They all can't be "easy" runs.

4 on the trails. then weights with Tommy. then cut my dad's grass. then cut my grass. 

4 on the trails. Crazy hot. Before the run, I was on the sidewalk, waiting for a break in traffic to cross pinebrook road to the trails. I looked down as one car went by and there was a 2' snake between my feet. I wish someone had recorded my reaction to that. I mean, the snake was non venomous and just slithered away. But still, I don't think I've ever jumped in that fashion, or made a noise like that. I don't think I could duplicate it ever, either.

Going to Venice CA on Tuesday with Boy #1 to hang out with my brother and SIL. They are determined to get me on a surf board. 

Flew to LA with boy #1. Toured Venice CA and Santa Monica by bike. Many miles. Also had some killer tacos. It got downright chilly when the sun went down. Long day.

Started the day at dockweilers Beach. Lax is right there, so non stop jets flying over. No crowds. Lots of debris on the beach from last night's fireworks. 2 to 3 footers, with a random 4 to 5 footer thrown in occasionally. Water cold enough for wetsuits. Tommy and my brother rode wave after wave for hours. It was really great. I tried. I had trouble sitting on a board and looking for waves. I caught one, and the speed really shocked me. I didn't even think about getting up. So I paddled in. Surfing is something I think you have to learn before you're 25. Going to give a few more beaches a try tomorrow, but I think I'm out on this sport.

Went to the dodgers vs pirates game. It was a Hawaii themed night. A guy named peso pluma threw out the 1st pitch. I think maybe half the crowd was there to see him. The national anthem was done with ukulele which was really cool, but hard to sing along with. Dodgers came back from 4 runs down to win. LA people leave events early in the hopes of avoiding traffic. But if everyone leaves early, doesn't that just change the time of the traffic?

Went south to doheny Beach. The

Boneyard part was packed with surfers. So Tommy and Andy surfed the rivermouth part of the beach. Maybe the best, most consistent, even sets, cleanest waves Tommy has ever and will ever ride. People compared the waves there to Hawaii waves. He left super happy about the day. Then we made our way back through orange county. Very beautiful area. Then we had dinner at an Italian place in Brentwood. Going north tomorrow.

Went north to Malibu by pepperdine. I can't imagine how anyone finishes school at that place. If the sun is shining, I would ditch every class there. Then we went to matador Beach and climbed on the rocks, went into caves, etc. Super cool. Back down to Zuma Beach. Lots of summer camp surfer schools. The guys went out and rode a couple waves. These were 4-5. I think Tommy was intimidated by the size. After a while, he caught a wave, fell off weird, and his ankle hit and broke a fin on his board. So we left, got some more killer tacos, and checked out Beverly Hills. Then a concert at penmar golf course, and food truck Friday in venice.

Tommy and Andy surfed Santa Monica first thing. The waves were much more manageable size than they were at Zuma Beach. Couple hours of riding good waves. Surfer schools on either side of the guys. Then lunch. Then Griffiths observatory for some great views of LA. Then brief trip to Hollywood Blvd. I saw the Bob hope star. Back home by way of Beverly hills. Showered, light touring of the venice bridges, and marina del Rey. Then off to whisky a gogo to see atomic punks. A van Halen cover band. They were excellent.

Flying home today. First breakfast at marina del Rey Ritz Carlton. $32 bacon and eggs? Did I break a window, bub? Whatever. I'll Go out in style, I guess.

I live in Venice, Florida, where 62% of the population is over 65. In Venice, California 15% of the population is over 65. Of the many differences between the 2 Venices, I found that to be the most striking.

I guess this marks the end of Tommy's graduation vacation blog. Back to work, and back to running. I think I'm ready to build up to something again.

6 on the trails at 3 pm. "feels like 115" Wait, is that right? 

4 on the trails at 11 am. "feels like" 117! 

6 on the trails. 6:30 pm. Much better weather. Weights with Tommy at noon.

weights with tommy

5 on the trails. I waited until after the rain. So, still silly hot, but 10 degrees better than normal.

4 on the trails evening run. Threat of rain, but it never happened.

run fail. then weights with tommy

10 am start. 2 trails. 3.5 hood. 2 trails. I may never stop sweating. then weights with tommy. 

3 trails. 3.5 hood. 1 trails. 

Five on the trails. It was threatening to storm but never got around to it again. My biggest week since April. That's kind of depressing.

4 on the trails 7:45 am start. That's pretty early for me these days. 

AM 4 on the trails. hot. humid. 

I did a ridiculous amount of yardwork this weekend. I pruned everything. Bulk pickup tomorrow. I was a total veg last night after all of that. 

Then weights with Tommy at lunch.

PM 4 on the trails. hot. humid. 

4 on the trails. 10:30 am start. 

Then weights with Tommy

4 on the trails. 7:30 pm start. 

9 am: 4 on the trails.

Then weights with Tommy

10.2 Mile Hood route to legacy trail to Colonia and back. 10 am start. Overcast = No Sun for the whole run. Good to be back on pavement again.

I was thinking about the women's team USA vs. Nether-regions game last night  that tied 1-1. 15 years ago, I preferred watching women's soccer over men's soccer. I hate the amount of effort put forth in the men's game to get inside the other guy's head, the flopping, the pulling of a dude's shirt 50 yards away from the play on the field, just to tick him off in the hopes of drawing a foul. It's like a wrestling match, where the ref can choose to call or not call a foul, where they kick a ball occasionally. If you've ever watched a game where Neymar was on the field, you know what I'm talking about. If he would put that effort into moving to the open space, rather than trying to get a cheap shot on the other guy so he can draw a foul, things would be so much better. In my opinion, the way the women played the game was a better version of soccer. Well, after watching that game last night, those days are over. That game was the most cheap-shotting women's game I may have ever seen. Congratulations, women! You have just lost your competative advantage over men's soccer, by playing like the men. Brilliant!

10.2 Mile Hood route to legacy trail to Colonia and back. 8:30 am start. no clouds = Sunny for the whole run.

I'm trying to get over 1,000 miles by 7/31. It's a stupid goal, but I'm at least working towards something. (also I need like 4 miles to pass Michael on the mileage board.)

7 am start. 2.5 on the trails. Then 6 with the shirtless tire dragger. Then 0.5 home. All trails. The first mile with the shirtless tire dragger was also with his friend, Nikki. She is also one of those tough mudder, spartan race, obstacle course, run by heart rate monitor types. But she is not a recruiter like he is. I really like running alone. But today was good to run with some folks. I haven't done that in years. Also, the shirtless tire dragger is 42 (10 years younger than me). Later today, he and his wife are having a baby shower. Their first kid. It's awesome listening to someone talk about parenting before they have kids.

4 on the trails. 830 am start.

4 on the trails. 1100 am start.

7 miles split between 2 runs on the trails. This morning was so brutal, heat-wise, that I just couldn't get there. I'm pretty mad at myself for having to go out again before sunset to finish the job. Even now, 7 pm, the "feels like" is 100+. My buddy said "I think something's wrong with the sun."