Running in the USA

Almost a year after heading to Florida Laura and I were back on a plane heading to the west coast of America this time, in particular California. Much the same as last year my running shoes were packed and I was going to ensure I did at least one run whilst I was out there, this I did, albeit on the day we left!

Los Angeles offers some what appear to be lovely running routes the path that runs alongside Venice beach upto Santa Monica looks amazing but if I’m totally honest the club sandwiches with huge portions of food and the general attitude I seem to adopt when heading to the States makes me struggle for motivation to want to run! Anyway as my trainers had traveled thousands of miles I was going to wear them…

On the final morning I set up my kit and left for a short jog around Pasadena, this was no race, far from it. Having put on what felt like a stone in the last 7 days, it was more about getting moving and stopping my legs going to sleep. A short 5k was decided heading round in familiar territory near to the hotel. The Garmin took a while to work out where we were – I assume there is some form of intelligence that says ‘I was here last time so see if I’m nearby to that point still’. All I can imagine is walking out of the hotel and the watch going “ahhhhhh where the hell am I!!”, or something like that.



Anyway a short 5k in a lovely place albeit lots of traffic lights and crossings. The run was practically over before it began with me thinking why didn’t I run before the last day – lazy git!

There is a reason why I opened this blog with a remincence to Florida ’08. When we were out there I was running around the big lake in the Disney hotel we were in, similar distances to the run in LA however the difference is back then I hadn’t ever run in any race, I had a 10k coming up but that was it. Since then it’s been all a little bit mental entering a number of them including the marathon of course. I’m never going to win but I enjoy it – who knows why and even right now I have a few 10k’s lined up and in the back of my mind another half or more.