growing cold to boot.
-- In Chennai, Salaam ka ghar --
After Chennai (10.4 Miles) -- 04/21/14
Vartur - Valepura - Ajgondanahalli - Naugondanahalli - Chansandra -
Trail - Vijay Nagar Hill North - Holy Cross - Elim - Lake Trail -
Time: 1:36:19
Mileage: 10.4 Miles
Wght: 73.2 kg / 161.4 lbs
Good relaxed run, temperature ok in the morning. Got back from Chennai
Saturday night via overnight bus. Feeling good, relaxed, and ridden of
all pain.
Have started doing stretching / namaaz etc on the balcony, which would
be great if it weren't for the pesky mosquitoes who attack hands and
feet, even before daylight.
Revised all Surah's, especially Yaseen, and barely started
learning Buruj.
-- In Chennai, Shabreen ka ghar --
-- Whitefield Hill (Upervalla Rasta) --
The fresh tar sticking to my feet (7.1 Miles) -- 05/02/14
BasavanaNagar short route
Hagadur - Whitefield - Borewell rd - Nellurahalli - Accenture - EPIP -
BasavanaNagar - Hoodi Main Road - ITPL
Time: 1:06:08
Mileage: 7.1 Miles
Wght: 72.1 kg / 159 lbs
It's now daylight as I leave at 5:40, allowing for more possibilities
than the Chansandra route. As a last minute inspiration, I go for this,
not as certain that it will take an hour.
In daylight, I notice how many new schools have flourished on the Borewell
road stretch, and what some years back used to be a dirt road has been
recently paved again into Nellurahalli, the fresh tar still sticking
to the feet.
-- In Basavanagar --
-- By the River Temple --
River Temple (7.7 Miles) -- 05/04/14
Imadihalli - trail to Midway Temple - Chansandra - Trail to Naugondanahalli -
To the River Temple and back - Cut to road in Naugondanahalli -
Imadihalli - back
Time: 1:07:14
Estimated Pace: 8'45" / mile
Mileage: 7.7 Miles
Wght: 72.5 kg / 159.8 lbs
Much faster pace on the way back, as Ruksanna has asked me to return
within an hour. Good run overall. The vapory atmosphere traps
the heat even in the morning. Still bearable though.
-- In the Naugondanahalli area --
-- Nellurahalli during festival, early morning --
Rail Tracks (7 Miles) -- 05/06/14
W. Trail - Nellurahalli - Sai Baba - ITPL: ~0:40:00
Down across the rail tracks - to the village to the right - back across
then on the tracks themselves - back to ITPL
Time: 1:05:05
Mileage: 7 Miles
Wght: 72.7 kg / 160.3 lbs
Nellurahalli is getting ready for some festival, light garlands
surrounding the area, light displays and chariots at the ready,
even so early in the morning.
I reach IPTL around 6:10 to realize that the 6:30 meeting has been
cancelled! I head straight back out, down to the railroad. From that
village to the right, I decide to cross the tracks to find my way back,
as I've seen people doing. There's actually many tracks there, like
a half station, and I run back on the tracks themselves, surprisingly
not much impeded by the rocks. To the right underneath, thick jungle
growth shielding some sort of nursery.
Feeling good overall. Rehearsal of Yaseen and whatever I've learned
so far of Burooj.
Why is my weight increasing again? Simply cannot get it right.
First Rains (8.5 Miles) -- 05/09/14
Chansandra route, with railway detour
Time: 1:19:07
Mileage: 8.5 Miles
Wght: 72.6 kg / 160.1 lbs
Woke up at 4, it has been raining all night, preventing me from going
to the balcony. It rains lightly still for the first few minutes of the
run, but then almost miraculously stops as the day rises, as if to make
way for the run. This feels like the beginning of the rainy season,
settling in.
The "Kotress" in Chansandra (11.5 Miles) -- 05/11/14
Imadihalli - Midway temple trail - Kotress - Chansandra - North trail -
Back to Imadihalli (left Greg there) : 0:40:00
Ajgondanahali - Timandahalli - New dirt road to Madhuranagar - Vartur -
Two unsuccessful detours trying to avoid Kodi.
Time : 1:43:13
Mileage: 11.1 Miles
Wght: 72 kg / 158.7 lbs (my target weight)
Started with Greg Jennings, but unfortunately had to drop him after
about 40 minutes as his knee pain started again to bluid up.
We ran by the "kotress", where Kadugodi slundwellers are bout to settle
in, and Vahida is trying to claim Ruksanna's quarter for herself.
After dropping Greg in Imadihalli, I turn back towards Timandihalli,
after which I find a wide new dirt road, ready to be paved, another
terrible wound in the rural lands.
Approaching Vartur on a minuscule trail, a woman clad only in a cloth
is bathing at the back of a tent community. I make a conscious
effort to not look at her, but the vision appears so beautiful, her
golden soft skin glowing in the morning light.
I stop to buy flowers for Ruksanna in Vartur, careful this time to get the
appropriate white ones. "Today is mother's day?", she asks me happy and
all surprised.
Oppressive Heat (7.4 Miles) -- 05/13/14
Basavana Nagar route (through Siddapura)
Time: 1:10:43
Mileage: 7.4 Miles
Wght: 72.2 kg / 159.2 lbs
Woke up too early at 3:30, not able to sleep again.
Left around 5:10, day starting to rise in Nellurahalli. A slower run,
before leaving tonight for the US. It feels warm and damp even so early
in the morning, low clouds trapping the humid heat under an oppressive
seal. Nice run though, although very slow.
-- Jeremie and Madeleine in Zion, Utah --
-- In Valley of Fire, Nevada --
-- In Death Valley, California --
-- On the road to Bakersfield --
Yaseen (7.7 Miles) -- 05/19/14
San Mateo Bridge - along the Bay Trail to Seal Point North End: 0:36:26
Back: 0:35:00
Time: 1:11:26
Mileage: 7.7 Miles
Having lost my bag in Bakersfield, bought new running clothes yesterday
evening upon arrival. Previous shoes were dead anyway.
Strong headwind on the way out. A good run though, after a sinister
insomniac night at the horrible Marriott. The wind is exhilarating, and
on the way back, with the tailwind pushing me in gusts, I sing a
successful rendition of Surah Yaseen. After social running, learn-on-
the run, I've now invented the sing-along-run.
I feel cleansed after this.
-- San Mateo Bridge, seen from Seal Point --
-- San Mateo Bridge --
Coyote Point Marina (9.7 Miles) -- 05/20/14
San Mateo Bridge - Along the Bay Trail to Coyote Point Marina: 0:45:23
Back: 0:44:22
Time: 1:29:46
Mileage: 9.7 Miles
Started in stormy cold conditions, after little sleep.
My running isn't good today,
but I still push past the point I reached yesterday,
to that little harbor along
the bay. It takes me about an hour to feel a bit comfortable. The stormy
start has by now made place to clear sunshine,
the wind abated, luckily, I
didn't overdress for this.
-- Along the Bay Trail --
Coyote Point (13.8 Miles) -- 05/22/14
San Mateo Bridge, Bay Trail to Coyote Point Park: 0:51:12
Coyote Point Loop: 0:18:35
Out and back on Jetee: 0:09:11
Back: 0:48:32
Time: 2:07:31
Mileage: 13.8 Miles
No wind today, but started very sluggish, headache, heavy digestion.
Very slow run, but started feeling better in Coyote Point,
about an hour into the run,
partially the thrill of discovering something new.
-- Coyote Point Marina --
-- Pulgas Preserve --
Wonderful Pulgas (13 Miles) -- 05/23/14
Canada rd - Edgewood Preserve - Sylvan trl to main entrance: 0:33:33
To Pulgas - up Paul Geracci trail to the summit on Halder trl: 0:27:38
Second summit: 0:14:09
Back down to Edgewood: 0:18:13
Edgewood trl - Old Stage rd - back: 0:26:06
Time: 1:59:39
Mileage: 13 Miles
Before leaving back later today. Got up at 4.
Started on Canada road, into Edgewood. Many souvenirs, but Edgewood feels
a little disappointing. At the bottom, I vaguely remember being close to
Pulgas Preserve. Having asked my way around, I indeed find the place easily,
completely empty, and much wilder than Edgewood. What a beautiful ascent
into the hills, a sense of utter loneliness, unique landscape. In spite
of yesterday's long run, this ends up feeling easy, feeling great to
reconnect with the beautiful hills, the smells, the animals, this sense
of isolation.
-- Edgewood Preserve --