Enjoy

I scratched original plans to visit the gym today and put in just about 2 to 3 miles of speed work after my workout.  I really didn’t feel like spending my time in a crowded gym. I wanted to be alone Instead on day 9 of my running streak.   I decided on a nice little out-and-back in my favorite wilderness park, Aliso/Wood Canyons. 

I took off with the melancholy blues.  But as I made my struggle up Cholla, I began to lighten-up and enjoy the moment.  Enjoy the sweat dropping off the ends of my hair.  Enjoy the rocky terrain.  Enjoy the blue skies.  Enjoy that I wasn’t alone, though I was, as the park was crowded with hikers, runners and bikers.  Others were out there struggling up and down these hills.  Who were these people?  I didn’t know a single one of them, yet it was sort of like we all knew each other.  We didn’t talk.  A simple head nod or smile did the trick to convey – “Yup, I’m crazy too.”  Nah.  I think it more conveyed, “Yup.  I understand.”

Running up Cholla, biker cycling down:

Heading up Cholla, the world seems to transform:

View of Saddleback Mountains from Park Avenue Nature Trail:

Prickly Pear bloom (the first I’ve seen this season):

6.35 miles run on day 9:

Three Amigas

On the third day of my Streaking in the New Year  I met 2 friends at Aliso/Wood Canyons for an early morning COLD, COLD run.  Though the parking lot was full, oddly the trails were empty.  And that was wonderful!

We took our run up Meadows to overlook a lovely striking blue Pacific.  By then my gloves were off, my warm sleeves tied around my waist.  Then we looped around for a fun down hill on Mathis.  In total we logged 9.45 miles – that’s a little over 15 kilometers.  AND, I got to use my new camera.  AND, I didn’t drop it!

Hitting Meadows Trail::

Tres Amigos after finishing up Meadows Trail:

Tennis courts at Top of the World:

Celebration:

A little detour along Park Ave. Nature Trail on our way to West Ridge and Mathis:

All done

Recovery

When I returned from Saturday’s marathon I was on a natural high, mainly because I couldn’t believe how much I accomplished my goal.  The remainder of the day, I felt sick, nauseated, achy.  My eyes ached from all the salt in my sweat that dripped into them.  I bedded early. 

Sunday, I barely remember.  I remember waking stiff all over, and also, nearly falling asleep several times during church – not that the service was boring.  I was just dang tired.  I napped Sunday afternoon, then bedded early again.  Basically, Sunday was a blur.  I had to ask my husband if it had rained on Sunday because I had planned on painting the yard gates.  By Monday, they weren’t painted.  I suppose I may have lost a few brain cells on Saturday.

Monday, I saved my running legs and played gym rat.  I did a lot of stretching, foam rolling, ab work, weights and even 65 minutes on the elliptical crossramp.  Mainly, my right IT band was sore, and my quads needed lots of rolling.  The 2.5 hour workout seemed to “iron-out” this.  But boy was I sleepy!!  AGAIN.  That afternoon I napped a few hours. Then I tucked into bed about 8:30 PM.  Needless to say, this constant sleeping on my part annoyed some in my family (I won’t say who, but there was more than one culprit!)

I felt my recovery was going along beautifully.  I think the sleeping helped.  I couldn’t help but reflect on this marathon (quickly counting, I believe, my 6th) compared to my first marathon on 5/31/2009.  (San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon – I actually found my blog for it, buried in Myspace.)  From my recollection, after my first marathon I couldn’t run well for weeks.  And when I did finally put in five plus miles, I had a difficult time breathing evenly.  Recovery was tough then.

That wasn’t the case this time.  I woke this morning FULLY refreshed.  I felt elated that I had time and energy to run on the third day after the Saddleback Trail Marathon.  And so, after all my “wifely/motherly” duties, and before my afternoon job, I headed out to Aliso/Wood Canyons for a carefree run to the Top of the World. 

I ran up Cholla Trail, a short ascent which seemed like a bump in the road compared to Holy Jim.  Then I ran along the rolling hills of West Ridge, smiling wide at probably a dozen mountain bikers who made their way along the trail.

 Top of Cholla Trail

My usual post marathon depression either hasn’t hit or didn’t hit after Saddleback.  It usually hits within 2 days.  Thing is, I’m so dang happy that I made such an improvement, it might not hit this time.  I’ll tell what did hit almost immediately:  a melancholy feeling over the fact that this journey had ended.  I had been working so long and so hard for this one race.  And now it is over.  I realize though,  there are lots of life journeys, and that while in the midst of the journeys I’m in right now, new ones are beginning all the time, and another running journey is just around the corner.

Still, I found myself day dreaming frequently about Saturday’s marathon on today’s run.  I allowed it somewhat.  Then I’d force myself out of the past and grudgingly enter again into the present.

Yes, I’m a bit odd.

Day dreaming about Saddleback Trail Marathon – why look there’s Saddleback in the distance right there!

Acting silly at Top of the World (with SADDLEBACK mountains in background):

I didn’t run the out-and-back as planned this morning.  Why?  Because I did not want to stop running.  Instead, I headed down Mathis thinking I might run into Jeff (he often choses Mathis).  My friend Jeff by the way, also greatly bettered his time in the Saddleback Marathon. 

Instead, Mathis was empty.  But empty is lovely too.  The skies were blue with wispy clouds, the weather cool enough that I didn’t regret long sleeves.  From there I ran over the plank bridge that crosses Wood Creek and ran a shady, cool Wood Canyon back to the truck for a total of 7.70 miles on this “recovery” run. 

Fall blooms along the ridge:

Wood Canyon, where the color green is now “in”:

Today’s profile:

Take It Easy Mode

SO . . . I was standing on the toilet digging through the cabinet trying to find the Buzz Lightyear towel for my youngest who was in the bathtub.  In the next second I was airborne with the entire bathroom (3 shelf) wooden cabinet falling down on top of me (including the plants on top).  The crash was tremendous.  It sounded like an entire wall came crashing down which sent the remainder of my family running to my aid.  I landed on my left glute and some part of the cabinet LANDED ON MY KNEE.  The floor was covered with dirt, plants and broken porcelain planters, towels and all the first aid stuff in our home (that’s not in my hydration pack or gym bag). 

Now, we live in an old house, built in the 40’s.  Most of the work was done by prior owners (except for our remodeled kitchen).  Some time ago hubby took down the cabinets that weren’t nailed into the studs and put them up right.  Except for this one particular cabinet.  Of course, it wasn’t nailed into the studs (Duh!!).  All I have to say is thank goodness it didn’t take me out!

But my knee – it is bruised.  And the pain actually woke me last night, and I was feeling an ache tonight as I sat down to write this.  Funny thing though, I felt absolutely no pain when I ran today.  Maybe it’s because I’m in “easy mode” right now.  Easy on the running that is.  Or should I say easier?

I may have lost all perspective with running on what is “easy” and what is “hard.”  Today’s run was easy because it was fun, it was cool weathered, it was short,  and it was beautiful.  But today’s run was hard too because I ran hills and besides that, even when it’s easy, running’s pretty much always hard – one of the reasons I like it so much. 

After some short speed work yesterday (2.5 miles), today’s “easy mode” included a quick trip to Top of the World.    It looked like it might rain.  I actually hoped that it would rain, even though I don’t much enjoy running in the rain.  I looked forward to something different, something lively, especially after my bathroom accident scare.

Easy Mode

City views running along West Ridge

Running a side trail off of West Ridge (I call these “C” trails, because they’re shaped like a “C” beginning and ending on the same trail)

A pose at Top of the World

Heading back toward West Ridge (from Park Avenue Nature Trail) – West Ridge is the trail visible at the top of this ridge here

At the top of another “C” trail off of West Ridge sitting at a bench that is obviously two low to the ground.  I just don’t want to leave the trails yet, and I’m almost to the car.

Continuing on to Cholla Trail, looking back on West Ridge and the “C” trail (on right) I just ran off

And so there you have it – my “easy mode” run.  The trick over the next ten days is to minimize the injuries at home!!

Have fun on your runs this week. 

Mentally Sensitive

I read about a new trail opening in Aliso/Wood Canyons.  I talked to the rangers about it, heard it dumped out into a Laguna Beach city park, that it was steep, and that I “wasn’t going to be running it.” (Challenge!!) They told me Mentally Sensitive was officially opening October 16. 

What intrigued me about this trail, firstly is that IT’S A NEW TRAIL!!  I MUST run all trails at Aliso/Wood Canyons.  Also, it will make my “big loop” longer, and lastly it dumps out into a park, which means possible parking and new park entrance possibilities.

Before heading off, I stopped by the ranger station, just to make sure the trail had opened.  Indeed it had.  Then the ranger commenced to look about her desk for a tool to help me pull the adjustment elastic in my shorts back through the slot to the button.  Nothing she could find worked, so I took off running slowly on Aliso Creek Trail working on my shorts (it paid off).

Though this entry is a preview of the new trail called Mentally Sensitive, first things first.  This is the defensive position of the stink bug: 

I thought it was cute.

Mentally Sensitive hits Meadows about a half mile of running Meadows, just before the switchback climb to the top (a total of 2.09 miles from the ranger station).  The trail’s easy to find with the brand new sign in about the middle of nowhere.

Mentally Sensitive started off in a dry meadow with small rolling hills.  Fun, easy, not difficult running.  I knew it wouldn’t last like this with all the talk about how steep the trail is (Challenge!). 

And then . . . AND THEN, the trail abruptly ended and I found myself running an asphalt road.  What the heck!  I wondered where I took a wrong turn.  The obviously new fences dotting the trail hinted that I was probably still running Mentally Sensitive.

Not too far on this asphalt portion I came upon another Mentally Sensitive sign.  And then the climb began.  It wasn’t so bad, steep, but very runnable.  I thought, “Hey, I can run this, what are they talking about?”  But deep down I knew that the trail could get steeper.  Much steeper.

And that it did.  The higher up the trail I ran, the steeper it grew.

I found myself forefoot running (on my toes) – not good for me and my toe problems.  At times I ran sideways to avoid the forefoot strike.  And at times I hiked.

And then there was some relief! 

In all, Mentally Sensitive was single track.  And it was kind of switchbacky (I know I made that word up).  It wasn’t exactly switchback, that is travelling to the left, then the right, then the left and so on.  The trail would move straight up, then travel to the right, then maybe up some more, then to the left, then up more, and then maybe to the left again – that sort of thing. 

I actually “ran out of breath” in a couple of parts of this trail and resorted to a fast hike once again.  There were even occasions where I slipped backward (though I didn’t fall.).  That is just not like me, especially when I have all the time in the world.  I had no idea though how to pace myself since I had never run Mentally Sensitive before.  I think eventually I will be able to run Mentally Sensitive in its entirety (of course at a snail’s pace).  But not today.  Not today.

Nearing the top, Mentally Sensitive finally flattened and I looked forward to the city park I assumed to be at its end.  I came upon the trailhead sign on a dirt truck road.  The top of Meadows was about a half mile to my right, to my left the dirt road continued.  No city park in sight.  So I ran some more to my left. (Picture below is top of Mentally Sensitive).

After about a quarter mile running this slightly sandy dirt truck road, I finally came to the park.  And I promptly tore off the drenched long-sleeved shirt that I wore on this cool morning.  And of course I posed for a picture:

And then I pushed this tree back up and headed back on the trail:

I continued running my regular loop.  I saw Jeff before reaching Top of the World.  He was running a similar loop, except counter-clockwise.  Hi Jeff!  (He’s training for Saddleback too):

The sun showed its face along the way.  And I ran onward dead-dog tired.  I think that I should have had more than a tall glass of carrot juice for breakfast.  I powered on nonetheless, fortunately with lots of fluids remaining.  On Wood Canyon I came upon a lone coyote with a long flowing tail.  Then a bit further along, at least six deer stood about in the middle of the trail.  They didn’t move on until I took out my camera.

The last 3 miles of this run were pretty dang difficult.  That worried me a bit, until I remembered that I ran yesterday. 

Saddleback Marathon is just about 2 weeks away!

Elevation Profile:  Miles logged today:  12.88 (20.73 km)

There’s More Than One Way To The Top Of The World

No matter your destination, there’s always more than one route.  This is true in many ways, not only with running.  It’s true in all things in life – there are countless routes.  In some cases, all the routes are difficult.  But I suppose that depends on your goal.  If your goal is run to The Top of the World (the top of Aliso/Wood Canyons over looking Laguna Beach), the only way there is up and up and up.

If you know me, you probably know that my favorite route to the top is up Meadows Trail.  Why?  Not because it’s the steepest way.  Because it is.  I love running up Meadows because it’s a switchback, single-track.  There’s something about Switchback single-tracks that my brain can grasp onto and change into something exciting and fun!

Today, I chose a different route to The Top of the World.  I chose Mathis, which is not a single track, nor is it a switchback, and I usually also don’t pick it because there’s no shade. 

Fortunately, shade didn’t matter on this misty, cloudy day.  And the idea of Mathis gave me no anxiety.  I felt carefree as I ran in and out of all the different trails along the way.  It was one of those days, like so many on the trail, where everything was beautiful.  I had to eventually tell myself, “No more pictures!!.”

I broke through countless spider webs as I ran along Wood Creek Trail.  I noticed that the poison oak leaves were turning red and I took delight in moss covered rocks.  Here I stopped to set up a picture among one of my favorite spots on Wood Creek Trail (I love, love, love running up these rocks):

Wood Creek dumped me back into Wood Canyon.  I saw a few cyclists, a runner here and there.  When I jumped onto Coyote Run Trail, I didn’t see one person as I ran in and out of the trees.  At one point, thousands (I’m serious THOUSANDS!  It had to be that many) of crows flew about and nested in the trees.  They cawed so loudly and almost frantically, I was a bit spooked, wondering, “What do they see that I can’t see?”

For all I know, they could have been having an acorn feeding frenzy.  I don’t know crow habits.  I did try to capture a picture here before turning off to ascend Nature Loop Trail for a ridge run so that I ran above the canyon.  But the picture doesn’t show the countless crows sitting in the trees.  It still think it’s an eerie picture:

I descended down Nature Loop to hit Mathis.  I ran along a new barbed wire fence that’s up along the newly reinforced creek bed.  Good thing they put in these single chains every fifty feet or so, otherwise everyone and her brother would be getting in:

I ran Mathis with little thoughts running through my mind.  One foot in front of the other – that’s all I did, except for some focusing on form.  When I reached the top of Mathis, two female hikers were sitting at the kiosk.  One of them said, “YOU JUST RAN UP THAT THING???” 

“Ya,” I chuckled.  “It’s a little hard.” 

“Ya,” she said.  “It’s a little steep.”

Yes, Mathis is a little steep.  But, amazingly, I’ve run steeper.  And the steepness continued up West Ridge.  I took a little detour onto Park Avenue Nature Trail to finally reach THE TOP.

Nothing to see at Top of the World except pure white skies, I spent little time there.  I don’t need to see the ocean anymore.  Just being at The Top of the World was glorious.  I ran back down West Ridge in the cold, my clothing wet from sweat.  I saw my running friend, Jeff, far off in the distance.  Then I opted for a nice technical downhill on Rockit Trail:

Ending up Rockit, fall flowers line the trail:

Back onto Coyote Run Trail, I ran with joy, wanting more.  But I worked today and I just didn’t have the time.  I did have the time to snap this photo of my favorite tree on Coyote Run:

Finally ending back on Wood Canyon Trail, I realized that I had run 2.5 miles (4.02 km) more than I planned.  With some melancholy in my heart over the fact that I would be leaving this beauty, I stopped to capture one more picture of Southern California coastal trails:

Elevation Profile:  9.51 miles (15.30 km) run today