Running when I'm not running

Did a little time at the Disney Resort with my family today.  "Doin' Time" is a good way to put it, because after a few hours, I'm ready to cop a plea -- "Yes!  I did it!  Just lock me away. "

Kiddin'. (Well . . . )

Actually, there are times when the boys are probably thinking, "Uhhh, Mom, you can go sit down now . . ."

I'm talking about the Brother Bear playground in California Adventure, where there's a multitude of bridges, and ramps and slides.  There's like a maze of rope bridges crossing here and there with plenty of kids and moms and dads huffing and puffing their way through them.

Here's where being a runner (not even a very good runner) has its advantages:  You can pretty much scale these rope bridges in a leaping bound, blowing away everyone (unless of course you come across another runner).  That's a lifter, because in my running world, I don't blow away anyone.

My eight-year-old and five-year-old were having a tough time going up and down those rope bridges.  It really is hard to traverse them slowly as they swing back and forth.  I knew that -- it's just like some trails, better to haul a** down them, then take them too slowly. 

"Help Mommy," my five-year-old sang out as he clinged to the siding of the rope maze.  I took him by the hand and ran him all the way up, swinging wildly in the wind as he screamed in delight.  I did the same for my eight-year-old, mainly on the down hill, until neither of them wanted to take my hand anymore (my ten-year-old didn't even think of taking my hand).  The two youngest, after going on a wild ride with me, decided they'd rather cling to the edges and gingerly make their way up and down the bridge mazes.  I'm not about that -- I'm about "do it, get it done."  It's my strong point.  And it's my downfall.  Anyway . . .

No way to count the miles logged today, though I did run plenty.  More importantly, it was a fun day.  And before it all began, as the rest of the clan slept, I got in four sets of planks.  I'm getting better.  I did them all without hollering outloud (it helps to do planks at 6:00 in the morning, because I'm less apt to yell out in agony.  Instead I suffer silently). 

Happy weekend everyone!!  Hope you get in some good runs.  And if you can't run because of injury or some other reason, may you still find some peace.  : ))

My Short Run

I planned all along to run 4 miles this morning.  And even with all that planning, I worked and worked on convincing myself to put in more miles as I drove to the marina.  Let's face it.  I'm a glutton -- no easy way to get around it.  But today, the reasonable me won out.  And I really did just run four miles this morning.  I ran over the bridge to the harbor island, then back over for some more in and about the wharf.  Since I was only running four miles, I decided to play with it some.  Every now and then (about ten times total) I ran an all-out pace.  Well, not exactly an All-Out, not like a tiger was chasing me or anything like that.  Faster though than my 5k race pace, more like an 85% all-out.  Hopefully, this will increase my speed a tad.

Miles logged this morning:  FOUR : )

Sportin' a New Do' on a Loop to the Top

The one reason that has kept me from cutting my hair is running.  I thought that I NEEDED to pull my hair back into a ponytail to run.  Well, I ran a loop to the Top of the World this morning with a new do' and found out it ain't so.  I can run without a ponytail.  I can!

Running up Cholla Trail trying to catch cyclist (never did)

Overlooking the Pacific At Top of the World after cool, but sweaty, yet joyous run up Westridge Trail

After feeling so weak again with this weight training, I felt strong this morning upon reaching the top.  Prior to today's run, I actually felt like my hips were getting weaker!  Of course, that's a big worry with me.  Weak hips means I'm going down for the count one of these days SOON.  Today tells me that I've got to keep up the strength training, despite the fact that I have not learned to love it (I suspect one of these days I will).

Just when I entered the park again on Meadows end, a hawk swooped down into the grass.  And then like a thief, it snagged a snake and took off for flight.  Then like nothing the bird seemed to lazily meander in flight making his way closer to Meadows trail.  There he swooped back down into the brush to, I suppose, gobble up the snake.

These are the sort of things I get to see on the trail.

Making my way back into the park, via trail behind Top of the World homes

Running down Meadows (Eyes alert for snakes)

Bottom of Meadows Trail, about 4 miles left to run

Deer on Wood Canyon Trail

Miles logged this morning:  10.2

Group Run In Aliso/Wood Canyons

I have been dead-dog tired all week, which I partially contribute to weight training.  I haven’t run since Tuesday, or so (can’t quite recall without looking it up).  Anyway, I dreamed, it seemed all night long, that I was preparing for a run.  The night grew later and later.  Rushing about, I finally sat down to tie my laces and panicked at reading the clock.  It read 9:45 (PM!) and I thought to myself (in my dream) that there’s no way I can run at 10 o’ clock!!! I was bummed.  And then at that instant, my cell phone alarm went off.  And I was really bummed.  It was 5:30 AM.  I had rsvp’d for a group run, and though I was still dead-dog tired, I knew that I HAD to drag myself out of bed and get out there. 

Why?  1) Because I NEED to run, whether I feel like it or not.  2) I would eventually get into it once I got myself out the door and 3) this morning’s group run was at Aliso/Wood Canyons Park –- my home-sweet-home trails.  

   
The Gang this morning running Aliso/Wood Canyon Trails
(Dylan, Phil, Tom, Sheila, Kelly, Marcus, Me, Cathy & Vincent at the Aliso Creek  / Wood Canyon Trail intersection)

I arrived to the park at 7:00 AM precisely (as is my custom – to arrive right on the dot, that is).  A police car drove up and down the street as a border control car screeched into the parking lot.  While meeting up with the group, I noticed a border agent jump out of his car, run across the park lot and run into the brush. (I learned later that several more police cars arrived as well as a helicopter).

There were 11 of us running this morning (though only 10 are pictured above).  I felt pretty good, keeping up the rear as is also my custom.  The posted run was for a 9 mile out-and-back up to the end of the ever lovely Wood Canyon Trail.  The skies were gray, the air cool – perfect running weather.  We saw deer along the way, stopped for a few quick photo ops. 

Kelly, Me, Phil, & two deer in the stars (Tom’s Photo)

I shall not go on and on, especially since these are the trails that I run regularly.  What a treat to run with friends that I’ve run with before (Tom, Sheila, Kelly and Dylan – Dylan by the way ran his first 50k recently – congrats on finishing and with such a great time!).  And what a treat running with newer members (not necessarily newer runners): Cathy and her husband, Vincent, Phil and Sheila’s husband Marcus – Like I always say, and I really do (used to sing it in Girl Scouts) “Make new friends and keep the old.  One is Silver and the other Gold.”

ANYWAY, upon reaching the end of Wood Canyon Trail, Sheila, Marcus, Kelly, Dylan, Phil and myself continued on up Cholla, onward and upward to Top of the World.  The others turned around for a 9 mile out-and-back – a pleasant run that I’ve had the pleasure of running once or twice : )

End of Wood Canyon Trail, base of Cholla Trail

I NEEDED to run to Top of the World, I needed the agony of hills.  Agony in the end equals ecstasy (it’s not the “agony and ecstasy of defeat” however, it’s the “agony and ecstasy of” triumph.)  Though it’s never easy, the company and conversation made it seem quicker.  From Top of the World, we ran across the asphalt through the neighborhoods to enter the park again and run down that gorgeous switch-back called Meadows Trail.  What a thrill!

Top of the World (Kelly, Sheila, Marcus, Phil, Dylan, Me)
 
Miles logged:  11.64

In Search of Falls

I read on the internet that there is another waterfall in Trabuco Canyon besides the Holy Jim Falls.  Since I didn't have much that I HAD to do this morning (there's always plenty to do), I dragged invited my husband along for a hike in search of these falls. 

We found it!  We missed it the first time driving up Trabuco Creek Road.  After turning around at the Holy Jim parking lot, we drove that bumpy road back about a mile, looking closely through the forest of trees for a canyon where another stream dumps into Trabuco.  And there it was!  Well within the area where an Adventure Pass is required, there's a thin canyon north of the road.

The hike is relatively easy -- no major boulder hopping, no super steep inclines.  There's a thin trail that runs back and forth from one side to the other of the stream, with plenty of rocks and logs to balance your way across.   The stream flows pretty good and there's lots of poisin oak to watch out for.  It's shady and cool and in the end a waterfall with about a forty foot drop greets you.  Lovely.  Simply lovely.

The hike to this waterfall is relatively short. From the road it took us only seventeen minutes to get there, and about the same on the return trip. But that's taking it pretty quickly -- I worked up a good sweat.

Coming off the road, making way to Trabuco Creek

Hiking along Trabuco Creek, headed toward that canyon we missed on the way in

Hiking up the canyon in search of waterfall

Look Closely between "V" in trees for the waterfall

It really is a waterfall!



Heading Back

I'm So Tired

I had planned for about 12 miles of hills this morning.   But I was so dang tired I could not imagine dragging my body up and down those hills.  For the first time in a long time concerning runs, my body said, "No, no, no, no, no!!!"

I felt that if I ran, I was going to somehow be sorry.  I wasn't just tired, tired.  I was utterly fatigued.  To save myself from perhaps injury, I listened to my body and cancelled today's solo run.

A couple hours later, I meekly grumbled, "How about the gym?"  To this question, my body responded, or rather did not respond, so I spent two hours at the gym.  Not to worry, I eased up and split the time between the elliptical and strength training.

Now as I get boys through their homework, make sure baths are taken, I am oh so tired still.  But not the same kind of utterly fatigued kind of tired that said "I'll curse you if you run," this morning.  I can just use a good sleep.  (And thank goodness I don't have to work tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, or the next : )

Scheduling the Short run

I would much rather run than build strength.  Turns out though, if I want to run, I need to build strength.  But it's HARD to build strength.  It's easy to run.  (Well, not exactly EASY, but enjoyable, quite enjoyable.)

I figure part of my problem with strength training, is that I run myself ragged.  In other words, I'm too tired to strength train.  On my off days, I'm on the elliptical or in the pool.  Rarely am I working on strength.  Recently I added planks to my routine.  I've improved.  But I dread them.  Just as I dread ab work, push ups, or that giant exercise ball that sits in the corner of my livingroom between the baby grand and magazine rack.  It's no wonder that my core is weak, though not as weak as it has been since I've been working on it (post hip injury).  It's weak, because I simply don't work it enough! 

So, I'm switching things up just a bit with my running.  I'm forcing a short run once a week.  That's not an extra run, but an existing run each week will be less than five miles.  Sure, I get short runs in occassionally.  Not because I want too, usually because I have too -- recovery, time constraints or injury issues.  This way, I figure, I'll give my body a break and a little more time to work on the core.  Not an earthshaking routine change.  But let's see if lightening up some will help me get to that core work more vigorously.

Miles logged this morning (nice, flat, cool miles down at Doheny Beach and the wharf): 4.60