about

Conserving Amy calls out and brings to light all of the non-environmentally-friendly habits I want to shake, but haven’t yet because ignoring them has been easy... And I know committing to thoughtful change will be hard.

I'll explore solutions in an effort to modify behavior, implement them in the best ways I know how and monitor progress day in and day out. It’s an experiment. An experience. And here on Conserving Amy, you’ll read and see it all.


How this blog got it's start...

Conserving Amy was born of a challenge to conserve mind, body, spirit, sanity and a few natural California resources, all while training for my first marathon.

It provided a personal platform to document the uniting of canyon trail and beach boardwalk runs with a growing knowledge of the need to protect these same places (and others like them) many of us love and enjoy.

In a single month, my crew and I raised a few hundred dollars for a non-profit environmental conservation organization and I ran my first consecutive 26.2 miles. While training, I had a ton of time to think of ways I might continue challenging myself in the future; of ways to continue Conserving Amy.

But all I could think about was the way I felt incredibly bothered by my driving to trails – and everywhere else for that matter.

Buying coffee after runs, to-go, in disposable cups.

Re-fueling with take-out from joints that sent food home in plastic bags.

The journey and careful reflection helped me realize that making an impact – or less of one - doesn’t have to come in the form of a check or donation, of saving a forest or adopting a coral reef.

Making an impact can be as simple as taking one small step, once-a-day, in my daily routine, toward a more sustainable, eco-conscious way of living. Only by changing my world first might I be able to one day help change the world.



About the marathon

On December 4, 2010 I attempted my first ever marathon.
But not on a flat road nor on some mildly-rolling-hill-type course.

The 26.2 miles of The North Face® Endurance Challenge were run in the Marin Headlands, just a tad bit north of San Francisco, California on single tracks and fire roads, with ascents and descents of several hundred feet at a time.

Aye.

If training to run more than five miles in one shot wasn't enough, I decided to spend the 12 weeks prior attempting to conserve mind, body, spirit, sanity… and a few California natural resources along the way.

This space was used to document the experience building my endurance with 3, 5 and 8 mile routes near the San Buenaventura State Beach as well as around Arroyo Verde Park trails, with longer 16 to 20 milers in beautiful Sycamore Canyon off the Pacific Coast Highway, my trusted running partner pacing me a few yards ahead on lookout for rattle snakes, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and bikers, oh my.

Absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt the most gorgeous training grounds (and I'm not just saying that because I grew up there...).

To show appreciation to the people who work every day to protect the land and waters we Californians so much enjoy, I earned the support of a few to help raise funds for The Nature Conservancy of California. With the support of some dear friends and family members, we were able to donate over 200 dollars!


My crew! Miles sponsored by:

miles 1 through 2 -
The Mitchell's

mile 3 -
Jason & Lily Woolsey


miles 4 through 5 -
Bill Saint


mile 6 -
Daena Caligagan


miles 8 and 18 -
Sharon


mile 10 -
BK


miles 11 through 12 -
The Ishihara's


mile 13 -
The Luciani's


mile 15 -
Mom

mile 19 -
Debby Miyasaki

miles 21 through 26-
Al and Kris Smith