Today my Twin Peaks training began, using my own customized plan (customized by me). And of all days, today, I really didn’t feel like running because I had a doctor’s appointment north from my regular trails. Afterward, I diligently drove to the nearest trails and put in my 6 miles on what’s called the Quail Hill Loop (located in Irvine, Ca). I thought this was a 2 mile loop, ends up it’s a bit shorter, so I ran it a little over three times. It was much like running a track, except with hills and a freeway view.
Today’s run certainly was not a fun run, nor was it a fast run (though a few times I glanced at my garmin and picked up my speed purposely).
Though the landscape looked only one color from afar (brown) there was lots of color dotting the landscape:
I'm no scofflaw, BUT I didn’t think this sign IN THE DIRT was for me, because that looked like a trail to me . . .
I took that “trail” toward this lovely outcropping (below). About a tenth of a mile up, I came to a fork. Deciding which to take I saw the biggest bobcat I’ve ever seen. The bobcats I usually see are at most knee high (as tall as my knees from paws to top of head). If I’m not mistaken, this cat’s head measured up to my thighs! He was moving slowly through the high grass. Not really wanting to deal with a bobcat today, I ran back to the loop. Then I thought, “Dang it! I didn’t get a picture.” And so I went back. Duh!! This time though I traveled the “This is not a Trail” Trail cautiously and without music. I didn’t see the cat, so I took the other fork toward the outcropping until it ended.
After finishing my second Quail Hill Loop, I reversed the loop, and after that ran until I finished 6 miles.
Back on Quail Hill Loop:
This graph looks way worse than it was. Notice the top elevation is only 300 feet:
Hey, you're in my neighborhood ;). I've never seen a bobcat on the trails, but now that I know there are some.... Eyeballs peeled!
ReplyDeleteWow Giraffy I didn't know I was in your neighborhood. Very nice neighborhood. Definitely bobcats though. Main thing with me, is that I don't turn my back on them. They aren't known to attack humans, but we should always be cautious.
DeleteYay for Twin Peaks training! I would love to see a bobcat while running. I just went through the Twin Peaks web site and I'm all excited that you are doing it. All the best with the training!
ReplyDeleteThanks Johann. I am going to be nervous for the next several months. I'm hoping for confidence to build. I think it is little by little -- especially since Nanny Goat. Now about bobcats, they are lovely creatures. But they really like to toy with you -- like stretching and basking smack in the middle of the trail when they know you're there! : ) They are rascals.
DeleteThat's a mile from my place; I've never seen a bobcat on that side (there's a great trailhead across the street) but I've seen Irvine police patrolling on bike so be careful with going off the trail there as they look for that. :) I think you are going to rock Twin Peaks -
ReplyDeleteThanks for your confidence Rachel. I wish I had that confidence. I also seem to have bobcat radar. Somehow I can spot them first when I'm in a group of runners. Not sure what that is about. Bummer about police patrolling the trails. I know they are trying to protect people. I'm just not used to that. : ( Lovely area to run though. (However, where I was, not much shade, and I do so love shade!)
Delete300 feet? Sounds more like my hills around here. Flat.
ReplyDeleteyou gotta get yourself out to California Lumberjack!
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