Beautiful Feb weather and a 50th B-day trip to So. Cal

I want to take a moment and relate just how nice it is to be seated in my Kansas living room in late February writing this entry with my windows open. It is a lovely day that began for me at 5:30 AM as I arose to prepare for a Saturday long run. Today the run turned out to be a bit less long, but way more hilly than I had planned. A moderately-paced 20 miles on my beloved river trails had been my target for the weekend. When I noticed a post from a friend (who is also training for the same marathon and ultra that I am working on) stating that he was going to do a bunch of hilly loops today, I changed my plan. I mean, he's done the races before, so what do I know?

Anyway, a couple of hours and 13 - 14 miles later, I had gotten in a solid, challenging run. The last lap I'd even had a scary encounter with an unaccompanied pit-bull and his brown boxer buddy. Running into aggressive dogs is never fun, but if you're looking to make lemonade in this situation, it does make for a fast lap time.

In other news, I did a bit of running, and a whole lot of hiking in Joshua Tree last week. The place is always spectacular - whether you are there to climb, hike, run, bike, or simply experience the beauty where the Mojave Desert meets the Colorado Desert.

Taken from atop a mountain near Indian Cove

Mountaintop Panorama

More Indian Cove

From a hike near Split Rock

While in the Joshua Tree area, I also experienced a sound bath at the wonderful Integratron, located in the desert community of Landers. The sound bath occurs in the custom-built domed structure. A person plays extraordinary bowls for about 25 minutes, and then a relaxing music is softly pumped in. The whole thing lasts about an hour. It is oddly wonderful, and massively relaxing.

Afterward, we stopped in at an orchid farm. It was simply serendipity. We saw it on the way to the integration, and figured, why not? What we got was an incredible tour of a farm that supplies about 80,000 orchids (and 10,000 venus flytraps) each month to stores around the US.  We were the sole visitors, and got a prolonged tour of the facilities.

A Pano inside the Integratron

Pre sound bath with my friend, Roger Henry

Outside the Integratron

Orchids

The trip to J-Tree, and later a few days in Palm Springs was for my 50th birthday. I can't say enough great things about the experience, as well as the numerous friends who helped put it together.

Until next time, keep running.