The Adventures of Familia Bajaboy

Well, it's been about six months since I first decided to sign up for the PCT 50 mile trail run. Actually, if memory serves, registration did not open until January 1, 2009. Once I saw my name on the website , I knew there was no turning back. I was going to run a 50 mile trail run! With some research online combined with some help here and there from friends, I created a training plan for the race. I would say my plan was some what conservative with my weekly mileage topping out at 65 miles per week although I did include a number of training runs with lots of climbing. Another key to my plan was to focus on quality over quantity. I was more concerned with quality long runs surrounded by quality rest day rather than high volume. This method seemed to work well with my Ironman training and turned out to be the key to staying healthy and fresh during my mileage ramp up. And finally, in order to keep my long runs enjoyable, I entered a number of trail and road runs ( B...

So Tracy and I were blessed to have a healthy, happy young boy. Gabriel has blessed us and now it's time to get back to business. Actually, it didn't take long for us to get back into a workout rhythym. In fact, I raced the Bulldog 25k ( http://www.trailrunevents.com/bd/index.htm ) just a few days after Tracy was released from the hospital. A month after Gabriel was born we were in Santa Cruz as I ran the PCTR Skyline to the Sea 50K trail run ( http://www.pctrailruns.com/Skyline_to_the_Sea.htm ). Gabriel was out on the trial rooting me on. So now it was time to root mom on as she came back from her Ironman race (having Gabriel). From our jog/walks in Bahia Asuncion to our runs in Coronado, Tracy had been pushing hard for her race. We had volunteered last year at the Xterra Mission Gorge race and had earned a complimentary entry. As such, Tracy decided she would use her entry for her post Gabriel race. She picked out the Crystal Cove 15k http://www.trailrace.com/crystal...

It's been some time since I posted. With the arrival of our newborn son, Gabriel Adam, I've had my hands full. He's a wonderful child and we are blessed with his arrival. With some good planning and a little luck, Tracy and I are both home with Gabriel. As such, we decided to extend our already planned trip to Santa Cruz for my race and also visit Tracy's parents in Grass Valley. This would be Gabriel's first big adventure at one month of age. I decided early in the year that I would attempt a 50k race. And when I hear d Pacific Coast Trail Runs was creating the inaugural Skyline to the Sea 50K trail run taking place near Santa Cruz, I knew it was for me. I shot off my check and began my training. As I mentioned in prior posts, I had run a number of trail runs in preparation. I was feeling great up until about a month before the race. About that time, Gabriel was born and my training went out the door. And about a week later, I received a call asking if I ...

Well my love for the trails is getting more intense as the miles unfold. I've always enjoyed getting off the beaten track whether I'm on my bike, in my truck, hiking, camping, or running. This year, I've spent a great deal of time trail running and it's quickly becoming habit-forming. As many of you may recall, Tracy and I ran a 30K trail run at Sycamore Canyon last November. Turns out, Tracy got pregnant that weekend so trail running must be a good thing. Since that race and the news of a baby boy on the way, I've decided to dig a bit deeper and longer with my runs. I'm signed up do race a 50K later this year. The race is the inaugural Skyline to the Sea 50K Trail run put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs ( http://www.pctrailruns.com/Skyline_to_the_Sea.htm ). As part of my training for that race, I've been running on Thursday nights with a group from Tri Club of San Diego headed by Florian Hedwig. He's a great guy with a positive attitude...but don...

I've been raving to Tracy for many years now the benefits of trail running. Up until recently, Tracy had primarily run on pavement. She has even completed The San Diego Rock and Roll marathon. But trail running was a new adventure and with a bit of coercion, she agreed to sign up for the Santa Monica Mountains Trail Run put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs. There were 4 different distances but we set our sites on the 30K distance which translates to 18.6 miles with about 3,200ft of climbing. While visiting my mother, Zoe, in Sebastopol over the summer we opted to volunteer at the Salt Point trail run put on by PCTR. As a result, we each received a free entry. But more impor tantly Tracy got to see first-hand the laid-back nature of trail runners and the sport itself. The runners talked with each other, joked around, and were more concerned with the scenery than with race splits. I think this helped ease both of our nerves. At the suggestion of the race directors, we reserved ...