One thing I’ve been accused of- generally by my mother- is “chasing rainbows.” And, I’ll tell ya, the woman, she has a point. Sometimes I allow youthful enthusiasms to energize my attentions on frivolous things, like say… going to circus camp or becoming a gogo dancer or learning how to cook this meal (I think I am going to serve it at a party to celebrate graduation from EMT school).

My current obsession is swimming the English Channel in summer of 2011 (and you better believe it- I already have my spot booked with the CS&PF office, “number 3 place on the 20th to 27th August tide 2011″).
Ergo, Mom has a valid concern when she worries I spend all of my efforts chasing wacko, fleeting dreams which sure are real fun for a while, but ultimately contribute very little to my personal bottom line. Heck, in her eyes, even doing an Ironman was nothing short of a trifling, shallow, and most importantly EXPENSIVE vanity project.

O, ye terrible triviality of meaningless pursuits!

It’s something that I personally wrestle with. Every now and then I have a reality check and can see where she’s coming from. For example, currently some of my friends on TGR are having a fundraiser to raise $$ to send this great guy (who has hooked a lot of people up with good deals) to a Phish concert. They are trying to raise $300 to send him to this concert. And I was sitting here last night, having watched this very moving video about people trying to survive in a Shantytowns outside of Sacramento, and having read this article about the icy waters flooding Fargo, ND, thinking to myself, “why, exactly, are we all pooling together to send this dude to a freaking concert, when families are getting kicked out of their homes, eating garbage to survive, and people are freezing in flooding waters??” I personally know two people on TGR who are being foreclosed on right now, and they have families. It’s embarrassing, so they haven’t told many people or really reached out for help. But here I was wondering why we’re being solicited to buy a $300 concert ticket when there are others who seem to have far more dire needs at hand.
It’s all relative, of course. Here I was posting three days ago about how I want to sign up for another $550 Ironman next year. Expensive vanity project, indeed. :-/

Ultimately, what I aspire to is to somehow hash out a decent balance- get the important things squared away, then enjoy some of those more… picayune pursuits.
I’d say a key component of the issue is seeking happiness vs. seeking fulfillment. Doing a circus class? Instant happiness. Getting an EMT certification? Lends itself more towards fulfillment. For me, I’d venture fulfillment lies in living up to my self-imposed moral responsibilities to society- which is why my goal is to professionally help others. After five years on Wall Street working on these intangible products, I have this deep yearning to do something work-wise which is genuine and authentic. During those years, I was conflicted about what I was doing and how I was presenting myself to the world. I felt this… aridity. You could call it a state of professional destitution.

What’s nice about where I am now is that I feel very safe talking about my dreams and goals with my friends out here. There’s no longer this need to impress. I don’t have to be a big banker with a big glass office and a crazy corporate travel schedule. I had those things. I still felt empty. Now I’m just doing my thing, getting my next small steps checked off and squared away, and I’m really proud of what I’m doing and where I am going. I am happy that I had the courage to seek out something better. Honestly I owe the biggest part of this change to Earl. I could have never done it without his encouragement and support. I doubt I would have had the balls, nor the means, to throw down and get after it. I talked about it, sure, but it was with his advocacy and assistance that I successfully made the turn.

Hopefully, soon I’ll stumble into or arrive at that sweet spot- the troika where you have a meaningful, significant and fulfilling professional life- but also harvest joy and excitement from sheer, silly frivolities. I’m hoping this is not paradoxical. I don’t think it is. For eventually, we all must answer Raymond Carver, who famously asks his final poem,

“And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.”

As for the title of this post, I have not only been recently chasing figurative rainbows, but also hunting those of the literal variety. I hope you enjoy the below photos from my recent 30k run in the Marin Headlands:
7:15 in the morning, pulling into the parking lot, Earl, Linus and I spot this:

As I begin the climb up the Coastal Trail, the sun follows:

Within moments I spot yet another rainbow over the hills towards the north. It must have been perfect conditions for them! This one was very faint- can you see it?

Then, a THIRD RAINBOW appeared and this one was just stunning rising over the Pacific. As I followed the running trail, the third rainbow grew and grew to the point where it was a complete arch and also had a shadow rainbow above it. Most of the time, I’m very happy with my wee Cannon point and shoot, although findings like this make me yearn for a fancy camera and lens kit (although how the heck could one do a 30k lugging one of those bad boys?). I ended up seeing FIVE rainbows total, and took lots of photos of them although at this point I will just leave them to your imagination. I was overjoyed at all the rainbows- I have NEVER seen so many in one day. What a gift!

When you have to run up stairs like this, rainbows make it worth it.

Something about trail running… it just full-out trumps running on roads. How can you look down this singletrack and not yearn to follow it??

Wildflowers spray across hillside, competing with the sky’s assortment

Shortly thereafter, the morning fog lifted and rainbows gave way to clear blue skies

About 8 miles in, the Coast Road heads straight towards the ocean. Can you tell where water ends and sky begins?

this patch of wildflowers brave the ocean gales

good thing the views are inspiring because the climbs are NOT! this climb coming out of Pirates Cove was brutal. BRUTAL. I was crawling. I was barely moving. I was moving so slowly I was going backwards in the Hyperion Time Tombs. I was praying for the Shrike to show up, impale me on his spikey sheers and end my misery. I was dry heaving when I got to the top. I stopped running and sat down for a minute. A minute turned into 5 minutes. I sent text messages. I sat there wanting to die. I need to get better at running. I need to get better at climbing hills.

But, you know what’s crazy? There’s another hill I hate even MORE than Pirates Cove. It’s this one, and it’s called the Marincello Trail. I hate it because it’s almost two miles long, it’s at an easy gradient, and it’s deceptively tiring. It goes on like this, subtly upwards, FOR-EV-ER.

When I get to the top of the Marincello Trail about 11 miles in, I had a satisfying sit on this bench and chowed half of a Cliff Bar while scoping the view of what I believe is Angel Island.

Now, for my favorite part of the run the SCA Trail. It’s single track, it’s on the edge of a big hill so you feel like you are about to fall down the mountain, and it has lots of wildflowers and GREAT VIEWS!

Cool house on the SCA Trail. I always kinda feel like a jerk staring at this house, like I am being this peeping Tom voyeur perveface. But, hey- build a house with giant glass windows right on a National Park trail, you reap what you sow. And, you know, don’t throw any stones. Provided, of course, you are not trapped.

Flowers, flowers, everywhere!

About 15 miles in- getting close to the turn back to base camp. The view of the city and Alcatraz:

saw this guy hanging out in the reeds off Bunker Road

Almost 19 miles, I met Earl and Linus at the car, who had gone over and hung out in Sausalito while I was running. We did NOT play on the beach when I got back to the car this time, simply because I was pretty freaking exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go home, shower, and pass out! Personal fulfillment, indeed.

All of us snuggled together. We (the boy and I) got buzzed on New Belgium Trippel Ales tonight and he read The Mathematics of Poker (something to do with his new side project idea) while I perused the entire archives of Cary Tennis online.

Of all three, I can’t decide who’s cutest. Although know for certain how lucky I am! I shall miss these doofuses (doofusai?) while I’m away at school the next two weeks.

Why, lo and behold, my study partner and I have been joined by this interloper. We now make up a proper study GROUP!

You may be wondering what I have been working on this past week. Good question! The short answer: cramming!! Why’s that? I am starting an EMT class this Sunday, and having only received the book three days ago, I have six chapters (175 pages) to learn & prep before the first day of school! Ack! So I’ve been doing enough notetaking, margin notes, and general highlighting to cause my writing fingers to develop some impressive and painful calluses.

I’m really excited to get my EMT Certification. Although just going through the book now, I am a bit appalled at the amount of content they have us cramming into this intensive course. The class itself is only 14 days long! It is 12 hours a day, every single day, for 14 days. Afterwards we have clinicals and ride-alongs, and then finally the NREMT Certification Test. So please pardon my brief absence for the next two weeks while I am trying not to die of exhaustion during this course.

Apparently the class is so intense that many of the students chose to stay in a hotel on campus. However, because it was $900 cheaper, and my aunt and uncle only live 20 minutes away (two towns over), I will be staying with them during the duration of the course. And, so in fact, will Linus! This is mainly because my aunt and uncle LOVE Linus (and spoil him rotten), but also so he’ll have some people to hang out with and walk him during the afternoons. Earl has been working 13-hour days lately, so I didn’t want the dog to be left alone for so long each day.

So, Linus and I shall dearly miss Earl, although Earl did promise to take BART out and visit us on the weekend. Even then, I’m going to be pretty busy! This is what I’m thinking my schedule is going to look like for the next two weeks:

5am: wake up
6-7am: run
7am-8am: shower, eat breakfast
8am: leave for school
8am-8pm: classes (the schedule is actually 12 hours a day of class)
8pm-9pm: drive home, eat dinner
9pm-11pm: study
11pm: bed

As far as running goes, I’ve made the decision to put it on the back-burner for these next couple of weeks. Basically, I’ll just try to get in an hour a day or sprints, easy run, tempo, FARTLEKs, whatever. Just to get out there and maintain some semblance of fitness, kinda. But, the second I get too overwhelmed with school or am not getting enough sleep, that’s going to be the first thing dropped. The course is the primary objective; fitness can always come back with a little hard work when I have the time.

Other than the 6 chapters of “homework” before school even starts, we also have the oddball assignments of procuring “three polo shirts- 1 white, 1 navy and 1 black,” “two pairs of cargo pants- 1 navy and 1 black” and “black soled, black tennis sneakers.” Does that strike you as a bit odd? I didn’t even know people made navy cargo pants. I think we’re going to go look for some Dickies at a Sears on Saturday. (????) The back up plan is Walmart or Old Navy. Hopefully we’ll find some… and knowing me, they’ll need to be hemmed, so that’s going to be a rush-job on Saturday, too. Ack! Lots of rushing the next two days, including a large amount of “getting my affairs in order”- ordering contacts, paying bills, packing, shopping for supplies- as I will basically be indisposed for the entire next 14 days.

Regardless, I am nervous/happy/excited for the class to begin. Even though this is just a small step, in my eyes it is rather sensational that one more measure of the Great Career Change shall soon be complete!

The cat “helping” me study tonight by attacking my pencil. Thanks, Luces. Reeeallly helpful.

While waiting for boiled eggs to cool so we can make deviled eggs, how could I not post this?

I can NEVER cook eggs without singing this- both in my head and belting out loud (as Earl shoots me the stink eye). I blame the Tim Tang Test for introducing me to this rather infectious little song.

Ran a 30k today, and in a really great mood because it went SO WELL. Will post pictures and report tomorrow. In the meantime, Earl and I decided to celebrate with probably our favorite “meal” that is not really a meal: Delicious, delicious deviled eggs! Eggs! Get your eggs here!

What a heartwarming video. Two cardigan corgis welcome their owner home from a yearlong tour in Afghanistan; I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pair o’ tails wag so fast!

I wonder if this is how Linus will great Earl after he and I are away for two weeks starting on the 29th (Details forthcoming)? I’ll venture there will be some major nubb wagging/butt shaking from the woofer and a kisses avalanche on my behalf.

“Oh, you’re so purr-y!  How’d you get so purr-y?”

“Who is the cutest woot-est? Are you the cutest-woot-est?”

“Are you a good boy?  Who’s a good boy?? ARE YOU A GOOD BOY????????????”

“Do you want the ball?  Do you want the ball?  Do you want the ball do you want the ball do you want the ball go get the ball!!!GO GET THE BALL!!!”

“Where’s ducky?  GO GET YOUR DUCKY!! IM GONNA GET DUCKY!! MY DUCKY!! MY DUCKY!!!”

“Do you want breakfast?  Who wants breakfast?  Breakfast! Breakfast!”

“Do you want to be hog tied? Do you like being hog tied?”

“Oh, purr purr.”

“Hi, Meowser.”

“Is that a nice box?”

“Stop being a terrorist!  AGH TERRORIST!!!!!!!” (normally said very grumpily at 6 in the morning when the cat is walking on us trying to wake us up to serve her breakfast

“Linus Whinus!  Who is the whinust-y?”  (this one is by far the worst.  I didn’t even believe I actually say this to the dog until Earl made fun of me… and since then I’ve caught myself saying it right as the words come out of my mouth)

Interesting email lands in my box this morning:

Today, World Triathlon Corporation officially announces that St. George, Utah will serve as the host city for its newest Ironman event beginning in 2010. Taking place on May 1, 2010, the event will consist of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. The inaugural Ford Ironman St. George will utilize a variety of Utah’s scenery, to include Sand Hollow Reservoir, Snow Canyon and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.

This could work.  St. George is about 10 hours from us here in SF, making it driveable (It’s a complete PITA to box, ship, or fly with your bike- when I lived in NYC I drove to Ironman Louisville, about 10 hours, just to avoid the same problem).

Also, southern Utah is supposed to be incredibly gorgeous, with Bryce Canyon and Zyon National Park being two of the places I’d absolutely love to see.  We tried to fit in that area on our road trip, but unfortunately since we drove highway 50 over from Colorado, through the northeast corner of Utah to Park City, we ended up seeing more of this route:
View Larger Map
and missed out on the southern portion of Utah. Also, we were getting a bit pressed for time as the roadtrip wound down, so little side trips couldn’t be accommodated as we needed to high tail it to see Amy in South Lake Tahoe.

This IMSt.George could be a possibility. Plus, timing-wise, I think it would fit into what I was imagining for next year. Basically next year I was planning to run a bunch of 50 milers in the spring and then do my first 100 mile race sometime in the summer. The fact that it’s relatively early in the year would work out as well- because we have such nice weather in this area all year round, I could get in a lot of longer bikes and runs in mid-winter and it wouldn’t suck as much as trying to train for something like this on the east coast! My friend Cedric trained for Ironman Brazil, which is also in May, when we both lived in NYC, and I remember how much it sucked for him to be doing most of his rides inside on the trainer because it was snowy out!

Here’s my favorite trip report from Bryce Canyon. As soon as I saw this posted on TGR I remember my jaw just dropping, and just dying to get there some day.

Ever have a coworker stop by your cube to shoot the breeze and then they just never leave? Even when you have tons of work to do, they’re just right there, in your face?

These two offenders simply will not get out of my office!

How this happened: Luces always jumps up on my desk while I’m here studying, I think it’s because she likes the warmth emitting from my Pier 1 “heat lamp.” Linus normally chills out right under my chair. This gets a bit aggravating because literally he will be RIGHT UNDER the chair, getting in the way every time I push out to get up and get more tea, or use the bathroom, etc. So today I finally just picked him up and put him square on my lap while doing some review notes.

Surprisingly, it was pretty cozy for all- and he made for a rather nice warm little lap blanket!

Last Friday night, Earl and I visited my Aunt and Uncle, who our our happy surprise prepared a nice pasta and meatball dinner. Mmm, mmm! I needed the carbs, as I was heading out on a 14 mile TOUGH trail run the next morning at 5:30 (aye!) am.

The Ohlone Wilderness Trail is a *very* rural trail which runs from Del Valle Park to Mission Peak Park. You actually have to hike to get into the park- from another park. From there it’s a 6-mile run to get to the waterfall and LOTS of climbing and descents. 5000 feet of vertical in total. “5000 feet of vertical” didn’t sound like all that much when I was planning the run, but when I was actually doing it- oof!

Linus and I woke up at 5:30am, ate some oatmeal, and headed to Del Valle park to begin the punishment. Earl hung out at my Aunt’s house sleeping in, reading math, and helping fix my Uncle’s computer while I ran. My faithful sidekick on our way there.

Pulling into Del Valle Park. Lots of boaters come for Lake Del Valle, and they are having propeller inspections due to invasive mussel species in the lakes. For the route to Murietta Falls, you have to register with the Park Rangers to head into the Ohlone Wilderness- and pay $2 for a wilderness permit. When I told him where we were heading, the ranger exclaimed, “hooo-ey! Ya know whatcher gettin into, right?” I laughed and smiled as a response, but really began to wonder what exactly we were in for.

Now, the hike/run to the falls is 12 miles, but I was slated to do 14 for training. So we actually parked on the far side of the lake where boats were getting inspected to launch. This added a mile each way. We got set at the car and began our run. The first few miles of this are up, up, and up.
I love this shot of Linus looking like he is about to jump straight off the ridge.

Leaving Del Valle Park, you must register (sign in) at the Ohlone Wilderness Board. This board not only had SPIDER warnings all over it (and mountain lion warnings), but look at these spiders that were actually *in* the board. Gah!

Nice view of the trail we were following

and the first wildflower spotting of the day

Linus, at this point, had TONS of energy. Because I was jogging, I think he thought we were playing chase or something. He would BOLT up the trail about 30 feet, turn around, and BOLT back to me. I was bemused, but also thinking “you are going to regret this later, buddy.” All in all- I ran 14; Linus probably did 20!

The view we are rewarded with on our way up to Rocky Ridge (2246 ft). You can see Lake Del Valle, where we started.

I’m 70% sure that’s the town of Livermore and then Mt. Diablo there in the distance.

More up! On the way up, I am huffing and puffing big time because I am still trying to run, despite the steep grade. What, ho, are those big objects off in the distance? Well, normally I would be scared at first at the big mystery looming objects, but I read Kevin Gong’s Murietta hiking report, and knew he had encountered more than a few grazing cows during his multiple hikes through the region. So I was prepared for these bad boys, and excited to tell them to MOOOOOve on outta our way!

Linus was PSYCHED to see the cows. His ears perked right up and he trotted faster trying to “catch” them. They moved surprisingly fast for cows! Despite my jogging and Linus trotting, they stayed about 30 feet ahead of us the entire time. Here is Linus going after them. (Granted I was jogging very slow!)

Then it was down, down, down into Williams Gulch, to pass over this stream. This is *not* Murietta Falls, although the bubbling creek bed did have a few minor falls.

Leaving Williams Gulch, it’s up, up, up again- this time to summit at Schlieper Rock.  According to Neal Mishalov’s trip report (his report boasts far superior photos than mine, btw), Schlieper rock was “named after Fred Schlieper, a silversmith at the Rowell Ranch Saddlery in the 1940′s.”  And here I was thinking it was named because it was such an epic schlep to get to the rock!  The path leaving Williams Gulch is so steep it is (IMO properly) named “Big Burn.” I was HURTING at this point and had to walk the majority of this particular ascent. I was rewarded with this great views on the way up. If you look to the middle left of this photo, you can see the path we’ve been following.

Finally, Johnny’s Pond! When you hit Johnny’s Pond, you know you are close, because that is where you turn off the Ohlone Wilderness Trail to get to the falls. I have to admit, I was super GLAD to get to this turnoff!

Interesting rotted out old tree, with quite a view in the background

The land close to the falls is “prairie dog country.” This is also spelled as H-E-A-V-E-N to our silly short legged dogster.  I think he likens himself a Jack Russel, for he would like nothing better than to be lowered down them there holes to hava go at the offending varmints. No hole went uninvestigated! He gleefully darted from hole to hole, shoving his face down every single one he could find. One of these times (and I am almost hoping this happens to teach him a lesson) there is going to be a big, fat, ornery prairie dog in the hole just waiting to bite him right on the kisser.

Finally at the falls! Linus looks happy to be at their summit

The hike down to the bottom of the falls (for proper viewing) was treacherous. Not to mention I was TIRED from running, so I was NOT so sure on my feet. We went super slow, but it was worth it for this! The 40ft Murietta Falls

Look what I endured to take the beautiful waterfall picture for you! Despite my kvetching, wet feet don’t matter all that much- you have to get used to them on trail running due to various stream crossings.   You just run it out and they dry right off.

We hung out at the falls for about 5 minutes and chatted with some hikers from Berkeley. Linus unabashedly begged for their food. I had better manners myself, but *man* their cliff bars looked good. For this particular run I had packed in my camelback- 4 gels, accelerade, the map, phone, camera and water. It was a mistake. I would have KILLED for some solid food at this point.  Because the elevation changes made the run so difficult, it took far longer than anticipated. I won’t be making that mistake again- cliff bars are always going in the pack!

Going with the theme of not having enough supplies- we ran out of water on the way home. Agh! We were just about 3 miles out, so it wasn’t a travesty- just sucked it up and gutted it out. I had been sharing water with Linus by the inefficient method of pouring my camelback into my cupped hands and letting him slurp it out. We probably spilled/wasted a LOT doing this. Which, wasn’t really necessary because Buddy quenched his thirst also doing this:

If I hadn’t shared water with him, I don’t know if I would have ran out. I have since purchased a hand-held water bottle as well, from Zombie Runner. Probably on future runs going to be using this to hold Nuun-infused water. Then I just have to get some salt tabs and I will be good to go for LONG distances.

Spring has sprung! Tell-tale sign here on this budding tree.

Some majorly GREEN foliage. I thought this was pretty.

And, back at the car! Man, I was glad to see the freaking car. We were both BEAT.

I gave Linus some water (we had more in the car and he has his bowl there) and gave him a thorough check-over for ticks and checked all of his paws to see how they were looking after the hike. I pulled one tick off him, laid down his “you are a filthy dog covered in mud” blanket, and we headed back to my Aunt’s house.

After a shower, we all headed out for the evening to my cousin’s kid’s (second cousin? I’m not sure what you call that) birthday party. Linus was the guest of honor. Seriously. Both of their children had been asking if Linus was coming to the party all week! (note- they never ask about Earl and I- always just Linus!!). Here’s Linus visiting his throngs of adoring fans. I have no idea how he had the energy to run around with all of these kids after a 14 mile hike!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TREY!! What a great way to put a cap on a satisfying, exhausting and fun day!

Oh- just one other cool note- I have since learned that there’s a 50k trail run on the Ohlone Wilderness Trail! How awesome is that? (and, how hard must that be?! aye!) It was sold out, unfortunately, but I did email the race director to get my name on the waiting list. Check it out, I’m #8. Hopefully I will get in. According to the race director, “Last year about 10-12 people on the list made it into the race, so I think your chances at this point are good.” Nice!