Trail Running for Cinco de Mayo

Posted on 13 May, 2013 by Rachel

Trail running fun was on the menu last weekend. Andy and I joined in the 7th Annual Cinco de Mayo Trail Run in Poway that fundraises for education advancement and offers runners a demanding race around tranquil Lake Poway. Trail running and a good cause? Well that is apparently all it takes to get me out of bed at 5AM on a Saturday.

Cinco de Mayo Trail Running

This year’s 10K began with a thank you for participating, a review of the course, encouraging words from the race director and the National Anthem sang by one of the students there to run the trail. This kid was outstanding. Best rendition of the National Anthem I’ve heard in a while.

There was also a little extra in the race director’s speech, a moment to acknowledge the events from the Boston Marathon and to honor fellow runners, their families and their friends. It was a such a beautiful, quiet moment just before the start signal rang out and it gave me something to think about instead of just focusing on trail running and getting my body up one of the many steep hills.

Cinco de Mayo Trail Running

I had a feeling this was going to be a challenging race, so I put in my practice miles in the weeks leading up to it.

Putting in the Miles

Food wise, I took a tip from my little sister and followed some of her juicing recommendations. I don’t have a juicer … yet … so I just tossed everything into a blender and diluted it with water.

My week in a nutshell

This trail running was demanding but the preparation paid off and I came in a cool 175th. I’m just giving myself props for finishing it. I love a challenge and, aside from the scenery, I personally enjoy trail running more than road running because trying to stay upright takes my mind off of how difficult running can be. I’ve also read that, because your body is constantly trying to find a state of balance, you challenge your core muscles much more when trail running. Who doesn’t love a good core workout?

Also. This happened on the race route:

Trail Running

And not to leave myself out of the awesomeness:

Trail Running

It was hot. And this was a demanding race. Don’t judge. And I looked semi-normal once I crossed the finish line.

Trail Running

Kyoto: Cherry Blossoms and Green Tea

Posted on 7 May, 2013 by Rachel

After straightening out our bill with the ryokan, a rushed shuttle to Yudanaka Station and a free vending machine coffee and ham sandwich for breakfast [of course I didn't eat it. it was ham. from a vending machine.] we were on our way to Kyoto. The train ride through the mountains was such a pleasant surprise that the 3 hours went by pretty fast. I read so much about Kyoto before we left for Japan and I was excited to experience the history, the cherry blossoms and of course the green tea. Apparently you can get green tea anything in Kyoto – I ate green tea tofu while there so clearly this is true.

We only had two days in Kyoto, so we packed in the fun. First we took the always fun and super hygienic subway over to Philosopher’s Path to walk along the canal and take in the cherry blossoms. As usual we needed help …

Kyoto Subway

Unfortunately it was chilly out but fortunately we found some Japanese beers to warm us up.

Cherry Blossoms at Philosopher’s Path

Then we saw Nazenji Temple …

Nazenji Temple – Kyoto

And the Yasaka Shrine.

Yasaka Shrine – Kyoto

You literally can see a temple or a shrine on every other block in Kyoto. It’s amazing. Yasaka Shrine was a random stop for us. We were trying to reach the popular Silver Pavilion – and we did – but it was closed so all we saw were the gates. I’m actually happy that it was though because we had the Yasaka Shrine almost all to ourselves which seems impossible in a city crawling with tourists. It was nearly silent and the lanterns illuminated the shrine so beautifully.

We had to leave Kyoto the next day, but before we left we went running along the Kamo River and did a running tour of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. I was definitely sluggish running on my part. After nearly a week of eating and drinking with not a lot of exercising – and to find out later, I seemed to have contracted a stomach bug that was going to put me through a lot of fun for the next few days – I had to really push myself to make it the four miles we managed to run.

We stopped for a hearty breakfast of soy doughnuts at Nishiki Market. Quite possibly one of my favorite food items sold in japan. And we also picked up some dried fruits, tea and a hand painted wall hanging that is currently decorating our living room.

Nishiki Market – Kyoto

Nishiki Market – Soy Doughnuts and Cherry Blossoms

I have to say that in Nishiki Market there were some smells that should never be smelled. Especially by someone fighting a stomach bug who is already feeling slightly unsettled.

We followed the advice of Time Magazine and ate a traditional Kyoto lunch followed by a traditional tea ceremony in Gion, the only remaining Geisha district in Japan. The traditional meals we were served in Yudanaka must have spoiled me, or maybe I was just getting used to Japanese food, but the traditional Kyoto lunch … not that impressive. It was a peaceful, open room with a stunning garden view filled with cherry blossoms, and the green tea they served was delicious, but the food was mediocre.

Kyoto Traditional Lunch

We left lunch and walked through Gion. My sister had been here a few days before and saw a geisha, so I was on the lookout. I felt like we weren’t supposed to take pictures, so this was the best I could do.

Geisha in Gion

Then we ended up in the middle of a festival. Literally.

People were everywhere and there were insane amount of frying meat and fish. When we finally found En, I was surprised at how quiet the room was considering just outside the doors was the festival. Our hostesses taught us about the tradition and influence green tea has had on culture in Kyoto then performed a traditional tea ceremony for us.

En – Traditional Tea Ceremony

Then we were kicked back out into the crowded streets to fight for room on the train to Osaka. By the time we finally made it I was (1) ready for bed and (2) ready to leave Japan. Good thing we were taking the Jet Star – literally a tin foil plane – over the Japanese Islands to Manila the next day.

Travel to Japan: Bullet Train to Nagano and Yudanaka

Posted on 25 April, 2013 by Rachel

We had an early train ride from Tokyo to Nagano but we were excited because ever since we decided to travel to Japan we had been reading about the bullet train and how great it is. I agree. The bullet train is great. It’s clean, fast and nearly silent. Except when passing another bullet train. That’s loud.

My love … and a bullet train

The bullet train really made it easier to get around. It didn’t take long to travel from Tokyo to Nagano – only about an hour and a half to travel 150 miles. We planned to get there early and see some things before catching the local train up into the mountains to meet the family. I’m actually incredibly happy that we spent time in Nagano. It has a small town feel complete with a cutesy main street. We walked about 20 minutes to Zenko-ji Temple where I was immediately impressed with the wood carvings. They are huge, so detailed and a little frightening.

Travel to Japan: Zenko-ji Temple

Zenko-ji Temple

That’s carving. In wood. Amazing.

Zenko-ji Temple

My favorite part of Zenko-ji Temple was watching people receive blessings from the various sacred objects and receive the healing power from incense. My OTHER favorite part were the protectors of the six realms. The soul travels through realms until it reaches enlightenment. Each Jizo protects a realm – hell, hungry ghosts, animals, asura, humans and heavenly beings.

Protectors of the Six Realms

We also decided that today was the day since our travel to Japan that we were going to branch out and try some of the local fare. First stop: the cookie.

Japanese “cookie”

Only it wasn’t a cookie. The delicious sugar sprinkles? Salt. It looked so soft and doughy through the glass window. It wasn’t. Clearly Andy didn’t like his first experience with Japanese street food. Second stop: a doughy ball filled with vegetables. I really wish I had asked the name of these foods … or that google would know what I was looking for when I type “dough ball with veggies.”

Travel to Japan: local fare

The local fare

I liked the dough ball, not the cookie.

Then we hunted down a local sake brewery, Sakura. Like most places we wanted to see during our travel to Japan, we had a difficult time finding it. But eventually we did and had a lesson in sake that consisted of our host repeatedly pouring us shots of sake. Don’t mind if I do.

Sakura Sake Brewery in Nagano

Sakura Sake Brewery in Nagano

Sakura Sake Brewery in Nagano

After a Thai lunch we walked back to the train station for a quick trip up to Yudanaka. I was rinsing my hands in the sink (there is no soap … none) when I heard Andy’s booming voice. I was immediately tense because I had not seen anyone who spoke English in days. I’m not exaggerating. I thought he was being robbed. I scurried out to save him and realized that our family was AT THE TRAIN STATION.

Travel to Japan: Nagano Station

What? You didn’t expect to see this adorable face at Nagano Station?

Nagano Station

I hadn’t seen my sister since Christmas, so I was happy. I was even more happy to talk to someone other than Andy. There is a significant language barrier.

We stayed at a traditional Japanese hotel, a ryokan, while in Yudanaka. Our room was amazing. Complete with tatami mats, futons and a private bath.

Travel to Japan: Kokuya Ryokan

Kokuya Ryokan

This area of Japan has natural hot springs straight from the mountains. All of the baths, public and private, were filled with insanely hot water. Take your skin off hot. Thankfully there are cold water spouts for us weakling Americans.

Yudanaka may have been my favorite part of Japan. It was quiet and peaceful. And there were monkeys. Monkeys that like to take hot baths and that brush against you like baby kittens.