Summertime Rain Makes Arroyo Trabuco A Sauna

A couple newsworthy items as far as Me goes:  1)  We got a couple days worth of rain (though light) here in Southern California, and 2)  I have officially killed another camera.  Yes.  She is dead. 

Because I couldn’t drag myself out of bed this morning, I didn’t hit Arroyo Trabuco Trail until 1 o’ clock in the afternoon (13:00!).  And I paid.  All that rain put some water into the creeks, but it also put some humidity into the air, creating what seemed like a sauna.  After wasting way too much time fretting over my camera, which I feared dead and have since deemed dead, I took off into this sauna only slightly sluggish, but also with a slight pep in my step.  Why the pep?  Because I missed the trails.  Even in this love-hate relationship I’ve got going right now with my running and fitness, I still miss my wonderful, yet sauna-like friend today, the wonderful meandering rolling hills of Arroyo Trabuco Trail

Aye – just because my camera has died doesn’t mean I can’t snap photos – I have my trusty (non-smart) phone which can conjure up some pleasant photos.  This one was taken crossing Tijeras Creek, on my way to Arroyo Trabuco Trail.  I was already sweating buckets, but was okay with that.

Coming up on Arroyo Trabuco:

It all looks so shady and cool in the photos above.  Truth is – the humidity  was sweltering.  I was able to tough it out, only because I know that misery comes in much greater forms, and in comparison, today was really not that miserable.  I was after all on the trails, and I had all this familiar ground to visit – like seeing an old friend.  And seeing an old friend is one of the most joyous things in life. 

I’m hoping that these sauna-like conditions will help push me out of bed tomorrow for an earlier start.  Here’s to hope!

Thirty Days!

Yes, I did make thirty days of my Easter Streak – ran every day for the month of April.  I got out late morning on Wednesday, April 30, in the midst of a heat wave.  And I took off up Arroyo Trabuco Trail for the final run of my streak.

My Gateway to Arroyo Trabuco Trail (in the parking lot of a strip mall in Las Flores, behind a Taco Bell & some other establishments):

The best thing about Day 30’s run was that I got shade.  Lots of it.  Oh, the glory!  What would I do without shade?

I ran through cool, dark hallways of shade for about three miles.  My goal was to run around ten miles – that way, I’d hit my “pie in the sky.”  What, you may ask, was my “pie in the sky?”  The answer: breaking 170 miles for the month.  I didn’t want to merely hit 170.  I wanted to bust through the door.  I haven’t done that in a long time. 

The coolness of these trails helped me to get my groove when I thought I wasn’t going to get my groove.  And just when I felt a comfortable confidence on these refreshing trails amidst sweltering heat, I kissed the dirt.

Oh no!  That’s right.  I tripped on a rock while running slightly downhill, and I flew through the air.  Astonished that I was falling, I fought the fall, and it turned out badly.  There was no semblance of a roll.  No, there was only forward momentum.  Then a thud.  Then another thud.  And one more for good measure.

The few seconds of impact jarred me so much, I didn’t immediately hop back up.  That took another couple seconds.  And then I sobbed as I searched about for a place to sit.  I don’t know why, but I didn’t want to sit in the dirt.  I think that it was just too far away.  So, I wandered up the trail a bit.  The fall rattled my body and brain to an extent that I wasn’t sure what to do.  I needed to talk to someone.

About a tenth of a mile later, I found a log to sit upon and phoned my husband.  He’s received these calls from me before – not terribly often, but enough to get directly to the important questions.  Where are you?  Did you hit your head?  Eventually, he said that I should come home.  But . . . 170.  I wanted to break 170!

And so I ran.  When my husband texted me that I was a “badass,” I texted back, “Not Really.”  And I ran some more with an aching knee (but not too bad) and a throbbing arm.  What I wanted more than anything was to wash the wounds.  But my wounds were open, and I didn’t want to give bacteria in the streams direct access into my body.  I did take the time however, to “document” what I could with photos.

I ran Arroyo Trabuco on into O’Neill park.  Relief set in because finally, I was able to wash my wounds.  And they did NOT feel better after that.  In fact, it was just when I was feeling better that I went and washed my arms and legs with soap and water.  The dull aching immediately returned.  Oh well, it was time to suck it up.  I had 6.5 miles left on the back portion of my Arroyo Trabuco out-and-back. 

Arroyo Trabuco with a view of the Saddleback Mountains (not very shady here, of course as it would be, hot and sunny during the most painful portion of my run):

I made it back to my truck dinged.  I think I lost more than the usual amount of brain cells in this adventure.  I did though, get in a little over thirteen miles. The remainder of the day, I ached all over.

The next day, I felt as if I were in an automobile accident – like my whole body had lurched forward and hit the dashboard.  I thought about running, but then decided, that’s it.  I have accomplished what I set out to do – I ran every day for the month of April.  I had to fight an inner battle not to run on Thursday.  I went to the gym instead and worked-out on the elliptical crossramp.  After 5 miles, I said, “That’s enough of that!” and went home feeling achy, like I was coming down with the flu.

My arm wound felt warm all day, and that night I felt like I had a mild grade flu.  It was a wonderful night of celebration for the family however, as we all went to watch our son perform with his high school chamber group (our oldest plays violin).  Back home late, I continued to pick out tiny pebbles from my arm.  My husband poked around, as I winced in pain, for pus.  Then I dosed the hardening scab with hydrogen peroxide.  Finally today, so many, many hours later, I am feeling better. 

Thanks to all for reading the wondrous journey of my running for 30 consecutive days.  I loved it.  At the same time, I am just slightly relieved its over.

ps.  I hit 177.41 miles  (285.51 km) for the month of April. 

Spring Firsts

The sun decided to hide behind gray clouds all day, and as such, I began my run feeling cold, under-dressed with a beanie on top of my head.  But I quickly warmed.  Though not officially, what little we had of winter has come to an end.  Spring is here.  

Today while running Arroyo Trabuco, I came upon my first mustard seed plant of spring:

I ran along Arroyo Trabuco for seven plus miles before turning around.  Making seven creek crossings on the out, and seven more on the back,  I only fell into the creek once (as I approached the 13 mile mark).  I was more fatigued than usual because I worked on keeping my pace up.  That’s my excuse for falling into the creek, and I’m standing by it.  (I only submerged part of one foot, so it was a quick recovery fall.)

Looking a bit gloomy, but still pretty cool:

My first stink bug sighting of spring 2014:

Yes, spring is here:

Miles run:  14.57

Six Creek Crossings

Thursday morning, I changed my running plans on a whim.  I just didn’t feel like the rolling coastal hills of Aliso/Wood Canyons.  I was more in the mood for the long, lonely, stretched out trail called Arroyo Trabuco.  I parked in Las Flores, a town not too far from home, and kicked up my feet along a strand of dirt next to The Water District,

and made my way down to Arroyo Trabuco:

I made 6 creek crossings (or crick crossings, depending where you’re from) --

One:

Two:

Three:

Four:

Five:

Six:

I had some close calls, but didn’t fall in once.  I ran all the way to the back entrance of O’Neill park (at the base of the Saddleback Mountains).  Here I turned around and headed back --

My total out-and-back measured about 13.5 miles (approx. 22k).  I made the same number of creek crossings for the “back”, minus one.  I was running out of time, so I took a short-cut back to the truck.  Ends up the “short cut” was such a climb, though I cut some distance from my run, I don’t think I cut much time. 

Triple Digits

I went out for a run in misty winter weather, California winter that is.  My goal: run a minimum of nine miles so that I can hit triple digits for January’s mileage.  It’s been a few months since I’ve had a triple digit month.  Now that I’m training for Twin Peaks, I’ve got to get my mileage up.

Turns out, my mood was low, quite low.  I didn’t really want to run.  But once I got out of my truck, I knew that running would be the best thing for me.  And it was.

I began at Oak Tree Park in Las Flores, ran down Antonio Parkway and caught the Tijeras Creek trailhead.  I took that down to Arroyo Trabuco, a flatish trail, all the way to O’Neill Park (which rests at the base of the Saddleback Mountains).

The trails were nearly empty.  I saw one runner.  He was wearing a shirt that read, “Freedom Run,” and I saw him on the way out and on the way back (we ran in opposite directions).  Other than that runner, I saw only two other people, a man and woman riding their mountain bikes together.

I had six creek crossings on the way out, the same on the way back.  I did not get one toe wet. (Yay!) With a mile remaining, I got some light rain.  So, I quickly stopped and packed up my phone, camera and ipod.  The remainder of the way in, I could hear the bunnies and squirrels and little birdies scampering about in the brush and leaf litter, apparently in preparation of the rain.

A lovely run.  Miles logged:  12

Tijeras Creek Trail:

Arroyo Trabuco:

Time to turnaround (O’Neill Park):

Taking Arroyo Trabuco on the “back”:

Training Begins

Today my training begins.  Ha!  For what, you may wonder.  For Twin Peaks, which isn’t until October 2014.  I need to start early because I have a LONG way to go.  (Twin Peaks is a 50 mile race with an ungodly amount of elevation gain, run in the local mountains.  If you have read my blog before, you may have read a word or two about the race ). 

My goal for the remainder of the winter (about 6 weeks left) is to get back running regularly.  In achieving this goal, I am determined to still get in my adventure runs.  I do not want to let go of the fun this time.  Lastly, I aim to rigorously continue physical therapy (ON A DAILY BASIS – when the foot improves I will not lighten up PT). 

Of course, beginning training today is too late for my upcoming 30k race.  I’m all right with this because all races I run before October will be training for the big one, Twin Peaks. 

Back to my first day of training.  It was not an adventure run.  Today’s run was an out-and-back on Arroyo Trabuco Trail in 85F degree weather (approx. 30C).  Yes, I did just write that it’s winter.  I plugged away at 12.47 miles on this lovely, relatively flat trail, in and out of shade.  I made five stream crossings on the way out, the same five on the way back.  On my last crossing, I fell in and drenched both feet!  I was getting a little cocky and went at rock hopping too quickly. 

The beginning (or end) of Arroyo Trabuco starts at a golf course:

My First Creek Crossing:

Clumps of Mistletoe hanging from the Sycamore trees:

One of my favorite spots:  Arroyo Trabuco / Tijeras Creek Trail junction. 

Didn’t Need A Pack

Last night a war break out in the house over Minecraft.  Yes, Minecraft.  A video game!  And this is about the only “in” game with no vulgarity or profanity.  Needless to say, get four guys playing this “tame” game at once, three of them brothers, and the night getting late, something is bound to happen.  And it did.  And I was upset, but happily allowed the father (my husband) to hand out punishments on his own.  Still, I pulled my guilt trip move, and told the two in the deepest trouble that I wasn’t going for my early morning run, because I didn’t trust they’d behave while I was away in the morning.  Oddly, that stung.

Still, I set my alarm because I figured the guilt trip worked.  But alas, I was just too worn out to get out for some early morning trails. 

This afternoon, I decided it was a hike, the gym or a run for me.  I could convince no man or boy in the home to accompany me on a hike up to Bedford Peak.  The 3-mile uphill didn’t go in my favor.  Also, being spoiled by the mountains lately, the gym just wasn’t going to satisfy.  In the end, I opted for trails.  I grabbed my pack, which I packed the night prior for a long morning run.  By the time I arrived to Arroyo Trabuco Trail in the foothills of the Saddleback Mountains, I wasn’t much in the mood for a run at all.  

I set off in warm wind.  My foot felt very decent.  Still, I decided I could probably only muster a three mile run.  Definitely didn’t need a pack for this.  Ends up, I felt better after a mile and a half.  I ventured on a little further, then turned back on the empty trails for a total round trip run of 5.14 miles. 

Definitely looking forward to a new year.

Happy Holidays to all!  And may you have no Minecraft wars in your peaceful home.

Today’s Run: