Windy Peak

Red Flag Warning today, which means high fire risk.  This warning means that state parks and (probably) county parks would be closed.  On the other hand, all national parks and forests are closed as well, due to the “Government Shut-Down.”

BUT . . . the gate was open:

The wind blew so strongly, a fine mist of dirt flew through the air.  Branches littered the road as I drove into the canyon.  I thought seriously about not doing this run.  After I witnessed a caravan of cars come into the Holy Jim lot, and twenty or so hikers enthusiastically jump out for a hike up to the peak, I had to give myself a good talking.  I said something to this affect:

If they can do it, YOU can do it.  MAN UP lady.  Since when did you become a sissy?  (ah, since the day I was born).  Whatcha gonna do if it’s windy like this during Twin Peaks, turnaround and drive home????  Now get to it!

And so I ran, headed up Holy Jim Trail.  I passed the group of giddy hikers early on.  They carried horns made from antlers and red colored flags from their church.  Their goal for today was to plant the flags at the peak.  I’m not sure, but some seemed a tad puzzled by my less than enthusiastic attitude about climbing to the peak.

I can not remember one single joyful time climbing to Santiago Peak.  It has ALWAYS been a great struggle.  The peak itself is joyful.  And the run down has been joyful many times.  But those last three miles to Santiago Peak are rather hellish.  You could say that I don’t look forward to them, not one iota.   

This morning, my climb up Holy Jim, even in this wicked wind was delightful.  Protected by trees, the wind hardly affected me.  And the dirt didn’t fly up into my eyes except during exposed portions of Holy Jim.  From behind, I could hear the cheers, laughter and horns blowing from hiking group below.

My beautiful Holy Jim:

The gnats could not fly in this wind, this glorious wind.  And this wind that I feared so much at the beginning of this morning’s run kept me nice and cool.  But then I hit The Main Divide.  I hadn’t heard the hikers or their horns for quite some time.  My strategy for those last 3 miles were:  run when I can, hike when I can’t – but never stop!  And that was just what I did.  The trip wasn’t too terrible, but it was TOUGH. 

I met two hikers coming down from the peak.  As we spoke, they said, “It’s windy up there.  You know, it’s really windy . . .  It’s super windy.”

“Okay, it’s windy,” I laughed to myself and wished them well for the trip down.

Ah . . . did I mention the two hikers said it was windy at the peak?  They told no lie.  They certainly didn’t exaggerate.  The wind blew my cap off my head, it pushed me forward and back.  It was deliriously fun.  I felt like a child again, giggling and playing in the wind.  On my way out, I saw my running friend (an awesome runner, wise and humble), Scott B.  This is the second time semi-recently I’ve seen him on this mountain.  Big coincidence if you ask me.  I run up from the Orange County side, he runs up from the Riverside side.  I’m sure I’ve already mentioned that I love, love, love seeing friends out-of-the-blue in the mountains.

Santiago Peak:

By the time I headed down from Santiago Peak, my heel hurt so badly, I gingerly ran to avoid my heel landing on rocks.  After a mile down, I began coming across some of the church hikers.  With smiles on their faces, they pleaded, “How much longer?”  The group was spread out over the next mile.  Of course they were struggling, who doesn’t struggle going up to Santiago Peak, especially for the first time?  I assured some of the church-goers that shade was close by.  And that soon they’d be over the worst of it.  They certainly weren’t cursing or scowling, like I have been known to do once or twice on this portion (but I wasn’t today )

Anyway, Scott caught up with me pretty quickly.  His speed amazed me as he ran down the rocky terrain on The Main Divide.  We chatted some about Twin Peaks as he walked while I ran (yes, his walking pace kept up with my trot) until we departed at Upper Holy Jim.  I decided early on to take The Main Divide back instead of the more technical Upper Holy Jim.  I didn’t need any accidents, especially with the now excruciating pain radiating from my heel.

When I made it back to (lower) Holy Jim, I came upon 4 or 5 churchgoers who had decided to wait in the shade instead of making the nasty trek up.  I ran down Holy Jim, with an attempt to keep my pace up.  In all though, the wind and the dirt in my eyes, plus the heel pain really wiped me out for today’s run.  Still, I’d do it again (despite the lovely, awful wind and that great struggle to the peak).

Trail Treats

This morning I went for a trail run for the fun of it.  Yes, the fun it of it.  My choices for today were to take in the little treats along nearest trails that I have discovered over the past years.  Without using mental math, I estimated my loop would run between 8 and 10 miles.  I was hoping for ten, but that’s me, I’m a distance and elevation junkie.

I ran down into Wood Canyon, which runs about 3 miles in length.  Along Wood Canyon, there’s several opportunities to run up to the ridge that takes you to Top of the World.  I ran the first opportunity to the ridge, Cholla Trail, a short trail, but a nasty incline.  This way, I was able to run the entire ridge to Top of the World, which is a delightful rolling hill run.

Top of the World is a neighborhood in Laguna Beach that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.  It’s a particular, upper-upper class neighborhood.  But laymen like myself, refer to all the neighborhoods at the top of the ridge as Top of the World, not just that exclusive neighborhood. 

First Photographed Treat / Top of the World:

I turned around at Top of the World and ran back down West Ridge.  Instead of continuing the downhill toward Cholla, I made a right onto Mathis Trail and took it to Car Wreck Trail – a steep, rocky single track leading down into a valley where an old car wreck rests on a slope.  The run is tricky and at times treacherous with jumps steeper than I feel comfortable with.  But I made it through okay.  (At times, I admit that I slowed to a snail’s pace.  Though, I never needed to scoot along on my behind).

2nd Treat / Car Wreck Trail:

Finally, I took a trip onto Dripping Cave Trail, which I haven’t run in ages.  It’s slightly steep at first, but runnable.  After all the climbing though, you arrive to one of the best treats in the park, Dripping Cave (AKA Robber’s Cave).

3rd Treat / Dripping Cave Trail:

Sitting on a bridge along Dripping Cave for the photo op / I’m a dirty, dirty girl (the scar on my right knee I got when I was 6 years old – it’s 42 years old!):

Time is Ticking Away

Day 35 of my fitness streak, I got in a short trail run, a 6.5 mile out-and-back to Top of the World in Laguna Beach.  My heel is only slightly better from plantar fasciitis.  It’s bad when I first wake; I can hardly walk.  But it’s been worse.  There were times last year when I had to fall out of bed and crawl out of the bedroom.  Seriously.  Kind of a funny picture eh?

Well, I taped up my right arch quite well and experienced minimal pain during today’s run.  I tried to pick up my pace on the downhills.  I succeeded, but that’s when I tended to get the heel pain. 

Overall, I had a lovely run.  The weather was cool, the ocean was a deep blue.  It’s really time though to start on heavy rehabilitation for the foot.  Time is ticking away.

An Autumn Run!

I’m fretting only slightly about Twin Peaks, which is about 3 weeks away.  Fortunately, I’m going for the 50k option (not even considering the 50 mile option).  The 50k will still be quite the task for me, but I will have lots and lots of time to get it done.  So I can walk, crawl or scramble and probably still make the trip (hopefully).  Still, I haven’t got in quite the mileage that I’ve wanted over the past months.  In fact, this summer’s training has probably been one of my worst summer trainings.  That’s ironic since I actually looked forward to summer runs this year.  I don’t ever recall looking forward to summer running before.

Thankfully I got in an autumn run today.  And boy, was it GLORIOUS!  I almost thought that it would rain.  I said, “Bring it on!”  But alas, no rain.  Cool breezes blew practically my entire run.  It felt heavenly.  Even as I “ran” up the big climb, Mentally Sensitive (see elevation chart below).

Climbing Mentally Sensitive:

I always wear my hat backward for a reason (in case you’re wondering from the picture above and the countless others).  One reason is that forward, the cap bill traps in the heat around my race.  And I hate that.  More importantly, the cap with bill forward blocks visibility.  I can quickly recall 4 instances when I ran head-on into a branch wearing the bill of my cap forward.  In one case, I hit so hard that I fell back onto the ground and actually worried about my well-being.  In another case, I hit head-on into a branch twice within 5 minutes of each other (different branches of course). 

So, why wear a cap at all?  Because it catches the sweat from my head.  That way I don’t have as much salt running into my eyes (which hurts like heck).  Anyway, back onto the track . . .

Top of Mentally Sensitive:

I decided on a quick run down Rockit Trail, which is rocky, bumpy and great training for my upcoming Calico Run in January which is rocky to the utmost.  From there, I turned off onto Coyote Run for some gorgeous single track stints through forests and more desert-like terrain.  I learned today that Coyote Run is a favorite weekday trail for mountain bikers.  They were ALL courteous and polite, I am glad to report.

In all I ran almost 12.5 miles.  Happily I ran those last miles in with fuel still in the tank.  I didn’t collapse at the truck!

Coyote run Trail:

What a Relief!

Day 28 of my '”Fitness Streak,” I thought I’d merely put in the minimum.  I just had too much to do.  To make time even tighter, today was late-in day (for school) for one boy, and early-out day for the two others.  Why are school schedules so complicated nowadays? 

Eventually, I decided to squeeze in a local run between chores. drop-offs, and pick-ups.  This of course meant A ROAD RUN.  Yes!  Another road run.  I really do need road runs more often because I run faster on the road.  You see, I have inadvertently trained myself to run slowly by running high elevation gain trail runs pretty much all the time.  Because of this my legs aren’t used to a quick turnaround.

Thing is, my heel has chronic pain now which I haven’t written much about.  And I only have a little left of the tape that works.  So, I used the “professional” tape I purchased recently at a sporting goods store.  And after wrapping my foot, it did nothing to ease the pain.  NOTHING.  Big waste of $4.  On the good side, the pain forced me to focus more on a mid food strike.  (Right now I’m sitting with my foot elevated taped in the “good” tape, and I have some relief).

SO, I ran down to Doheny Beach and ran the straight away alongside the shore all the way to Capo (Capistrano Beach).  These are rocky beaches, with tons of wet rocks and pebbles that glistened beneath the warm sun.  The birds seemed to like the wet rocks too.  Hundreds of seagulls meandered about undisturbed (until I decided to pay them a visit for a photo-op). 

I stopped running where the sidewalk ends, and turned around headed for the wharf.  The wharf was lovely as usual.  No crowds this afternoon.  I photographed some more elephants from our “Elephant Parade,” and made it back home with seven miles logged.  What a relief to get in a run!

Gateway to the Past – the entryway into Doheny Beach up until the 1930’s.  I think they should still use it:

Birdies:
Elephant Parade:

I am so tired

I woke this morning with aching arm muscles.  Arm muscles!  I haven’t even lifted any weights since Wednesday.  I am just so, so tired.  I wondered if it’s my age, or if I’m just pushing too hard when I haven’t in so long. 

Originally I planned on a ten mile run this morning.  But after my morning chores (which last about 3 hours, from 6:00 to 9:00 AM) I promptly went back to sleep.  At 11:40, I bolted up, remorseful over wasted time.

Wait just one minute girlee.  If you’re that tired, you needed the rest. 

I’m okay with it now.  I had to let the guilt flutter out the window.  That was a must! 

So, on day 24 of my fitness streak, I took off out my front door,

and  went for a nice leisurely run down to the marina this evening. The weather was cool.  Fluffy gray clouds hovered above.  Teenagers roamed about after a long day at school.  I ran out to the beach where beachgoers cooked over bbq’s and surfers waded in the waters,

and then I ran on over to the marina and took in the light reflections on the waters.  The restaurants overflowed with people.  Walkers crowded the sidewalks.  My favorite birds, the pelicans rested upon the docks and flew overhead near the commercial fishing boats.  I love those enormous birds.  They seem so awkward, a lot like myself.

 

In all, I ran 3.70 miles this evening.  And it was lovely to just get out there and run for a short distance.  My pace was much quicker than the trails, and the weather was simply divine. (Still, I felt like I ran ever so slowly)

I also learned what all the posters uptown that read, “Elephant Parade” are referring to.  Our town is holding an artistic fundraiser for the diminishing Asian elephants.  As such, we have numerous, delicately and beautifully painted elephants in various parts of town.  I ran past many, probably 10.  Below are some of those works of art:

Cooler Temps–I can feel autumn approach

I completed my 23rd day of fitness streaking today – which requires doing an activity for a mile or more every day.  That activity of course wouldn’t be something like driving, or crawling (though I suppose crawling for a mile would be difficult enough to qualify).  I hit day one so many times during this endeavor, that 23 has been my highest number in this facebook group to date.  This of course, means the pressure is on.  At day 23, I don’t want to start over again at day 1.

After spending the first three days of my workouts at the gym this week, I knew I had one thing to do today (besides make breakfasts, pack lunches, get three boys off to school, wash dishes, do laundry).  And that one thing was to run.  And since my week begins on Monday, I needed to get in some good mileage since I was already behind (zero at the end of 3 days – I call that behind). 

Thankfully, the weather cooled for me today.  I didn’t hit the trails until after 10AM.  I started off slowly, and a little weak. And I finished slowly, and a little weaker.  But that’s okay.  Really.  I completed this 14.53 mile route in the same time it takes me to run 13.25 miles in the same park (Aliso/wood Canyons).  Regardless of any of this, it was all a-okay with me – I was running trails, and you can’t beat that!

To make a long, long, long, long story short, I made my way down to a nice size pool in Wood Creek, looking for signs of autumn. It seems that just when the summer rolls over into autumn for good, the bright orange crawdads make their appearance in the creek.  I didn’t see any crawdads, but I did notice a bobcat cross Wood Canyon not twenty-five feet away from me.  I caught her backend as she rushed off into the brush.  I ran back up to the trail, but I was too late.  I stood there for a bit, peering into the thick brush.  I saw nothing, but heard something heavier than a bird or squirrel moving about in the branches and dry leaves.

A View into Wood Creek from Wood Canyon:

I pushed hard on my way up to Top of the World.  I tired easily, and hiked a couple of the steep inclines.  In my defense, I did try to power hike them.  Still, I found myself with my hands on my hips.  I experienced delight hitting my turn around point in this out-and-back.  I stopped for a quick pose at Top of the World, phoned my husband and headed on back in slightly warmer temperatures.

I focused so hard on keeping my pace from falling too terribly, that I almost missed the two deer that bounced like bunnies alongside me on Wood Canyon Trail.  By the time I realized the two does’ presence, they darted off at a quicker pace.  As I reached for my camera, I told myself, “Forget it – you have hundreds of deer pictures.”  Besides that, I didn’t want to stop.  I wanted to finish up at a decent hour. 

Quick Stop at Top of the World:

Yes, today’s 14.5 miles were difficult.  But they were not terrible.  Misery factor was close to zero.  Yes, I ran rather slowly, but I was running trails, and that’s still the best!

Elevation Profile: