I dreamt a crazy dream, of pouring rain, flooded trails, quicksand and powers from another world snatching the best and brightest people, mostly children from Earth. I stood off to the side of the flood hollering to children not to step on the sandbars as they escaped the “aliens” and the flood. I remember “they” took all the children from one school as they received their Perfect Attendance Awards. And I knew for some reason, “they” wanted these children not because they were the smartest, but because of their perseverance to attend every single day of school.
I really dreamt this.
ANYWAY, this morning the air was heavy-laden with moisture. The streets were wet, the skies gray, large drips fell from tree leaves. After driving my wrecked car back to the shop, I picked up my rental and headed off to Aliso / Wood Canyons for another big loop run – this time clockwise. That meant running UP Meadows Trail (Oh my!). But it also meant getting the hardest climbing done with first. And that’s a good thing. : )
Running Meadow’s flat portion, approaching the climb (I can’t even see Top of the World)
I found running UP Meadows extremely difficult. Visibility was maybe a tenth of a mile – seriously. That’s kind of neat and all, but on a climb like Meadows, I found it mentally difficult, because I wasn’t ever quite sure how much longer I had to run before reaching the top. And another thing – the dirt was wet, which didn’t exactly make mud. It made clay. Nothing like running a single track, switchback for a mile long incline with Frankenstein feet. That’s how much clay clung to my shoes. My feet were heavy (more so than usual).
I stopped once to remove the mud/clay from my shoes. But it wasn’t ten seconds later that clay covered them again. So I gave up on the removal plan and just kept on running to the top.
Soaking wet, not from rain, but from sweat and the moisture in the air, I reached Top of the World triumphantly. Not sprinting, not beaming with a smile, but victorious.
Top of the World (Ocean behind me – Really!)
I found this run much less stressful, more enjoyable than my counter-clockwise run last Tuesday. Perhaps I was more rested today. Perhaps it was the better mood. Or maybe it was just the plain fact that I ran the hardest, steepest climb first. I finished up at the ranger station feeling pretty good, thinking I did have a chance to get myself in shape enough for Bulldog (Malibu Creek 50k) by the end of August.
Heading down Westridge on my way to Cholla Trail
Homeward bound / Wood Canyon, on a fairytale trail
Miles logged this morning: 11.65