June Gloom – Bring It On

That time of year has arrived, the time that we on the Southern California coast call June Gloom.  Several years in my twenty plus years in The O.C. we haven’t seen the sun for the entire month of June.  Tourists hate it.  They expect the resort beach towns to be warm and sunny during June.  I, well, I have to admit, I like it.  The air was so full of moisture this morning, puddles formed on the walkways.  The breeze was cool, almost cold.  Still, I wore shorts and short sleeves for my run, because I knew just about ten minutes in, I’d be warm enough.

I decided on a loop starting down Wood Canyon, one of my usual loops.  Today, I noticed immediately, was one of those days that everything was beautiful.  Not sure if it was the June Gloom, or if it was that I was just so dang happy to run trails.  I noticed a nest stuck up on the kiosk, literally stuffed with birdies.  I crept in close, but not too close, for a picture.  Last thing I wanted was to panic the little critters and make one of them fall out of the nest.  I also spotted two deer (in different locations) on Wood Canyon Trail.  They lazily grazed as I ran up the trail, seemingly unaffected by my approach. 

Wood Canyon (if you’ve been in Wood Canyon, and it didn’t look like this, try entering the park from the other end – off Canyon Vistas, and not via Aliso Creek Road, by the ranger station).

Birdies huddled together in kiosk nest

Mountain Lion food

I ran to the end of Wood Canyon.  Then I back-tracked a tiny bit to Meadows Trail for a nice run up, up, up to the top.  Beginning my climb, I noticed a mountain biker about half way up, and I thought to myself, “pass him.”  That trail is tough to run up, even tougher to bike up.  I’ve seen many a mountain biker walk his bike up, so it’s not that difficult to pass a biker, even one with such a head start.  But it’s not easy.  About half way up, I forgot about the biker, as I had lost sight of him.  Then about five minutes later, I turned a corner and there he was drinking from his camelback, standing next to his bike.  When I passed him, he didn’t seem happy.  Maybe he was, but he didn’t respond to my head nod, and he had kind of a sour look on his face.  Poor guy.  I know exactly how it is.  Anyway, he hoped on his bike, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was trying to pass me.  He never did.

Here we go again!  Entering Meadows Trail (HUNDREDS of bees swarm about me at this moment)

Top of Meadows Trail, ah, ya right!  Not gonna mess up my loop!

Looking back down on Meadows Trail (Aliso Canyon mid picture)

Pausing for a pose at Top of the World

9.60 miles happily, joyfully run this morning

Aching to Run

I haven’t run since Friday!  And though my ankle still slightly aches, I ached more to run trails today.  Being the end of the school year, field-trips, open houses, play dates etc., life has been hectic – not to mention, tomorrow is my last day of school (work), and I’ve had seniors literally racing against the clock to graduate.  Two boys finished this evening who I thought weren’t going to pull it off.  I am so dang happy for them.

ANYWAY, in between all this, I finally fit in a short run today.  The weather was extremely overcast.  And I felt strong.  I guess a rest does me good.  I simply let my mind go and took it all in.  Today’s run cleansed me more than a run has in a long time.  When before I ran this morning I felt a little hopeless, afterward, I saw lots of opportunity and hope.

At the base of Cholla Trail

West Ridge Trail, which is the ridge that goes up to Top of the World has 3 off-shoots.  Two are not named, the last is Park Avenue Nature Trail.  I took all 3 for the elevation, though it shortened the mileage a bit on this out-and-back to Top of the World.  I love the difficulty, some of it technical, not to mention the single-track of these off-shoots (I think I made up that word – I also call them “C trails” because they’re kind of shaped like C’s, beginning and ending on West Ridge).

Running one of these “C Trails”

Snake Food

Goofing off with a pose to show off Laguna Coast Wilderness Park across the canyon

Spring Bouquet along West Ridge

Miles logged this morning:  6.09

Elevation profile of today’s out-and-back

ps.  The RAT is back!  It’s been seen running around our backyard (in broad daylight) like he’s the new puppy.  I don’t go in the backyard anymore.

Face-to-face with a . . . RAT!

I didn’t run Saturday.  I’ve designated that day as a non-running day because I’m starting to hear things like “You’re never home,” which is odd, because I mainly run when no one is home.  Regardless, I decided Saturday is non-run day.  I brought our oldest to his martial arts lesson (he’s second degree black belt) and our middle son to his guitar lessons.  I spent A LOT of time at home.  I was only away at the gym for a little less than 2 hours during the early evening.  My little “accident” earlier in the day justified that, otherwise, I don’t think I would have been able to get away with it guilt-free. 

Here’s what happened.  I walked into the house from the back yard (the screen door, by the way, was wide open – a little pet peeve).  And what do I see?  A big, multi-colored RAT run from the back rooms into the living room.  (My Facebook friends might know this story, you can just humor me  -- same story I posted but more elaborated : ).

Well, I can come face-to-face with a bobcat or a rattler and I won’t scream.  I can fall flat on my face on rocky terrain and I won’t scream.  But when I saw this rat scuttle across my living room, I screamed. 

Hubby came running from the back office and he ran in to find the rat.  Broom in hand he finally located the creature hiding behind the couch.  As he tried to shoo it out the front door, I pulled a barstool from the kitchen and climbed up on it.  Stooping down on this bar stool, hubby swatted at the rat who came scrambling out into the living room floor (away from the front door).  I screamed again and bolted up.  Thing was, I had placed that dang bar stool in the door way.  Therefore, my head slammed into the top of the doorway.  Talk about a stunner!  I really didn’t know what hit me, and didn’t realize that the barstool fell beneath me either.  As I plummeted to the floor, all kinds of thoughts went through my mind.  Mainly, what was I going to break?  Hopefully, just an arm, because maybe I could still run. (LOL – yes, I guess I am a bit crazy)

I came crashing down on top of the barstool on the kitchen floor.  Hubby of  course LEFT THE RAT IN THE LIVING ROOM and ran to my aid.  My entire right side aching, I called out, “The rat, get the rat!”  But that dang man wouldn’t leave my side!!  I pretty much knew that nothing was broken (except maybe the barstool), so the panic of losing running was gone.  But hubby wouldn’t tend to the rat with me laying on the floor on top of the barstool.  So, I limped out the back door and went out the gate to drive off and pick up our son from music lessons.  By the time I returned, the rat had been swatted out the front door.

Apparently, that is according to Hubby, the rat was someone’s pet (because it was too clean and it was multi-colored).  I ask, do any of you have a pet rat?  If you do, please don’t lose it near my house : /

Anyway, the worst of my injuries is a swollen ankle. I ice it here and there.  There’s also a small cut and bruise on the swollen area.  

I was kind of a mess Sunday, so it’s a whole other story why I didn’t run when I left for errands, my car packed with running gear late afternoon, but it’s all inner-related.   

Not in the best of moods. : (  But I hope you all had good runs, or a good time with your family.  (On the good side, we had a delightful Friday night celebrating our oldest son’s birthday).

I’m No Renegade, But . . .

Sure, I often run the same place (not necessarily the same time) – that is, Aliso Wood Canyons.  But this place is filled with so many lovely trails, so many treacherous climbs (well, not exactly treacherous), that I could concoct a different route every day. And, that I did today.

Time short as usual, especially because it’s our oldest son’s birthday (Happy Birthday J!).  Thing is, I’m just too selfish about my running.  Even if the washing machine is broken (and it is) and I had to run back and forth to the Laundromat (woke at 5:30AM to fit this in) and had more even errands to run to finish off the birthday event, I wasn’t going to give up my run.  Those other things, well, I’d have to squeeze them in somehow (see, selfish!).

Enough self-degradation.  My run was a great release. 

First thing I saw running into the canyon, a quail.  I always see quail running the coastal hills.  That is, I see quail running about as I’m running about.  Never before have been able to capture a picture this close: 

Since, I knew I couldn’t put in great mileage, I decided to run off Wood Canyon Trail onto the single-tracks that I love so much.  First on the agenda:  Wood Creek.  After a nice climb, I over-looked the canyon, then hopped onto an overgrown single-track.  I ran through plenty of spider webs and reveled in the shade of this paradise trail before dumping back out onto Wood Canyon Trail.

On Wood Creek Trail Overlooking Wood Canyon

Running Wood Creek Trail

More Wood Creek – 3 or more of these wood plank bridges exist.  One of them is about to bust in half.

I ran Wood Canyon for a bit.  Then reluctantly made my way onto Coyote Run.  Why reluctantly?  Well, that’s the sight of the last coiled rattler that I came upon.  I have this funny idea that I’m going to come across a rattler in the exact same place I have before.  It’s never happened.  Nevertheless, I turned my ipod down low to run this trail:

Coyote Run dumps out onto Mathis.  Running Mathis, I quickly came upon the closed-off section with signs and warnings to STAY OUT.  Now, the bottom part of Mathis has been closed since our December rains.  But I thought it had reopened by now.  Unfortunately, the detour is Dripping Cave, which was too much out of the way for me.  I was running to the Top of the World, and I didn’t have time for such a detour. 

I’m really not a renegade.  But rules like this one (the closed trail), I treat more as a guideline.  As so, listening carefully for trucks, I ducked beneath the barrier and ran Mathis.  The entire area was plowed.  Large machinery stood vacant, but no workers were about.  After running out of the closed portion, where the climb begins, I came across two women bikers.  They asked me if they could get through Mathis.  I told them it was closed, but I had ran it.  They were pretty nervous about attempting such a devilish feat.  But they too didn’t have time for the detour.  They asked me what I thought a few times, with worried looks on their faces.  All I could really say was – it’s closed, there’s barriers, but I crossed the barriers and didn’t get caught.  I added as we parted, “If you get caught, just say you’re lost.” 

Shhhh.  Don’t tell anyone. 

Running Up Mathis:

Finally Reaching Top of the World

My Reward (coconut water)

Once I hit West Ridge for the return trip, the climbs were joyous.  The down hills were downright fun.  Though the sun blared down hard, I got bits of shade from the birds of preys’ shadows as they flew over head.  I saw one hawk with a mouse in it’s mouth.  Poor mousey.

Upon reaching the car, I was rushed, oh so rushed.  I raced around looking for the video game my son wanted (never to find it).  Then I picked up youngest son from school, did some laundry at the Laundromat.  Hubby picked up middle boy, while I cleaned the kitchen and wrapped presents.  Then I rushed off to do more laundry, purchased a gift card for Game Stop, bought some swim goggles for our eldest and picked up his birthday cake. And let me tell you!  I think today was National Walk as Slow as you Can Day.   I was trying to whiz through the stores with people walking sooooo slow.   Finally, I rushed home, feeling flabbergasted.  After wrapping the last present and laying the gifts out just right on the piano, I was ready to go pick the birthday boy up from school.  Before leaving, I said to my two youngest boys, “Today is kiss your brother’s a** day – I don’t want anyone to end up in the cornfield.”

Was that wrong?  (It’s been a rough year for my precious pre-teen).

My husband gave me a horrified look when I said this.  My boys didn’t seem to get it.  Do you kind of understand what I mean about the cornfield???  If you’re my age and grew up in the U.S., you probably know exactly what I mean.  Just ask, and I’ll explain (if you’re dying to know : ))

Today’s elevation profile:

Miles run today:  7.6

National Running Day? Who Knew!

Half Marathon on Monday, swimming and weight training Tuesday, today I thought I’d take the day off and not run.  I really had too much to do.  But then I got on the internet and found out that today is National Running Day.  Did you know about this? I didn’t.   Heck!  Well, I just had to run. 

I would be green with envy knowing all those people in the nation were running today, if I wasn’t.  Took me a while, but I was finally out there on the trails by 10AM.  The breeze was delightful, cool and crisp, not cold.  I felt strong, a little quicker.  My mountain running has dwarfed the hills of Aliso/Wood Canyons.  Mainly these coastal hills have become much easier mentally.  Cholla for example, is quite steep.  But it’s only a 1/2 mile (about .5 to 1.0 on profile above).  A half mile uphill is nothing compared to 5 miles uphill. 

Happy Girl (ya, that’s right a 46 year-old girl!) about to enter Wood Canyon

Prickly Pear on Cholla Trail

Running single-track off-shoot on West Ridge, looking toward Pacific Ocean

When I reached the top of the hill I’ve named “Good Girls Don’t” I waved at a man driving a utility truck, then realized I knew him.  In fact, it seemed we both at the same instant realized we knew each other – he’s my middle boy’s best friend’s father.  He knows that I run, but had no idea that I ran trails.  He was in disbelief that I could run these hills.  On the other side, I knew that he biked, but I had no idea that he rode these hills.  We both knew all the trails, and slipped in trail talk  between talking about teachers and the elementary school our sons attend. 

Our chat afforded me a nice little rest before heading up to Top of the World.  From there, I ran Park Avenue Nature Trail (Yes, again : ) and back along West Ridge, making it in time to stretch, grab lunch, get gas, pick up some groceries and order my oldest son’s birthday cake, all before making it in time to pick up my youngest from school.

“Good Girls Don’t”

Posing at Top of the World

6.12 miles logged

Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon

On a whim (sort of – I had actually toyed with the idea), Saturday I registered for a half marathon today, Memorial Day.  It’s a road half marathon, but one that goes through my favorite wilderness park (Aliso/Wood Canyons).  Actually, it goes through the paved portion, Aliso Creek Trail, and that’s good enough for me. 

It’s been a while since I’ve run a half marathon on the road.  My last half was in the mountains with lots of elevation gain and it took me over three hours (3:17)!  I was a little nervous and reluctant about running this race.  I feared the road runners would “blow me out of the water.”   

Overall, I am glad I ran.  I saw other runners I know (Tom B. and Jeremy H., see recent Holy Jim runs,  – and I got to meet Jeremy’s wife, Jodeen, as well at today’s race).  Besides the fun of large crowds and cheering bystanders, I noticed lots of differences between road races and trail races. 

I’ll start at the beginning.  Porta Potties.  The lines at road races are immense.  I mean, hundreds of upon hundreds of runners line up to use them – and there is no forest or desert boulder to duck behind.  Secondly, the women either wear capri running pants or itsy-bitsy shorts (of course there are exceptions).  Most people don’t carry water; they rely on aid stations.  And those who do carry water do so in their hands or around their waists.  I only saw two others wearing water on their backs.  (I elected to do so in this race, because I didn’t want to stop for water and I wanted a place to keep my phone, camera and keys.)

Also, People don’t generally run and chat with strangers in road races (though of course, I’m sure there’s exceptions again).  In road races, it seems runners don’t look over their shoulders when switching sides (like I have to, else get hit by a bike on the trail).  Also, the road  race starts off much, much quicker than on the trail.  I mean, amazingly quicker. 

I started off much quicker than usual as well.  We also started off with about 4,000 5k racers, which made that starting pace even faster.  I reached the halfway mark at 1:02.  (My best 10k, the Dana Point Turkey Trot, I believe was 1:03, maybe 1:02, so I was running faster than my best 10k road race pace).  Up until the midway point, I hoped to finish under 2:15.  But upon reaching the halfway point quicker than I thought, I realized breaking 2:15 would be really tough.  I was tiring, and knew I couldn’t keep up that pace.

As it was, about mile 10, I started to really slow my pace.  And at mile 11, the 2:20 pacers passed me.  I said, “Sh*t!” without realizing out loud.  The pacers who carried tall signs that read 2:20 turned around and said, “It’s okay, you’re doing great.”  I felt badly for my comment, because I didn’t want to insult any of the runners that I found myself surrounded by.  Clusters of people swarm around the pacers.  (Another difference between road and trail races.  On the trail races that I’ve run, there are no designated runners holding up signs with ending times posted on them).

I veered off to the side and was able to race by the pacers and the pacer crowd, only to be passed by them again by mile 12.  By then, I said to myself, “Okay, if I come in before 2:30, I’ll be happy.”  And that I did:  2:23:32.  And I was happy.  Happy that I got to play part of this big running event to commemorate Memorial Day.

Other differences between road and trail races, I didn’t realize until it was over are:  1)  my feet ached after racing the road, never on a trail race, and 2) the after-party is much more festive and crowded with vendors on road races, and that’s pretty cool.

Around the half-way point, coming into Aliso Canyon (Aliso/Wood Canyons Wilderness Park)

Heading back toward finish line (notice waterfall about mid photo)

The after party

Elevation profile (also mine and Jeremy’s garmin read 13.25, not 13.1!)

My Stats:

Overall:
994 out of 1412

Women:
418 out of 706

Females 45-49:
49 out of 88

Fun, fun, fun in the California sun.  I forgot to mention, it was hot this May day morning.  I mean HOT.