Almost there...

Once again, Jake ran well out in front of me in the Lake Avenue Challenge.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the geography of North Altadena (and who isn't these days?), Lake Avenue runs from Pasadena all the way to the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. It also runs just a hundred feet or so to the east of our house.

The Lake Avenue Challenge is when Jake and I run up the 1/2 mile steep slope from our house to the very tip top of Lake Avenue, at the Mt. Lowe Trailhead, where you used to be able to take a funicular to a fancy hotel high in the mountains. All gone, thanks to a series of fires about 70 years ago.

Anyway, from there, we walk back down to the top (In Altadena, you generally refer to things being at the "top" or "bottom" of something because of the slope) of Farnsworth Park and race back to the house from there.

I almost always lose that too. I've gotten used to it, since it happened the very first time I ever ran with the boy, back when he was 6.

The picture above is of Altadena and its mountains, but from some years back. Now there are more Jack-in-the-Boxes and houses with Bonus Rooms and not quite so many trolley cars that carry you into the mountains.

Anyway, the race is now just 4 days away! Thanks to Lisa Hogan for joining Team Jake. If you haven't joined, there's still time. Email me as soon as you can.