Walking Big Sur

Here I sit, wedged between a Christmas tree and a roaring fire (in a fireplace), in the heart of Big Sur. My morning walks have taken me by the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Ranger Station, the start for the full marathon in April, and the Big Sur River Inn at mile 2.5. It’s as spectacular as marathon morning but with more traffic. It makes me even more appreciative of the privilege of walking this coast with the highway closed to traffic on race day.

In July the Big Sur hills south of the marathon route were struck by lightening and the ensuing fires devastated much of the landscape as well as many homes and businesses. On Christmas Eve and Christmas day, heavy rains were predicted to cause flash flooding and landslides as the fire-stricken areas bare of vegetation could be easily washed away with even 2 inches of rain. State parks and trails were closed. Today, Boxing Day, skies were perfectly clear and we could drive south. Hillsides have swaths of brown and black where fires raged. Still, signs of tiny green life are already visible.

There remains great risk of landslides and flash flooding through the winter and spring months which typically bring heavy rains to the area. I will be hoping for the best for the people who live and work here. It’s a part of the world that can’t be captured by the million or more photographs and paintings that have been taken of it. And, as many of you know, I consider the opportunity to walk this coastline, free of traffic and with drums and music to enhance the perfection of the views one of the great blessings of my life. As my morning walks the last few mornings, jumping to the ditch to avoid cars, has reminded me, it’s a walk that simply can not be duplicated any other day of the year.

Our training schedules for the race begin the first week of January. And, if you can make it out to the left coast the last Sunday in April, there is still room in the 21 miler event – the perfect distance and course opening walkers! This is the first time in the six years that I have entered the race that the event was not sold out by the end of November. I’m not sure if it is the fires that have made people hesitant to visit the area or the economy, but I can tell you that the coast is still perfection for walking.