I am not a runner. Or at least that’s what I always told myself. I can sprint all day on an ultimate field, but get me on a trail and 3 miles was always my max. I once ran 6 miles. That was a big day.

But something bit me this fall. Ultimate frisbee season was over, I had a few months of down time before skate skiing, and Tahoe’s snow was on a serious vacation (still is). So I started running. I downloaded the Runner’s World half marathon training guide, and began a 9-week process to turn me into a runner. I admit my half marathon goal may seem very small (especially when you compare it to all the people out there doing really big things—the Lolë president’s journey up Kilimanjaro, for one). But you’ve got to start somewhere and this was an attainable goal that I decided to do as much for the training as for the race itself.

Week one of training had me at 20 miles, and I worked my way up to 31 miles/week. I primarily ran trails, and they ranged from right outside my door up to Paige Meadows to horse trails in Woodside, California, to ridgeline paths in Reno above the Patagonia outlet. This was one of my favorite things about running—exploring new trails. Reno has some amazing spots… those hills always call to me and I finally explored some of that high dessert terrain. Here are a few of my favorite vistas (and most memorable ones—wet meadow crossings, ugh!) from my training:

The other thing that amazed me in the process is that I enjoy running. Sometimes I’d dread heading outside, especially with Tahoe’s icy roads and trails, cold rain and frigid air as obstacles, but as soon as my feet starting hitting the ground I’d feel this sense of relief. Running became my relaxation, a place that I could meditate and let my mind stop churning.

Things went great, except when I ran a faster-than-usual 5 miles on pavement in week 8 and some serious knee pain set in. I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this long-distance running thing, but perhaps I’ll just train longer and slower next time. Knee pain and all, I finished the race though: the 2011 ZombieRunner Bay Trail Run. Mile 9 was the toughest for me. And next time I’ll avoid the Clif Shot, which did a number on my belly. But I’m happy to say that I finished in good form. My time was 2:10 so I ended up right in the middle of the pack: 24th in my age group of 47 women, and 106th out of 199 total runners. My pace was a 9:58-minute mile.

the official finish line photo

the spoils from my accomplishment: a tech t-shirt, sopping wet hair, and a medal!

Special thanks to the iMapMyRUN iPhone app, which helped me log all my miles, and to Lolë for outfitting me for the journey. Couldn’t have done it without your leggings!! I’ll be blogging about my favorite running gear on the Tahoe Mountain Sports blog soon. See photos of the Bay Trail half marathon course here.

I’ve been crushing on ombre hair (that subtle fade from dark at the roots to lighter at the tips) for some time now. And lucky me… Lucie at Shine Hair Studio in Tahoe City wanted to experiment with the technique. After some 7 years without dying my hair I was surprisingly ready to handle some bleach.

Excuse the dumb (half-smile) look on my face in the “after” shot at right, but this picture shows the ombre best I think. Lucie did a great job of still keeping my look natural I must say. Many of my friends noticed the cut before the color. Except when I’m wearing a hat and only the uber-blonde shows!

Lucie and Shine are at 2695 Lake Forest Rd, Carnelian Bay, (530) 583-3193. Look her up… she is a master at cut and color, and just plain fun to spend an hour or two with.

For my birthday this year my mom gifted me this wooden perpetual calendar, which she’s flipped over the numbers of daily since before I was born. Such an amazing gift, and a daily ritual I’ll keep for the rest of my life. Happy birthday to you, mom! 11/28/11

I never met Steve Jobs, but after modeling in 4 projects for Apple, I like to think that he liked me—or at least my face.

What an honor to be so close (if only in image) to such a genius. Here are a few shots I found of my face at Apple keynote addresses. Thanks for the opportunity Steve. And thanks for all you’ve done for technology. My life is surely better for it.

Last day in Perdido Key, Florida, then it’s back to California for work, Wanderlust, and my birthday. You sure are fun, July 2011.

My favorite quote from the latest Moonshine Ink edition (on stands today!): “I don’t hang out with any chickens, but my sister Olive acts like one.” –Flip Speckleman of Flip’s Friends (he’s a canine columnist, if you’re not a regular Moonshine reader)

And while you’re reading, be sure to check out my DiStill Life column on Detours: Tahoe City, an installation art exhibit coming to town in August and September. Just look for my face and the image above in the back of the paper!

UPDATE Or read it here: Art Less Traveled

I’ve had the Instagram app for about a year on my iPhone, but the sign-up start screen always scared me away… I’m not too big on apps anyways. But then one day I signed in, and started using it, and using it, and using it… and now I can’t stop!! Here are some of my favorites so far. Follow me on Twitter or Instagram (lis_k) to see them all.

When you work from home, it’s a lot harder to say no to things… especially volunteering (and accompanying friends to the beach). So, this month, I donated some 12 hours or so to helping the Nevada Museum of Art out with the installation of To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum, as well as ushering at the sold-out matinee talk from Zahi Hawass, the Egyptian minister of antiquities.

Besides the art and artifacts themselves, I’m looking forward to seeing the exhibit’s mural, which I saw in process but not completed, and the large fabric room dividers we worked on hanging during one of my volunteer days.

Oh yes, that’s me pulling my tongue out of my mouth. I got silly for the camera with Jen Schmidt Photography for a McDonald’s casting call. I ended up on their short list for a shoot, but didn’t make the final cut. Perhaps my tongue is too fat?

Anywho, look for a girl who resembles me in a McDonald’s ad and you’ll know who to blame. Same goes for Skittles, who put me on call a month or so back but didn’t pick me either.

At least I still have the city buses in San Francisco, which I still need to go see — only have a bad camera-phone photo taken by a friend. And of course there’s still my legacy in the Apple store. I snapped these photos for posterity when I was in there this week. It’s been so long that I’m bound to disappear soon… we’ll see.

I am feverishly putting the final touches on my Tahoe Blues submission for Bona Fide Books. It’s been a true labor of love, going through numerous writer-friends’hands (special thanks to Laura Read, Karen A. Terrey, and Ali Gray), and some five revisions and counting. I have certainly never spent this much time on 500 words. I hope it makes the cut in the end, but if not I’ll post it here for your reading pleasure. The animals pictured are a sneak peek of the characters (besides me) in my personal narrative. Can anyone guess what the bird is?

And it’s not too late to submit. The only requirements are that its 500 words and about Tahoe. You have until this Sunday, May 1, so get writing!

photos by Dan Pancamo/Flickr and fiskfisk/Flickr