A Day in the Life of my Easy Day

No work today, my “easy” day, my Friday.  I love “easy” days, mainly because I have more time to run. (Is that selfish?  Yup – a truth I have to accept.) 

I woke at 6 AM made a pot of coffee, let our puppy outside,  folded clothes, switched clothes to the dryer, put another load into the washer, fed our pup.  Then I poured myself a cup of coffee, checked e-mail, read a blog entry and commented.  I filled the dishwasher, washed down the counters.  After that came the fun part: waking three boys.  The oldest jumped right up because he goes to school last and has time to run off to the office and play Minecraft.  The middle boy jumped right up too, then went out to the couch and slept before the television.  It was boy number three that frustrated me.  He would not budge from bed and I finally had to rely on counting.  1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . He was up then too, asleep on the floor in front of the television. 

Middle boy had a stomach ache and didn’t want breakfast.  I made our youngest breakfast, then commenced to make three packed lunches, while at the same time filling my hydration pack with water and Nuun tablets.  By 7:30 AM I was out the door driving 2 boys to school.  After attending morning assembly, which consisted of the flag salute and announcements, I talked with middle boy’s teacher, then a girlfriend and drove back home for boy number three.  Thing is, I didn’t head off toward home.  I started driving to Aliso/Wood Canyons!

At home, our oldest had already made and ate his breakfast and was fully dressed when I arrived.  This is what he said to me, “Dang it!  I forgot to take a shower.”

Forgot? 

“You can’t be perfect,” I said.  “Put on some deodorant, take a shower tonight.” Some day he will appreciate my tolerance (right now, he thinks I’m probably the strictest mom in town).  Funny – he acted annoyed when I said I accidentally drove toward Aliso/Wood Canyons instead of home.

In a rush, I laced up my trail shoes, put on some running clothes while my son hollered for me from inside the truck.  So off I drove again, this time to our oldest boy’s school.  Drinking my breakfast along the way (a yogurt smoothie), I parked in the school lot, and we listened to a music cd – Pitbull.  Then he headed off with five minutes to spare. (I might add that he was angry with me for embarrassing him by “rocking out” in the car, though no one witnessed it.)

Then . . . FREEDOM.  OH FREEDOM!

In 90F+ weather, my feet hit the trails happily at Aliso/Wood Canyons. I felt a bit draggy, not exactly dragging my feet, but running slower than usual due to the heat.  Did this bother me?  No way!  I was running trails and that’s all I really wanted right then.  I decided on the “Big Loop”, that is a loop around the entire park.  I also chose a clock-wise loop because that goes UP Meadows and I like to torture myself in the heat.  

A View of Saddleback Mountains from the top of Meadows Trail (Ya!  I’ve been up there!)

View of Pacific Ocean/Laguna Beach from top of Meadows:

Though these trails were heaven, the heat was hellish, and frankly I kind of liked it, in a suffering sort of way.  Thankfully I checked my hydration pack at Top of the World, because ends up, I was nearly empty.  I refilled and headed off again onto West Ridge.  I saw only one runner, and a few mountain bikers. 

Today’s run in itself was uneventful, and that was beautiful. Truly beautiful.  If you can appreciate uneventfulness, you probably will never say these words, “I am bored.”  My children and my students all say, “I am bored.”  At this point in my life, I really can’t understand those words.  Anyway, off subject!   I found a couple more bike reflectors to add to my collection.  I said hello to perfect strangers.  I witnessed countless squirrels and bunnies scamper across the trails and through the fields.  Delightful.

Running the Canyon, Wood Creek Trail, where it’s actually hotter than the ridge.  The heat seems to get trapped in the canyon.  I took this particular photo because at this point, my calves were burning up from the sun, the heat was tremendous.

Wood Creek Trail – the prize!  Top of the World isn’t the prize, it’s more the glory.  Trails like these, they are the prize.

I include this picture only because of the effort it took catching it.  I slid down a slope to get it, tried several times to run in front of the camera in the allotted time, until I finally decided to traipse through the creek and wet my feet (and you know I’m not vain, because I absolutely HATE the way the hydration pack makes me look, kinda squished with no figure at all).

Wood Canyon Trail / Conservation Corps still working on the trails.

I ran on in slowly to the truck.  Then I drove quickly home to shower as fast as I could.  My face was crusted with salt.  For lunch I made a turkey sandwich and washed it down with a diet coke while surfing the internet, answering e-mails, etc.  Then I was back in the truck to drive to the school once again.  I hung out with other moms until the children got out.  After that I took our youngest and middle boy and went along with a girlfriend and her son and step-mother to the school’s book faire.  After spending about a half hour in the book faire, I dropped the youngest boys at home, then headed off to grocery shop.  From there, I drove to oldest boy’s school to pick him up.

Back at home, I listened to the eldest practice violin, and then middle boy practice the guitar.  I did more laundry, downloaded my garmin, answered more e-mails, gathered paperwork for a meeting tomorrow, charged the ipod.  Then it was time to start dinner while the boys and FOUR additional neighborhood boys played in the backyard. 

We ate outside tonight beneath an oversized maroon umbrella, it was so dang hot in the house,  For dinner I served carne asada steak, ranch style beans, french fries and a romaine and spinach salad.  For those who didn’t want a green salad (youngest and middle boy), they got peaches.  I had something a little different:  macaroni and cheese, a romaine and spinach salad with light Caesar dressing and wine.  : )

Alas, the day was not finished.  I cleared the backyard table, emptied the dishwasher, filled the dishwasher, prompted homework.  Then there was more laundry to do.  After that – fast forward, with the children all in bed, I put the computer on my lap, answered e-mails and began this blog.  I’m sure there’s lots that I missed.  I just thought it would be fun to catalogue the day.  Stay tuned if this if your first read of my blog.  It isn’t usually this mundane.

Today’s run:

First Run Back

First run back on the trails, that is.  I did run the treadmill yesterday for some speed work.  Today was my first day since pacing Twin Peaks that my feet hit dirt.  I picked my favorite local trails, Aliso/Wood Canyons, a short out-and-back to Top of the World.  And all I could think about was Twin Peaks.  Pacing the event has become a huge milestone in my running “career.”  I know this may sound odd, but my feet hit the dirt differently now, with more confidence. 

I was a little stiff this morning after a huge two hour gym workout yesterday, not to mention mountain miles on Sunday.  Yet, this morning, even during another heat wave, I ran up Cholla Trail with relative ease.  I felt like my feet grabbed the ground.  I ran that entire climb without any forefoot strikes (which is my desire).

Running a single-track off of West Ridge Trail, with a one-track mind – pointing out the mountains where Twin Peaks took place.

View of Pacific Ocean from Park Avenue Nature Trail – I can’t get enough of that!

I wanted a short run, because like I’ve alluded, I’ve changed.  Short runs are valuable too.  It’s running trails that I love.  I don’t have to do 10-20 miles to be satisfied.  Six will do, especially if I’m running to Top of the World (which by the way was empty today due to the heat).  Today, I was more about the awesomeness of the trails than I was about the mileage, or even pace (though I did pick up my pace when I thought about it.)

Soon I will be back and off this cloud I’m on. I’m looking forward to catching up on reading blogs and answering comments.  I can’t wait to find out how bloggers did on their races this weekend.  Thanks ahead of time for all your comments.  I am truly amazed at all of your efforts, whether it’s running the trails or the road, no matter how quick or slow you are, you are among the elite.  A small percentage of the adult population can run more than a half mile. 

Hope you have a great run tomorrow, or the next day, or the next!

Top of the World

A new pal on West Ridge

Elevation Profile:

Miles logged today (Wednesday): 6.32

Miles logged Tuesday:  2

Twin Peaks Pacer Recap

Right now, I cannot write an entry that adequately relays my experience as a Twin Peaks pacer.  I seriously feel that it would take an entire book.  I’ll call this a “recap.”

Pacers waited for their runners at the Horsethief aid station where a friendly crew, including 2 radio men were already several hours into their all-day shift.  If you read my blog regularly you might remember the words Horsethief Trail.  Sometimes I call it West Horsethief.  Sometimes I separate the word into Horse Thief.  Either way you say it though, that trail is truly hell.  It’s a rocky, switchback that climbs and climbs with plenty of false summits and NO RELIEF in elevation gain.  And there’s very, very little shade.  Though it’s a little less than 2 miles long (I believe), I pretty much hate Horsethief, and currently, it’s the only trail that I can think of that I would say that about. 

Needless to say, I was thrilled to learn that pacers meet their runners at the TOP of Horsethief.  There, we waited and we waited.  We talked, we laughed, we ate candy.  Then finally, the front runner came up the beast called Horsethief.  He was suffering some, but looked strong.  Strong enough to smile (See photo of Dean below).  He had quite a lead on the second place runner.  Then another significant amount of time passed.  That’s when I began walking the trail, to the edge before it radically descended.  Scott Barnes came around that corner, smiling and looking cool and calm.  I thought he looked familiar, then realized I knew him when he said, “Lauren?”  What a thrill it was to see Scott in third place, even more thrilling to give him that news.  He seemed shocked.

Finish/Start line, Race Operations:

Race Director Jessica Deline:

Volunteers (Pacers, sweeper, etc):

West Horsethief Aid Station, First Place runner, Dean Dobberteen:

Looking down at Horsethief (toward very end of trail, where the runners finally got some relief):

The Radio Guys at Horsethief Aid Station:

Waiting at the top, checking trail for runners coming up:

Scott Barnes, 3rd Place (coming up Horsethief, see prior blog post where I was fortunate to train with Scott):

After Scott, the trails were silent.  An entire hour or more must have passed before runners began dribbling in.  Some looked okay, others looked like death, having climbed to mile 33/34.  All runners took time to rest.  Some took lengthy rests.  Some recovered well and took off somewhat strong.  Others didn’t seem to recover as well and took off slowly walking.  Other runners dropped from the race and waited for a ride down.  Some of the runners smiled.  Some of them scowled.  One runner looked at us and first thing he said was “I hate everyone who has anything to do with Twin Peaks.”

The runners came in “far and few between” and more and more of them looked like the walking dead.  There was a report of a runner laying in the trail and station worker Christine went off to get him.  About that time I strapped on my gear and decided to head down Horsethief.  I knew Hank had to be having a hard time of it.  I hoped that I could help.

On the way down I saw Greg Hardesty (OC Register sports writer) whom I’ve met on a few occasions and have never seen him less than cheery.  Not today.  Today he mumbled something like, “I hate this trail,” yet he kept on trucking.

It hurt to see the suffering as I made my way down Horsethief.  Here and there I’d come upon a runner.  He would be sitting on the side.  Or he would be staggering side to side.  I saw Christine slowly walking up the young runner that she found laying in the trail.  As I descended, I kept a lookout for a white cap.  Turns out, just about everyone I came across was wearing a white cap. 

The descent down Horsethief was surreal.  I’ve never been in a war zone.  But this trail seemed so much like a path of the walking wounded, like I was making my way to the battlefield past these runners who were struggling on to safety.  I grew a little worried the more I descended. 

Then finally I saw Hank.  He was not staggering.  But I could tell, he was spent.  Quite frankly, I was elated, so, so happy that he had his wits about him, he wasn’t staggering, or worse yet, laying on the trail.  I gave him a quick hug, and got behind him and began the march up, telling him each time he asked, “how much longer?”

Runner finishing up Horsethief:

Runners taking a breather before heading off:

Another runner makes it to the top of Horsethief:

First female runner makes it to top of Horsethief (right), Christine pours water on Rob’s neck (see prior blog where I came across Rob on Main Divide):

Catra Corbett and Andy Kumede:

More runners finishing up Horsethief:

Taking off for another trip to the peak:

Heading down Horsethief to meet up with Hank:

Meeting runners along the way:

At the top of Horsethief Hank took little time, and we were off.  The moon came out early and the weather began to cool.  As the sun went down, I felt relieved that I knew those trails well.  Hank was using all his energy to move onward as quickly as possible, one thing he didn’t need to worry about was which way to turn.

The amount of suffering I witnessed on those trails were immense.  Remember, this race had about 15,000 to 17,000 feet of elevation gain and 52 miles to cover.  Hank’s determination was amazing.  I hoped that I was helping.  I think I did somewhat, especially with direction.  I tried to be sensitive and slow down when he needed it and stop talking when he couldn’t take hearing another person’s voice at the moment.  Still, I think there were times when I talked/joked a little too much.  But we also had some miles of silence.

Taking off on the Main Divide with Hank:

The moon shows its face:

It grew dark well before we made our descent down the mountain.  Tiny white, orange and yellow lights glittered from thousands of feet below from Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties.  With headlamps and flashlights we continued the climb.  Then as we made our descent, the stations began closing up.  Word was, the sweeper truck was going to start picking up runners.  And so the race was on as we ran from the sweeper truck.  It seemed like we literally flew down Upper Holy Jim, a single track that the truck couldn’t drive, but the running sweepers were close behind.  I’m truly amazed how Hank was able to kick it in and pull out a burst of energy as we jumped and stumbled over rocks on that single track down. 

The sweepers caught up with us around Indian Truck Trail (the last 6.5 miles).  They were two great guys who ran along with us.  One of them took off, and sweeper Tim ran along with us for the longest 6.5 miles EVER.  I had no doubt that Hank would cross the finish line.  He had already proven his determination.  Still, I was amazed that he had anything left. 

Then finally through the dark, we saw a light and ran in over that finish line.  Hank’s wife and daughter were waiting there like two angels in the light, so happy to finally see him.  They said that they could see our lights as we travelled down the mountain and couldn’t believe what we were doing, what he was doing.  I only ran a little under twenty miles of this trek.  I had the easy part. 

It was finally over.  My friend Hank crossed the finish line of Twin Peaks 50 at a little after 10:00 PM.  Though he crossed the line last, which crossing that finish line in general is a HUGE accomplishment, he did not actually have the longest time due to the early starts  who began the race at 5:30 AM instead of 7:00 AM.  Hank placed 36 out 44 finishers.  86 runners started this 50+ mile race.  44 finished.  Others dropped to a 50k option, and others dropped entirely. 

Congratulations Hank.  You did it!!  I’m not sure that I will honor your request that the next time you mention a fifty mile race that I’m to tell you “shut up.”  LOL.  Rest up, friend.

Hank with race director, Jessica:

Tim, the patient sweeper – good luck on your first Iron Man!:

At finish line with Hank:

Ready or Not

I apologize for not getting to blog comments.  I really enjoy responding to them, but I’ve been a little busy getting everything together for my first pace job, which includes making sure everyone at home has everything they need since I will be gone all day.

FIRST OFF, Congratulations Giraffy for being the first person to correctly name the song I quoted in my last blog.  “Ain’t Talkin’ bout Love,” Van Halen.  1970’s.  I was going into the 9th grade when I purchased that album.  LOL.  Just e-mail me your address Giraffy (you can find a link on my profile) and I’ll send you a few of my favorite gels.  Thanks for reading!

Secondly, tomorrow is a big day, as I will be a pacer for the first time.  I am so honored to be chosen by a very adept trail running friend.  Of course I am nervous.  But I have trained.  I’m nervous to have someone else depend on me.  But then again, every single day of my life others depend on me.  I hope for a restful sleep and a fun time tomorrow pacing one of the toughest 50 mile races in California – Twin Peaks 50.  Good luck Hank!  And good luck to all those lining up at the Start Line.  That takes guts!

Good luck also to my friends running the Long Beach Marathon tomorrow (Jeremy and Jeff) – I know you’ll do great.  Again, even taking that spot at the Start Line takes guts!  Good luck to all those I didn’t mention.  I know A LOT of people are racing tomorrow.   Fun, fun, fun!

You probably will not see a “Pace Report” tomorrow, as I may arrive home quite late.  I’m also not sure if I will capture many pictures.  I’m there on one mission only – that is to help my friend cross the finish line.

Good night to all.  Hope your runs are fun tomorrow.  And if you’re not running, have a great day anyway!

Lackadaisical Run

We got rain in Southern California the past two days.  Enough rain to close local trails.  Of course I could have probably run mountain trails, but there’s no one to run with me on weekdays.  And I don’t run mountains alone.  Why? 

Mountain lions. 

And those two legged coyotes (as my husband calls them).

Rain was fine with me, though I’m not a big fan of rain.  I live in Southern California!  But I wanted to cut back on miles this week anyway.  I cross trained instead, and did my short speed workout on the treadmill. 

This morning, the sun shined brightly.  I checked local trail websites to find that they were all open.  Deciding on a venue change, I opted to drive many miles past my usual park to the Newport Coast to El Moro Ridge (which I believe the is part of Laguna Wilderness Park and the bottom is Crystal Cove State Park – I’m not sure on the boundaries.)  (For those of you who know this area, I ran down No-Name Ridge to No-Dogs, then past the ranger station and back up El Moro Canyon where I hopped onto a portion of Missing Link, then ran all of Fence Line to Bommer Ridge.)

I picked a lovely day to run  trails lackadaisically.  Having been wet for 2 days, then dried up today, the amount of animal tracks were astounding – lots of deer, bobcat and coyote, not to mention bird tracks and other miscellaneous tiny tracks that I didn’t stop to identify.   

With my speed training, I found that I took off at a quicker pace with little warm up needed this morning.  And when I found myself plodding along on the inclines, I thought to myself, “I can run faster than this.”  And I could.

But on to the pictures:

Running No-Name Ridge, I encountered lots of friendly hikers, all with walking sticks:

A quick pose on No-Name, I was so, so ready to rip off this long-sleeved shirt despite the cool breeze.  But I wanted to wait until the bottom where I would make a pit stop at the ranger station:

Running along No-Name:

Approaching the Crystal Cove ranger station, notice white water in the distance:

Heading up El Moro Canyon, this lovely shrub lines the trail.  I can’t i.d. it.  Do you know what this plant is?  Let me know!

Fungi growing along the lush, wet parts of canyon:

Just plain ole’ beauty running up El Moro Canyon where a doe dashed out from the brush in front of me, then another and then one more.  They hopped (yes hopped!) across the trail so quickly and back into the brush on the other side, that though I fumbled for my camera, I was not quick enough to catch a picture:

More El Moro Canyon.  It was nice to run a trail where every tree is new to me:

Toward the end of the canyon, I had three options to the top – Nice-and-Easy (which isn’t exactly easy, but it is very runnable), Elevator and El Moro Canyon.  Here is the intersection of Elevator and El Moro.  I had not run either one before.  Guess which one is Elevator?  It’s not the trail on the right!  I took the trail on the right for a more direct route to Missing Link:

Oh my!  I don’t know why this trail wasn’t named “Elevator.”  I was actually slipping back down the hill as I went up.  But I was able to run some of it:

A look back.  Curious what Elevator was doing, I went to the edge, “and there I stood and looked down, you know I lost a lot of friends there baby, ain’t got no time to mess around.”  Not!  I haven’t lost a lot of friends there (but can you tell me the name of that song?  I’ll give a small prize for the first person who can.)  Anyway, I did go to the edge so that I could see Elevator, and saw a meandering trail going up – Nothing like this one:

Fence Line Trail:

Miles run this morning:  9.02: