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to Lewis': through town, Ridgeline + Spencer, Baldy summits

December 8, 2013 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: -2 F --> 15F, light/mod breeze

Comments:
A most excellent day! Slept pretty good, 'til 730. Didn't eat the usual breakfast; instead had some nuts and tea while I plowed through my iRF column (fastest ever! 1500 words in <2hrs).

Lewis and I had talked about doing a long run earlier in the week, on trails. But ALL the trails in Lane County were snowed and frozen in, so I wasn't sure what we were going to do. But Lewis was "in" for a run. I asked the other fellas about Ridgeline and they said it was "Good", so we went for it.

I left my apt at 930 under sunny skies and a quiet, barren, snow-covered landscape. It was surreal - SO COLD, but oddly "OK". I didn't feel too tired or stiff, but spent the first 20+ minutes getting dust mite poop out of my lungs.

Took :30 to get to Lewis', then we ran back down the hill, across town, then up the SW hills to the Blanton TH, the west-end of the nearly 10-mile Ridgeline.

The roads were in good shape, and the trail? Even better, it turns out! When it's THAT cold, the snow really hardens, getting crispy and firm (not icy), so it made for phenomenal running!

Lewis and I had some GOOD chats: we talked about Cliff at first ("WHY did he tell everyone?"), then I told him about the "girl question" discussion we had last week, the "Melissa issue" (e.g. wanting something quality, not acting quality). I told him about Chelsea, about whom I'm never hesitant to talk. It was good. I even popped Lewis "The BGD Question" ("How's your relationship?"), which was a good chat, and insights on the what makes a ten+ year marriage (+parenting) work. GOOD way to pass nearly two hours.

Once we got over to the main Ridgeline, we decided to pow-hike up the super-steep north face of Spencer. It was in solid condition 'til the steepest parts, then tough footing. But once on the top, it was incredible! Clear skies with views of The Sisters and Mt Jefferson. Awesome.

After that, we picked our way down, then ran the connector trail back to Ridgeline and continued on, all the way to Baldy. By the time I got there...I was starting to fatigue. The run along Spring Blvd was OK, but I could tell I was low on water. We ran straight back to Lewis' (about 2:10 of run time for him), and I got some water. I was worked, but I still needed another :50.

So I put in the ear budZ and got moving: down the hill, then back south to the end of the Amazon Trail, then allll the way back to my apt: a 7 mile add-on. Some ASAP Rocky, Eminem, Disturbed and others helped me power through the rest of the run.

3.5 hours total, a (pretty close to) solid 24 miles!

Got home and - though not hungry - hammered bacon and eggz with cheese, and had a bit of coffee, and lazed around a bit in the afternoon, but by then it was already 3!

*****

Had some good chats again with Chelsea, both in the AM, afternoon, then at night. We randomly had a "Sex talk" this morning. Not sure how it started: I think some innuendo about this next weekend, as the kids are out of the house and we intend on spending "The Weekend" together. So I just came out and asked her about it: "What do you think?"

Though we were hesitant to text about it, we had a thorough back-and-forth. We mostly agreed that:

- A BIG part of us is deeply attracted and the true feelings are there to make it a "no-brainer", from a passion perspective.
- Yet, things are still too new, and there needs to be more comfort/consistency for that to happen.

As for me? Damn, I want to. I never thought about that much at all with her, but now? Physical expression of love, period. Diving in, head first.

BUT...I have a lot - A LOT - of insecurity with her, still. I'm most afraid of either being rejected by her family, or her not being willing to have me be a part of her family. I sensed a bit of that on Saturday night (though it's clearly more my fears and not reality), but that fear is there. So I told her, that I feel that for me to "give myself" physically to her, I would need to feel more accepted as a presence in her life - not a "family member", but simply accepted as "hers".

So that was a quality chat. But...there's no doubt there will be a significant "physical ramp-up" with week, and man, I can't wait. B-)

After the run, I had two good chats with both my mom and sister, both of which went well. Things went surprisingly really well with my mom. Since she didn't know *any* of the shit a year ago with Chelsea, she was simply happy for me, and relatively relieved it's "not Britt". And while I told Chelsea that my family might be sensitized by Britt (e.g. they're wary of any woman coming in), my mom reiterated that Chelsea will have more leeway *because of Britt* (because anything besides her, is way better!). She actually asked, "When do we get to meet her?". I guessed it would probably be WS, should that fall into place for '14.

My sister was less warm: "skeptical" as she put it. Because her job is so negative (mostly investigating domestic and child welfare issues for the county), she wonders if Chelsea - after having so much dysfunction in her relationships - can "handle a good one". Interesting point...

After those convos, I went to Matt's to return his ladder and had a beer. Then, I timed it so that I would "surprise" Chels at the studio when she was done teaching at 6:30. I would've gone to class, but I was just "exercised-out". She LOVED that I showed up, and we snuck back inside the studio to chat (while she let me kiss her face a few times). It was good.

After she took off, I drove to Voodoo to celebrate my first 100-mile week (non-WS trail) in 2013(?) with a giant donut. Countered that with a BIG SALAD for dinner.

And of course, I wound up calling Chels again for the 8PM bedtime chat. We talked about the mom/sis phone calls, and we also talked future tense: her meeting them, and her coming to some races with me, namely Sonoma (and the jacuzzi suite!). Gosh, a lot of stuff to look forward to.

GOOD. DAY. Great week.