Sandladder, Baker Beach

As I have no momentous events on my calendar right now, i look forward to the everyday options in my daily life to keep me challenged. Not stopping at Target on my way to work when everything is folded so immaculately that you can't help but spend money on things you don't need, finding a parking spot close to home, avoiding the chocolate on my co-worker's desk.

But tonight I'll run a few hours on trails, roads and beaches around the north of San Francisco with my great friend and training partner Jessica. Just another Wednesday outing.

One time we ran across Baker Beach watching dolphins dive in and out of the water. Another day we passed a couple getting married in galeforce winds with 12 foot waves crashing down. As we circled back at the end of the run, only her bouquet remained, tossing about in the churn of the ocean.

We've seen beautiful sunsets and dark, mysterious clouds, Larry Baer and naked men lolling on the beach (separately, not together). We've stopped to collect sand dollars and to cheer on Miriam's Molotov softball team. We've dissected movies, boys, songs, parents, jobs and therapy. Jess is in full IM-mode now as the countdown to CdA continues (i.e, her game face is a lot more serious than mine), but having a friend you can go for a long run with - where anything can happen - makes the everyday options anything but ordinary.