In Search of Falls

I read on the internet that there is another waterfall in Trabuco Canyon besides the Holy Jim Falls.  Since I didn't have much that I HAD to do this morning (there's always plenty to do), I dragged invited my husband along for a hike in search of these falls. 

We found it!  We missed it the first time driving up Trabuco Creek Road.  After turning around at the Holy Jim parking lot, we drove that bumpy road back about a mile, looking closely through the forest of trees for a canyon where another stream dumps into Trabuco.  And there it was!  Well within the area where an Adventure Pass is required, there's a thin canyon north of the road.

The hike is relatively easy -- no major boulder hopping, no super steep inclines.  There's a thin trail that runs back and forth from one side to the other of the stream, with plenty of rocks and logs to balance your way across.   The stream flows pretty good and there's lots of poisin oak to watch out for.  It's shady and cool and in the end a waterfall with about a forty foot drop greets you.  Lovely.  Simply lovely.

The hike to this waterfall is relatively short. From the road it took us only seventeen minutes to get there, and about the same on the return trip. But that's taking it pretty quickly -- I worked up a good sweat.

Coming off the road, making way to Trabuco Creek

Hiking along Trabuco Creek, headed toward that canyon we missed on the way in

Hiking up the canyon in search of waterfall

Look Closely between "V" in trees for the waterfall

It really is a waterfall!



Heading Back

I'm So Tired

I had planned for about 12 miles of hills this morning.   But I was so dang tired I could not imagine dragging my body up and down those hills.  For the first time in a long time concerning runs, my body said, "No, no, no, no, no!!!"

I felt that if I ran, I was going to somehow be sorry.  I wasn't just tired, tired.  I was utterly fatigued.  To save myself from perhaps injury, I listened to my body and cancelled today's solo run.

A couple hours later, I meekly grumbled, "How about the gym?"  To this question, my body responded, or rather did not respond, so I spent two hours at the gym.  Not to worry, I eased up and split the time between the elliptical and strength training.

Now as I get boys through their homework, make sure baths are taken, I am oh so tired still.  But not the same kind of utterly fatigued kind of tired that said "I'll curse you if you run," this morning.  I can just use a good sleep.  (And thank goodness I don't have to work tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, or the next : )

Scheduling the Short run

I would much rather run than build strength.  Turns out though, if I want to run, I need to build strength.  But it's HARD to build strength.  It's easy to run.  (Well, not exactly EASY, but enjoyable, quite enjoyable.)

I figure part of my problem with strength training, is that I run myself ragged.  In other words, I'm too tired to strength train.  On my off days, I'm on the elliptical or in the pool.  Rarely am I working on strength.  Recently I added planks to my routine.  I've improved.  But I dread them.  Just as I dread ab work, push ups, or that giant exercise ball that sits in the corner of my livingroom between the baby grand and magazine rack.  It's no wonder that my core is weak, though not as weak as it has been since I've been working on it (post hip injury).  It's weak, because I simply don't work it enough! 

So, I'm switching things up just a bit with my running.  I'm forcing a short run once a week.  That's not an extra run, but an existing run each week will be less than five miles.  Sure, I get short runs in occassionally.  Not because I want too, usually because I have too -- recovery, time constraints or injury issues.  This way, I figure, I'll give my body a break and a little more time to work on the core.  Not an earthshaking routine change.  But let's see if lightening up some will help me get to that core work more vigorously.

Miles logged this morning (nice, flat, cool miles down at Doheny Beach and the wharf): 4.60   

Bay Bridge Run

Another early morning, but not that EARLY.  Woke at 5:15 AM; I’ve seen earlier, and not just for my hobby.  There were times when the boys were babies, that I’ve seen way, way earlier. Those times were joyous (more so looking back), but more so joyous looking now, as they sleep soundly while I sneak out that door at 6:00 AM. 

I arrived downtown San Diego around 7:00 AM, maybe a tad later.  I love San Diego – so easy to get to, and though it’s a big city, it’s actually very small.  I mean, it doesn’t matter where I park for a race, I can easily walk to the start line.  Not only that!  Parking is free at the meters on Sundays : )

The Start Line for the Navy’s Bay Bridge Run was in the Gas Lamp District – near Petco Stadium and the Convention Center.  The way I saw it today was:  this was an easy run, a mere four miles up a tiny bump in the road (that is over the bridge to Coronado Island : )  And it was a bump in the road compared to the hills I’ve been attempting.  Boy, did it feel good to run up that bridge without a problem.  In fact, this is the race that started it all.  Too much to go through now (especially since I’ve blogged about it on Myspace way back when), but this was the race that lead me to the trail.  And so, for that very reason, I’m gravitated toward it each year.  This is my third year running The Navy’s Bay Bridge Run.  And there’s a good chance I will run it every year herein after, at least as long as I can, even with the immense crowds.  Today I ran with 8,000 other runners across the bridge to Coronado Island.   : )

Gas Lamp District, downtown San Diego   At Start Line, Ready to go

Running the Bay Bridge over to Coronado Island 

          Tidelands Park, Coronado Bay Bridge in background

The Bash

Entertainment as we wait for bus back to mainland

Looking old and tired

Heading back

Walk through downtown back to car (Petco Stadium in background, home of Padres baseball)

Convention Center

Steak Strip Club (I’m just a small town girl, don’t see these establishments often : )

Miles logged this morning:  4.0

And of course the video:

Harding Truck Trail

The original plan was to meet up and run Santiago Truck Trail, which I haven't run since last July (which happened to be with Tom, who I met this morning too).  Turned out that No Parking signs now line the road all along the trail head.  Closest place to park was Cook's Corner, which meant running along Santiago Canyon Road a couple miles before getting to Santiago Truck Trail.   Didn't seem like a good idea.  So, Tom suggested parking at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon and going up Harding Truck Trail.

Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary

Now, I have never been to Harding Truck Trail -- one reason being that it had been closed for quite some time due to the fires we had. And did I mention that it is STEEP? I mean, like non-runnning steep. At least most of it, and at least for me.  But it was gorgeous.  Wildflowers and green grass covered the mountains.   The low clouds added an eeriness to the beauty, not to mention a coolness to the air.  When we climbed above the clouds the sun shined brightly, my head sopping from sweat beneath my favorite $1.99 beanie.  Did I already say how pretty it was????  I am so glad Tom suggested this trail.

The run down was exhilerating.  I think I found the perfect place to train for Bulldog.  One thing for sure . . . I'm not going to register for the Harding Hustle (30k) come July.  I'm not tough enough (yet!)

Miles logged:  7.5

Spotting Snakes

I didn't want to run this morning, especially not hills. I did anyway. Why? Because, I ran flat easy miles on Tuesday, and I'm planning on runs Saturday and Sunday. So, today was the only day to fit it in -- I don't want to run Friday, because that would make runs three days in a row. I'm a two-day-max-in-a row-runner (so fearful I am of injury.)

Aliso/Wood Canyons wilderness park has five trails that lead directly to the top. 1) Meadows, 2) Mathis, 3) Rock-It, 4) Lynx and 5) Cholla. It's difficult to say which is hardest to run. Different days I'd give you different answers. Today, I didn't want to run up Cholla, because that meant a 4 1/2 mile run to even get to Cholla. And I wasn't much in the mood for Meadows and its steep, steep switchback. Rock-It didn't sound too bad -- less mileage than Cholla to arrive at. But Rock-It actually leads away from Top of the World, which means some back tracking. I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN BACK TRACKING.  And Lynx was out of the question, first because I might as well run all the way to Cholla (which is easier to run up), and secondly it leads in the wrong direction too! The run from the ranger station to Mathis is approximately 2 1/2 miles.  And so Mathis it was. And tough it was. Sunny, hot, sweaty tough. 

As I ran up Mathis, not having a good time at all, I simply thought to myself, "It'll be over, it'll be over." And QUITE SOME TIME LATER . . . it was.

And then the fun began. Overlooking a brilliantly blue Pacific, I ran along Top of the World, still a little sluggish. But things were beginning to look beautiful. I headed down Meadows feeling a lot better than when I started off. And pretty much right away, I spotted a Rattler slowly slithering his way across the trail. He didn't even seem to notice me as I stopped abruptly in my tracks. I got a good look at that rattle as it disappeared into the mustard seed plants, and I was off running again.

By now everything was definately beautiful. The hills were green. Mustard seed added a colorful zing. And I had spotted a rattlesnake before he spotted me! I'm not too fearful of rattlers -- just as long as I see it FIRST. I also have a game plan, which lessens my fear a bit. My plan, should I have the misfortune of getting bit by a rattler is to stay put. I read that exerting energy makes the poison travel faster through your body. My plan is to calmy sit, preferably in the shade. I have the Ranger's station number programmed into my phone, so I will call them first because I figure they can help me fastest. Then I can call 911. Hopefully I never have to use this plan. I'll just keep my eyes open and keep looking so that I'll see the rattlers first.

I met another snake at the base of Meadows.  I stopped in my tracks to watch it slither across the road.  It had the same rich, deep brown colorings of the rattler.  But this one wasn't fat like the one up the hill.  And its tailend went to a small point, no rattler.  It was a gopher snake.  And he too slithered off into the mustard -- that is first after looking at me, sticking his head into a gopher hole, and then basking in the hot sun for just a bit.

Miles logged this morning:  9.08