Day 2: Adventure Run Laguna Hills

I learned something new today… just because it says Seal Beach, doesn’t mean there are seals there. I was so excited when I looked at the map and saw the name Seal Beach and what looked like a wildlife preserve there. When my host Rich suggested we go there for breakfast, I was totally stoked. Went to Schooner or Later, one of the places on Diners, Driveins, and Dives and as I ate The Mess, I asked – so where are the seals? He kind of laughed at me and said there were no seals. <insert sad face here>

After having a belly full of good food, I drove down Pacific Coast Highway to Laguna. After getting lost a few times I stumbled upon the Starbucks that my friend Ozzie suggested. Broke out the new laptop and was stunned to see over 600 new emails waiting for me… I spent an hour trying to organize the chaos. My phone started ringing off the hook so the idea of getting work done went out the window as I put out fires.

I headed over to Road Runner Sports Laguna Hills to meet the crew. I was a bit nervous to be honest. I am used to knowing everyone at the Adventure Runs and having a grasp of where all the checkpoints were. I didn’t know a soul at this event. Luckily, my friends Jayson and Susan had contacted their friend Becky who usually runs this event to come out with me. I’m not shy most of the time, and I was in a particularly outgoing mood. Every where I went I struck up conversations with people, shared my story of what I was doing. The support and encouragement I received was amazing!

By the time the run started, I had made quite a few new friends. RRS had lent me a GoPro to record the run and it was kind of cool seeing how this camera worked. As we started off, I knew that I wasn’t going to be very fast and my endurance was shot. I had only made it out about 7 minutes when I looked down and saw a twig on the road and thought – I can jump over that. Nope, nope I couldn’t. My right foot hit it just right and twisted out from under my and my left knee slammed down on the asphalt and split open. Ouch! And yes, it is all on the GoPro footage.

Got up, I was totally embarrassed, but shrugged it off. Not the first time I have fallen down – I am quite clumsy, mind you. Becky poured some water on my knee and blood started gushing down my leg. She asked if I wanted to go back, I thought about it for a moment, and decided that I wanted to keep going. As we were running I definitely noticed the humidity in the air and was having a hard time running with my ankle throbbing. I had to do a lot of run/walking and felt a bit dejected that I wasn’t running better.

When I got back to Road Runner Sports, I had ran 3.02 miles in 53:14, with a pace of 17:38. Boy, was I slow! and winded. It was rough. I have no idea how I am going to get through the half on Sunday. I went over to Rausch Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine where Natalie, my new found friend, helped doctor me up with Kevin – they were so incredibly awesome. Ended up getting to hang with their crew at the after party – they are the people that I was hoping to meet on this journey.

Before they started to call out the prizes, Bryon the RRS Adventure Run Coordinator let me address the crowd and share the story of what I was doing. The warm response from Laguna Hills was just what I needed as my first run of this crazy adventure. I would love to come back to do Laguna again. If you live in the area, this is one not to miss!

After the Adventure Run, I headed to Dogz in Long Beach to hang with my host Rich. I walked into the bar sweaty and in my running gear – and I didn’t care. Enjoyed a brew with my friend and listened as he shared the story of when he did something similar and traveled the world after his divorce. He got what I was doing. Reminded me to take moments out for myself, and to enjoy each opportunity that presented itself. I am doing just that.

Traveled: 60 Miles