Last Minute Run

The boys are still home (I’m still home), all on Christmas break.  During the holidays, I’ve had a variety of rich foods, wines and desserts; it’s all making me lag (In the U.S. as I’m sure elsewhere in the world, we are BIG on food and drink for holidays and celebrations).  I’ll be very happy to get in the groove again, bland foods, lots of vegetables and protein drinks.  I'm not complaining too much.  Celebration is good.  Indigestion is not.  Nor is lethargy, which is what happens with all the celebration food and drink with me.  Not only that, I have a yearly mileage to make.  And not only that, I have this cold that lingers on, and my wrist still hurts from my fall on Joplin.

Today, I slept off and on all day trying to get rid of this cold.  Then I woke and found myself in the midst of a pity-party (anyone noticing a pattern?)  On a whim, I ran out the door this evening and went for a little less than a 6 mile run.  And I was soooo glad that I did. 

The weather was cool, the sunset majestic.  And now, I only have a little over twenty miles remaining to make my yearly goal.

Cheers to running and for all that it does for my heart and soul!

Running the streets for a green belt access down to the marina:

Running through park about to descend down into marina:

Isn’t this a cute boat?

Running along the channel:

Sunset at the marina:

For the Sake of Mileage

I was right on schedule to run out the door on this cold morning, when I realized that my garmin’s charge was low.  Now, with the new year approaching, I needed to run purely for mileage to get closer to my yearly goal.  The garmin was a little important.   Not terribly.  I just really like not having to measure my run on-line back at home. 

After charging the garmin for about 30 minutes, I couldn’t stand waiting any longer and ran out the door, straight down to the beach.  The weather was bitter cold (for me).  No, there was no snow on the ground, and the temperature was probably above freezing (being that I live at the ocean), but relatively, IT WAS COLD.  I wore sleeves beneath my long sleeves.  I wore a beanie and gloves. 

I crossed the pedestrian bridge for an out-and-back along the Pacific Ocean.  I ran through the campground on both the out and the back.  Campers and cars from much colder states (like Montana and Utah) were parked, and the sites smelled of sizzling bacon.  The only people walking about in the campground were wearing pajamas. 

Crossing the city bridge after a brief warm session running up the stairwells:

Running along Capo/Doheny:

On the back of my first out-and-back I turned off to run underneath the highway.  From there I ran a lonely bike path for another out-and-back that brought me through the Los Rios District.  I got to see several trains pass by.   That still thrills me.  By this time, people were roaming about in The District.  Others were waiting about to catch a train.  I was still cold, kept my beanie on and ran with my cap flapping from my running belt.  Though still cold, my heart warmed when I ran into Los Rios, the oldest neighborhood in California.  I love that place. 

Where San Juan Creek meets the Pacific Ocean and I turn off onto The Bike Path:

The Bike Path (Saddleback Mountains in the background):

Crossing over Trabuco Creek heading for Los Rios District:

Los Rios District:

Finally, I hit trail (East Trabuco Creek) and my feet very gladly got muddy.  I ran up alongside the creek and shared the trail with only one other person – a woman on a horse.  The creek was full and at my crossing I decided to head back.  There was no way for me to cross without getting wet.  And I didn’t want to slip and fall, being alone.  I didn’t miss the opportunity to stop and take some pictures before heading back to my home.  I love how the water roars over the rocks. 

At mile twelve, my garmin stopped.  I noted the location and when I arrived home, I measured the remaining distance on-line, finishing up with a 15 mile run this morning.

Gettin' the feet muddy:

Running above Trabuco Creek:

Trabuco Creek:

A little over twenty-six miles to make my 2012 goal!

It’s Easier in Reverse, Really . . .

Still plugging away miles to make my goal of breaking 2,012 miles of running for the year.  This morning I planned another run to Yaeger Mesa, that extremely difficult run that I made last month, the one that I once again got in way over my head.

My bright idea this morning was to run the Yaeger Mesa route in reverse.  I thought it had to be easier than the counter-clockwise route I took with the guys last month.  Funny thing, it was easier.  But for about a mile there, it became so hellishly difficult in steep, rocky, and muddy climbing, I thought that I might vomit.  Seriously!  During that section, my garmin didn’t even read a pace.  Yaeger Mesa Trail is the most difficult trail I’ve ever climbed.  And I’ve climbed some doozies.  STILL,  a clockwise loop to the mesa was much, much easier, practically an hour easier than counter-clockwise.  (However, I hope I don’t become one of those people that no one wants to run with – not because I’m slow, but because I put them through hell before getting to the prize).

Setting off with Mark Rohren. and Jeremy Howes through Trabuco Canyon on a cold, wet morning:

After Mark turned back for an out-and-back, Jeremy and I began the climb up to the mesa:

One of the very few flats on our way up:

Rain fell down upon us a bit.  I grabbed at branches to help me along.  I stopped to catch my breath more than once.  And then FINALLY, the mesa . . .

After the mesa, we still had some more steep climbing.  It seemed endless.  Then with the clouds so thick, I mistakenly told my friend that we had peaked that it was “all rolling down hills from here on out.”  WRONG.  We had not peaked, and I felt like a dufus.  I hate thinking I’m at the top when I’m not, and then to give that false hope to a running friend.  Doh!

Blue Skies peek through as we run up and down (mainly down) Bell Ridge:

+4,625 / -4,691

Winter Solstice Run

Christmas is around the corner, and we are the poorest financially than we have EVER been.  At the same time, I sincerely believe we are the most fortunate that we have ever been.  Though we are cramped in a tiny house, we are all close together as we continue to somehow make the mortgage payments.  In such close quarters, I know a little how my children feel, I know what they are doing (because I can see everyone, hear everyone, from practically anywhere in the house) and I know when they need my help. 

Yesterday was my last day of work leading up to Christmas break (two whole weeks!).  Today was the last day of school for our children.  After dropping them all off,  I had just enough time to meet with two lovely ladies for a run on trails on a beautiful blue, crisp morning.  We ran a 14+ mile loop, some of it on Arroyo Trabuco, which I’ve run before.  But, much of today’s trails I have never run.  What a treat!  I love running new trails.  It’s especially nice when someone else knows the way.  That someone else by the way, was Jessica Deline, race director of Twin Peaks.  So I should have known that we were going to do some steep climbing.  Who knew the foot hills had so much elevation.  I need it.  I love it.

After today’ s run, I have 57.43 miles to go to make this year’s goal.  With 9 more days, I’ve got a good chance at making it.

Scenes and the story from today’s run:

Spectacular views from West Ridgeline Trail:

Group photo from left to right:  Sherree, Jessica, Me:

Look at those LOVELY trails ahead:

There she is – Saddleback Mountains:

Taking a wrong turn, we ran down into a scenic paradise:

A STEEP, scenic paradise:

After turning around in search for Arroyo Trabuco, we came upon an unexpected ravine – the joys of trail running:

Arroyo Trabuco at last!:

I had no idea that I was in for this much elevation this morning (I probably should have skipped wine last night):

Running on Toward my Year-End Goal

Closing up this year, sadness lingers in my heart still over children murdered while Christmas presents with their names laid beneath the tree.  I am so fortunate to come home and hug my boys.  I am so fortunate to get out on the trails and run past deer, and through fallen leaves on the ground. 

I got caught up for a moment in the things that are right or wrong that caused, or could have prevented the tragedy in Connecticut.  Then I felt guilty for expressing my opinions among heated debaters.  It seemed like arguing about this now was disrespectful to the dead, in a way lessening the families’ pain.  And so, I run.  I won’t argue, and I don’t hate or dislike those with completely opposite opinions as mine.  We are all, after all, wishing this didn’t happen. 

And I run.

And I run, toward my goal of breaking 2,012 miles by the end of the year 2012. 

I will make this quick because I am so tired from working, preparing for Christmas and rushing to get my miles in. (Sure! When have I ever been quick? : )

First, I watched our baby sing in the second grade Christmas program at school this morning.  It was 38 F, and I wore shorts to the program.  I did bring a shawl to wrap around my shoulders while my teeth chattered.  Then I rushed away to mail a package off to Missouri.  I hit the trails late, about 9:30.  Yet, it was still cold, so very, very cold (around 42 F). 

I got in a tough 10 mile run beneath clear skies.  And I still had time afterward to get gas, do some laundry, welcome two of my babies home from school and get ready for work. 

These are the days . . .

A winter-wear trail run (and it’s not yet officially winter):

Climbing Mentally Sensitive Trail (& the layers come off):

Top of Meadows (after running along the ridge from Mentally Sensitive):

Greetings (Again!) from Top of the World.  From here, it’s all downhill (mostly):

Relishing leaf litter as I finish up this run: