Alioto Garden Plot

Finally, I have a garden plot! It is a tiny, 3'x3' raised bed in the nearby Alioto Park garden. I have been on the waiting list for about 1.5 years! I had tried herbs in the window boxes at my apartment, but they became too wind-whipped, and the boxes dried out too quickly for me to keep up! So I replaced them with succulents.

When the window boxes didn't work out as I had hoped, I got myself on every list for a garden plot I could find and hoped for the best. Plots are hard to come by, and I had heard I might have to wait up to 5 years (for the popular gardens)! In my new plot, I planted tomatoes, peppers, arugula, lettuce, rosemary, and basil.


On my way, the night I planted, I almost got in the middle of 2 girls fighting on the sidewalk! Then, when I was planting, Sidney, a gardener's dog, started fighting with another dog at the park.

A few days later, I decided to finish my run at the garden, so I could water. I fell on my way. Tripped on what? I don't know. Just totally wiped out, right in front of a cafe too, of course. So, I hope all of the "incidents" are out of the way with my garden! Now, I just need nice warm weather for my little plants!

Early August in CO

Earlier this month, I headed to Colorado for friends' wedding. My first stop was in Denver, well because I landed there, but also to hang out with my aunt and cousin and her husband. My first day, we shopped along Pearl Street and ate yummy Indian food. My cousin and her husband recently bought a new house, which they have likened to the house in the movie Money Pit. The day I was there, we hung around the house waiting for the refrigerator-repair man, who never showed up or called!

I also got to run on the trail I love near my aunt's house, where every so often, I could catch a glimpse, through the trees and houses, of the mountains.

My other cousin lives in New Jersey and my aunt had heard all about the TV show, Jersey Shore. Wouldn't you know, lucky us, my aunt and I were able to catch the season premiere! Absolutely awful. Don't watch it! My aunt says her new grandson, Simon, will not marry a Jersey woman!

My friends' wedding was in Estes Park, CO. One of the pair had grown up in CO and had a family cabin in Estes, which sat up on a mountain and had an incredible view of the town and Rocky Mountain National Park. The rehearsal dinner was at the cabin and brought together friends and family. The wedding, at a beautiful resort in town, drew on the couple's backgrounds--and included Jewish prayers during the ceremony and dancing at the reception. Friends of the pair formed a quartet and played during the ceremony and before dinner. The couple's first dance was the tango. It was a fun, festive wedding.













It was great to get out of the city and breathe the clean mountain air, if only for a few days!

Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, Bofax, Ridgecrest, 7 Sisters, Mill Valley & back to SF!

A few weeks ago, I rode with a group from Sports Basement, a sporting goods store where I used to work. It was my first ride with the crew, which goes out every Sunday morning. After gathering at the store, the ride organizers told us what to expect on the ride. It is difficult route, 65 miles, with one climb that is pretty intense--4 miles and 2,000' gain. After the "pep-talk" I was second guessing myself & if I could make it. In chatting afterward, I guess many of the others in the group had felt the same! The problem is that once you go out, you have to come back--some way, some how. I didn't really want to pay for a cab to haul me & my bike back from Stinson Beach, but I brought my credit card, just in case!

This ride, as with most organized rides, was a "no drop ride," meaning that the group won't leave anyone behind. So, after every large climb or every 30-40 minutes, we regrouped to make sure we still had everyone. The ride took place in Marin County, which is one of my favorite places. It is just north of SF, over the bridge ,and it's like a whole different state/country. There are mountains, the ocean, hiking & mountain biking trails, wildlife, and incredible road biking. Whenever I get tired of the city & crowds, I head up there. I ride up there 1-2 times a week (not that I get tired of the city that often--it just has incredible cycling routes!).

All of the riders in the group did really well on the ride. I was impressed with the caliber of the crew; I definitely had to push myself to keep up. We rode to Muir Woods, along the ocean to Stinson Beach, took Bolinas Fairfax Road to Ridgecrest to Pan Toll Rd over Mt Tam. We cruised down Panoramic Highway to Mill Valley, met up with the bike trail and then headed back to the city! Whew! It took most of the day & I got back after 3pm! I am so glad I didn't chicken out. It was really tough, but the more hills I do, the better I'll get at them!

Double Dipsea!

Yesterday morning, I ran the Double Dipsea, a crazy trail run that begins in Marin at Stinson Beach, goes to Mill Valley and back! It is 13.6 miles & 1400' elevation change of stairs, trail, roots, forest, prairie, & crazy hills. I absolutely loved every moment of it! Well, the last 2 miles were a little rough, but I think that was mostly because my legs had taken enough pounding and were close to exhaustion. I felt like I was "playing" the entire time, just running through the woods.

It is a handicap race, so depending upon age and gender, everyone started in a wave, based on a specified "handicap." I am still trying to figure out exactly what this means, but basically, while the waves help to spread the runners out, they also create gaps between the very old and very young runners and the speedy middle-agers. The winner of the race is the first person across the finish line. The clock begins when the last wave leaves the starting line, so essentially, the women's group that went out an hour prior had no "time" until that last group left Stinson Beach. Everyone tries to catch the runners from the waves in front, and if someone is really quick, he/she can try to catch the first wave, to win the race.


Anyway, all I know is I had a blast and I cannot wait to do it again. My legs definitely protested today and were quite sore! I used the foam roller at the gym this morning, which brought tears to my eyes, but I am convinced it works! I decided against my bike ride to Marin today, in order to recover both mentally and physically! Sometimes I just need a break!

I hit a tourist...

with my bike!

I was crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. She was walking toward me and totally not paying attention, and doing these spinny things in the middle of the sidewalk. She should know how to walk in a straight line--she was about 45--it wasn't like she was 13! I then ran into the railing, but stayed on my bike. By the way, I was on the correct (right) side. On weekdays before 3pm, all walkers and bikers use the east side of the Bridge (weekends and after 3pm weekdays, bikers use the west side, walkers use the east side). The tourists were especially bad today, completely in their own world and all over the walkway. This was the first ride I have been on in long time where I was more irritated when I got back then when I left! :) Usually it's the opposite. I bought a whistle especially for this reason, but I forgot it....

Oh dear!

AC CPT, at your service!

Yes! I passed my Certified Personal Training test! Whew, such a relief. I am so happy to have it behind me. I had to memorize the body-assessment table in order to pass! This table helps assess muscle imbalances, weakness (underactive) and tightness (overactive) when doing basic assessment testing. I can tell you that if your feet turn out during an overhead-squat assessment, you may have overactive soleus, bicept femoris or TFL; and underactive medial hamstring and/or glute maximus (among others). TMI!?

So, now the fun begins. I got a job as a trainer at a gym downtown. This week I began training, and as with any new job, my head is swimming with new information, procedures, co-workers' names. I am going to work 2 jobs for a while to see how it goes. As time goes on, I will be more in control of my schedule at the gym. Right now it is just a little intense!

In the photo above, you'll see Ruth, Laura, and me at what looks like a "beach." Well, kind of. We rented a cabin in Truckee over Memorial Day weekend and behind us in the photo is Lake Tahoe. It was so great to get away for the weekend. The weather was amazing. We took a few rides--around Donner Lake and part way around Lake Tahoe. The elevation (I think it's 7000') made everything a little more difficult. Hill-climbing was incredibly hard on my lungs! I can see why people train at elevation--they come down to a city like SF and they can just fly!

According to Albert Einstein...

"Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving."