I went for a “short” lollipop loop trail run late this morning. It was a doozy!
I put the word “short” in quotes, because distance perception is relative. For quite some time, 7 miles was my long run. I would hate to insult anyone by calling a 7 mile run a short run, when it really isn’t “short.” It’s only “short” compared to what I’m used to over the past few years. But 7 miles is by no means “short.” Drive the distance, and you’ll see for sure. Then add to the 7 miles a climb up a trail called Mentally Sensitive and a run down a switchback called Meadows, and you’ve got one doozy of a run!
The weather was warm late this morning, 84 F degrees! Sweating it out beneath a hot sun brought back some delightfully miserable memories of mountain training during the summer (Woot! Looking forward to that. Time to get ready!!)
Running a deceitful Meadows Trail: 
My calves were tight again, and my shins ached for approximately the first 1 1/2 miles. Time to google “shin splints,” though I don’t know how I would get shin splints since I’m running so little lately.
Climbing Mentally Sensitive was pure hellish fun. Seriously. I stopped to rest TWICE. . . on a 7 mile run! I made it to the top though. And I still felt accomplished. 
Going up . . . 
Finally at the top, overlooking the grand Pacific:
Going down . . . 
Holy crap that's steep! Did you run into any angles on your way up?!!! Dang girl!
ReplyDeleteIt is steep Patty. And for some reason it doesn't get much easier, dang it! Thanks for reading. :)
DeleteYou always have the best pictures, but the elevations you post exhaust me just from looking at it. You are a trail running beast! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim. I am an elevation junkie.
Delete7 mies is around my long run now. When I first began running I would be in shock at those who said 7 was an "easy" run.. How in the world could 7 MILES be easy? And then once you reach that distance it DOES become easier.. I think its great that while running is the "same" there are so many variables making it different for each of us.
ReplyDelete84*!!Im freezing my butt off this morning, but would rather have this as running weather than 80s.
I know what you mean Kohourt. I remember when one mile was hard. :)
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