It was gonna rain; it wasn't gonna rain. I thought, "Heck, I'll give my hip a rest," and I thought, "Waaa, I wanna run."
I dressed for a run just in case. I thought I'd do a flat road run, then changed to a flat trail run . . . but if I did rain, off to the gym I'd go. It's hard for me not to know exactly what I'm gonna do. : )
Turns out the skies were gray and cloudy when I dropped my baby off at preschool -- but no rain dropped from those clouds. Last minute, I decided to jumpstart out of these blues by running to the Top of the World in Laguna Beach. But I was only gonna take the short route (5.9 miles round trip). Uhhh . . . well, I think I can blame this on my husband, because when I phoned him with my plans to run to the Top of the World from Canyon Vistas Park, he said this: "And you're gonna run across over to Meadows and come back that way?"
Hmmm . . . "Maybe," I said. "I just might." Being that I am the planner, I actually decided right then and there: If my hip does not hurt, I'm running the loop!
No camelback, not even a handheld, I guzzled a bottle of water in the car, and because I just can't run with a regular bottle of water (ie. no strap), I ran toward Cholla Trail holding an empty Dasani bottle. I took Cholla Trail much stronger than last time I ran it. By the time I reached the top, I was dang glad for having changed out of my fleece shirt at the car in exchange for a t-shirt (my Bulldog T :)
Westridge was a delight, and difficult, and downright cold -- perfect running weather when you don't have water. I reached the Top of the World, triumphantly. Off in the distance fog hovered over the Pacific Ocean, as I guzzled down at the fountain. I saw Cathy running down into the park (she was again doing the opposite loop). After guzzling down some more from the fountain, I stretched, filled my Dasani bottle and took off through the neighborhoods to meet up with one of my favorite trails about a mile away -- Meadows.
The descent was joyous. Our storms had hardened the dirt and left deep crevices. My right ankle felt a little weak too -- perhaps because the downhill run had less give than usual. I pondered how I might strengthen my ankle and made a mental note to google it at home. I didn't begin to tire a great deal until I hit Wood Canyon Trail. Usually when I make it to Wood Canyon, I've got just 1 1/2 miles to the car (because I usually park at the ranger station). But today, about 5 miles remained of the loop, and that took a bit of my mental power. Just a bit though, not enough to stop me from finishing this run all the way to the end.
I dressed for a run just in case. I thought I'd do a flat road run, then changed to a flat trail run . . . but if I did rain, off to the gym I'd go. It's hard for me not to know exactly what I'm gonna do. : )
Turns out the skies were gray and cloudy when I dropped my baby off at preschool -- but no rain dropped from those clouds. Last minute, I decided to jumpstart out of these blues by running to the Top of the World in Laguna Beach. But I was only gonna take the short route (5.9 miles round trip). Uhhh . . . well, I think I can blame this on my husband, because when I phoned him with my plans to run to the Top of the World from Canyon Vistas Park, he said this: "And you're gonna run across over to Meadows and come back that way?"
Hmmm . . . "Maybe," I said. "I just might." Being that I am the planner, I actually decided right then and there: If my hip does not hurt, I'm running the loop!
No camelback, not even a handheld, I guzzled a bottle of water in the car, and because I just can't run with a regular bottle of water (ie. no strap), I ran toward Cholla Trail holding an empty Dasani bottle. I took Cholla Trail much stronger than last time I ran it. By the time I reached the top, I was dang glad for having changed out of my fleece shirt at the car in exchange for a t-shirt (my Bulldog T :)
Westridge was a delight, and difficult, and downright cold -- perfect running weather when you don't have water. I reached the Top of the World, triumphantly. Off in the distance fog hovered over the Pacific Ocean, as I guzzled down at the fountain. I saw Cathy running down into the park (she was again doing the opposite loop). After guzzling down some more from the fountain, I stretched, filled my Dasani bottle and took off through the neighborhoods to meet up with one of my favorite trails about a mile away -- Meadows.
The descent was joyous. Our storms had hardened the dirt and left deep crevices. My right ankle felt a little weak too -- perhaps because the downhill run had less give than usual. I pondered how I might strengthen my ankle and made a mental note to google it at home. I didn't begin to tire a great deal until I hit Wood Canyon Trail. Usually when I make it to Wood Canyon, I've got just 1 1/2 miles to the car (because I usually park at the ranger station). But today, about 5 miles remained of the loop, and that took a bit of my mental power. Just a bit though, not enough to stop me from finishing this run all the way to the end.
Miles logged today: 9.65
Injury report: Though a couple hours later, my hip ached more than usual, it's back to it's current state, stiff and slightly achey. Again, no better or worse from running.