Climbing Out

I know I have probably written it before, but I’ll say it again -- climbing out is hell. My preference is to do the elevation gain first (or even midway). Saving the climb for the end of a hike, run or hike-run is simply brutal for me. It is almost never fun. But in the end, the relief of it being over is so overwhelming, it makes it all worthwhile.

This particular route, a ten miler beginning and ending Laguna Wilderness with Crystal Cove Park picking up the mid part of the loop, starts off with nice and easy rolling hills. There was a few miles of this along Boomer Ridge, and then a few more along Moro Ridge. These first five miles or so were really lovely, with most of it sharing full ocean views. I saw my first rattler of the season during this portion. Then at 5.57 miles in I was finally at sea level, and the climb out began. Whew. Those last four and a half miles were a bear. My pace was a steady slow. Not slow run. Slow hike. And being that I’ve travelled up many long and steep inclines before, I grabbed onto the mantra, “This too shall pass.” And so, with one step in front of the other, over, and over and over again, I was back at my truck, feeling refreshed and not terribly beat up. And as I mentioned earlier, relieved!

April 7, 2018, 10.01 miles, 1,382’ elevation gain

Old Goat 50 in the Books

I haven’t had the chance to report the behind-the-scenes on Old Goat 50. The event this year was held on March 31, the Saturday before Easter Sunday. There were about 150 runners total for all distances: 30k, 50k and 50 mile. In all, more than 60 volunteers helped put it all together. Volunteers included: HAMs, 4wd drivers, check-in crew, aid station volunteers and sweeps. More than SIXTY. That’s a little more than two runners for each volunteer. I arrived the morning before (Friday, March 30). After setting up camp, I got to work with a Steve and Annie Harvey and a couple other volunteers – sorting, organizing, staging aid station gear. The next day, volunteers arrived as early as 4am for check-in. And then after the runners took off, others began arriving to make it all happen up on the mountain. As usual, I was in awe of all the volunteers. They were heroes of the day, in countless ways!

~ My home ~

~ A Few of the volunteers ~

View from Westridge

I believe it was Monday that I last got out on the trails. Took in 5 miles along Westridge Trail in Aliso/Wood Canyons after work. Turns out that this is a regular after work trail – I came upon dozens of other hikers. It was wonderful.