The Rundown: 60 in 30 🏃🏾‍♀️

Nov 22 – I did it! On November 1st I started a challenge to run 60 miles in 30 days to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Today I returned to the Santa Clara River Trail and ran 5 miles to reach that goal. I also got a donation that took me over my fundraising goal (thanks Sis) 😊.

I didn’t run all 60 miles because I hike and spin (10 miles on bike = 1 mile for challenge) weekly and those miles were acceptable for the challenge too. However, I started the challenge with the idea of running 2 miles per day for 30 days, so my plan for the rest of the month is to keep running to see how many more miles I can get done before it’s over. Plus since I encouraged Ras to do the challenge with me, I have to keep her company while she finishes.

It’s actually November 22nd 😆.

My playlist has quite a few tunes because I like options, but I only needed the ones shown …

Nov 21 – 5 miles along the Santa Clara River Trail today with pure throwback sweetness from Krosfyah and Square One fuelling my walk/urban hike. Couldn’t find one of the tunes I really wanted to highlight but love the two featured. Happy that I only have 4.9 miles til 60 but the music that keeps me going is making me miss Bim even more and don’t even mention Cropover fetes …

Nov 20 – Today was my second 5K in the Run Santa Clarita! Virtual Run Series. I dedicated it to my friend Ann.

I did a lil warm up wine to Krosfyah’s Crank It before I hit the road 😁. Crank It was my sweet introduction to Krosfyah at the Ship Inn when I returned to Bim in 1995 after finishing my Bachelor’s.

I usually walk half a mile to get to the starting point for my run. I did that today as normal. Everything was great ’til about half mile into my run when MapMyRun told me that it wasn’t tracking 😩. My GPS was off! I had to stop and turn it on and start over. That offset me a little but I had to do it because today I wasn’t running just for me.

I ran for my friend Ann who is battling breast cancer right now. I ran for my alma mater the University of the West Indies to raise funds for students in need (CB Group UWI Virtual 5K Run/Walk). I ran for my American Cancer Society fundraiser.

So today I ran 3.62 miles instead of just 3.12 (5K), then had to walk another 2.5 miles to get back home. The high points are that my 5K run was a little faster than the first one I did in October and I’ve added 6 more miles to my 60 miles in 30 days challenge. Only 9.89 miles to go! Plus because I was out earlier than usual, I got to see some beautiful views during the walking 😊.

Almost ready …
Always repping 246
Fall colours in my neighbourhood
This is a pile of bees that I fortunately avoided as I was walking to my starting point.
More pretty fall colours 😊
5K done. Only 2.5 miles to walk home
5K run only
6 miles include the walking before and after the 5K
At least it’s a nice day and it’s warm
The bunnies came out to say hello 💚
What a view!

Nov 18. I had a very long though rewarding work day today. I knew that by the time I finished working the temp would be in the 50s and I wouldn’t want to run. So I was planning ahead and contemplating whether to spin or take a rest day. Then a friend said to me “I think it’s so cool what you are doing! Enjoy the last leg! What an accomplishment!” George your comment gave me the boost I needed to hop on the bike and make it to 18 miles 😁. With my 10:1 ratio, that means 1.8 more miles towards my 60. Only 15.9 to go! Given the work I was engaged in all day, Tracy Chapman was just what I needed to end on.

Nov 17 – 1.5 🏃🏾‍♀️ & 🚶🏾‍♀️ 1.62 (3.12 miles/5k). It’s probably closer to 3.5 miles, but Fitbit 😕. All I can say is a Samsung watch is on my wish list for Christmas 😉. Got my run started tonight with Peter Ram – All ah we. Just 17.68 miles to go!

Nov 16 – 2.5+1.5 miles this evening. Only 20.8 to go. I’ve been at this now for 16 days and I still haven’t figured out how people run 5+ miles daily or run a marathon 🤔 … but I will persist and work!

Nov 14 – Some challenging uphill intervals in 4.8 miles 🥾 of Descanso Trail and Cherry Canyon Fire Rd in Cherry Canyon Park. Only 24.8 miles to go. Next week, more 🏃🏾‍♀️ less 🚶🏾‍♀️.

Nov 12 – Another 3.5 miles this evening; only 29.6 to go 😊. Thought about my sister-friend Nancy as I ran those miles. We love, respect and celebrate both our commonalities and our differences. Friends supporting each other along this journey of life.

Nov 11 – Another 5 miles done while hiking with friends 🥾.

Nov 10 – Only 38.1 miles to go. Random thoughts as I ran and walked 3+ miles tonight:

People who run a 4-7 minute mile can’t have junk in their trunk 🤔
I’m opposed to wearing gloves in Southern California on principle. Tonight I had to wear them because I oppose numb fingers more.
Skinny Fabulous, Machel Montano & Bunji Garlin sweeeeeet!
October would’ve been better to run 60 miles
Sometimes my nose runs faster than my feet 🤣
A slow mile is still a mile
Temperature between 75-82 degrees is my ideal for running; 45-55 degrees is for the birds.
It sucks to have to go uphill to get home 😕
I admire people who run up hills and mountains
Fitbit needs to up its game
My workout gear isn’t meant for cooler-cold weather
I need to run between noon and 3 pm …

Nov 9 – I love it when a plan comes together: 60 mile challenge, 52 hike challenge, outdoors, birds, plants, treeeeeeeees, beach, sunset … 😊. My first 3 miles today were a ‘stop and stare’ at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge. The second 2 miles were also of the ‘stop and stare’ variety but with a few slight inclines in Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens. Only 41.1 miles to go 😏.

Nov 7

Ladies Rule
Hands up all you sexy ladies ... 
I'm looking for de ladies who know dey independent ... 
I'm looking for de ladies who ready to take over ... 
It's your turn to ride ... 
Dis one for de ladies 
(Alison Hinds)

Today, like everyone else I know, I was caught up in the excitement and relief of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris being announced as President-Elect and Vice President-Elect of the US, respectively. By the time I was ready to go out to get some miles in, the temperature had dropped into the 40s. I couldn’t make myself do it. I made up for not running by riding 25 miles instead. I’m counting 2.5 of these towards my 60 mile goal for my American Cancer Society Fundraiser. My neighbours likely heard me singing as I rode. If they didn’t hear me, they certainly heard the music blasting 😁.

Nov 5 – My friend Lisa’s birthday 🎉🥂. Tonight I only ran 1.5 miles because I wanted to spin after. I ended up doing another 20 miles on the bike. Revved up to Lil Rick (“Caribbean gal dem sweet” 🎶) and some other friends. Cooled down with my old friend Tracy Chapman. Only 48.6 to go 😊.

Nov 4 – I took last night off because I didn’t want to be running on the street election night. Tonight I jogged 3 and walked .7, cause running up the last incline to get back home isn’t likely to happen any time soon 🤣. For this fundraising challenge I’m using two trackers: My Fitbit to track the entire run/walk and the MapMyRun app (my preference) just for the run. Tonight I stopped the run tracker before I meant to and had to start it over. One downside about being on the street on foot vs driving, especially when it’s early and there are a lot of vehicles around: inhaling exhaust is horrible 🤢. Any way 9.9 miles done, 50.1 to go.

I remembered before ... — I remembered before …

Nov 2 – Another beautiful moonlit night. Jogged 2 miles and walked 1.2. Only 53.8 to go 😁. This time I remembered to take a photo when I finished, so I’m not looking quite as fresh as in last night’s photo 😊.

Nov 1 – Tonight as I ran 2 and walked 1, I was reminded that (1) what seems flat when I’m driving is definitely not flat when I’m running and (2) I cannot escape inclines in my neighbourhood unless I just run back and forth on my street 😕. Nonetheless 3 miles done and 57 to go. Plus, Black Lives Matter to other people who live on my street and the moon was beautiful, so I had to make a few stops during the walking phase to take photos 😊.