There is where my heart is (hint: those mountains in the background. It's just too darn hot for me there right now).
Monday, July 29, 2019
The Way to do Summer Trails
There is where my heart is (hint: those mountains in the background. It's just too darn hot for me there right now).
Saturday, July 20, 2019
One Foot In Front Of The Other
Coyote Run Trail
Monday, July 15, 2019
Goats at Top of the World!
Friday, February 19, 2016
From the Top Once More
Monday was a day off for me and my boys as well (President’s Day, where we observe George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays). I celebrated by sleeping in. I believe that I made it all the way until 8AM. Wait. Now I remember, I actually set my alarm for 6AM (because that’s what I do), and I hit the snooze three or four times until I finally stopped it all together. Then after hearing my middle son wake and go out to the “man cave” I rolled out of bed around 8AM.
The weather was still rather warm on Monday. so, perhaps it was not the best idea to wait until 1PM before heading out for a run. Oddly, I chose once again to drive up Pacific Coast Highway to Laguna Beach to catch a trail along the ridge for another loop starting at the top -- except this time, I went against the gradual climb out, picking instead a steep, short nasty climb out at the end
I parked at a little known park called Moulton Meadows which sits high above the Pacific Ocean and Aliso Canyon. And I began my long gradual down hill run along Top of the World and West Ridge (which was more likely rolling down hills, meaning there were some up hills). I think I cursed the heat. Beeping heat! I really loved our cold weather. It’s too early to start feeling the heat.
Anyway, I ran Cholla Trail down into Wood Canyon and cheerfully greeted the shady groves that line the first mile and a half or so of this canyon. I was really digging this long gradual down hill stuff. But boy did I pay for it. From Wood Canyon, I took Meadows Trail on over to Mentally Sensitive, which I once re-named Psycho Path, and for good reason. I struggled immensely climbing this bastard of a trail. There really is no relief, and as you can see from the elevation chart below, the climb is steep as hell. Thankfully, it was short. But oh my lord. My pace was probably somewhere around a 40 mile minute. I may not take run that loop again for a while.
Jeez.
Running down Cholla Trail into Wood Canyon:Starting up Mentally Sensitive (Psycho Path!):1,271’ gained, 10.3 miles:
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Starting at the Top
Generally, I prefer trail routes that get the uphill over with toward the beginning of the run. I despise having to climb out to get home. But I also hate making the same old drive over and over again. I think I hate that more than climbing out at the end. So, this past Saturday, I decided to drive along the coast and drive to Alta Laguna Park, which is near the Top of the World neighborhood in Laguna Beach. Most often I begin my coastal hill running in the Canyons, Wood or Aliso Canyon, so it’s down hill back to the truck.
Starting off with 180 degree ocean views, Saturday I began my run on a down hill – a quick down hill, totaling just around two miles (down West Ridge and then down Mathis into Wood Canyon). From then on, it was uphill, a gradual uphill, which is why I chose this route. I thought that climbing out wouldn’t be so bad if the climb was gradual. And, so for the next FIVE miles I ran uphill, on an unusually warm weekend in February. It was tough. But, I hear that I am tough, so I guess it was okay.
Route: Top of the World, West Ridge, Mathis Trail, Wood Canyon, Cholla Trail, West Ridge to Top of the World
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Autumn PLEASE Move Your Arse
Tuesday
Dear Autumn:
Could you please, please, please move a little quicker and get here.
Sincerely,
LaurenOnTheRun
Out-and-back to Top of the World in Laguna Beach in dang hot weather. 6.67 miles run, 1,168’ elevation gained.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Test Run
I did not take a new pair of shoes out for a test run today. Unfortunately, no. I took my feet out for a test run today, more specifically, my right ankle. I’m done wearing the boot. But still, I wore one of those stretchy braces beneath my socks. (I got it filthy with dirt.)
My ankle felt fine running the uphills and flats. It was those downhills, especially on the way back that added a bit of pain. My ankle may or may not have been ready for today (I’m going to be optimistic and say it was). But dang it, I missed the trails badly. I was actually having dreams that I could not run trails anymore, that I had to turn back on certain trails (that I’ve never seen in my waking life) because they were too hard. Too hard!!!
Aside from testing out the ankle, I also worked on a bit of form today as I ran the rolling ridge overlooking Laguna Beach. One problem with my form has been that I lean my shoulders forward and look to the ground when running up hill. This posture makes for tense sore shoulders and a reduction in speed. During this afternoon’s run, I focused on keeping my head up, even with my hips. And though I occasionally found myself looking down, I was convinced to keep looking forward when doing so I spotted my first rattler of the season. She was a beauty.
Ready to run myself back into tip-top shape!
It seemed that I actually made eye contact with this rattler as I ran toward her to snap this photo. She appeared annoyed. (On the way off this single track, I came upon two lovely young, very young ladies, making their way up. I warned them to be aware, “I just saw a rattler.” Upon hearing this, they both SCREAMED, and ran back down the single-track. I felt badly for scaring them and gave the ladies a quick lesson in rattlers, ie, keep aware, give them their space, etc. I was glad to see the two turn around and make their way back up.
The Profile:
Sunday, September 16, 2012
I’m Not Proud (But I Didn’t Have A Choice)
After spending the morning with my family, I drove off to the coastal hills for a 1:00 PM trail run to finish off this “hard” week. When I arrived the gates were closed, yet cars were parked in the lot and along the road. People were also turning around their cars and driving back the way they came. I pulled up next to the ranger who stood at the gates. She told me the park was closed for everyone coming in. There was a fire in Laguna Beach. It wasn’t out of control. But if it did get out of control and they had to evacuate the park, they didn’t want the trouble of evacuating too many people.
As this kind woman spoke to me, my brain was elsewhere, thinking: “Please stop talking. I get it! I just need to somehow sneak into the park, then I can stay.”
“Okay, thank you.” I smiled, turned around and drove off. I thought of all the park entrances and decided that Top of the World would be my best bet. So, I went on my way, taking about a half hour driving into Laguna Beach. I could see smoke in the distance. Then suddenly the traffic came to a near halt. At this point I figured that the rangers could easily block entrance at Top of the World. Then I remembered a way in that most people don’t think about. There is a park in the neighborhood that Mentally Sensitive ends near. So, off I was, driving approximately 5 miles an hour to my destination, hoping I could sneak into Aliso/Wood Canyons. I had to run trails today, especially so close to The Taper.
I felt sneaky. I felt selfish. I didn’t really like what I was doing. But I really wanted to get in this run. And besides, I tried to justify, if anyone’s going to be safe and know what to do if trouble arises, it’s going to be me.
Before I continue, I should go into a little background for people who don’t live here. October is fire season in California. It has always been (Okay, it’s not exactly October, but it’s close). Some Octobers we escape without fires. Other Octobers we get clobbered. A few years ago, my parents were evacuated in San Diego county from wildfires that burned down several neighborhoods. Also, some years back in Orange County, we had some pretty bad fires, closing some mountain trails for a year or more.
I remember as a child living near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains (L.A. county), seeing those mountains ablaze again and again. Ashes used to fall down like snowflakes in our backyard. Our car windows were coated with ash. I guess you probably got the point that October is fire season, and that we are a little paranoid about it around here. But more so, we are paranoid about it in Laguna Beach. In 1993, during my senior year in college, Laguna Beach had a firestorm like no other that I can remember. Other areas got hit too. But Laguna Beach only has 3 ways out – Highway 1 South, Highway 1 North, and Laguna Canyon Road.
We lived pretty close to the Dana Point / Laguna Beach border at the time. Standing outside our apartment, we could watch for hours, miles and miles of headlights trying to escape the city. A bright orange glow shined at the tops of the hills. Ashes rained down everywhere. Entire neighborhoods burned to the ground, 366 homes total and 17,000 acres in Laguna Beach alone.
The local community has very good reason to be paranoid about fires. This is why I’m not proud of circumventing this paranoia so that I could run.
The hills were smoking as I drove on today toward the park near Mentally Sensitive. Dozens of firemen, dressed in heavy gear climbed the hillsides in 90 F degree heat. A helicopter occasionally flew by to drop fire repellant.
I finally made it to the street I needed. It was blocked by police. So, I drove around to get to the other side of the smoldering hillside. I parked along the street, happy to see no law enforcement or fire crews, and ran into the city park toward Mentally Sensitive. Before I arrived to the trail, I spotted Meadows Trail in the distance. Three fire trucks were parked at Meadows’ entrance. So, I wouldn’t be running down Meadows. Thing was, Mentally Sensitive’s trailhead is visible from Meadows. And so, I bushwhacked my way down the hillside so that I could reach my trail unseen lower down the slope. Thing was, when I came upon my trail, I could still see the firemen. I don’t know if they could see me, or if they even cared. But I ducked, yes, I’m not proud. I ducked as I ran along the trail. If only I wasn’t wearing my dang orange hat. Eventually I had to stand erect, the trail was so steep. When I did, I didn’t look back. I ran down Mentally Sensitive and didn’t ease up until the trucks were no longer in my sight.
I was in! And unless they evacuated the park, I was going to stay in. But I didn’t see anyone for at least three miles, so of course I worried that they had indeed evacuated the park. Finally, I came upon some mountain bikers. Later I came upon small groups of hikers, so I felt confident the rangers had not evacuated. Unless the same ranger who told me they were closed saw me, and remembered me (dang orange hat), I was home free! Just to make sure, I took a single track as soon as I could. I ran Coyote Run, feeling pretty good physically. But the heat was tough.
In all I ran a ten mile loop. I was supposed to run 12 miles. I goofed, because I forgot to look at “The Plan.” Therefore, I came in about 2/3rd’s of a mile short of my 72 weekly miles. (My oldest son said that I should just run around the block, I laughed at that notion – smart boy, but this Mama’s done running for the week!).
Shhhh (please). Running down Mentally Sensitive:
Finishing up Meadows, headed into Wood Canyon:
Running up Rock It Trail:
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Meadows x 3
With little time and little gasoline, a mountain run was not “in the cards.” I needed to make this morning’s miles COUNT. By “count,” I mean difficult.
I decided on hill repeats up Meadows – yup, the trail that used to give me great anxiety, the trail that I feared! I’ll tell you one thing that running up West Horsethief does. It dwarfs even the toughest hills on my coastal trails. Even Meadows. I ran up and down it three times this morning. I could have done more. But I had to get back home for chores and get ready for work.
After about a 2 mile warm-up, I arrived at Meadows:
A Magical Entrance to Meadows:
Heading toward the first climb up – this is why they call it Meadows:
First Arrival to the Top of Meadows (Overlooking Laguna Beach):
First trip down Meadows (Saddleback Mountains in background):