First run of 2019

2018 was my best running year. I participated in a lot of races - both road and trail, and also ran a half marathon with the husband (his 1st).

But more than any race, I thoroughly enjoyed my weekly long runs. I get to be outdoors (my favorite place to be); I get to breath lungs full of fresh air; I get to observe subtle changes in seasons all year long; I get "ME" time to think deeply about things bringing stress and find a way to let go; I get to become fitter and faster over time; Every mile is worth my while; Every run adds life to my days!!!

I used to run with a local non-profit group on and off from January 2014. But last year, I realized that each of their events centered around alcohol. Any event to raise money involved beer. Most of their runs started and ended at a brewery. Their potlucks and dinner invites never had any vegan options for me to eat. Although I'm still contributing towards their cause, I no longer run with them.

I found a new running group last fall that felt like home. The people, their running pace, their willingness to be flexible in terms of timing, location and distance of our runs, the camaraderie during races - it fit my needs from the Day 1.

I have a routine now for my weekly long runs. And a great group to run with. I look forward to my Saturday AM runs all week long. Being in Folsom, we are blessed with miles of trails - road as well as dirt, and spectacular running weather all year around.

For my first run of 2019, I ran on a route that I've never run before. We started at our usual starting point - Old Town Folsom. There is a covered parking garage with a bathroom here that works well for us. Instead of running along the American River Parkway towards Nimbus Fish Hatchery, we ran east towards Folsom Lake Beals Point. We were treated to a spectacular sunrise here, and we took a short break to soak it all in. It was uphill all the way, and with a 2 week break from running, I was feeling it in my legs and lungs. The way back was downhill and a ton of fun. I was happy we could run 8+  miles, given that I had tight constraints around my return time. Daughter had a basketball game at 9am, and I didn't want to miss a minute of it.

Here are some pictures from Saturday.....

Trail Running

All my running so far has been on concrete. I needed a training program to get me going, and I stuck to the plan given to me. But I don't really enjoy running on the road. It is also harder on the body (especially the knees).

We have plenty of trails around here, and it was only a matter of time before I tried them out. Started trail running and it is simply amazing.

The best part about being on the trails is stepping away from all the noise we humans (and our vehicles) create...

To the sounds of birds and streams.
To the smell of moist earth.
To the fragrance of the Spring flowers.
To the trees, standing tall and always so grounded; their leaves, whispering secrets only they know.
To the train tracks and stations, unused today, but reminding us of the times they were bustling with activity.

This bench on the trail is so inviting, isn't it? It faces a stream as well :)!

An hour long run - or sometimes even a shorter 30 or 45 min run - squeezed into weekdays that are always busy managing work and family - completely relaxes and rejuvenates me.

Spring is a very pretty time around this area. Everything is still very green and fresh. The run warms you up quickly but the cool breeze continues to counter the heat generated by the body.

I always needed music during my road runs- they felt like drills - and I never seem to bother about music when I'm on the trail - there is so much to enjoy.

My runs become walks when something interesting comes along. Like this rowing race that my friend A and I watched one fine morning.

I always pause to listen to this as well:

I had this post in the drafts for a long long time - finally found the time to post it! 

Hope to be back to blogging more often :)!

Have a good weekend, celebrating BJP/Narendra Modi's emphatic victory in the Elections!!!!

Day 10 - {this moment} Family walks

"A Friday ritual. A single photo - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember" - SouleMama

This picture is from our trip to Mendocino in November.

Both the kids LOVE to go for walks. The daughter will walk/hike as much as she can when we travel and take trails. And she enjoys it too. We find little adventures to do on the way for her. 

My husband also is a nature lover. He enjoys such outings, and rarely says no. He prefers that over movies, socializing with friends, dining out, etc. 

I can't wait for summer when we can be outdoors much more often!

Have a good weekend! We will be staying home and taking care of the baby who is still feeling poorly!