From Good Samaritan to Pacing PRs
From a tuba-carrying act of kindness to pacing runners to personal records, this week was all about lending a hand.
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Moments (Nov 11-17)
Jero, the Good Samaritan On his bike ride home, Jero spotted a kid struggling to carry a tuba up a hill—stopping every few steps. Turns out it was a Windemere Ranch Middle School student who got off at the wrong bus stop and had a long walk ahead. Jero, being the hero of the day, hopped off his bike, hoisted the tuba, and walked alongside the kid, chatting for a mile until they reached home.
Water Polo Banquet Bonanza The end-of-season water polo banquet stretched on for nearly three hours. But it left Jero inspired to stick with the sport through senior year. The highlight? A team photo where the lighting made him look like a golden, chiseled champion.
Hitting the Road This week, I donned my traveling salesman hat and hit the road. First stop: Washington, D.C. Then off to Jacksonville’s Amelia Island. Two cities, two vibes, plenty of miles, and a suitcase of stories. The family survived.
What Do We Need? Apparently, a lot. Enter: a giant IKEA order filled with kitchen and bedroom essentials. The goal? Make sure everything has its place.
Cleaning Frenzy Clean-up day is around the corner, and it’s time to purge. I tackled the high-up light bulbs over the stairs, hung some long-neglected picture frames, and added to the ever-growing donation pile. But the real mystery? What on earth do I do with old paint? Suggestions welcome.
On the Move
Run With Me on Strava - 67.34 mi, 4,081 ft (Year: 2,689 mi, 216,640 ft)
No hard workouts this week—just rolling with the miles (and the occasional sore spot).
Running in DC Suburbia Two days of running through Herndon, a DC suburb filled with office parks and, unfortunately, some dicey highway stretches without shoulders. Not exactly the scenic route, but it got the job done.
Ankle Trouble and a Peloton Break My ankle started acting up—probably overuse—so I swapped Wednesday’s run for the Peloton. First up: an Enrique Iglesias ride with Arzon, followed by a Disney-themed ride with Love. Fun rides, but let’s just say my saddle tolerance isn’t what it used to be.
Amelia Island Mornings On Thursday and Friday, I had the chance to explore the marshes and beaches of Amelia Island, a beautiful mix of estates and resorts. Flat, scenic, and perfect weather—though a little more sun wouldn’t have hurt.
Trail Time at Tassajara Ridge Saturday brought my only trail run of the week: a 10-mile out-and-back on the Tassajara Ridge Trail. A solid outing, but nothing too crazy.
Berkeley Half Marathon: Pacer Mode Activated Wrapped up the week pacing the Berkeley Half Marathon with Garrett at 1:35 (7:14 pace). Our group was strong from start to finish, and some runners even wanted post-race photos! Helping folks hit PRs felt amazing—it’s why I love pacing. Last time I ran this race was back in 2018, and wow, times have changed. Did you know this race costs $235 now?! When did running get so expensive? While Maricar paced the 2:30 group, a squeezed in a run to Lawrence Hall of Science.
Looking Ahead: Quad Dipsea in Two Weeks My ankle is flaring up again, so it’s time to take it easy. With just two weeks until the Quad Dipsea, a little caution is probably the smart move.
