We had a break in the rain today and my local trains opened up here in the coastal hills of Southern California. Oddly, I decided on my timed loop. This loop in Aliso/Wood Canyons:
I always felt in order to make 2 hours, I had to run to the top of Meadows (5 mile mark) in 1 hour. Today, I made it in the same ole’ time 1:03. With just one negative self-talk incident (I thought “I can’t” only once) I decided to attempt make-up time running the ridge through the neighborhoods at Top of the World. I felt I could do it since it’s relatively “easy” running (compared to the trails I’ve been racing in 2011).
Top of Meadows
I made West Ridge with 35 minutes to spare (pretty good, but not the best I’ve done). Then as I started running West Ridge (pictured below), I saw a runner that I usually see on the trails in this park. I caught up with her, then on the downhill, flew past her. I thought she was long gone, when on the next uphill, she was at my heels. What the heck!
If I didn’t know better, she didn’t like me catching her and passing so quickly on the downhill. I left her in the dust again on the next downhill. Then wouldn’t you know it! As I topped the next hill SHE PASSED ME. Well, IT. WAS. ON.
Neither of us spoke, as we raced along West Ridge. We actually ran side-by-side quite a few times. Other times we ran single-file just a few feet separating us. I’d pass her on the downhills. She’d catch me on the uphills. She got out a good distance at one point. But at the end, when we parted ways (she continued on West Ridge, I ran down Cholla). She was just a few feet in front.
I glanced at the garmin as I rounded the corner onto Cholla Trail. NINE minutes. I had nine minutes to make it to the finish line. I had a chance, though slight it might have been. Utterly fatigued, I took very small, quick steps as I sped down Cholla. Rounding the next corner onto Wood Canyon, the rest of the trip was uphill. I had five minutes. And I wanted to collapse. I could not let this chance pass. I had to try. I actually hiked, fast hiked a small portion of the uphill, and with two minutes to spare, I sprinted in.
Goal! I made it. I ran my loop in two hours. It seemed like the world was spinning a little, and I wanted to vomit. I stopped for a second, only to catch my breath, then turned the corner and walked a bit for a cool down.
Thank you un-named runner. You don’t know how much you helped me today.
After Picture (after my cool down and I’m still red-faced)
Nice job sneaking in a beautiful run before it got wet again!
ReplyDeleteWhoooot!! Congrats on GOAL!! :D
ReplyDeleteNothing like a little external motivation to get the legs movin eh? ;)
It is sketch trying to run in those trails! I drove half an hour one weekend not too far back to check out Aliso (?) I think it was.. but all the parks were closed. I was SOOO bummed. The guard guy was like "didn't you check the internet before you came?" I said no a bit ashamed of myself... Later, when I was thinking about it I was like, hey! how was I supposed to know it was so heavily guarded?? HA! Well maybe next time.
Yay, well done! That is awesome! Will you speak to the runner next time? I also have some regulars on my routes and usually just greet and carry on with my own business.
ReplyDeleteGreat job. Fun you had a rabbit pace you. :)
ReplyDeleteSweet! Enjoy the victory.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! What an accomplishment and a great story of how your competitive side came out. I don't know how you tackle that hill in your elevation chart...looks brutal!
ReplyDeleteThanks Green Girl. I was quite lucky. Rained that evening and all night long : )
ReplyDeleteKate! Sorry to hear that it was closed. They close Aliso/Wood Cyns A LOT. And often the website and phone recording isn't accurate. Has happened to me often -- but I didn't have to drive that long. try www.theoctr.org to check out a group run there this Sunday if you're interested (a trail running group I belong to). Of course the park could be closed, but we'll run the bike trail instead.
ReplyDeleteThanks Johann! I really didn't think Wednesday was the day I'd make my goal. I will speak to the runner next time (promise). This particular runner kinda intimidates me, because she never acknowledges or smiles when I see her. Rare on the trail. I'm sure she's a great gal though : ) She's just very dedicated, whereas I'm kinda a goofball and often stop to crack jokes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kovas! I'm still more of the tortoise (but a fast tortoise : )
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom! Remember the first time we ran up Meadows. I SO DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT : )
ReplyDeleteThanks Whitney. That hill is brutal. The first time I attempted it, I had to walk practically the whole thing, and that wiped me out the whole run! The first time I ran the whole thing was a huge, huge deal. I once met a guy who runs up it with his backpack filled with metal chains!
ReplyDeleteVery nicely done. Now all you need is a soundtrack!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhCa0FtGm1s
Thanks Windnsnow. Enjoyed the video -- very interesting. Don't run quite as fast as Lola. But I do own a pair of green pants (they're chords though : )
ReplyDelete