Running in in different places

So I just got back from a whirlwind couple of trips over the Thanksgiving break. First I took my nephew Gus to Hawaii - yes, I am the coolest Auntie in the World, then I headed down to Palm Desert (just outside of Palm Springs) to spend the actual Thanksgiving holiday. Can we talk about the amazing differences and similarities between running in the tropics and running in the desert? Sand has to be the biggest similarity...lots and lots of sand. It was either the squishy wet stuff in Hawaii (often joined with a big warm wave) and loose slippery stuff out in the desert. What can I say, running in both I found muscles I didn't know I had. How is that possible? I was sure every leg muscle had been kicked in (no pun intended) during my other running escapades. The wet sand kept my bare foot almost stuck to the sand. Each step required an extra yank from my calf to get my foot out. But look where I got to run. The sand in Palm Desert didn't hold my feet in a vise but got all those little muscles in my hips to kick in. Slippery stuff dry sand. So slippery that, in fact, I took a decent tumble. So now I'm sporting a decent graze (from that sand again) down my left leg and a small but sore one on my elbow. Lovely. All that aside, it was great to run in both places. The cooler dryer air in Southern California was certainly easier to deal with than the humid Trade Winds of Hawaii. But I have to say, I get in this "Happy Hawaii Place" when I go there - even running, it's the best place in the world. So pack your running shoes folks. RUN ON VACATION!