Meadows, My Old Friend . . .

Time was short today, so I cut my big loop short this morning.  That meant I got the pleasure of running up my old friend Meadows. 

I know Meadows Trail looks excruciating.  But it really isn’t that terrible.  Well, it’s pretty terrible – the good kind of terrible.  What makes Meadows bearable is its majestic views.  And it’s also a switchback, which makes pretty much any trail bearable.

The best part is that I experienced no anxiety approaching Meadows Trail.  Yet there was a time I wouldn’t run anywhere near Meadows Trail.  It was that daunting.  I nearly cried the first time I went up.  It was quite painful.  And that first time, I could barely run even three steps of it.  The Saddleback Mountains have successfully dwarfed my old friend.   

Today, I ran unusually slow (and that’s PRETTY SLOW).  My run was delightful nonetheless because this month I’m on a break!  Yes, I’m running through my “break,” even visiting my old friend Meadows.  But I’m not stressing and I’m NOT training.

Meadows:

Running the Ridge Toward Top of the World:

Descending into Wood Canyon via Mathis Trail: