Nature Loop Trail

I went for another evening run today.  I find it very difficult, strenuous to run in the afternoon or evening.  And this evening it was hot.  I wore minimalist shoes which are still so extremely comfortable.  It’s not actually like I’m running barefoot.  But it’s like I’m not wearing shoes (and my neuroma knows it too!  I came in from today’s run limping.) 

As I ran Coyote Run Trail, I saw something dark to my side run and leap through the brush.  I thought “Oh crap,” because I feared I was running alongside an extra active bobcat.  I’m not usually fearful of bobcats.  But I usually see them in the morning when they are a bit lackadaisical.  So, I abruptly stopped in the single-track trail.  Not ten feet away stood a wide-eyed deer chewing on a wad of grass.  A few feet from her another deer bent down to chomp the vegetation.  My presence didn’t phase these beauties a bit.  As I ran onward, I saw the third deer, the smallest one, the one that had been leaping through the grass when it spooked me. 

Off Coyote Run Trail I ran the last remaining trail at Aliso/Wood Canyons Park that I had not yet run.  I put off Nature Loop Trail because it seemed that every time I ran past it, time was fleeting.  I finally took that right turn and climbed up to the ridgeline trail, and as of this evening, I have conquered every single marked trail in these canyons. 

Who would have thought?  And I had lots and lots of fun doing it (not to mention some disappointments, some falls and injuries), but mostly an awesome time.

View from Nature Loop Trail

A pause before coming off Nature Loop Trail

The Trail

Miles run today:  5.13 (The loop:  Canyon Vistas Park, Wood Canyon to Wood Creek Trail, back to Wood Canyon Trail, Coyote Run Trail, Nature Loop Trail, Mathis Trail, Wood Canyon Trail back to Canyon Vistas Park)

Tagged!

Giraffy of 365 Days of Awesome tagged me with:

She’s so nice.  This means though that I must give you random facts about me.  LOL. 

Since I didn’t run today, I AM READY.  Random facts about this trail running blogger (that is me) are:

1)  I love shoes – all kinds of shoes:  running shoes, boots, sandals, heels, you name it.  I haven’t been buying shoes since I’m poor now, but I still have plenty to keep me content (I had to clean out my closet anyway). 

2)  I have a library (now my husband’s office) that holds hundreds upon hundreds of books:  These are some of my most favorite books in the whole wide world (and also part of my library that has over-flowed into my bedroom):

3)  I am the oldest of 5 children (& I am 21 years older than the youngest – we all have the same parents).

This is from a long, long time ago!

4)  I am an unpublished novelist.  I write mainly historical fiction (and short stories for the fun of it.) 

5)  I have published short (very short) articles on the internet re: misc. things like software programs, Health Savings Accounts and weight training.

6)  The following instruments are in my home:  accordion, mandolin, violin, guitars (3), an electric piano, a baby grand piano that takes up a good portion of our living room,  a recorder and at least 3 harmonicas.

7)  My other passions are WWII history and Russian history.  I don’t care much about pre-historic history.

8)  If I were to live my life again and could do anything I wanted, I would be a dancer.

9)  I have voted in every election since I was able to vote, and lastly,

10) I DO NOT watch the news.

I hope that you found these random facts semi-interesting.  Now, it’s my turn to tag.  I know this lady is super busy, and she might not see this tag, but if she does, I tag you Running Green Girl with the Amazing blogger Award (don’t forget the random facts) because you are are so optimistic and supportive to so many athletes. 

Time Well Spent

I woke at 4:30 AM today in order to hit the dirt at 6:00 AM for a 19 mile run. Only a few minutes late to the trails at Aliso/Wood Canyons, the sun already shined down brightly.  I didn’t think about the entire run in order to avoid the anxiety that brings.  Instead, I just enjoyed where I was – the present.  The weather grew warmer and warmer as I ran, with some cool breezes until it ended up darn right HOT.  It was extremely difficult to finish up this run.  But that’s what enjoy about it (in the END).  I also enjoyed the solitude and the absolute beauty.     

I dreamt of one thing running in on the second 9.5 mile lap – getting home, filling the bath with cold water and then dumping the entire box of ice from the freezer into the water before getting in.  Instead, I returned home and  I was freezing (not literally of course).  After emptying my shoes of their dirt, I cuddled on the couch beneath two flannel blankets and drifted off to sleep.  And I didn’t dream of anything.   I was in a post-run peaceful state. 

Branches covered with light-green lichen on Wood Canyon Trail.

THE rock on Cave Rock Trail.

I love this rock!

Running down Cave Rock Trail to exit back onto Wood Canyon Trail.

Climbing Meadows with a view of Saddleback Mountains.

Reaching the top of Meadows the first time.

Running Top of the World.

Running Top of the World neighborhoods to pick up the park again, I pass this little fella.

An empty Top of the World.

Reaching top of Meadows Trail for a second time – had a tough, TOUGH time of it, (scarf is still kind of wet from creek water, and I’m gulping my prize for reaching the top – coconut water).

Elevation Profile:

So There!

This evening I ran 3 miles.  THREE miles.

Normal People

When I arrived home from this morning’s run my husband said, shaking his head jokingly, “When I saw your new [minimalist] shoes here, I knew you weren’t going for a short run.” 

“I only ran twelve miles.” 

He laughed.  So did my oldest son.  “Why can’t you be like a normal person and run a three mile short run?” 

“Ya!”  piped in sonny boy.  “Mom’s short run is ten to twenty miles!!”

Now, that’s NOT true.  Twenty miles is a long run.  And I CAN run three miles, but I’m not sure that makes me “normal.”  Just most of the time, I don’t want to run three miles.  If I’m going to get into the truck and drive twenty minutes to the closest trails, I’m not going to run three miles.  Sure, if I wanted to run out my door, which I do occasionally, I’d run three miles.  That would be just fine with me (assuming I already got in 25+ miles for the week). 

Maybe I’m not “normal.”

Does anyone recall that song with the line “If loving you is wrong, I don’t wanna be right . . .?”  I don’t remember who originally sang it, but in Junior High I bought Rod Stewart’s album, Footloose and Fancy Free, and I played that song again and again.   

Funny, those words are kind of how I feel about trails.

This morning, I ran the big loop at Aliso/Wood Canyons, but ran it counter-clockwise.  I rarely do that.  Usually I run up Meadows Trail in a clockwise loop,  which is much steeper climbing, but the major climbing is pretty much over after Meadows.  Counter-clockwise, I run a continuous gradual climb for quite some time (see elevation profile below) and then I get to fly (I mean run) down Meadows. 

The park was crowded with a multitude of people this cool August morning.  I was “Miss Chatty Cathy” chatting with anyone who would talk to me.  Talking with the ranger first, I learned that what I thought was a ferret a few weeks ago was actually a long-tailed weasel (which is related to the ferret).  I also talked to several hikers from a local hiking club making their way through Wood Creek Trail.  I said a few words to some of the Mater Dei High School cross country team as every single one of them ran past me.  And I even stopped on West Ridge for a bit to chat with an adult student that took, I believe two of the Photoshop classes that I teach. 

Normal people?  These teen cross country runners did at least a 9 mile out-and-back.

Wood Creek Trail entrance

A view on Wood Creek Trail that I seldom see since I almost always run it in the opposite direction.

Dainty flowers along West Ridge Trail

Looks like a party at Top of the World

Running Top of the World toward Meadows Trail (Looking down on Laguna Beach city and Pacific Ocean)

Ready to descend on Meadows Trail 

12.05 miles (19.39 km) run this morning

Elevation Profile: +1,702’/-1723’

Spider Web Patrol

I woke at 5:00 so that I could hit the dirt at 6:00 AM.  Today was double-loop day at Aliso/Wood Canyons Park – my second-to-last long run before I decide on whether to enter Bulldog. Regardless of my choice, I am doubtful that I can make the cutoff’s.  The way I see it, and I’m not trying to be negative, just a realistic, but signing up for Bulldog 50k is probably signing up for defeat – defeat for the race, but not a defeat for so many other aspects (that I can go into later if the time warrants.)  I’m at a point in my life where I realize that defeat carries so many triumphs.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’d love to finish and make the cutoffs.  I’d be absolutely thrilled. 

I actually entered the trails this morning under dark cloudy skies.  Not sure whether I’d see anyone, I carried pepper spray for the first time in a long time. 

I fought against thinking about the end of this run as I took off down Wood Canyon.  “Stay in the present,” I told myself.  Now.  Now.  Now.  I didn’t wear headphones at first, and being difficult to stay in the moment, I focused on the various tracks in the dirt – bobcat, coyote, deer, runners.  When I thought about the run, or the future of today’s run, I’d fret, thinking  “I’ll never be able to do this – run up Meadows TWICE.  No way!  I’m not strong enough.”

Running is just like life.  When I anticipate, anxiety grows.  I recall when one of my sons was going through several surgeries (3 of them brain surgeries) the only way I could function was to stay in the moment.  As soon as I strayed into the future (or even the past), I’d start to lose it.   Anxiety reached a point where I felt I might vomit, or the ground beneath me began to sway.  I learned then sitting in the surgery waiting room, I survived by staying in the exact moment.  I don’t think you need experience something like this to relate to what I’m writing about.  The present is just simply much easier and more enjoyable and relaxing to experience than the past or present.  Period.  It is the same with running. (perhaps why I took up running in the first place.)

And so I took in Wood Canyon at first having to count to get myself into the present.  Literally, I’d say one, two, three, four, etc., and imagine that at each count that was where I was.  Eventually, I began to enjoy the moment, enjoy the breeze, enjoy the different colors, and even enjoy every single spider web I ran through.  And believe me!  There were plenty. 

Sycamore Grove

Lone coyote on Wood Canyon Trail

Soon into my run, I realized I wouldn’t be alone on these trails.  A mountain biker came up behind me pretty quickly.  Then as I ran Cave Rock Trail, posing and taking pictures, several runners, at least 10, ran beneath me as I stood on the rock.  I was amazed to see so many runners this early in the morning.  And I was also truly amazed that they didn’t even notice me as I snapped pictures of them on that rock not too far above.  I don’t wish to be critical, BUT I hope, wish, that I would notice someone standing up above me like that.  (Sadly, I don’t think that I also would have noticed but, you can bet I will NOW.)

Another pose on Cave Rock

A View from Meadows on first loop (about .5 mile remains of Meadows Trail)

Wood Creek Trail a delightful detour on 2nd loop

Wood Creek Trail (I believe I take this picture every time I run Wood Creek Trail)

I took the second Meadows climb much better than the last time I ran this double loop.  I worked hard at passing a female mountain biker, came oh so close, but no catch!  I also didn’t run out of fluids until exactly the point where I could refill (imagine that!).  With 3.5 miles remaining, my clothes were completely drenched with sweat, and chaffing had began to take its toll.  My ipod battery also ran out during the Top of the World portion.  I found myself counting again just to stay in the moment.  When I found myself thinking about the past or anticipating the future, I’d focus on my presence in the moment, noticing colors, smells, people.  I said “Good morning",” to every single person I saw – the runners, gardeners, the hikers, bikers, the tennis players (at Alta Laguna Park), the dog walkers, the city workers.  And I truly believe it was the staying in the moment that allowed me to finish this run, happily, joyfully and PLAYFULLY.

19 miles logged.

+3,219 ft / – 3,223 ft,

Route:  Canyon Vistas, Wood Cyn, Cave Rock, Wood Cyn, Meadows Trail, Top of the World, Park Ave. Nature Trail, West Ridge, Cholla, Wood Cyn, Wood Creek, Wood Cyn, Coyote Run, Wood Cyn, Meadows Trail, Top of the World, West Ridge, Cholla, Wood Cyn, Canyon Vistas. 

Satellite above the loop which I ran twice (with some slight detours). 

One of THOSE Days

Today was one of those days.  One of those days when you wake and every soul in the house, probably in the neighborhood still sleeps.  One of those days that you treat your children to movies and then a day at the park.  One of those days when two of your children fight like cats and dogs in said park.  One of those days when one kid throws a fit and tries to knock you off your scooter (yup, I was riding a scooter) in said park.  One of those days when one child interrupts your conversation with a friend and argues with you about what you just said.  But none of these things are what I’m writing about.  I’m writing about one of THOSE days when I wake to run and every cell in my body says NO, NO, NO.

Dressed and ready to go, pack in hand, running bag in other, I ALMOST, almost set down my gear, took off my shoes and crawled in bed.  But I knew.  I knew that I would regret that.  And most of all, I knew that I would change my mind about running, pretty much as soon as I started running.

And so I ran.  Not far.  But I ran trails, and I enjoyed every single minute on them.  If I didn’t have to get back in time for a morning movie show time, I’d probably still be running.