Santa Monica CA. 0 days left – 5 easy miles

8/24/2014

I left the sanctuary of the green forest to tackle the sandy beaches of Southern California. The first steps will be from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach, California. It will be a short 17 mile jaunt. It was designed to ease us into the journey. The purpose was to ensure longevity as the Great Reading Run is not something accomplished in a day. The urge to explode out the gate had to be resisted.

After finding parking for the fifth whale of a vehicle we checked into the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica and took a short trip to the pier to relax. The familiarity of the place brought me comfort as I looked at the vast ocean with Crystal. The sunset turned the sky a ruby red and the faces of people turned into shadowy outlines. My mom enjoyed the spa amenities as she knows the importance of taking advantage of healing opportunities. The hotel had something for everyone. The bar on the ground floor was filled with trendy people driving expensive foreign cars. Kids played in the pool while fitness fanatics were busy sweating it out in the well-equipped gym. The scent of South American coffee lingered in the hallway as I strolled on dark marble floors. I could see why the place commands the dollars. Location, ambiance, and service were all top notch. Of course Chuck enjoyed his pampering as well.

Leading up to this event many things have weighed heavily on my mind. This place, the ocean, and the tranquil night will hopefully be the precursor to an auspicious journey. While some things are still up in the air, the only thing left to do is run!