fast enough for the trails: My Cross-Country Running Journey

March 8, 2009 Update (1,609 miles):

I've been making some serious progress in the miles department, logging two record mileage months, with over 160 in January, and over 180 in February. Just this week, I logged my first 50+ week, and I still feel good. That's the shocking part. At least my fears that I was not built to take more than 30 miles are proving to be unfounded. It just took time to build to that point.

So I've been a little remiss on updating my waypoints on this journey. I've passed through Tucson:

I've taken a side trip to Mt Lemmon, AZ to dip my feet in the waterfalls:

And I've passed by these cool boulders near Wilcox:

I'm almost through Arizona, and I'm looking forward to New Mexico.

February 10, 2009 Update (1,428 miles):

I'm beginning to think I was a little carried away when I planned out these early stops. I was worried that the winter would be slow-going, what with the weather and illness and the hundred other things that tend to crop up during a training interval. But I've been pretty darn lucky so far, and the miles are quickly piling up. In fact, I've made it to another tour stop - Red Rock, Arizona.

At 4,500 feet, the Red Rock / Sedona area is actually cool this time of year. Today, the weather is 29º, but unlike here, they are enjoying blue skies with the chill. This looks like it would be an absolutely fantastic area to run. Sedona does in fact have a February marathon which looks to be beautiful and challenging. There are some serious hills in the elevation profile. Still, a February marathon in Arizona sounds intriguing.

February 1, 2009 Update (1,388 miles):

January was a record-setting month for me. I logged 163.17 miles for a new PR, and I put in 3 40+ mile weeks and am still moving. Amazing. I wasn't sure if my body could take it, but I guess building up slowly rather than trying to jump right to that point makes a big difference.

I've made it a new point on my journey - the Sonoran Desert National Monument. I'm actually about 40 miles past it, but it has been a busy week. Here's what it would look like if I were

actually there:

It's a bit different than what I ran in this morning, but it is fun to dream:

January 20, 2009 Update (1,306 miles):

What a fantastic day. Not only do we have a new President (Obama - you rock!), but I made it in to Arizona and my first stop in this fabulous state. I've only been to Arizona once, back when I was a sophomore in high school. Our team was there for a regional tournament, and it was June in Phoenix. We spent most of our team being freaked out about the heat, but it is one of the highlights of my high school memories. The high is supposed to be 78º today; I think I could go for that weather about right now. But while it was cold this morning (30º), the wind has finally stopped, so things are bearable.

An abandoned house near Aztec, AZ.

January 4, 2009 Update (1,231.63 miles):
The miles are finally getting back up to pace after weather related layoffs. I just hope the rain holds for awhile. My mileage takes me past Dunes National Monument in California, which reminds me of the dunes near Florence. I had fun mapping out my route for the next year; I hope to up my yearly mileage to just under 1,350 miles so that I can make it to Austin, TX - a place I really want to run in some day. I finished out 2008 with 1,159 miles - well over the 1,000 mile goal I set for myself. I think the 1,350 is realistic as long as I stay injury-free; I would have reached those miles without the October injuries and December snow, I think. Oh well.

December 14, 2008 Update (1,167.67 miles):
I just ran past Ocotillo, CA. The weather is a balmy 59° - sounds great right now as the 22° weather has descended on Portland. I only know of this town from the interesting photo posted on Google Maps - it looked like the kind of town you might want to run through quickly (though apparently it was once an oasis . . .) :

My next stop on the map is Dunes, CA, home of the Dunes National Monument. But with the heavy snow on the ground and the icy cold air, it may be some time before I log any miles. I am considering begging the neighbor for use of their treadmill, but maybe that's just a little type A! The things us nutty runners will do for our fix . . .

November 23, 2008 Update (1,080.52 miles):

San Diego. 65º and sunny. A nice contrast to the 36º morning we had this morning on the Wildwood Trail, but Oregon is being nice and giving us lots of sun. I'll be heading east now to Yuma, Arizona. From the looks of things, it's going to be a long, boring haul through some desert:

But I've mapped out some cool spots to "stop" at, so it will keep things interesting!

September 30, 2008 Update (964.27 miles):
Phew. Made it through the long stretch to Los Angeles. I decided that I will keep heading south and check in on San Diego (perfect for those winter runs here in Oregon, when sun will be only a happy dream) and then I'll cut across on I-10 to check out Yuma, AZ and the Sonoran Desert.

September 2, 2008:
I've been logging my running miles since November 2007. As of today (Sept 2, 2008), I have run 845.9 miles. If were running from Portland down I-5, I would be about 111 miles from Los Angeles by now. To honor these imaginary travels, I've decided to start a photo album of what I might have seen if I were truly on the road...

Passing by San Francisco (635.6 mi - mid July, 2008):
The cool ocean breezes would have been a wonderful relief from the summer heat. If I was actually there . . .