those crazy canadians

And their ketchup-flavored potato chips.

(Which I actually kind of like.)

on a positive note

I don't entirely understand this cat lipstick. It's extremely impractical (who has a mouth shaped like a cat's head?), but I think I kind of like it because of its weirdness. (And let's be honest here: It is a cat. I pretty much like anything that is a cat. I'm not a hard sell. Remember how I once bought a toilet seat cover for cats? Although maybe I shouldn't compare lipstick to toilets.)

In fact, it's quite possible that I may actually buy this cat lipstick as a treat to celebrate my knee. Yes, that's right: The knee is healing up!

I went for a difficult 14-mile trail run Sunday in Auburn with my friend Derrick, who recently completed his first ultramarathon. (I flew straight to the Sacramento area from Utah -- lots of running in new places over the last few days.) We ran part of the Western States 100 course, if that gives you any idea of how tough this run was. The hills were brutal, the heat was uncomfortable and it became apparent almost immediately that my trail-running skills leave much to be desired. While Derrick trotted along and chatted away, I was gasping for air and trying to avoid spraining my ankle, falling on my face, tripping on a rock, etc. (Dear Derrick: You are a very patient friend.)

My ankles and quads were sore afterward, but my knee didn't hurt.

Yesterday morning I met up with my track group for the first time in three weeks. We did 2 x 400, 2 x 800 and 2 x 1200 (I actually cut this short and did 1 x 1200 and 1 x 800 since I haven't done speed in awhile), with the first set at 10K pace and the second set at 5K pace. I was by far the slowest person -- to the point where I almost got lapped on the 1200. (My 5K pace was pretty much an all-out sprint because if I ran my real 5K pace, everyone would've gone home by the time I was done running.)

But my knee felt fine, even though my ego was a bit bruised. And when I went to my physical therapist yesterday, she said she didn't think I needed to come back for another appointment. She just gave me more ab exercises and some tips on increasing the efficiency of my gait and then sent me on my way.

What she didn't tell me, however, was if I would look best in the Claire de Lune or Over the Moon. Decisions, decisions!

still trying to adjust

It's been three days since I left Red Mountain, but I still feel like I'm in vacation withdrawal.

I can't stop thinking about that run through Snow Canyon. Talk about running with joy -- I felt like I was in the middle of a Runner's World Rave Run spread and was just so grateful for my feet and my legs and my lungs and my eyes -- the ability to be there and drink it all in.

And then there was the food: Salad twice a day -- a beautiful spread of several different types of lettuce, black bean hummus and regular hummus, sprouts, shredded carrots, shredded squash, cucumber discs, red beets, cottage cheese, cole slaw, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, soy nuts, prickly pear vinaigrette. And so many vegetarian options (that's right -- I've been sans meat for almost three weeks now, and I'm feeling great and clean and peaceful) -- one night I had tofu ceviche, and another night there was seitan with mushrooms and brown rice. And I probably ate more fruit last week than I've ever eaten in my whole life. (I'm a little odd -- I love veggies, but for some reason, I hardly ever eat fruit.)

How to cope with the return to real life? I'm eating a lot of salad. And plums. And I just made myself a whole wheat wrap (stuffed with lettuce and beans and mushrooms and brown rice and topped with cottage cheese). And I keep carrying around the stupid fluorescent green water bottle they gave me at the spa. (High temps were a very dry 105 degrees -- that bottle was like my best friend.)

And I'm toying with the idea of running the St. George Marathon next year.

Of course, right?

interlude

Spent a few days in St. George, Utah, last week, feeling very small and very young compared to the red rocks that tower over the landscape. (Can you believe all of this was underwater, millions of years ago? Our outdoor guide told us you can sometimes find seashells embedded in the canyon walls.)

I already miss the colors -- the deep rust thrust up against that never-ending blue.

über ding dong

Tonight: Dinner at Jackson's, where the idea of the Hostess chocolate cake hits a whole new level.