Minimums

This week is spring break for me and the boys.  Early on, we packed up and headed for the woods in the Cleveland National Forest with Papa (my hubby).  The weather was warm for early spring (90F +), the grass was lush and green.   We took mountain hikes with ocean views.  We hiked down a long ravine in search of a small waterfall that we never found.  We sat around the campfire and told stories.  We roasted marshmallows.  The boys learned to tie different knots.  This wasn’t a time however, for a lot of running.  It was family mountain time.  So, after our hikes, I put in some minimum miles to keep up my Easter running streak.   

Day 8:  After a walkabout and setting up camp, I ran about the campground for 1.73 miles.

Day 9:  We took a good long hike in the morning.  Then before our evening hike, I ran along San Juan Trail for 1.20 miles. 

Day 10: Back at home, late evening, I went off to the grocery store to put some food in our bare cupboards.  An employee was pushing one of those motorized carts that was stacked so high he couldn't see over it.  I didn't even hear him coming down the aisle when he plowed into the back of my legs.   My left calf hurt so much, I couldn't stand or keep my breath very good.   The damage:  broken skin, a small cut, a big bruise and a lot of swelling.  After some icing and a little "shaking out," I was okay. But, it was not a good scene -- the guy who hit me felt so badly, he was falling over himself with apologies. I was so afraid he was going to be fired, the manager was so afraid I was going to sue him. The fright that I got was the worst part.  The injury was not terrible, but bad enough, that I decided to put in another minimum and ran 1.81 miles around town.

Day 11:  I set my alarm to wake early and put in a good long run.  However, my leg ached still.  I decided to give it another day of rest and opted for yet another minimum.  This afternoon I ran 1.42 miles about town. 

Thus ends my several days of minimums (hopefully).

All’s well that ends well. 

On the Seventh Day

Day 5 (Saturday):   Taught a six hour computer class and found it difficult to get out the door when I arrived home.  I did manage to continue this streak with a 1.23 mile run around town. 

Day 6 (Sunday):  I went on a hike with my boys and a good friend for 3.5 miles along Tijeras Creek and Arroyo Trabuco trails.  My family and my friend thought this should have counted for my running streak.  But I didn’t run on the hike, so it didn’t count.    Back at home, I ran out the door into downtown and back, for a 1.34 mile run.

Day 7 (Today!) : This evening, I finally found a little time to run out the door for a nice distance.  I thought I’d probably put in three miles (certainly wanted to do more than my minimum requirement).  I had an urge to run along the headlands, so I headed out that way, not really sure where I would run.

A Quick Stop at the Gazebo overlooking the Marina:

View from The Headlands:

Just getting to The Headlands pushed me on further in the 7th day of my Easter running streak.  I mean, I was so, so close to the ocean, I simply had to pay her a visit.  And so, I ran down from The Headlands to The Strands (AKA, Dana Strands) to check on my sea creatures in the tide pools before I headed onward for a sand run along The Strands and Salt Creek.  I spent some time at the base of The Headlands, taking in the waves as they crashed upon the rocks.  I relished the glossy black mussels and green sea urchins as I dodged waves slowly moving upward on the rocks.  Tide was rising, I could tell.  Foot prints had disappeared on the sand.  Sand castles were being flooded by waves. 

Sunflower (named so by me) Sea Urchins:

My Lovely Green Friends:

In all, I ran 6.29 miles on the 7th day of my Easter streak.  And all of it was lovely.  Yes, a little difficult at times, especially the up hills, but lovely still.

Day 3 and 4

Day three: I had a lunch date with two girlfriends and work Thursday evening.  So, very gladly, I was able to fit in a flat run along the local beaches after I got the boys off to school and before lunch.   Thus completed day three of my Easter running streak

Day 4: Today was a bit tougher.  After substitute teaching high school Spanish, though a relatively tranquil day, I arrived home beat.  I could have very easily skipped today’s run had I not committed to this Easter streak.   About 4:30 pm, I ran out the door in my pajama shorts – yes, you read that correctly, my pajama shorts.  They aren’t actually pj’s, but very loose, short-shorts that I often wear to bed.  That’s how lazy I felt.  I was dressed for bed, yet strapped on my shoes and headed out the door. 

So uncomfortable I felt with those loose, short-shorts riding up my thighs, I thought, I’ll just put in one or two miles.  My discomfort however, was so maddening, that I turned back to the house and changed my shorts.  Oh what a difference clothing makes!  I put on tight fitting capri running pants and headed back out, feeling oh so much better.  I thought that perhaps I’d put in more than a mile or two. 

Mural beneath the pedestrian bridge that crosses over Hwy 1 to the beaches:

By the time I reached Doheny Beach, I realized that I was running amidst a Ragnar Relay.  You can imagine my delight!  How wonderful is it to see a whole bunch of running nuts, and their crews congregating at my beach!  I spoke briefly with one relay team to learn that this relay began in Irvine (which is about 25 to 30 miles away).  Oh, the fun!

The Ragnar running chute:

Running amongst all those psycho runners really changed my attitude about this evening’s run.  I was delighted to put in more miles than I planned.  This of course turned out wonderfully.  On the harbor island, I was privileged to take in one of my favorite sights – a bunch of pelicans following a boat on its way on into the marina. 

Miles run for day four:  6.16

Easter Streak

I might as well face the fact that I’m a counter.  I have been a counter for as long as I remember.  I counted my books, my records, my dolls as a young girl.  Now, I count steps.  I count hills.  I count caterpillars.  Right now, I’m counting a variety of things.  Today is the 52nd day of my fitness streak.  Today is also the 28th day of my One Hundred Happy Day Challenge.  In addition (seriously), today is my 29th day without sweets.  And last, but not least, today is day two of my Easter Running Streak. 

When I read that my blogging friend, Johann, was beginning a streak on April 1st, I could not resist.  I’ve often thought of running as a celebration.  Why not streak out the month of April to celebrate Easter?   I realize that merely because I use the term celebration does not mean this streak is going to be easy.  It will be a challenge.  A big challenge.  I feel an added bit of strength knowing that Johann will be attempting a streak as well.  

My rules:  Run every day during the month of April.  Minimum 1.01 miles.  During this month, I’m taking a break from achieving weekly mileage goals.  It’s just going to be about running, and running period. 

Time to celebrate!

Day 1 (Tuesday):  On day one, I was ready to pull a minimum.  Having substitute taught 4th grade during the day, and taught my regular adult class in the evening, I had no choice but to run in the afternoon between the two jobs.  If you know me, you know that I don’t like running in the afternoon.  I should re-state that.  If I start in the morning, I don’t mind one bit, running into the afternoon.  I just don’t like to start my run in the afternoon.  I’m too wiped out from everyday things by then. 

On the first day of my streak however, I did manage to pull off more than a mile.  I ran straight out my front door and took a quick run down to the marina.  In total, I ran 3.20 miles. 

Day 2 (Wednesday):  Today, I got out in the morning, for an after-rain run on trails.  It rained throughout the night, so I didn’t even attempt to run in the coastal hills.  The powers-that-be close those trails even with a moderate rain.  Instead, I headed off to the foothills for a jaunt along Tijeras Creek Trail.  From there, I ran a lush Arroyo Trabuco Trail until time dictated that I head back.  At that point in the trail, I stopped in front of three deer who stood so perfectly still in the high grass, I was a bit confused for a fleeting moment.  I wondered if they were perhaps deer-mannequins.  (Haha, I’m serious).  And then one of them blinked.  After making eye contact with each other for several minutes, I turned around and headed back to Tijeras Creek. 

On the way back, I didn’t take off my shoes before the last creek crossing like I did on the way in.  My feet were already wet from falling in the full creek earlier, so I just plodded through the low-shin-deep waters back toward my truck. 

Miles run on day two:  10.35

Modjeska Peak in Black and White

Sunday morning, I eventually ended up in Silverado Canyon.  I write “eventually,” because I first found myself parked in a lot up Ortega Highway.  I was sitting in my truck before the sun came up, waiting for the rain to stop.  It didn’t stop, so I drove home.  The best thing is, I was running up Maple Springs much later that morning.  The weather was cool, almost cold, the skies were big and beautiful.  I ran to Modjeska Peak, a peak I have neglected far too long all because I wanted the bigger cookie, Santiago Peak.  Modjeska Peak was delightful.  It was quiet, and it was lonely.  It was so well-worth a climb. 

My trip in black and white:  (14.19 miles, +2,464’)

Finishing up the Wretchedness

The skies have been dark, cold and gloomy the past few days.  Yet, no rain.  Today, I set out on hilly trails in Aliso/Wood Canyons beneath these dark moist skies, trying to kick troubles from my mind.  It wasn’t until the rains came down as I ran through green meadows, that I was finally able to let go.  When I write “let go,” I mean to run in the moment, to think about nothing, to just be in the present.  And the present only.

I encountered some difficulty maintaining this, as the outside world pounded on my brain to be let in.  I relented and let it in occasionally.  I’ll tell you what though – climbing up Mentally Sensitive (see the steepest climb in profile below) took all my troubles and dashed them on the rocks.  In a nutshell, the climb was murder.  The best thing about it was finishing up the wretchedness.  After that trial, it was all pretty much easy going from then on.  Best thing was, I received a text message from a good friend that I haven’t heard from in a long time.  Bad thing was, she was in town, and I was too far to get to her in time.  Still, I enjoyed the awesomeness of this spring day, rain, intruding troubles, steep climbs and all!

Here’s to trying to running ridiculously difficult climbs.

Miles run:  11.02  Route:  Aliso Creek Trail, Wood Canyon, Meadows, Mentally Sensitive, Top of the World, West Ridge, Mathis, Wood Canyon, Cave Rock Trail, Wood Canyon, Aliso Creek Trail

Old Goat Sweep

I drove up the mountain before sunrise this morning.  My destination:  Lower Blue Jay campground in the Cleveland National Forest.  Today, I had the honor to sweep Old Goat 50 Miler.  Oh, the privileges of working a race!  First off, I was able to drive all the way to the front lot to park.  I also didn’t have to sign in or sign any waiver.  I walked around in the big tent.  I knew the race director, his wife and the race coordinator all by name.  I saw lots of running friends, both runners and volunteers.  And best of all, I got to take off running whenever I was dang ready.

The sweeper’s job: 

Sweepers run behind the last person in the race.  They pick up trash, take down course markers, and look for anyone left on the trail.  Sweepers in the first parts of the race have it pretty easy.  Runners are still relatively happy.  Sweepers don’t have to pull anyone from the race.  And the weather is nice and cool.

My route: 

I swept the first ten miles of Old Goat this morning.  It entailed a loop referred to Cocktail Loop, which consists of running San Juan Trail to Old San Juan Trail, back to San Juan Trail into Blue Jay campground.  There’s no aid stations along the route.  It’s all single-track, and technical.

I had an overwhelmingly enjoyable run sweeping Old Goat.  I felt utterly stress-free, with all the time in the world to complete this loop.  The run was so easy, I don’t think I took even one sip of fluids until about mile 8.  I met new people, some I recognized from Facebook.  I fell once, skinned my knee.  And I practiced maneuvering over ridiculously rocky terrain.   Back at the San Juan/Old San Juan Intersection, I got to help direct runners out for their second loop (The Candy Store Loop).  I wasn’t jealous one bit that I was not running this race.  I much preferred my easy-peasy, happy time over any inevitable death-march today. 

On Cocktail Rock: