I Hate Horsethief

I may not look like it in this picture – but I HATE West Horsethief.  I really do.  That trail is a vampire.  It sucks the blood right out of me and leaves me there in the dirt to die.  So, ask me this:  Why did I decide to take on Horsethief in the middle of the afternoon during the summertime?  I have a good explanation for that.  Well, I don’t know how good.  To make it quick, I needed to pick up our youngest son in Wildomar on Sunday.  Just so happens that The Saddleback Mountains separates me from that destination.  Normally, I would have driven around the mountains.  On Sunday, I thought, “Heck – I’ll take a short cut.  I’ll drive to the top of the mountain.  AND, while I’m at the top of the mountain, I’ll run back down into the canyon . . .  then run back up to the ridge – via Horsethief.” 

What the heck!!!

What. Was. I. Thinking?

I knew right away that I was probably in trouble.  I felt miserable at 1:30 PM climbing up The Main Divide in 100+ F degree weather.  And I felt pretty miserable running down Trabuco (because the terrain was so rocky I couldn’t get a foothold!!!).  But it certainly was GORGEOUS.  Trabuco is awesomely beautiful.  Enough to forget about the potential hell that awaited. 

My Beautiful Trabuco:

My real troubles began as soon as I set foot upon Horsethief.  I yearned for shade.  SHADE.  SHADE.  SHADE.  I felt that I could not bear the trek another step.  But I had to.  Had to.  I was in a canyon with no way out, but UP.  I pretty much hated every second of it.  But I plugged forward, else fall down in the dirt and cry.  Hell, I tell you!  Hell.  When I finally reached a bit of shade, there were no branches strong enough to lean against and hold me up.  I tried to hunch over and grab my knees.  But my hands just flew off my knees from the sweat.  Finally, I just decided that in order to cool off, to stop my insides from boiling over on this ridiculous incline, I needed to stop and  SIT in the shade.  And this is what I did.  I sat until I could feel my body temperature decline.

And then, I finally made it.  I reached The Main Divide.  I wasn’t giddy, and I wasn’t elated.  Instead, I bushwhacked my way  to the water stash.  I was so grateful to find the stash was still there.  Thing was, the tarp was thrown off and the tens of gallons were exposed to the hot heat.  After washing my face in HOT water, I poured a jug over my head.  And then I filled my pack with this hot water.  I didn’t mind taking the time to put the tarp back over the water.  I was in no hurry to continue on.  Eventually, I took off on The Main Divide in sopping wet clothes, but thankfully with a body temperature declining. 

As the gnats swarmed my face, I caught a clear glimpse of Lake Elisnore.  Not far from the lake, our youngest son played, joyfully I’m sure, with his friend at his nearby home in Wildomar.  I couldn’t wait to get there.  But move, I could hardly manage.  I ran the flats and I ran the downhills.  I didn’t run quickly though.  And I didn’t even much look at my garmin for pace.  Misery.  This is what I was training for.  How many more steps?  Don’t think about that.  Just one foot in front of the other, and then I will be done . . .

That took FOREVER.  But I made it.  Indeed I did.  

When I drove home that evening, I drove around the mountain instead of up and over.  I was done with mountains for the day! 

Up Yours Horsethief

This morning, I woke at 5AM and met running friend Jeremy and carpooled up the mountain for my last mountain training run for the Saddleback Marathon.  As we ran up the Main Divide toward Trabuco Trail, I fretted a bit about that climb come next Saturday.  I had forgotten how difficult that first climb is.  It’s dang steep and longer than I recalled.  The weather was cool going up, a tiny bit windy in some parts.  Overall, the views were breathtaking.

Main Divide on the way to Trabuco Trail: (3rd photo down is Jeremy’s):

We recovered quickly from the Main Divide  and took that beautiful downhill called Trabuco.  Running Trabuco Trail is a great reprieve – shady, lush, though rocky, a nice long down hill.  Sometimes Trabuco seems like it will never end.  Not today because we caught this trail early on.  Still I had to push it to keep up with my friend whose strides are much longer than mine. 

Runnin’ Trabuco:  (photo compliments of Jeremy)

When we reached West Horsethief I took off my sleeves, plugged in my ipod.  I don’t recall if I mentioned to my running partner before then that I had planned to try and run West Horsethief in its entirety.  I told another friend a couple weeks ago, and he thought I was crazy (Challenge!!).  But after a gel, I told Jeremy my plans, which in my mind (after telling at least 2 people) meant that I HAD TO DO IT.  (I’m so funny that way!) 

West Horsethief’s Profile: 

Running Horsethief was not too bad at first, though it was still bad.  Then . . . about a third the way up, it BECAME REALLY BAD.  That’s not “bad” as in “good.”  That’s “bad” as in damn difficult.  I kept chugging away at it, keeping running form, though running quite slowly.  I exclaimed out loud just how difficult the task was.

I have gone up this trail enough times to “know” it.  But I have never run Horsethief in its entirety.  I have never run most of it.  I have only run the bottom flatter portion, and the very top. 

Today, I knew that I could do it.  All that mattered was whether I decided to chuck my goal if it grew too strenuous.  Saying that I was going to run it out loud to more than one person helped (that only helps with some things), and reaching the half way point helped as well.  Once I made it 75% of the way, there was not a chance I was going to stop running.  And so for the first time in my trail running career (the first time in my life for that matter), I ran UP all of West Horsethief trail this morning.   

View running up Horsethief:

The face of distress (yup, still running):

A quick pose before heading off on the Main Divide back toward the top of Trabuco Trail:

Back on the Main Divide (photo again compliments of Jeremy):

Gifted with gorgeous views this morning, we continued on running the Main Divide back toward the Saddleback Marathon finish line.  The weather grew a bit warm, then we were blessed with some cool breezes.

Once we hit the Trabuco Trail again, it was all down hill on The Main Divide from there.  That of course didn’t mean running was easy.  The trail was rocky in some parts.  At one point 2 motorcyclists raced around a corner, blowing dirt into my face.  I waved my arms fiercely to warn them of another runner behind me.  And for a brief second I feared the one idiot driver might hit Jeremy.  Did these bikers not even have a clue that others would use that trail?  I was a bit perturbed by them that when I came upon three rangers also on motorcycles, I tattled.

From there, I thought I’d try out my faster running muscles (from my speed training, ha, ha) and tried to run the finish as quickly as possible.  I took quick small steps, careful not to drag my feet.  In the end, I felt happy with my performance, and glad that the shoes I chose for next Saturday did me good on the rockiest portions of today’s run.  The shorts however, did not do well, with major chaffing in the waist line.  

The final stretch before the finish line next Saturday – a lovely, shady single-track.  I wasn’t exhilarated with Jeremy’s suggestion to go UP Horsethief for today’s run (because you might recall, I HATE that trail).  But tonight I am so glad.  Thanks for pushing me!

Twin Peaks Pacer Recap

Right now, I cannot write an entry that adequately relays my experience as a Twin Peaks pacer.  I seriously feel that it would take an entire book.  I’ll call this a “recap.”

Pacers waited for their runners at the Horsethief aid station where a friendly crew, including 2 radio men were already several hours into their all-day shift.  If you read my blog regularly you might remember the words Horsethief Trail.  Sometimes I call it West Horsethief.  Sometimes I separate the word into Horse Thief.  Either way you say it though, that trail is truly hell.  It’s a rocky, switchback that climbs and climbs with plenty of false summits and NO RELIEF in elevation gain.  And there’s very, very little shade.  Though it’s a little less than 2 miles long (I believe), I pretty much hate Horsethief, and currently, it’s the only trail that I can think of that I would say that about. 

Needless to say, I was thrilled to learn that pacers meet their runners at the TOP of Horsethief.  There, we waited and we waited.  We talked, we laughed, we ate candy.  Then finally, the front runner came up the beast called Horsethief.  He was suffering some, but looked strong.  Strong enough to smile (See photo of Dean below).  He had quite a lead on the second place runner.  Then another significant amount of time passed.  That’s when I began walking the trail, to the edge before it radically descended.  Scott Barnes came around that corner, smiling and looking cool and calm.  I thought he looked familiar, then realized I knew him when he said, “Lauren?”  What a thrill it was to see Scott in third place, even more thrilling to give him that news.  He seemed shocked.

Finish/Start line, Race Operations:

Race Director Jessica Deline:

Volunteers (Pacers, sweeper, etc):

West Horsethief Aid Station, First Place runner, Dean Dobberteen:

Looking down at Horsethief (toward very end of trail, where the runners finally got some relief):

The Radio Guys at Horsethief Aid Station:

Waiting at the top, checking trail for runners coming up:

Scott Barnes, 3rd Place (coming up Horsethief, see prior blog post where I was fortunate to train with Scott):

After Scott, the trails were silent.  An entire hour or more must have passed before runners began dribbling in.  Some looked okay, others looked like death, having climbed to mile 33/34.  All runners took time to rest.  Some took lengthy rests.  Some recovered well and took off somewhat strong.  Others didn’t seem to recover as well and took off slowly walking.  Other runners dropped from the race and waited for a ride down.  Some of the runners smiled.  Some of them scowled.  One runner looked at us and first thing he said was “I hate everyone who has anything to do with Twin Peaks.”

The runners came in “far and few between” and more and more of them looked like the walking dead.  There was a report of a runner laying in the trail and station worker Christine went off to get him.  About that time I strapped on my gear and decided to head down Horsethief.  I knew Hank had to be having a hard time of it.  I hoped that I could help.

On the way down I saw Greg Hardesty (OC Register sports writer) whom I’ve met on a few occasions and have never seen him less than cheery.  Not today.  Today he mumbled something like, “I hate this trail,” yet he kept on trucking.

It hurt to see the suffering as I made my way down Horsethief.  Here and there I’d come upon a runner.  He would be sitting on the side.  Or he would be staggering side to side.  I saw Christine slowly walking up the young runner that she found laying in the trail.  As I descended, I kept a lookout for a white cap.  Turns out, just about everyone I came across was wearing a white cap. 

The descent down Horsethief was surreal.  I’ve never been in a war zone.  But this trail seemed so much like a path of the walking wounded, like I was making my way to the battlefield past these runners who were struggling on to safety.  I grew a little worried the more I descended. 

Then finally I saw Hank.  He was not staggering.  But I could tell, he was spent.  Quite frankly, I was elated, so, so happy that he had his wits about him, he wasn’t staggering, or worse yet, laying on the trail.  I gave him a quick hug, and got behind him and began the march up, telling him each time he asked, “how much longer?”

Runner finishing up Horsethief:

Runners taking a breather before heading off:

Another runner makes it to the top of Horsethief:

First female runner makes it to top of Horsethief (right), Christine pours water on Rob’s neck (see prior blog where I came across Rob on Main Divide):

Catra Corbett and Andy Kumede:

More runners finishing up Horsethief:

Taking off for another trip to the peak:

Heading down Horsethief to meet up with Hank:

Meeting runners along the way:

At the top of Horsethief Hank took little time, and we were off.  The moon came out early and the weather began to cool.  As the sun went down, I felt relieved that I knew those trails well.  Hank was using all his energy to move onward as quickly as possible, one thing he didn’t need to worry about was which way to turn.

The amount of suffering I witnessed on those trails were immense.  Remember, this race had about 15,000 to 17,000 feet of elevation gain and 52 miles to cover.  Hank’s determination was amazing.  I hoped that I was helping.  I think I did somewhat, especially with direction.  I tried to be sensitive and slow down when he needed it and stop talking when he couldn’t take hearing another person’s voice at the moment.  Still, I think there were times when I talked/joked a little too much.  But we also had some miles of silence.

Taking off on the Main Divide with Hank:

The moon shows its face:

It grew dark well before we made our descent down the mountain.  Tiny white, orange and yellow lights glittered from thousands of feet below from Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties.  With headlamps and flashlights we continued the climb.  Then as we made our descent, the stations began closing up.  Word was, the sweeper truck was going to start picking up runners.  And so the race was on as we ran from the sweeper truck.  It seemed like we literally flew down Upper Holy Jim, a single track that the truck couldn’t drive, but the running sweepers were close behind.  I’m truly amazed how Hank was able to kick it in and pull out a burst of energy as we jumped and stumbled over rocks on that single track down. 

The sweepers caught up with us around Indian Truck Trail (the last 6.5 miles).  They were two great guys who ran along with us.  One of them took off, and sweeper Tim ran along with us for the longest 6.5 miles EVER.  I had no doubt that Hank would cross the finish line.  He had already proven his determination.  Still, I was amazed that he had anything left. 

Then finally through the dark, we saw a light and ran in over that finish line.  Hank’s wife and daughter were waiting there like two angels in the light, so happy to finally see him.  They said that they could see our lights as we travelled down the mountain and couldn’t believe what we were doing, what he was doing.  I only ran a little under twenty miles of this trek.  I had the easy part. 

It was finally over.  My friend Hank crossed the finish line of Twin Peaks 50 at a little after 10:00 PM.  Though he crossed the line last, which crossing that finish line in general is a HUGE accomplishment, he did not actually have the longest time due to the early starts  who began the race at 5:30 AM instead of 7:00 AM.  Hank placed 36 out 44 finishers.  86 runners started this 50+ mile race.  44 finished.  Others dropped to a 50k option, and others dropped entirely. 

Congratulations Hank.  You did it!!  I’m not sure that I will honor your request that the next time you mention a fifty mile race that I’m to tell you “shut up.”  LOL.  Rest up, friend.

Hank with race director, Jessica:

Tim, the patient sweeper – good luck on your first Iron Man!:

At finish line with Hank: