Earth Shaking

I'm still having a rough time making a firm decision about whether to take the Lfeguard/Ranger job or not. The ideal situation would be if I had my degree already; then taking it would be a no-brainer. As it stands, I have no guarantees that I'll get back to SD once through the acadamy to finish my degree. No online courses available and taking those courses at another UC would require another petition...and we all know how well those go over with my major advisors.

Is it strange that I'm more concerned about what the academy will do to my training than I am about my degree? I'm sure my priorities are out of whack, but I can't help but feel like I have to give up my athletic dreams to secure my future (a few of you probably understand, the rest of you won't get it).

I've got a lot to think about, no doubt.

Speaking of training....

I've been runinng A LOT since the hand break, because it's all I was allowed to do. I'm cranking out 26-30 mile weeks like they're nothing. My poor Saucony's are much the worse for wear.


A while back, I posted up a pic of some sweet trail runners I've had my eye on. Holly finally noticed how "rough" my trainers were looking and offered to buy me some shoes. After running around at three separate stores, we picked these bad boys up.
Some SICK trail runners! Light, fast and uber sexy.

Why does Zippy need hard-core trail runners?

For a gnar trail run. The Noble Canyon 50K.

Yeah. I've had my eye on the Calico 50 K for years, but the January date was always tough to make. With the broken hand and all the running I've been doing, I figured a marathon would cap the season off. I had planned on the Big Bear Mary, but it's been cancelled for 2009. I poked around and found the Noble Canyon race, but then got the OK to ride and toyed with the idea of crushing the collegiate MTB circuit as a last hurrah before graduating. Since I might not be going to school for a while, I have no desire for James and Justin whoop my ass at State MTB Champs and I shouldn't be planning on racing beyond the academy start date, the 50K should cap the season off nicely.

I have mixed feelings of excitement and fear: it's some sweet terrain, but it's a long friggin' way to run over steep, rocky trails.

Can't wait.

E.

Sneaking Out

The doc said no MTB until after he sees me again the first week of August, but I just couldn't take it anymore. During the entire process of getting ready, loading the Jeep and driving to the trailhead I had that guilty, excited feeling I haven't had since I used to sneak girls into Mom and Dad's house.

One I hit the trails, though it was all good. The ride reminded me why I've been racing Mountain bikes for almost 10 years and riding them since I got too big for a BMX bike: I LOVE IT!

JOB ALERT!
I got a packet in the mail toay from the State informing me that I passed backgrounds and offering me the Perm Guard position pending medical and psych evaluations....

...except I have one more quarter of school left and the academy starts 10/5 .

Crap.

Turn down a 60K a year job that I can retire off OR finish school. Honestly, I'm so tired of the UC's antics I want to tell them to stick their degree where the sun don't shine.

I'm totally rudderless here...

E.

Edit: I was surfing and found this recruiting vid. It was shot entirely at the beach I work at most often: Torrey Pines.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/736/video/CSP_Jobing.asx

The Comeback Trail

The proverbial "Road to Recovery" is supposed to be long and rocky, but it looks suspiciously like a flat bike path...
You know you like the red tape on the black handlebars ;)
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Saturday I headed out for my first bicycle ride since breaking my hand almost 2 months ago. The doc said "Yes" to the road bike, but "No" to the MTB. I'm OK with that for now. I've been running to keep some type of aerobic fitness (running A LOT really), but it was clear my legs forgot how to pedal and I got tired after a whopping 90 minutes. No biggie; it'll come back.

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There's a sketchy ramp that drops you onto the bike path and I've always ridden it. Not today; no point taking chances considering the screws holding my hand together are only 2mm. I took the stairs.

The ramp is to the left. Totally rideable, but the sharp left turn at the bottom is always exciting. Too much speed and you wind up in the fence or into the nasty storm drain. Yummy.

Wanting to avoid cars, I headed down to man-made Fiesta Island for a flat, 3 mile loop before I'd head back. Little did I know the Over the Line Championships were in town. Zippy FAIL. LOL!

Lots of sunburned necks and 36'ers of Natty Light goin' on here; complete with the Miss "Emersum" competition. Comedy.

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The hand is getting better: physical therapy cut back to once a week, I'm back working at the campus bike shop AND I get to ride a bike again. The doc still isn't cool with me lifeguarding "I'm afraid you'll have a problem in the water and I can't in good conscience let you go back to work, yet". No prob, doc. I go back to see him 8/3 and should get the go ahead then.

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"What about the trail runners" you ask? I'm still fleshing out my Fall race plans so you'll just have to wait. :P

~

E

Lust...

Why is Zippy lusting after hard-core trail running shoes you ask? I'm keeping it under wraps for now, but "Something Wicked This Way Comes"...

E.