Big Baz Winter Trail Series / 18k

I arrived to Blue Jay Campground, bundled up, an hour before today’s Big Baz’s WTS race.  After picking up my bib, I chatted briefly with a some runners I know, others that I don’t know.  Then I stood in the outhouse line.  Noticing one of the doors slightly ajar, I opened it to witness a woman stand up from the pot and lurch forward toward the door.  Apologizing profusely, I decided to go for a walk to warm these old bones and find an outhouse far, far away.

The wind blew strong.  I noticed almost all the runners arriving were bundled up or dressed in cold weather running attire.  Finally I found my nice and secluded outhouse about a half mile away.  It was clean, lonely.  Without being too personal, I just have to relay what happened.  It wasn’t another female runner who pulled the door wide open.  No, he was a big, burley, lumberjack type who flung my outhouse door open.  LOL.  I knew not to stand up like that runner had when I did the same thing to her.  She provided a full frontal shot by doing so.  Instead, I let out a little scream, then looking down noticed that I was fully covered by my coat.  He slammed the door and I laughed out loud, exclaiming, “I thought I had locked it."

Those were my exciting pre-race events this morning.  Oh one more thing.  One runner proposed to his girlfriend in front of the pre-race crowd.  That was cute.

Eager to Start 

Sheila & her husband Marcus

Me & Sheila

Girl accepts ring after proposal as Baz stands off to side

I got rid of the warm clothes before the race started.  I knew only a matter of minutes would pass before I wished that I left them behind.  I certainly didn’t want to deal with tugging off the shirt during the race.  My plan was to really race.  I mean – run as fast as I could, only hiking in the extreme cases, and hiking FAST.

Turns out, that’s just what I did.  Wait.  The first thing I did, or didn’t do, was start the garmin.  I believe we were about a half mile in, maybe less when I finally started it.  Heck with that, I felt strong.  I jumped over gulleys and up onto boulders.  I eyed the ground suspiciously for anything that would send my flying.  I flew down the descents, but I never fell. 

For miles, I tried to catch a woman ahead of me.  She ran in sweats and long sleeves.  “She’s got to burning up,” I thought.  I gained on her some.  I don’t know if she knew that I had targeted her.  She wasn’t looking over her shoulder.  But then suddenly, she wiped out.  She didn’t just fall, she FELL, landing sprawled out on her back.  I screamed (for the second time today).  “Oh my gosh.  Are you all right???”  I ran up and hovering over her asked if she was alright, did she need help up?

“Not right now,” she said.  She wanted to sit there and recover.  She was kind of half sitting in the gulley, her eyes clear, but dazed.  I knew the feeling.  Oh, how I knew the feeling.   And I knew the annoyed look she gave me too. 

“Do you want me to leave?” I asked. 

“Yes,” she responded, waving me on.

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes, I just need to sit here.”

And so I took off, feeling a bit badly.  When my friend came up behind me some time later, I asked if that lady had gotten up.  I was relieved to find out that she had.  And I continued my strong run up and down hills.  And those steep inclines that I decided that I would make better time hiking, I hiked faster than I can ever remember hiking.  I kept those arms pumping, trying to catch the next lady up a ways.  Approaching her inch by inch, probably twenty feet separated us when she put her hands on her hips.  That’s when I knew my time had come to pass (ask me later about hands on hips, it’s against my rules : ) 

I really can’t remember running a stronger trail race than today.  It was a beautiful day in the forest.  And I have to say, that speed training and those timed loops have done some good.

Before I knew it, I was running pavement.  I was actually shocked that the race was almost over.  Fun, fun day.

After stretching, I hung out for a bit of the post race show (Big Baz’s raffle).  On my way out to the car, I was happy to see the woman who fell, running up the road toward the finish line.  She thanked me for stopping.  And I was oh so happy she said that. 

Runners stand around after race 

Elevation Profile (a bit short, because I forgot to turn it on at the start), plus don’t forget to scroll down for the movie.

Oh, What Fun!

Blast From The Past

I feel kind of free since my big race of the year is done in January.  Now, it's like I can do whatever I want.  I'm trying out Big Baz's Winter Trail Series now.  The next one is this weekend.  I altered my workout schedule a bit, so as to rest before the race.  And instead of Monday being my regular "rest" day, Friday is “rest” day this week.  Monday became gym day (elliptical and strength training).  Then I ran early in the week, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Today, Thursday, I had the joy of swimming.  After some strength training at the gym I swam 2200 yards (2011.68 m or 1.25 miles).   I feel great.  My skin is tight, my eyes a little droopy.  I really like my swim days.  Don't do them often enough.

Motivated by Johann's “Throwback Thursday,” here's a picture way back when I used to swim more.  High School Swim Team picture from my sophomore yearbook.  Can you figure out which one is me?  Looks like a motley crew if you ask me.

Timed Loop (beat by ONE minute)

The time had come to get out to Aliso / Wood Canyons for my 9.5 mile timed loop.  It’s my “regular” timed loop (regular, as in this is my 4th time), down Wood Canyon, up Meadows Trail (yikes!), across Top of the World to West Ridge, down Cholla Trail and up through Canyon Vistas Park to my car. 

My first timed loop, (early December) I ran it in 2:24.  The next timed loop brought big improvements with 2:12.  After that, I ran it in 2:13.   And then today finally, I beat my time with 2:11. 

With about 1,400 feet elevation gain, I figure the only way I can make this loop in two hours is to make it to the top of Meadows Trail (Top of the World) in one hour.  I thought I had a chance today.  But with so many of the shrubbery washed away, I wasn’t quite sure where I was in the ascent and ended up topping off Meadows in 1:07 (which isn’t too bad).  That wiped me out so much, that  I lost time later, reaching Cholla trail (my last descent) in 121 minutes – one minute later than last week.  But I made up that minute, plus another crossing the imaginary finish line, my clothing and skin crusted in salt.

I was happy that I came in one minute better than my best.  I would have liked more.  I told my husband, it was kind of like losing 1 pound.  You don’t really know if it’s just water weight.  He responded, “It’s better than gaining one pound.” 

That is true . . . that is true.  If I can beat my time by 1 minute every week.  I’ll have that 2 hour goal in 11 weeks.  I can deal with that.  (Now if I could just drop 1 pound also a week for those 11 weeks) 

Top of Meadows Trail (Top of the World) overlooking Laguna Beach and the Pacific Ocean

Elevation Profile

She’s a Two-Timer

That’s right.  I am!  Even though I broke up with the pavement some time ago.  I have been seen running around around with pavement a few times since.  One of them today.  But I have an excuse.  I had little time to run, and with the way my schedule’s working this week, I needed to run today.   To tell you the truth.  I was looking forward to meeting with my old friend pavement.  It’s kind of nice to run straight out the front door.

Firstly, I had to find some road shoes.  The first pair I pulled from the beneath the bed, though the same brand, were both for the left foot (apropos, I thought).  Searching more, I found a right and left shoe (of the same brand again underneath the head of my bed.  (I’d say it’s time to go through the shoes again )

Though I ran pavement today, I took to the inclines, which meant some fast long declines as well.  And I saw some new things, it’s been so long since I’ve run the streets of my seaside town.

I ran over a new walkway above The Strands (a local beach) with these fish mosaics (dozens of them).

And I found new beach access down to The Strands (this once secluded beach now has three delightful access points, all beautifully landscaped.  But what goes down, must come up – I know the saying goes the other way, but with running, I’m always thinking as I run down, yikes, I gotta run back up!)

A View of the The Strands

After running up another set of stairs, I thought I’d investigate the road further, see if I found something else new.  And like a dog, I sniffed out a trail.  Well, kinda a trail.  Yes, it was a trail, more of the headlands trail system that the city has put in.  Notice the fence below that lines the entire trail system to keep runners and hikers in check.  The sight is way to gorgeous to complain.  I just think a more rustic looking fence might have fit better.

This trail meanders around the headlands overlooking the Pacific and comes out at a brand new building, some sort of headlands information building, where I promptly tripped on the pavement where it met the dirt.  I tripped hard too.  I thought surely I was going down.  My body was practically parallel with the earth.

No Worries.  I was able to add one fall to my fall count today nonetheless (LOL).  I came out overlooking the harbor and ran a path and bridge that travels along the cliff.  And while running UPSTAIRS.  Yup.  Upstairs.  I fell.  It was a soft fall.  No harm.  That’s ten to date though (3 for pavement, 7 for trails?).

I’m sure to visit pavement again.  Can you believe how lucky I am?  When probably a third of the country is covered in snow, I stand above in shorts (sweating) overlooking blues skies and the great Pacific.

Miles logged this morning: 6.53 + this afternoon, 1 mile with my son = 7.53

Dana Point Marina below

I Did Not Want To Run

I went to bed early (9PM).  Sleep would not visit.  I know that I saw 10:30 when my youngest yelled from his room, asking for a hug.  He’s only little once, so I walked down the hall, climbed up on his bunk and hugged.  Back in bed, sleep stayed at bay.  I imagined running (LOL) hoping to drift off.

I set my alarm for an early run, but when it rang out at 5 AM, I just could not wake.  The alarm off, I quickly fell back asleep.  I did not want to run.  I did not want to run.  I.  Did.  Not.  Want.  To.  Run.

I finally woke at 7:30.  I sat on the couch, draggy, depressed.  If you haven’t noticed, I did not want to go.  But I knew that I HAD to.  Why?  Because if I didn’t run, I would beat myself up all day and if I did run, I would be oh, so happy afterwards that I did.

My middle boy was awake, watching, Dragon Ball (not Dragon Ball Z, two different shows – I’m liking Dragon Ball better).  I made him breakfast, got ready.  Dragon Ball wasn’t good enough to keep me -- I DRAGGED myself out the door.  I dragged myself out the door for the sake of how I’d feel later.

9:00 AM I finally began my run with the anticipation that it would get better.  I wasn’t in pain.  I was just tired and unmotivated.  The skies were gray.  The air was cool and at times the wind blew pretty good.  It seemed like it blew mostly in my face.  Rain even visited me for a short stint (around mile 8 for about 2 minutes).

Mountain bikers covered Aliso / Woods, all trails, especially Meadows, which some of them flew down.  I didn’t see any bikers riding the uphill.  Hikers were out in droves too.  Groups hiked the high route (West Ridge) and others took the low route (Wood Canyon).  I saw 2 different Boy Scout troops.  I don’t believe I’ve ever seen the park so crowded.  Probably, Aliso / Wood Canyons got lots of press during the December rains.  Or perhaps, I’ve never run that late there on a Sunday.

The Face of an Unhappy Runner who Dragged herself out there for some Trail Running this Sunday Morning.

Aliso Creek Trail, running up Aliso Creek Canyon about 1/2 mile from Wood Canyon turn off.  Haven’t run Aliso Creek in ages.  Today I did, because I was too lazy to drive to Canyon Vistas Park (a good 10/15 minutes longer drive – woe is me, I could hardly even handle driving this morning)

Onto to Meadows Trail (so deceiving, but it gets ya later, big time : )

Almost to the top of Meadows Trail (I came from the lowest parts in the distance – if you click on picture, you can probably see the trail way far away – about mid photo).

Feeling a Little Better (Relieved to be up Meadows standing at Top of the World)

Happier (nearing the half way point, on my way to West Ridge)

Happiest (All done )

Miles logged:  11.94

Elevation Profile:  +1609 / -1590

My Loop

Where I Love to Run (A Pictorial–Mainly)

Today, “The Planner”, that’s me, had planned speed training.  The idea of speed training stressed me out so much that I said forget that.  Just run.  And that is what I did.  I went exploring.  Exploring with no time requirements, no route really planned, just a plan to run.  I wanted to check out some of my trails that I haven’t been to since Aliso Wood Canyons reopened.  A ranger told me that the trails had changed.  I wanted to see.

(My route:  I ran through Canyon Vistas park then took Wood Canyon Trail down and then ran every detour off of Wood Canyon:  Wood Cyn to Wood Creek to Wood Cyn to Coyote Run to Mathis Trail to Dripping Cave to Wood Cyn to Cave Rock Trail, ending with Wood Canyon.  Then I ran Wood Canyon Trail all the way back.)

Wood Creek Trail

Wood Creek has plenty of ups and downs, including two staircases.  I ran through several spider webs, and I didn’t care.  I used to let out a little scream when I ran through webs.  Oddly, I didn’t today.

Going up . . .

Going down – look closely and you can see a flight of stairs (railroad ties, I think)

Going back up on Wood Creek to the shadiest, thickest part.

California Wood Fern

California Maiden’s Hair Fern

Coyote Run Trail

With the bridge wiped out from the rains, I can get close and personal with the creek as I cross over to Coyote Run Trail

Self portrait on Coyote Run.  This part used to be dark and shady – still is somewhat, but a massive chunk of trees are gone in the background (left).

If you are familiar with Coyote Run Trail, you’ll notice something terribly different below.  I have a complete view of Wood Canyon Trail (across the creek and field).  Never before did I have such a view, because a wall of trees on both sides of the creek blocked it.

Mathis Trail

Trail washed out, as this once dry creek, flowed abundantly during the December rains.

Dripping Cave Trail

Crossing over from Mathis to Dripping Cave Trail, the bridge gone and trail washed out by another previously (& again now) dry creek.

My favorite part of Dripping Cave Trail – going up, but oh beautiful!

Dripping Cave (A.K.A. Robbers Cave).  I had planned to dangle my legs off the edge during this photo.  But as soon as I sat, the edge started falling away.

Bye-bye Dripping Cave.

Cave Rock Trail

Running up to “The” Rock – a magical trail with rocks looking like they were laid out especially for the runner.

Attempting to pose on Cave rock, but it’s too steep and I’m slipping down during photo.

Leaving Cave Rock, headed back onto Wood Canyon Trail.

Wood Canyon Trail

Running Wood Canyon Trail, close to noon, with the sun beating down.  Most of this trail is exposed.

Finally!  Glorious shade on Wood Canyon Trail.

The last of shade on Wood Canyon Trail, approaching Canyon Vistas Park for one last incline to the car.

Elevation Profile:

Miles logged:  7.91

Meadows always kills me

I’m getting freaked-out reactions when I relay my fall from last Saturday’s race.  In reality, my fall is more bragging material than anything else (a fall with minor injuries is a fun story to tell).  As one blogger commented, “everyone loves a dirty girl.” : )

Before I write about today’s run, I’m here to show you that even a hit to the face can turn out okay.  My eye is hardly bloodshot now, nothing worth a photo.  But I still have a pretty nice bruise from the chin impact.  Face-to-face you can hardly notice the bruise.  I mainly notice the injury, because for the first time, I’ve noticed that when I’m reading or grading papers, I rest my chin on my fist – exactly the spot of impact.

Ready for today’s run, Canyon Vistas Park in background, bruise on chin from last Saturday’s trail race.

A closer, more personal look (gross) it’s kinda yellowish now (doesn’t show so much in picture.)

After taking these pictures, I set off on my timed 9 1/2 mile loop at Aliso/Wood Canyons park.  I hoped to beat 2:12, after two timed runs, my best time.  On the road or a flat trail I can make that time.  (My best half marathon about 2 years ago was 2:15 – that was route 66 in Barstow, and I’m pretty positive I could beat that time if I were to run that same race today).  But on a run that includes Meadows Trail . . . well, that’s a different story.  Meadows always kills me.  And I’m not sure how to handle that.

I took off at a good pace, not “hauling butt” though, down into the park.  I ran Wood Canyon Trail for the first time since the park has re-opened.  I barely recognized it at some parts.  Huge trees were down, laying in the creek.  The bridges going over the creek to Coyote Run and Wood Creek Trails were washed out.  I was curious what that meant for my run later on, because there’s a bridge that I had to cross on Wood Canyon Trail.  If it wasn’t there, I was going to have to get my feet wet.

A new creek crossing on Wood Canyon Trail confused me for a second.  I grew disoriented not realizing at first where I was on a trail that I have run again and again.  So many trees were down that I could see across the creek and most of Coyote Run Trail, which used to be completely hidden from that trail.  But the bridge I needed to cross Wood Creek still stood.  My feet dry, I powered onward. 

A new creek crossing on Wood Canyon Trail

Trees down in Wood Creek (Coyote Run Trail visible on the other side)

I ran all of Wood Canyon Trail feeling good and at a good pace (for me).  The garmin never once told me to speed up : ).  At the end of Wood Canyon, I back-tracked and made my way onto Meadows Trail.  The meadow was green and I bet during the rains it was a swamp.  At the base of the climb, two mountain bikers took off ahead of me, and I thought “Good, I won’t have to worry about them breathing down my back.”

As the climb increased, I came upon four ladies and a teacup pup picnicking in the grass – a lovely picture.  But the girly-girl emerged within and I thought to myself, “Yuk – tics.”  I hate tics.  I think I’ve mentioned before, I’d rather come across a rattler than a tic.  I am serious.  When I see green grass in the wild, I think tics.  Sneaky tics.  They make no warning noises.  They just sneak onto you, latch on and suck blood.  

Sorry, I got off track.  I didn’t get off track on Meadows though.  I stayed on that terribly difficult switchback.  About a quarter of the way up I passed those bikers who were off to the side resting.  They looked at me like I was nuts.  Yes, I am nuts.  But Meadows still kills me.  I’m not sure it ever gets easier.  I told the bikers “The trick is to not look at the top!”  They laughed.  And that strategy worked for a while with me.  But then, especially when I realized there wasn’t a chance I was going to make the top within an hour, I really began to tire.  (I figured if I am going to make this loop in 2 hours, I have to make it to Top of the World within 1 hour.)

Well, that didn’t happen.  But I kept on running.  The sun shined down strong and the wind blew hard as I still had hope of beating 2:12.  I came upon West Ridge Trail with 30 minutes to spare.  I ran West Ridge like the devil, so much so, that by the time I reached the bottom of Cholla Trail I was dead-dog-tired. 

I could have beat 2:12.  That is if I hadn’t hiked that last incline through Canyon Vistas Park.  I reached Canyon Vistas Park in two hours ten minutes with a hill that would probably take me thirty seconds to run if I hadn’t already beat myself into the ground.  Ends up I made it in 2:13.  And I was glad.

Elevation Profile