And yet, and yet, I'm so busy. Have to, have to finish this book project this winter, but the effort feels so clunky right now and I hate writing clunky, better to flow, can't force flow, even my blogs have been crappy and neglected lately, but I need to start on that book editing project and all that Web content I promised, and my boss in Alaska wants to change around all of the newspaper deadlines for the holiday week, the same week we'll be in Fairbanks tromping around in the frozen wilderness, and I have to gather all of my preferred winter gear and get it dialed in and ready right now because we leave next week, which reminds me to mail out those Christmas presents, so grateful for online shopping, and I have to get stuff ready for that 50K trail race this weekend as well, and I'm considering joining a long group run in Marin the day before because two back-to-back long runs will be good Iditarod training too, but sort of scary, sixty miles in two days? ... shouldn't seem that much, actually, all things considered, but it means I won't do well in Woodside, and damn I really need to vacuum ... I should clean the carpet as well while Beat is out of town, and hit the store to get some trail snacks and pick up that prescription, and cat supplies for Cady's next trip to the catsitter, need to schedule that, when does Beat get back from Germany? Oh yeah, I have that car appointment. Argh!
The customer service rep at the Subaru dealership told me Subey's 30,000-mile service was going to take four to five hours. Four to five hours? What are they going to do, install a new transmission? "We're backed up," she apologized. Then why bother scheduling appointments? "Will you be waiting here or coming back later?" she asked. I'm not sure what most people do when they're marooned at a car dealership. I usually bring my laptop, drink bad coffee, and try to get some work done. On this day, luckily, I brought my bike.
California fire roads are mean, mean, mean. I remember when 3,000-foot climbs would feel like a breeze, back in Montana where dirt roads are built with switchbacks at reasonable grades. Here in California, there's no snow and ice to contend with and utility vehicles can apparently climb walls, so they build their roads straight up the mountain. Limekiln was killing me and I was loving it. The rear wheel spun furiously through the loose gravel, and my quads were on fire in a way I haven't felt in weeks, even though GPS told me that I could probably achieve a faster pace if I were on foot. For whatever reason, when I work on becoming a stronger runner, I seem to become less strong on a bike. I guess that's the way it goes, but it's frustrating and motivating at the same time.
It was all worth it to stand at the top of a nondescript peak 3,000 feet over the Silicon Valley, surveying the smoggy kingdom and knowing I still had plenty of time to take the long way home. I descended an oak-shaded canyon with frost still clinging to the road beside the imposing and inaccessible fortress atop Mount Unumhum.
The Subaru rep called when I was about two miles out. "Your car is done," she said. "We apologize for the inconvenience." I looked at my watch. Four and a half hours. "What a great way to waste an afternoon," I thought.
Some afternoons, maybe most afternoons, are better whittled away than busied away.
At a 60k service, which will take 8 hours, start in Saratoga, climb Bohlman and On Orbit, then Montevina down to the Lex reservoir and up Limekiln or Priest trail :)
ReplyDeleteI have no time. And I have a job but have no personal wealth from it. Where have I gone wrong? At any rate, I sympathize because I am in the same busy boat. My editing is going poorly. Ugh. Here's to hoping it all improves. Because right now I'm ready to quit the book and the job!
ReplyDeleteWhen I take my car in, I go for a run from the shop. It is fun to get in some new scenery sometimes, even if it is just another part of the same city grid.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the fire roads. They are so steep! Climbing them is tough but the part that kills me is the downhill. So many miles of quad crushing, unrelenting pain.
Jan — Excellent idea :) I'm hoping to do more exploring in the southern Santa Cruz Mountains. I'll have to get some route ideas from you.
ReplyDeleteMary — I realize not all life circumstances are a matter of choice. At the same time too many choices can be paralyzing as well. I fear I may be dangerously close to upending 2014 because of FOMO, and the year hasn't even started yet. True focus is so difficult to achieve. But don't quit the book! ;)
Karen — the fireroads in Humboldt County are especially impressive. My friend Leah and I still laugh about our Lost Coast tour, when we thought 60 miles a day would be a relaxed schedule. Ha! Not when you're riding uphill and red-lined at walking speeds. When running, I tend to shuffle slowly down steep descents. This mainly has to do with persistent lack of faith in my sense of balance, but for that reason I've never experienced the quad death that braver trail runners talk about.
Lemonade from lemons for sure with the car service appt.
ReplyDeleteLike you, my running seems to do nothing for my biking. Thankfully, biking helps my running a great deal.
Your posts are never bad Jill. I think of you when I am out in the cold and want to just crawl in my bed or immerse myself in Football. Sometimes I feel like a total wimp compared to you, so don't think that any of your posts are not inspiring, they all are for me, no matter what the topic is.
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