TALES FROM THE TRAIL (AND SOMETIMES THE ROAD TOO)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Day 50

Today was the 50th day of my running streak.  Fifty was a big day as far as I was concerned, so I didn’t want to use a “minimum card,” and run a couple miles.  But time was short and gasoline was low.  You see, today was early-out day for my two youngest children, which means they ended school about 2 hours early.  AND it’s late-in day for my oldest, which means that he went to school a WHOLE HOUR LATE. 

There wasn’t a chance in heck that I wasn’t running today.  I packed a rain jacket in my hydration pack because we were supposed to get a downpour.  Actually, I hoped for lots of rain.  I thought that would make day 50 big!  With little time and little gasoline I felt it ideal to leave my truck in the boys’ school lot and run.  I ran out to the bike trail and headed toward Santiago Peak.  I knew that I wasn’t going to get far, but I wanted to see if I could learn something, anything new.  We learn something new every day, right?

The river walk (aka) bike trail where Trabuco Creek meets San Juan Creek:

Though the weather was cold for my parts, and the sky gray, I overheated pretty quickly and had those gloves off in a jiffy.  I was really hoping for rain also, so I could get that rain jacket out of my pack.  It made me feel heavier than usual. 

After running the river walk to its end, I ran through some neighborhoods to pick up the El Camino Real trail that coincidentally runs through El Camino Real Park.  Smile  Zig-zagging through the park, I crossed the train tracks to pick up Trabuco Creek Trail.

El Camino Real Park (why did I take a picture here – well, it’s right in front of the restrooms, and since I was already stopped, I thought this was a good time to strike a pose):

I felt good when my feet hit dirt.  Amazingly strong.  I really had no idea that I could run 50 days in a row.  My confidence (in running ONLY) has been lifted.  Then my heart lifted when I came head-on with the creek.  I crossed it gleefully, then ran beneath the train tracks onward to the orange groves.

I found the orange groves so lovely that I had to stop and take another photo.  And here’s what I learned today:  DO NOT sit down in this field – not if you don’t want a thousand microscopic thorns poking in your hands and legs, plus about fifty tinee, tiny green aphids crawling all about your skin (Oops.  I totally forgot to search for tics.  LOL.  These adventures – they are so fun to reminisce about & I just did a quick tic check : )

Stopping to spy on a lady bug before taking off, I brushed off the aphids and did my best to wipe away the stickers.  I was laughing though.  Why?  Because this is me:  The middle-aged woman who runs from her childrens’ school and sits down in a patch of grass to photograph herself without thinking about things like STICKERS and bugs.

So, the rain did fall on my run, but hardly.  I barely even felt the drops.  And it wasn’t nearly enough to take out the rain jacket.  Still I hoped (but to no avail).

Running onward, I made my way beneath the freeways more comfortably this time.  Still, I kept alert, as it is dark, and there’s so many nooks and  crannies (hiding places) beneath Interstate Five. 

Approaching the “Bridge that’s not the answer.”

A little after mile five I turned around and began my run back, but not before seeing a man on his tip-toes looking into the backyard of a house.  That spooked me some.  I of course thought the worst, figuring he was casing the joint for a burglary or something.  By the time I returned, he was gone.  

After running the trails and El Camino Real Park, I decided to make a run through The Los Rios District, which is an historic area in our parts, dating back to the 1800’s.  I love all the colors there, even on this gray day. 

Back at Trabuco Creek:

Cutting through the train station to Los Rios District:

Lots of delightful scenes crossed my eyes during my run through the “district,” but I couldn’t stand around and take pictures all day, like I would wish to.  Here are just a couple:

A lovely run for my 50th day, EVENTHOUGH it didn’t rain.  10.30 miles run this morning (16.58 km).

12 comments:

  1. Yay Lauren! 50! Well done! I've been waiting for this post and even thought about you on your 50th run during my run this morning. Great run and lovely photos once more. Thanks again for sharing your adventures. Are you carrying on with the streak?

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    1. Thanks Johann. It's comments like yours that give me inspiration. I am continuing the streak, but I have no number in mind. I just might end it suddenly. Who knows. : )

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  2. With you're whining about time is expect to see a 3-4 mile run. Not 10+!! You are a rock star. As always the pictures are gorgeous. Glad you remembered to check for tics (and didn't find any). Congrats on 50!

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    1. Thanks for reading Lindsay! You are so nice. Even though I didn't find tics, I felt the "creepy-crawlies" all day.

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  3. Whoooohoo day 50!! Those little stickers drive me nuts when they get on my clothes. What a beautiful field though!! :-) Congrats on a successful 50 streak!! Going to go for 60?

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    1. Thanks Kate!! Not sure if I'm going for 60. Not really sure what I'm going to do. But I have continued it so far. I would like to end on a number divisible by 5 or 10. LOL. I guess that's the OCD component in me (not that OCD is funny, it's just that I have little quirks that I find amusing.) Thanks again!!

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  4. Congrats on hitting milestone and logging impressive mileage continually!

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    1. Thanks Rachel! I never really thought that I could do this. I'm not that strong a runner. Well, I guess I am. LOL. Thanks again!! It really is comments from running friends and bloggers that push me along.

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  5. You're such an inspiration! Amazing that you've made it to 50 and just keep on going. I hope the next 50 is just as much fun.

    PS - You were quoted in the Jan/Feb issue of UltraRunning. Saw your name and thought "why didn't they mention her awesome blog?"

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    1. Thanks TK42ONE. I just recently checked out your blog & videos. Very fun!!! I'm trying to get a copy of that Jan/Feb issue of UltraRunning. I was told that I would be quoted, and I was hoping they would put my blog. But alas, that did not happen. I'm glad that you saw it though! : )

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  6. What a streak! Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks Tom. It's going to be hard to quit. Tt almost happen today. I thought, "What reason do I have to continue?" I couldn't come up with an answer. Then I took a quick nap and woke and suddenly thought that I wanted my streak to end on a number that ended with a 0 or a 5. Go figure!! So the streak continues. Thanks again!

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