As I mentioned in an earlier post on running in the cold, sometimes you just need to head out of town to where the weather is warm and break out of your funk. Granted it had only been a few weeks since we returned from Panama, but I needed to get above the freezing line.

Heeding my own advice, I went out to Santa Monica, CA for a little business and pleasure, and tried to squeeze in a nice run in between. Setting out on Saturday afternoon, I walked down to the Santa Monica Pier and just started heading north. Even through there are crowds and rollerbladers, it is still a great place for a run.

Running along the beach towards Pacific Palisades and Will Rogers Park, in the late afternoon is just something amazing. The crowds thin out, the sun starts setting over the Pacific and you can just flat out run till you drop. It is so nice out there, you do not care about mileage or time, you just want to be out there. This is actually my favorite time of running, just going out and doing runs for the hell of it. Not caring about what mileage Pete Pfitzinger says I need to do that day (still love his book and training) or if I need to stay under a certain heartrate, just going out there.

On that sappy note, I went out for too long (12 miles), did not have enough water and was sore for the next two days. Still worth it.

Some California Dreamin for you

I have to have at least one sunset photo in the mix, it is only fair