post-fire

helen has talked me into running the topanga 10k in two weeks. it is supposed to be a very grueling race, as nearly half of it is uphill and on a pretty steep incline. so, for the first time in my life, i am going to train for a race.

i decided that a good place to train would be in the santa monica mountains, and there are some really good steep roads up in malibu with great vistas as a bonus, so i drove out there this morning.

when i arrived, i was surprised at all the fire damage that still exists. it has been nearly 7 months since the fires were extinguished, and although signs of rebuilding are everywhere, canyons of black trees, burned houses and soot covered roads still abound...

there were a lot of photos i would have liked to take, but i was on a tight schedule today, so this blip from a house right off the road will have to suffice.