Day One

Today my Twin Peaks training began, using my own customized plan (customized by me).  And of all days, today, I really didn’t feel like running because I had a doctor’s appointment north from my regular trails.  Afterward, I diligently drove to the nearest trails and put in my 6 miles on what’s called the Quail Hill Loop (located in Irvine, Ca).  I thought this was a 2 mile loop, ends up it’s a bit shorter, so I ran it a little over three times.  It was much like running a track, except with hills and a freeway view. 

Today’s run certainly was not a fun run, nor was it a fast run (though a few times I glanced at my garmin and picked up my speed purposely). 

 

Though the landscape looked only one color from afar (brown) there was lots of color dotting the landscape:

I'm no scofflaw, BUT I didn’t think this sign IN THE DIRT was for me, because that looked like a trail to me . . .

I took that “trail” toward this lovely outcropping (below).  About a tenth of a mile up, I came to a fork.  Deciding which to take I saw the biggest bobcat I’ve ever seen.  The bobcats I usually see are at most knee high (as tall as my knees from paws to top of head).  If I’m not mistaken, this cat’s head measured up to my thighs!   He was moving slowly through the high grass.  Not really wanting to deal with a bobcat today, I ran back to the loop.  Then I thought, “Dang it!  I didn’t get a picture.”  And so I went back.  Duh!!  This time though I traveled the “This is not a Trail” Trail cautiously and without music.  I didn’t see the cat, so I took the other fork toward the outcropping until it ended. 

After finishing my second Quail Hill Loop, I reversed the loop, and after that ran until I finished 6 miles.

Back on Quail Hill Loop:

This graph looks way worse than it was.  Notice the top elevation is only 300 feet:

Still I Swagger : )

I set out fearful this morning for my first trail run in a month.  Yes -- the physical therapist said trails are okay, but only "rolling hills."  I was fearful of the ole' hip -- frankly, I'm tired of the injured hip CRAP (excuse my language)! 

I woke at 5:30 this Sunday morning, my usual weekday waking hour.  I usually sleep in until at LEAST 6:30 on weekends, maybe 7:30 if I push it (8:00, 8:30 on those really blissful days).  So, so leary about heading off, yet a bit giddy about my feet hitting dirt again, I was slow prepping.  Still dark out, I drank 1 and 1/2 cups of coffee, surfed the internet,  and dressed slowly, oh so slowly, carefully placing circular moleskins on my feet where the Salomons rubbed my feet raw in the Great Silverado Footrace. (I didn't by the way, wear Salomons this morning -- I wore my trustworthy New Balance)

Hitting the trail is one thing.  Hitting the trail with a group, is an entirely other thing.  Why?  Because, when I hit the dirt solo, I can take it super easy if I want to.  In other words, I don't put pressure on myself, besides KEEP THE MOMENTUM FORWARD.  When I hit the dirt with a group, I want to keep up with the pack.  Don't get me wrong . . . I can hang being left behind -- I really don't mind going solo.  I don't mind last place.  But if I'm gonna run with a group, especially if I've left my ipod behind, I oughta run with a group.

A larger than average crowd showed up for this "New Member Run".  There were 5 non-new members (Tom, Daniel, and myself, later joined by Dave and Maura who were on a much longer run), plus 4 new members (Linda, Sarah, Kathy and her husband Dave).

The group set off pretty quickly, leaving me little time to warm-up.  Sticking to the physical therapist's directions, I stayed behind to warm-up, hoping I'd catch up with the group later.  (I was hoping that I didn't regret leaving the ipod behind :)

That first hill was no "rolling hill."  Heck.  It was difficult and lovely anyway.  It wasn't "technical" thankfully for my hip. There were sandy parts and solid parts of this mostly well-groomed trail.  Still, I was quite reluctant -- I so feared an ache to the hip.

Being that I had to have my warm-up, the other runners got quite a good start on me.  I saw up ahead that the group broke in two -- a normal occurance for group runs.  (Sometimes they break into three with groups this size).  And then I could see up ahead, Dave and a blonde female join the second group (the female, I learned later was Maura -- whom I have read about and seen on blogs, but have never met).

ANYWAY, my goal was to catch up with the group.  And though I was slow in doing so, I actually caught them before the turnaround!  This core strengthening and sprints added to road runs has indeed increased my speed.  Before this hip injury, I really don't think that I would have caught up.  The hills however, they were quite difficult.  I'm hopeful to get them back (SOON).  So hopeful, that if things go good for my next "rolling hills" run, I just might defy the physical therapist and run to the Top of the World later this week.  Shhhhh.  Don't tell anyone. : ) 

Maybe, just maybe, I'm being too hopeful.  Heck.  I'm doing my exercises.  I'm getting stronger. 

Awesome to get out in the group again.  Great to see my running pal, Tom.  Great to see Dave again.  Great to meet runners new to the group.  (Feels like I've been away for ages : ( -- yet it's only been a little over a month!)

Coming in after the five mile out-and-back, Quail Hill Trail, Irvine,  (Dave, me, Maura, Kathy -- photo courtesy Tom.)

Quail Hill In The Spring





Miles logged on this Palm Sunday:  5.0

Cool Morning Trail Run

Again I woke through the night. At 3:30, I thought, maybe I should just get up. Nah. 5:00 AM, I thought the same, and again at 5:30. When my cell phone alarm finally rang at 6:00, I jumped up, “What the heck! What’s today? What am I supposed to do?” And then I remembered, today’s a stress-free morning – I’m going for a nice and easy trail run. Sunday’s the new member run for my group, and from experience have found the new member runs to be pretty stress-free. (Notice my STRESS on stress-free – I’m trying to tone it down in my life right now : ))

After a couple cups of coffee, I set out beneath big, gray cloudy skies. Rain drizzled as I made my way toward the freeway – just enough for one wiper’s worth. Let me tell you the relief I felt was great, knowing that I would not run this morning in the heat.

I met Tom at the Quail Hill Trail Head, and we took off running on a well groomed almost sandy path for a refreshing run in the Irvine foothills. It seemed like ages since we’ve run together, ages since I’ve run Quail Hill.

We began this morning’s run on an incline, nothing terrible, but still, it’s always tough for me to START running uphill. I really like about 3 miles of flat running to begin (downhill is nice too). One very nice thing about beginning on an uphill is that, if it’s an out-and-back like today, you know you’re gonna end on a downhill. I like that!

About a third of the way in, we met fellow club runners, Sheila and Dave, making their way in the opposite direction (two runs were posted for this morning). We stopped and chatted for a bit. We were all smiles – who wouldn’t be with this nice cool weather, STRESS-FREE run?

Obviously, I enjoyed my run this morning. With us both nursing injuries, I think we did pretty good (hopefully, Tom will say the same). Soon after, I was thinking about, planning bigger, harder runs, when I told myself – take a break, remember? You’re cutting back. Well, at least for October.

Miles joyfully logged this morning: 5.20