Sunshine has many benefits - increased Vitamin D production and mood enhancement, plus it may even prevent certain diseases like IBD.  But too much of a good thing is never a good thing (yes, even when it comes to chocolate and money!). Overexposure to sun without proper protections can lead to skin damage and possibly cancer. This risk may be enhanced for people with IBD who have underlying immune disfunction and/or are on immunosuppressive medications. 

I live and run in Los Angeles. Perpetual sun, air pollution, dust and pollen, poison oak lined trails, and IBD means skin protection is an essential part of my running health. Am I overly cautious? Maybe, but in the end I don't want to look 80 when I'm 50. 

HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE SKIN SAVERS:
 
MY SILLY HAT! When I opened the Amazon package and revealed my wide brimmed, neck-caped hat, my teen daughter just about had a heart attack, and so did I as it was my first step in looking seriously uncool on the trails.  

I am so incredibly lucky to have a place like Griffith Park within a 15 minute drive from my home. It's a gem of greenery in the middle of my crazy city, Los Angeles, that truly has something for everyone within it's 4200 acres and 50+ miles of trails.  You want flat road to run on, trails to hike, historic sites, or picnic areas? Check! check! check! 

The 11 peaks of Griffith Park create a recognizable ridgeline from several vantage points around LA, with the Hollywood Sign as the crowning exclamation point! Burbank Peak (home of the Wisdom Tree), Cahuenga Peak, Mt Lee (with the Hollywood Sign), Mt Chapel, Mt Bell, Baby Bell, Taco Peak, Mt Hollywood, Hogback Peak, Glendale Peak, and Beacon Hill. 

At the time of this writing Burbank Peak and Cahuenga Peak are closed to avoid crowding 

High above sea level, the clouds, the hustle-bustle and noise of every day. Onto the intoxicating trails where the colors are deeper and the contrasts more dramatic, the silence is like music, a simple sip of water is like drinking nectar. It was like I fell *up* Alice’s rabbit hole.

Today kicked off a year of getting high, partying on the trails, and heart pounding ecstasy.

You see, my 50th is awfully close and instead of dreading it and hiding from it, I’ve decided to run head on into it. Celebrating life, the strength of my legs and heart, and all the beauty of this amazing planet by trekking into new trails every month – lifting my spirits and my vantage point.

It’s been a challenging few years since 2015 when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (an auto immune disease that effects the colon), followed by a blood clot, then a