My New Year

So after my super fun time Friday night and meeting up with the awesome Anne Saturday morning, the rest of my weekend went something like this…

Three weeks or so ago, I recruited Wendy to help me with the running group.  This was shortly after she joined our group and not too long after mailing list members jumped from 19 to 47 (because of the article).  Anyway… one of the first things we talked about was having a social gathering for the group and Wendy offered up her lovely home to host the party.

I showed up just a bit early to help with some last minute details but she had things well under control.  It was not long before other guest started arriving and we starting munching on snacks, drinking and chatting.  It was a pretty decent turnout but it was supplemented  by some of Wendy’s friends she had invited – most of them runners.  It turned out to be a really good night and I stayed up later than I had in a long  time (after 2AM).  Fortunately I had brought my pillow and was set up in one of the kids rooms in a comfy bed.

Wendy’s kids were with her mom and her husband was not up for a hike so the two of us went out for a short walk.  It was a beautiful day and it was nice to get out and stretch my legs even though I had a bad headache.  I hadn’t drank too much the night before – but apparently it was enough.

After that and a brief hello and game with the kids (who had come home) I was off to work at Nike.  The idea of a game night came up before I went to work so I starting making some calls and sending some texts to see if anyone wanted to come to my place for a low-key end to 2006.  I got several regrets, a couple maybes, and a few with a solid yes.

Within the past year I have pretty much started all over with my friends.  Mostly from moving out to California and also from being married 5 years and having only each other as our main friends.  Over 2006 I formed (and am beginning to form) some great friendships.  I have met these friends from the 3 places where I spend most of my time – at Nike, My day job, and on the trails.

So… a fitting end to 2006 was spending my time with 3 women I met at each of those 3 places.  Rashel – from my day job, Kayla from Nike, and Wendy from the trails.  We had a good time.  Just a drink or two for some of us, some games, music, talking, and a midnight celebration and toast.  None of us had thought we’d even make it until midnight let alone after.  I didn’t get to be again until almost 1:30AM.

The OC Trail Runners were doing a 12 mile New Years Day run and since the course went through Oneill Park and about .25 mile from my house I joined in around mile 7 to get my foot a test.  Again.. another beautiful morning.  I sat on a hill and waiting for about 20 minutes while looking down into the canyon and waiting for their approach.  A couple of the ladies – Diane and Mary had actually come out about 10 minutes ahead of them and asked me for directions back.  Then it was Charlie, Paul, Wendy, Beiyiz, Skip, and Nattie.  I was happy to see them, to join them, and to start running.

I felt good.  I was running the hills great.  My foot was feeling fine.  I was snapping some pictures.  About 2.5 miles in I felt a very small twinge of pain on my trouble foot so I began some walking bouts.  For about a mile it just sort of stayed like that.  I continued to run up the hills and my foot began to feel worse.  By mile 4.5 it was so bad I had to walk the last .5 mile back.  Needless to say I was not happy.  My plans for the OC half, Avalon and any training runs are put on hold for at least a couple more weeks – maybe more. 

I did start the New Year off with a 5 mile run.  But I’m also starting it off recovering from an injury.  I’m planning to make an appointment with a specialist this week.  As I walked around on my foot post run (and at the drug store picking up epsom salt), it just got worse and worse until its back to being pretty painful.  Despite the problem, I did enjoy the run and morning and the end to my 2006 was better than the end to my 2005.  2007 looks to be an even better year.

May it be so for all of you!
Happy Running in 2007,
Jessica

Pictures:
OCTR Holiday Party
New Year’s Eve (just a few pics)
First run of 2007 (pics 89-104)