When I began writing my running blog on My Space about 5 years ago, I intended to blog EVERY TIME that I ran. I blogged treadmill runs, I blogged one mile runs, I blogged mundane runs, triumphant runs, and failed runs. I wondered whether I could keep up the creativity and have something interesting to write about every single run.
There were times on this blog when I considered quitting running. There were times when running was the ultimate highlight of my life. I wrote about crying on the trail. I wrote about laughing on the trail. At times my trail running made my family very proud. And at times, it made them quite angry because of the time it stole me away. Many trail running partners have come and gone during these blogging years, and I remember all of those running friends fondly. I blogged about running in extreme heat, in rain, in snow. I even blogged about being rescued – actually more than once (once by rangers in Texas and another time by a stranger when I ran off the trail during a 50k, and more than once by my husband who either navigated on-line over the phone with me or drove to pick me up).
Well! I think the day has come when I don’t have much to say about my trail run. I ran it in a usual place this morning, Aliso/Wood Canyons. I ran a usual route, an out-and-back up Cholla trail to Top of the World. I came across many hikers, many bikers, just two runners. It was beautiful. I was slow. But I was content. Most of all, I felt like after a week of recovery, I am ready to get back into the game!
I’ve been running by these little critters all over the place at Aliso/Wood Canyons lately:
Running a single-track that shoots off of West Ridge and returns to West Ridge (a fun addition for more elevation):
While I snapped some photos, an elderly hiker offered to take my picture. He was a tough guy taking on such a route (the West Ridge hike):
Top of the World facing Pacific Ocean/Laguna Beach:
Top of the World facing Saddleback Mountains:
Prickly Peak blossom on Cholla Trail:
Profile of a happy trail runner’s content run: