Race Day

The half-marathon in Pasadena was sold out but A. and his friend found a cheaper one in Santa Monica. I thought it would be ridiculous to get up at 4:45 a.m. to go watch, but I changed my mind. I decided it would be nice to watch him run, to see the ocean, and to hang out with his friend's mom.

Check in started at 6:30 a.m.

The pier was lit up even at that hour.

The ocean and the birds were beautiful.

And they're off!

The course was on a footpath and went out about 2.2 miles and back so we were able to see the runners many times. A. was 2/3 when this picture was taken. 

People running the 5K and 10K races were on
the same course but with different turn-around spots.

My friend's son won and A. came in fourth, beating his goal time.
He celebrated with a dip in the ocean.

We found a good place for lunch 

and took our time strolling through the neighborhoods

and along the coast.

I am really glad I decided to go!

Missing the Excitement

It turns out it was not a coronation because there was no placing of the crown on the king's head. It was an accession, the, "act or process by which someone rises to a position of honor or power". It even showed up on my calendar.

It even showed up on my calendar.

The few Danish organizations I follow on social media highlighted the event, too.

The bus system explained why they were flying the flag.

The Royal Run shared lots of pictures from previous races.

I did not wake up early to watch all the proceedings, but was able to see the King waving from the balcony and listen to the analysis afterward.

I like reading about the changing of the flags and royal monogram. 

I am sorry to have missed the events, but maybe I'll be there for another exciting event.

Bridge Update

Maybe you remember the post about the pedestrian and bicycle bridge being burnt and no longer functional? That was in March 2021 and in March 2022 they started work on repairs.

In mid-March they removed the burnt
remains and prepared for the new bridge.

Just a couple weeks later the main piece had been set.

And now, only five weeks later,

the bridge is open!

It does not have that wooden trip-trap sound, but it is not flammable. I am content.

Inaugural Staggered Start 5K

 I have been enjoying running and thought about signing up for a 10K event. I found one not far from here, but it would still involve getting up quite early and driving to the start, not to mention the entrance fee. The other thing I learned was that it was a hilly course so my time would be slower than on my usual flat-ish course. I was undecided and then D. said if it were a 5K that he would do it. That got me thinking and this is what I ended up with.

Ready for fun? Instead of a typical 5K when we start together, the plan is to start at different times and finish together. We will follow the Turkey Trot route (except for a start and finish in the same place on First St. - see photo below) and aim to finish at 8am on Sunday, March 6. The route will NOT be closed so as you consider what time you start please remember to allow time for safely crossing all intersections.

Q. When do I start?

A. That depends on how long it will take you to run the course. For example, if you think it will take you 26 minutes, plan to start at 7:34 a.m.

Q. May I use a timing device?

A. This is an unofficial event so you get to decide.

Q. Is this a USATF-certified course?

A. No. It might not even be exactly five kilometers.

Q. Will there be shirts and prizes?

A. No, but I would be happy to bring some bananas to enjoy afterward.

Do you have other questions? Feel free to ask and I’ll answer if I can.

My running partner and my swim partner both agreed to do it, along with D. and A., who was in town for spring break. I told a few other people, but I was not sure who would show up. I was the first one to leave and no idea how many people were behind me. 

I started just after 7:30 and finished a few seconds before 8am. Ta da!

Two people finished quite a bit ahead of me, A. finished just a few seconds before I did, and five people finished behind me. I think it was a success and I am sorry I won't be here for the second annual event on March 5, 2023.

Home

Yes, where I live is home and I love going to the library and the grocery store and everywhere else and running into people from different parts of my life here, but I also call where I grew up home. 

I love swimming at the old community pool.

I love running by the little lake near home.
Yes, it was very humid.

It was a treat to be chaperoned to a new-to-me all-purpose
trail by my friend, neighbor, and former math teacher.

I really wasn't going to go to the library book
sale and when I did go I was just going
to look, not actually buy anything.

I sorted my mom's playing card collection.

We escaped the heat by taking an air-conditioned tour of places in my parents' life (where they were married, their first apartment) and drove by my grandmother's house. Not shown - the missing golf course behind the house!

If I could twitch my nose and show up at home for a long weekend every month or two I would definitely do it!

Scenes from a Run

 

So nice to have a change in scenery.

Not my new running partner

Burning Bridges

We sometimes run on the Pacific Electric Trail and cross
the San Antonio Creek Channel on an old wooden bridge.

 

When we got to this point on Tuesday there was
caution tape all over so we turned around. Today
the signs were knocked down and
the tape was gone so we kept going.

Beyond a chainlink fence we could see that the
bridge had been burned from underneath.

photo credit christiangalang 11/2016
I liked it not only because it was a convenient bridge,
but it made a nice trip-trap sound when crossing
and it had frost on it a few times a year.

Birthday Celebration

 

A friend forwarded a message about a local runner who was going to celebrate his 90th birthday by running the Fourth of July 5K route. The request was for neighbors to come out and cheer. How nice to have something fun to look forward to on the weekend!

The decorations were moderate.

The birthday boy wore a sash that said, "90 never looked so good!"

City officials were at the finish and
the mayor presented a medal.

He was interviewed by the local press

and made it onto their website.

Best wishes for many more!

Thanksgiving

We were back from the mountains with plenty of time to go to the grocery store and get ready for the holiday.

The day started with a the Turkey Trot, which was to be done
on one's own some time over the weekend. It was nice to see
others out on the course, but not very many and easy to be far apart.
The turkey is wearing a mask on this year's shirts.

The meal was delicious but the table was very empty.

After eating we went for a walk and had a backyard visit with one set of relatives and then two online visits with other relatives.

We ended up with three pies because A. made a beautiful apple pie,
I made a chocolate pie, and a neighbor brought over a pumpkin pie.
It is a good thing we like leftovers.

Not Very Exciting

What has been going on?

Last week I donated platelets while watching this move.

We were going to watch a movie at home on Friday but instead went to sleep before 9pm.

Long week!

We went to a Jewish Bat Mitzvah (including prayers in Hebrew) and a Presbyterian memorial service (including scripture readings in French and Thai).

On Saturday evening we all went to a new-to-us movie theater and saw Ford v. Ferrari
It does not pass the Bechdel Test, but it was entertaining.

On Sunday I did something I have not done in years, maybe decades.
I bought running shoes that were not Brooks. I hate getting new
shoes and wondering if I made the right choice, but I hope they work out.

On Monday I went to Huntington Gardens with a friend.

Stay tuned for the blog post about updated internet service,
to be written when my blood pressure returns to normal.

The rest of the week was work and meetings for me, finals for A., and a conference for D.

The other big event happened here. We went to the DMV without
an appointment and now we have a permitted driver in the family.