Later

What do you do when your running is suffering (utterly failing), you doubt that you even want to do it anymore, and you can’t find time to pull your wits together and figure out what to do about it?  Well, um . . . you get out there and run when you can, and figure it out later.  That’s what I say.  Later.

Later.  I like that word.

Let it be said. Let it be done. 

Monday, after making lunches and breakfasts I took off out my front door for a run along the southern beaches.  Word was, waves had been ten to twelve feet the days prior.  Although we live a mere half mile from the sand, I had not ventured down to see the spectacular show.  Monday, the waves were still strong, but evidence of the past day’s destruction was stronger.  What used to be asphalt parking lots were covered with sand and rocks.  The volleyball courts in the sand were washed away.  Cement benches and trash receptacles were strewn about like toys. 

I had to pick up my pace some to get home in time.  In all, I ran 5.12 miles (8.24 km), with a lovely flat 171’ (52.12’) of elevation gain.  After this, I picked up boy number one from school, prepped to teach a PowerPoint class, then picked up boy number two, showered, dressed, ate dinner and drove off to teach my one class for the day. 

I did not get out again until Thursday – and it took several hours after waking at 6AM.  Of course there were lunches to pack, breakfasts to make, boys to drop off at school, not to mention two cups of coffee to down.  But I also needed to do some grocery shopping.  Finally at about 10:30 AM, I hit the trails in Aliso/Wood Canyons for a good-size loop up to Top of The World for a grand view of the Pacific Ocean.  Word was that rain would fall soon, but the skies were blue when I set off.  Fearing rain, not to mention being squeezed for time, I cut Wood Canyon short and ran up Mathis – the very first trail I ever took to the top.  Honestly, I hiked much of Mathis on Thursday, and I was okay with that.  Hell, it’s pretty close to a miracle that I can make it up Mathis without crawling, or stooping beneath the shade of a shrub and sobbing for that matter.  

In all, I put in 9.3 miles (14.97 km) with 1,140’ (347.47 m) of elevation gain. Mere sprinkles of rain fell during it all, but winds were strong.   Back at home, I showered and got ready for an AB86 meeting at the local community college in a record fifteen minutes.  (I didn’t have time to do my hair, but I was clean. I jumped in the truck barefoot, knowing that I had some black pumps in the back seat, and drove my oldest up at the high school for a study session as I headed off to my meeting.  Hardy laugh . . .  when I got a fright after my son peered toward the back seat and said, “Why is there only one shoe on the seat?”  He knew I was rushed and thought that was a funny joke.  Me, not so much so.)

Friday, I spent all day at a seminar, of which I was a break-out group facilitator.  After the break-out session, I presented our discussion in front of the entire seminar crowd.  And when I didn’t think that I would feel nervous at all (because I am so used to speaking in front of groups of adults), I found myself quite nervous.  That wiped me out.  I mean, really!  I am 50 years old, I speak in front of people lot of times!  However, speaking in front of students is a completely different thing than speaking in front of colleagues and superiors in your field.  Whew!  I crashed hard Friday night. 

Finally, this morning (Saturday) I hit the trails again around 11 AM in Las Flores.  I took Tijeras Creek Trail down to Arroyo Trabuco Trail (a semi-usual stomping ground).  With a down pour of rain on Friday, I hoped for full creeks.  But alas, they flowed only slightly fuller than the last time I visited these trails. 

It was a difficult time this morning with dark cloudy skies.  I felt tired and depressed, but I put my head down (I know, bad form) and ran nonetheless.  At one point, I came up on a man carrying a giant cross covered with red and white roses on this lonely trail.  Following closely behind him were at least one-hundred other hikers, many with red and white roses in their hair.  How odd this felt to encounter so many other people on a trail that I rarely see one other soul.   Their presence was so spectacular I wanted to snap a photo, but then re-thought that, since they were on some type of religious journey.  I didn’t want to intrude on that.  They definitely lifted my spirits for part of this run.   I always fin it uplifting to encounter other travelers along a lonely road. 

Chubby me, hitting the trails (and I don’t mean chubby as a derogatory term, but merely a descriptive word because I am a little frustrated about being out-of-shape – but I will overcome!):

I got in 9.72 miles (15.64 km) today along Arroyo Trabuco, with 650’ (198.12 m) of elevation gain.  The week’s not over, and my feet managed twenty-four miles running.  And as usual, I am definitely better for it.  Later I will think about what the hell I am doing and what my plans are.  Until then . . . I will smile.  That’s all I can promise, a smile. 

Big Plans

Got three runs in this week.  Monday, I had big plans.  I always have big plans.  But my big plans got shortened (surprise, surprise!), this time by chores – making breakfast, lunches, grocery shopping, laundry, etc., etc.  While I had hoped for at least fifteen miles, I got in a good 10 miles along Arroyo Trabuco Trail – a nice long, out-and-back.  I was sluggish, and felt very weak during most of it.  And what began with a slight sore throat, ended up with with an even more sore throat, plus a dash of watery eyes, a cough and congestion.  Woe is me.    Still, the scenery was beautiful.  It always is. 

Arroyo Trabuco Trail, out-and-back, 10.01 miles (16.11 km)

My cold worsened over the next few days.  With work, catching pollywogs with my youngest son, and everything else continuing on, I had little rest.  I yearned though to get out there – with so little time on my feet, I am really struggling to keep any fitness at all. 

Friday, I hit the trails in Wood Canyon regardless of the runny nose and sneezing.  I figured I’d run through the canyon and see how I felt.  If I felt crappy, I’d turn around for a 6 mile total out-and-back.  Turns out, I felt pretty good at the end of the canyon.  So, I turned into Aliso Canyon and headed on up Meadows Trail.  Big mistake (well, actually it wasn’t that bad, because I lived and all).  The view of Saddleback Mountains was extraordinary though, so I thought for the moment, that it was all worthwhile.  (Still, I had about 6 miles today in big heat!)

Looking at the Saddleback Mountains from the top of Meadows Trail:

I ran with little enthusiasm toward Alta Laguna Park, which is the entrance back into Aliso/Wilderness.  The heat was relentless, as it seemed to yank the energy right from my body.  At the park, I drenched my face and hair with cool water from the park bathroom’s sink.  Then, with little shade during those last three miles, I needed to stop and stoop down beneath shrubs to cool down.  10.48 miles run (10.94 km), 1,225’ gained. 

Sitting in what little shade I could muster:

Waiting for me outside my truck: 

Saturday, I taught a class that ran from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM.  Home at after 4 PM, I was in no shape for a running.  I went straight to the couch and slept.  Sunday, still a bit under the weather, I slept in.  After two cups of coffee, some breakfast, and cough and cold medicine, I was ready for a small jaunt along the trails.  About 2PM, I headed back out to Aliso/Wood Canyons for an out-and-back into Wood Canyon, up Cholla Trail, and West Ridge to Top of the World.  I felt much better and strong on this run.  Hallelujah!  6.8 miles (10.94 km),  with a 961’ gain.

Running West Ridge on the back portion of this out-and-back:

I ran 27.29 miles (43.92 km) this week, all of those on trails.  I’m glad for that.  And I won’t cry over the fact that I did not realize my plans.  I have another set of big plans for next week. 

Rain Run

I do not run in the rain.  Some time ago, perhaps years, I decided I didn’t like to run in the rain.  And so I don’t.  Some people don’t like to run in the wind, but I do.  Some people don’t run in the heat, but I do.  I will run in many conditions, but given the choice, not the rain. 

My feet hit pavement today after I dropped my son off at his music lesson.  It was 1 PM, and the skies were cloudy.  It rained yesterday, but seeing how we get very little rain, it didn’t even occur to me that it might rain today. 

One mile in, I was running along the beach with my jacket tied around my waist.  A mile later, the jacket was back on as a light drizzle fell from the skies.  The beaches were empty.  The parking lot at Doheny was full though with spectators and vendors out for the Doheny Wood Car show.  (Woodies are historical cars with wood frameworks.)

Rain fell faster as I made my way back through the car show.  By mile four I thought that I was good for another few miles.  I was soaked, but the rain wasn’t falling particularly hard.  At mile five, the rain came down harder, enough to form puddles in the road, and I thought, “That’s enough of that,” and phoned my husband for a ride.  With my jacket zipped up to my chin, I stood beneath a giant Eucalyptus tree and waited for my knight in shining armor to bring me back to our nice warm beach shack up the road. 

Miles logged:  5.05 (8.13 km)

Nothing New

It’s nothing new that I can’t part with my jacket on cool runs, then within a mile I have it tied around my waist for the rest of my run.  I wore my jacket around my waist for 11 of the 12 miles I ran yesterday morning.  I can deal with that.  Oddly, it’s worth the trade – I’d rather not freeze for the mere mile.  Call me an oddball.  It’s also nothing new that I ran this 12.08 mile loop in Aliso/Wood Canyons, my home trails.  But it is fairly new that I ran the loop counter-clockwise.  Usually, I like to get the climbing over quickly, grind it out right away in the beginning. This is the way of the clockwise loop in Aliso/Wood Canyons (from the ranger station).  Instead, I chose the long slow, rolling hills, climb to Top of the World.  The climbing lasts longer, but when I come off the ridge running, counter-clockwise, I am only about two miles from my truck.  There’s something soothing about that. 

It’s also nothing new that I thought about pretty much nothing during those long twelve miles – as in my mind was blank during this run.  And as I ran back in toward my truck I reminded myself that I really need to get back to thinking about whether or not I want to continue all this nonsense.  One of these days when I have a moment . . .

12.08 miles (19.44 km), 1,190’ (363m) elevation gain

Breaking Forty

Well, I did it.  This week I finally broke forty miles.  There was a time when that was common place.  Not anymore.  Imagine, I even contemplated throwing in the towel again – reminding myself that I don’t have to run.   At any time, I can chose to NOT run.  I find it healthy to remember this.  Well, it took me four runs to get in 44.4 miles, and I am glad for it (not to mention a tiny bit optimistic).

Monday (April 13), I drove up the coast through Laguna Beach then up Newport Coast for a run out of Ridge Park.  I took the long way because I didn’t want to pay the $6.50 toll.  I ran 11.78 miles (18.96 km) in total, taking off from Bommer Ridge, then El Moro Ridge where I stopped off at a World War II bunker and headed down B.F.I. (Big Friggin’ Incline).

I couldn’t resist running beneath the highway (Pacific Coast Highway) for a close-up look at the ocean.  After some relaxing time listening to the waves roll in and out, I headed up through the campground to check it out for a possible family outing.  Nice campgrounds, but no campfires allowed.  No campfires!  Can you imagine camping without a fire? 

After the campgrounds, I made the difficult three mile uphill trek back to the car.  So worn out was I that I didn’t care about a stinkin’ $6.50 toll and drove the toll road back home. 

Thursday (April 16), I ran out the front door for a run down at the beach.  I saw a woman pulling her huge luggage on wheels behind her up Pacific Coast Highway.  She asked directions as I passed her on the road and I could tell even behind her dark glasses that she was bawling her eyes out.  I helped pull her luggage back up the highway, and used her phone to call the bank she was trying to locate.  Turns out the bank was much too far for this woman to walk, especially with all her heavy luggage.  I contemplated walking her back to my house so that I could drive her, but I didn’t need to, because while I phone, the bank manager said that he’d drive out to pick her up.  I walked the recently widowed woman up the highway further and waited with her until the bank manager showed.  When he arrived, he appeared like a knight-in-shining-armor – tall, dark and handsome.  (I did get the details on this woman’s situation, as we had a lot of time to talk.  The details are so sad and too complicated to relay here, and though, I feared “handing” her off to a stranger, I got his name and make of car, and felt overall confident that he was safe).  This small adventure derailed my running plans, but I was able to get in 5.30 miles (8.53 km) along the California Coast. 

Friday (April 17), I planned for a long run, setting out in Aliso Canyon around ten AM.  The skies were blue and the tall brown grass sang in the wind. From Wood Canyon, I quickly turned onto Meadows Trail (my old-time favorite) and ran along the overgrown single-track to Mentally Sensitive Trail.  The trek up that steep trail was excruciating.  It took me about twenty minutes longer than usual.  That was a good thing, because before I had a chance to commit to my long loop, I received a text from my husband stating that his car didn’t start.  This meant that I had make a smaller loop, heading back down Meadows for a nice long switchback down into Wood Canyon.  I got 7.69 miles in (12.38 km) and made it to my youngest son’s school just in time for his pick-up. 

Saturday (April 18), I was back at Aliso/Wood Canyons (this time at 12:30 PM)  for a long run up Wood Canyon, Cholla and West Ridge to Top of the World.  That was about 7.25 miles of hot uphill running.  On the ridge I ran through a swarm of bees, which startled me at first.  But then the scene brought back lovely memories of running through swarms of bees on trails in years past.  At The Top of the World, I took in the view and then turned around and headed back the same way for a total of 14.53 miles (23.38 km).  This run kicked my butt.  But when I calculated my week’s totals back at home, I came in a little over 39 miles.  This meant of course, I needed to get out one more day this week. 

Sunday – today! (April 19), I ran straight out the front door at about 3 PM and ran 5.10 miles (8.21 km) along the beach.  It was a tough run, but easy terrain-wise.  I kept up a decent pace, but felt still slightly sluggish. And that was it – my forty miles done – happily struggling along, “embracing the suck,” every last mile of it. 

My Date with Sparta / Spartan Race Give-away

Well, it is official, I have another date with Sparta.  This one I aim to keep.  My date is in September to “run” the Spartan Beast.  Problem is, I am such a chicken – I don’t know how I am going to be able to push myself in training to get there.  It means that I’m going to start doing a hell of a lot more than the measly mountain runs I’ve been doing.  I just have to do it.  Time is ticking away.  In the meanwhile, I plan on maintaining my motivation up by listening to the Spartan Up! Podcast.  I’m hoping that I can learn “tough.”  I soooooo need it. 

http://www.spartanuppodcast.com/

So, maybe you want to join the Spartan team too by finding a race in your area.  Turns out, I have a free race to give away – good for any open heat (non-confirmed start time) in any Spartan Race in the continental US.   This is what I will do with that entry: In two weeks, I will hold a drawing with the names of anyone who replies to this blog post.  If only one person replies – you win.  And Just for trying, I can give you a code that will give 10% off of any race.

As always, though I don’t always write it, thanks for reading.

Freedom

I felt a great sense of freedom after questioning whether or not I should continue with my trail (aka adventure) running.  My Plantar Fasciitis has grown so bad that it is practically crippling when I’m not running.  I have so little time to get out to the trails that I adore, and I have lost much endurance.  After I considering throwing in the towel, I remembered something very important.  Merely contemplating quitting reminded me that I am free.  I run because I choose to run.  And I can choose not to whenever I want.  That single notion helped me a great deal mentally over the past week. 

Last Tuesday (3/31) I had little time, so I ran out the front door for some beach front running.  I got in 5.43 miles.  (8.74 km).  Two days later, I ran practically the same route (with less than 200’ elevation gain) for 5.23 miles (8.42 km) before heading off to work.  It wasn’t fun, and I wasn’t pretty.   But I was very glad afterward for the time on my feet.

Finally, on Good Friday (4/3) I had all the time in the world to get in some long trail miles.  Instead, I chose to hike with Chalynn, a wonderful woman is who a canyon activist and also the race director to one of my favorite races (The Great Silverado Footrace).  Chay lead a group of us (about 8 total) along 7.05 miles (11.35 km), climbing 1,755’ (535 m) to a gigantic cross in Baker Canyon (very near to Silverado Canyon). We met many hikers out there, most stopping at a number of stations along the way to commemorate The Passion Play. 

Following Chay’s Lead:. 

On Saturday, I did some cross training at the gym and then returned home to run a quick 1.16 miles around Doheny State Beach.  My middle son wants to increase his mile pace and asked me to help.  Thing is, he runs quicker than I do, and I struggled to keep up.  I will be good to increase his endurance.  If we are lucky, he will help me speed up as he increases his own speed.

Monday (4/6), I was finally back on the trails.  The weather was warm with a lovely cool ocean breeze.  It was absolutely perfect for the 11.90 mile (19.15 km) run with 1,221’ (372 m) of elevation gain.  Sure, I could barely walk after resting back at home due to foot pain and stiffness.  But during, all was well as I made my way through Aliso and Wood Canyons, and up to the ridge for a glorious view of the Pacific Ocean. 

Not only am I grateful for the peace and beauty this last run provided me, but I am also grateful that it beat the crap out of me so badly.  It was this run that prompted me to take my husband’s advice on a new stretch to alleviate the PF pain.  The new stretch is similar to my old stretch (dropping my heal down off a stair step), but it is more extreme due to the fact that my toes are raised over a rolled up towel.  It has helped immensely with immediate relief.  Time will tell if it will help “cure” the PF.  I am not overly optimistic.  But in the scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter.  What matters most is that I am free.

It is good to realize my freedom.  Freedom alleviates a lot of the stress.

Snakes!

A few of my friends and acquaintances think that I’m crazy to run where snakes, specifically rattlesnakes, cross my path. I have actually seen people on the trail run away screaming, even at the mere mention of a rattler. Being that I got in a two-snake run on Monday, I’d like to clarify some things regarding these snakes that I have grown so accustomed to on the trail. To begin, it appears that I do not fear rattlesnakes.  Truth is, I do not fear a rattler that I can see.  If I’m out there snapping pictures of my slithering friend, everything is a-okay. It is the rattlesnake that I do not see that I fear. If I can see him, I can tell if he’s ready to strike. If I can see him, I can determine his striking distance. I have no qualms about walking around a snake on the trail. If I can see him, I can estimate the length of his body. And since no rattler that I have ever heard of can strike the distance of his body length, I give him that. Say the snake is about three feet long. I can very safely travel around him within six feet. (I should note that my research says that rattlers can only strike up to 2/3rds its body length. So on a good day a three foot rattlesnake can only strike two feet away, and I give him six!). You can see then, there is no need to fear if I’ve got him in sight. 

So when I’m running along, and I am suddenly up on a snake (because I was not paying attention) I waste no time looking for its rattlers or other tell-tale signs (like the shape of his head). I back off immediately. Immediately. I’ve seen how fast a rattler can coil – it takes a split second. And once he’s coiled, he is good to strike. This is my rule: Look for the rattles later – back off now.

It’s those guys I cannot see who are the real problem. This is why I am always on the lookout for rattlers, and why I am so happy when I see one. But even if I can’t see him, I may hear him. Fortunately, rattlesnakes are spooked quite easily, and their warning system is loud.   There is no mistaking a rattlesnake’s rattle. You may have wondered if that sound you heard was from a rattlesnake or a cicada (a grasshopper-like insect out our way). But once you’ve heard a rattlesnake, there’s no mistaking it. It is loud, vigorous and determined. As I’m running along that trail (fa-la-la-la-la-la), and a rattling overtakes the serenity, I run away from the sound. Away. This is my second rule: Do not try to determine where the rattlesnake is – put distance between you and that sound. Then you can go about tossing pebbles if you want to know where he’s at.

Basically, I’m on the lookout, and I give the snake its space. Simple as that. Enough of my snake rules (for now). Let me show you the lovelies that I ran up in Wood Canyon on Monday. The first one was a friendly guy, good for a close up:

The second guy was not so good for a close up:

Happy spring!

Miles run: 10