Monterey, California

We arrived in Monterey yesterday. The flight was uneventful and smooth. The car pickup was also quick and effortless. The hotel (Monterey Tides) is just north of Monterey overlooking the Pacific with very quick access to the beach. Unfortunately, it is cold and cloudy in the bay. We see a few brave souls (and their kids) playing in the sand mostly during the warmest part of the day. In the mornings and evenings, the beach is quite empty!

After arriving yesterday afternoon, I made the most of the 60-degree temperature to go for a quick 4-mile run on the bike-path that goes all the way from the hotel down to Monterey. There’s a steep uphill right at the beginning before flattening out. I ran 2 miles one-way and two miles back. After running in the heat of Scottsdale last Sunday, this one felt pretty good!

We went into town last night for pizza at a pretty popular joint called Gianni’s but the pizza was average at best.

Today, we spent a good portion of the day in the interior portions. We drove through a small farming town called Soledad to Pinnacles National Park before settling down on the gorgeous Hahn Winery deck overlooking vineyards and farms. On our way back, we stopped by another farming town called Spreckels where I signed up for a 5k race tomorrow. It is a flat course with a few 90 degree turns. My bib number is 791. I’m hoping to run close to a 7-minute pace, but today’s 3-mile run didn’t feel so good. I averaged 7:39 per mile, but was breathing heavy and my left knee seems to have a bit of a kink.