Lake Merritt
The girls and I started our casual running club on Tuesday and we ran the perimeter of Lake Merritt, which happens to be 3 miles around. I used to run this route while in grad school and it had been that long since I had last been there. They’ve made a lot of cool improvements and it was a great place to kick off our weekly run and the first sunny day in a couple weeks.
Unfortunately, I had some crazy knee pain the day after. I felt a twinge in the morning but my job really exacerbated. I’m kneeling, bending, and running up and down two flights of stairs all day and I really felt it when I got home. Fortunately, after icing it twice that night and taking Advil before going to bed, I’m back to my old self. That was weird.
About a month ago, Teresa and I were talking about running the Oakland Twilight 5K. It’s a fun run that occurs the night before the Marathon on Sunday. After deciding to sign up, we recruited the rest of the Rehab crew to play along and they all agreed! None of them were regular runners but they had enough time to train. So, on Saturday evening, I took BART to Oakland 12th St. Station and picked up my bib at the Expo. That’s where we met up and took the school bus to to race at Jack London Square. The race was a “scenic” Oakland race through the ghetto and along the water and it was super flat. 
We all had a blast and were rewarded at the end with free PopChips and MGD 64s. Woo! To celebrate, we had margaritas and tapas at Cocina Poblana. Good times…good times. Since everyone had such as good time, we decided to start a casual running club. It starts Tuesday and we’re heading out to Lake Merritt for our first 3-mile run around the lake.
Our last full day in Hawaii (3/14) was a very relaxing one. We got up, had breakfast at Lulu’s with a nice view from our seats. We snagged an umbrella spot at the hotel and enjoyed a couple naps, had some tasty fruity drinks, and read our books until the sun went down. We were literally the last ones to leave. 
The pool girl even asked to put away our chairs and we just kept the towels and laid out under the umbrella until the sun was too low.
After a little rest break in the hotel room, Yoon picked us up for some grub at Home Bar. It’s a Sports Bar but has a very Korean Bar vibe. We shared tater tot nachos, kimchee fried rice, wasabi poke, and spicy fried wings. Awesome. What a great way to end a long weekend in paradise.
The next morning (3/15) we had our usual Spam, Rice, and Eggs Platter with a side of pinapple at McDonald’s and then headed out to the airport. The flight home was smooth and Jason and Jia were in town so they picked us up. Woohoo!
I think I’m stalling…trying to prolong my vacation. I figured if I delay posting, it would make the trip last just a little longer. Silly, I know. Anyhoo, here is what we did on the Sunday (3/13) of our trip. In the morning, we went back to 
After breakfast, we went back to the hotel for a cocktail. Yoon texted us and later picked us up for a day in the sun with the convertible top down. Woohoo! Our first stop was the Kukalinoko Hawaiian Birthing Stones, which is a historic site set in the middle of a sugarcane field. It’s a bunch of really big flat stones in the middle of a grassy field with a bunch of trees shading them.
While there, Jes almost stepped on this little green dude. He was just chillin’ on a stick minding his own business. Luckily he was pretty slow so I got a few snaps of him.
Our next stop was Turtle Beach. It’s a spot on the North Shore where local turtles regularly beach themselves for a little rest and relaxation.
We met Brutus while his friend Olive was floatin’ around in the waves. It was fun to watch him climb up onto shore negotiating huge rocks and taking regular breaks in between. Turtles are cool.
It was also fun watching the little kids playing in sand and water.
For lunch, we stopped at 
Next time any of you are there, check the side around the corner of the right rear light next to the wash basin.
We also tried stopping for some shave ice from Matsumoto’s Grocery but the line was too long. Instead, we headed back to Honolulu and stopped at the Dole Plantation for a Dole Whip. Refreshing…
It’s touristy but I still love it. Can’t get enough of those baby pineapples and feeding the koi.
On the way to the hotel, we stopped at Leonard’s Bakery for a couple warm malasadas. Jes got the original sugar one and I got cinnamon. Perfect.
Dinner was at 
South Lake Tahoe – March 2009
Fort Funston – Fall 2007
Jack in the park – 2008?
Koa – 2007?
On Saturday afternoon (3/12), Yoon picked us up and we went to Costco to pick up food for her BBQ and found Wasabi Doritos!
We were a little worried about buying such a gigantic bag but it ended up being a huge hit at Yoon’s BBQ.
That evening, we went to Yoon’s new condo and got a fantastic view of Honolulu and then spent the evening poolside. A bunch of her friends came over and we grubbed on steak, poke, hot sausage, Yoon’s stir-fried noodles, and pineapple.
There was a hot tub at the end of the pool and then we hung out upstairs in her condo with leftovers and beer.
Check out all the slippas in the kitchen. That’s how you know you’re in Hawaii!
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