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
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