Real or a Dream?

Some time ago, I can’t remember when, I heard about some remnants of a mining company that used to be located in Trabuco Canyon.  I completely forgot about it.  Then some time later, I can’t even remember when, perhaps a month ago, maybe 6, while driving through Trabuco Canyon, I caught a glimpse of stone ruins in the canyon wall.  Perhaps I was in a hurry, probably having just finished up a run.  I don’t recall.  But I never saw the ruins again.  Not that I looked for them.  I kind of thought I didn’t really see them.  I actually wondered if perhaps, I was dreaming, and no such ruins existed. 

Now it may seem odd that I might not be clear on whether something was a dream.  Believe me.  I have a vivid dream life.  I dream every night, and recall lots.  Often I need to think twice whether something was real or a dream.  Still, this morning, I decided to go for a run in search of the mining company.  Imaginary or real ruins, I wanted to know.

I drove the first three miles into the canyon.  I parked next to another parked car and set off up the canyon road with a warm wind blowing against my face.  I really had no idea where these ruins would stand, except for the fact that I knew they were after the 3 mile mark.  At least they were in my dream.  

I ran up the lonely canyon road, hair blowing in my face:

My eyes scoured the canyon wall to my left, and when I reached the Holy Jim Fire Department, I knew that I had either missed them, or the ruins did not exist.  In the Holy Jim lot, I ran down to the creek to wash my hands.  The creek was still, like a dark piece of glass reflecting the barren winter forest:

Off through the trees, I spied the two cabins that I read recently had burned to the ground.  It was a sad sight.  And it still smelled of smoldering fire:

Exploring the fire remains renewed my interest in searching out the mining company.  Careful to kick out the back and not drag my feet, I concentrated even harder on the canyon walls on my trip back.    I stopped for anything that looked unusual.  I did spot something deep within the trees.  After some bushwhacking and heavy stomping through foot deep leaf litter, I came upon this tree house:

Yes, I considered climbing up into this tree house, but moved onward instead, keeping on track with my original plans.  The brush grew thicker and the scratches on my legs multiplied when I decided to cross the creek back to the canyon road. 

Continuing to run, I found another spot to cross the creek:

I tromped through more brush and leaf litter when I eventually came upon a small foot path.  I ran that for a bit.  It took me up into a clearing, and off to the side, there they were!  The retaining walls of what looked like a three story building.  I worked up a good sweat confirming that these ruins were real and that I did not see them in my dreams.  

Passage way from first floor to second:

Looking down from third floor:

View from 3rd floor:

I LOVE it when I search out something in the wilderness and find it.  Turns out I found the remains of The Santa Ana Tin Mining Company (incorporated in 1901).  Funny thing, I located a road right out of there directly to the canyon road when I left.  Even funnier, directly across the creek, standing on the canyon road, I could not see even a hint of these ruins. 

Fun day running. (4.75 miles logged)

Training Begins

Today my training begins.  Ha!  For what, you may wonder.  For Twin Peaks, which isn’t until October 2014.  I need to start early because I have a LONG way to go.  (Twin Peaks is a 50 mile race with an ungodly amount of elevation gain, run in the local mountains.  If you have read my blog before, you may have read a word or two about the race ). 

My goal for the remainder of the winter (about 6 weeks left) is to get back running regularly.  In achieving this goal, I am determined to still get in my adventure runs.  I do not want to let go of the fun this time.  Lastly, I aim to rigorously continue physical therapy (ON A DAILY BASIS – when the foot improves I will not lighten up PT). 

Of course, beginning training today is too late for my upcoming 30k race.  I’m all right with this because all races I run before October will be training for the big one, Twin Peaks. 

Back to my first day of training.  It was not an adventure run.  Today’s run was an out-and-back on Arroyo Trabuco Trail in 85F degree weather (approx. 30C).  Yes, I did just write that it’s winter.  I plugged away at 12.47 miles on this lovely, relatively flat trail, in and out of shade.  I made five stream crossings on the way out, the same five on the way back.  On my last crossing, I fell in and drenched both feet!  I was getting a little cocky and went at rock hopping too quickly. 

The beginning (or end) of Arroyo Trabuco starts at a golf course:

My First Creek Crossing:

Clumps of Mistletoe hanging from the Sycamore trees:

One of my favorite spots:  Arroyo Trabuco / Tijeras Creek Trail junction. 

The Longest Three and 1/2 Miles Ever!

With Winter Break over, the utter chaos gone, I wanted to get away for some trails today.  I didn’t care how many miles I “ran”.  I wanted quality.  And so, I drove two hours (round trip, an hour there and back), yes two hours to run up a little trail called Silverado Motorway (AKA Silverado Trail, Bedford).  (We by the way measure driving distance in minutes and hours here in Southern California – I know, pretty crazy). 

You may think it’s a tad bit crazier to drive two hours for a 3.5 mile trail.  Just wait.  I had the mountain completely to myself.  Seriously.  It was just me and the hawks.  On the other hand, the out trip was flipping hard.  A mile in, I was ready to give up.  But I couldn’t make that drive and turn back after only one mile.  I struggled onward, delighting in the cold breeze. The road was steep, rocky and with an edge I could easily fall off with a little trip on a stone.  Soon the gloves were off and after an hour and a half I finished the longest three and a half miles ever!  The trip back down was much, much quicker.

Silverado Motorway out-and-back:

Beginning that treacherous switch-back climb:

The mountain wall – looks like someone built it:

Still going up:

Heading back:

Big Baz WTRS 12k 2014

Saturday was my first race of 2014.  It was my first race since June 2013. Yikes.  I couldn’t sleep the night before this Winter Trail Run Series.  Seriously, I woke every hour.  While I accepted that I would probably trot in dead last, I worried that the race director, Big Baz, and his crew would be tapping their feet waiting for me to show up before they locked the gate.  Or worse yet, they wouldn’t realize I was still out there, and accidentally lock me into lower Blue Jay Campground. 

I was nervous.

I’ll say one thing.  It felt GREAT to be back.  Baz remembered me, and I saw lots of familiar faces.   Lots. 

I took off not feeling that strong. And my foot was a minor discomfort on the cold asphalt leading to San Juan Trail.

Starting at the back of the pack, I stayed at the back of the pack.  And it took a while to get my groove.  The trail was delightfully technical; I felt confident running it.  For the first few miles, I could hear a couple runners approaching from behind.  For the next couple, we passed back and forth.  I really didn’t mind, and even helped one lady put something in her pack.  I had some good quick conversations.  Felt like old times with old friends, though I had only met these two runners on Saturday.

I fell once, and jumped up, pissed off with bloody palms and a scraped knee.  Then suddenly I gained a burst of strength and passed my two running comrades at quite a distance.  Eventually, the woman I had chatted with finally passed me for good with about a mile remaining.  But I had passed another woman along the way, so I was certain that I had two runners behind me.  If I kept moving forward as quickly as possible, I probably wouldn’t take home the DFL for this race.

I did not wobble in.  AND I finished this race 30 minutes quicker than when I ran the course a couple weeks ago.  My foot did ache a bit on that run back down into the Finish Line on asphalt.  But it was good.  It was all good.  Ends up that 6 names were listed beneath mine in the final stats for this 12k.  That’s 6 more than I predicted.

Photo op with running blogger Thea who ran this race barefoot!

ps.  the race was actually longer than 12k.  But that’s one of the things I’ve learned to love about Baz’s races.  None of them measure exactly.  Some fall short, others like this one, run longer.

My 100 Things for 2014

I never make New Year Resolutions.  And I know this is crazy.  Blame The Running Green Girl.  She influenced me to do this.  Green Girl is very inspirational.  Here is my 100 Things in 2014 list.  It's not a resolution list.  It is more like a wish list, things I hope to do/accomplish for 2014.

1. 100 push-ups.com / complete program http://hundredpushups.com/#sthash.yqhUfudS.dpbs

2. Answer the 50 Questions that will free my mind. http://www.marcandangel.com/2009/07/13/50-questions-that-will-free-your-mind/

3. BBQ at the beach

4. Camp at the beach

5. Camp in the desert

6. Camp in the mountains

7. Clean carpets (or get new carpet depending on financials)

8. Clean out and organize file cabinets

9. Clean out bedroom closet

10. Clean out garage

11. Clean out library

12. CPR certification (renew)

13. Skateboard with Lucas

14. Eeg for Darius (his request for possibility of going off meds)

15. Embroider

16. Eye check for all 3 boys (0/3)

17. Find full-time work

18. Finish “Baby picture scrap book”

19. Get crown fixed

20. Get dryer fixed

21. Get medical check-up

22. Get new ceiling fans

23. Get the accordion out and re-teach myself a song

24. Get wisdom teeth removed

25. Go on a night trail run

26. Go to a play

27. Go to a writers’ convention

28. Have 4^th of July party

29. Hike around the headlands in my hometown

30. Hike Bedford Peak with Justus

31. Hike Santiago Peak with Justus

32. Hike/run in San Gorgonio mountains

33. Hike/run to Mt. Baldy

34. Hit Justus in the face with a pie

35. Ice Skate

36. Lose weight

37. Make a necklace

38. Memorize 5 Bible versus (0/5)

39. Memorize 5 poems (0/5)

40. Organize and submit query for novel, Beyond the Pale (or self-publish)

41. Organize cd’s

42. Organize digital photographs

43. Organize family tree pictures

44. Organize my short stories

45. Paint house exterior

46. Plant flowers

47. Play all the major and minor scales on the piano

48. Play racquetball

49. Prepare 5 new healthy recipes (0/5)

50. Read 5 add’l Easton Press’s 100 Best Books Ever Written http://www.listology.com/list/easton-press-100-greatest-books-ever-written

51. Register with Santa Fe Original Families

52. Relearn & play Fur Elise on the piano http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mVW8tgGY_w

53. Relearn/learn 20 guitar chords (0/20)

54. Renew teaching credentials (0/3)

55. Replenish my water stashes

56. Re-read The Screwtape Letters

57. Reunite (visit) with an old friend

58. Rollerblade

59. Run a Spartan race

60. Run Calico Trail Run http://calicotrailrun.org/

61. Run from ocean to Santiago Peak (“Tides to Towers”)

62. Run a street 5k

63. Run in the mountains in San Diego

64. Run Nanny Goat 24 hr http://www.oldgoatrunners.com/

65. Run to Oceanside

66. Run to Yaeger’s Mesa

67. Run Twin Peaks 50 mi http://trailrunning.dirtyfeet.us/twinpeaksindex.html

68. Run/hike trails somewhere up Hwy 39

69. Scooter with Darius

70. See a movie in the theatre

71. See a professional symphony

72. Stay with someone who is injured or sick on the trail

73. Swim in the ocean

74. Take the train somewhere

75. Try a fruit that I haven’t tried

76. Try a vegetable that I haven’t tried

77. Tune piano

78. Update family tree

79. Visit 10 New Peaks (0/10)

80. Visit a California mission I haven’t visited

81. Visit Joshua Tree http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

82. Visit Manzanaar http://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm

83. Visit my Aunt Dolores (Cambria)

84. Visit my Aunt Joann (Culver City)

85. Visit my hometown

86. Visit Rancho Niguel historic ranch (Aliso Viejo)

87. Visit Santa Fe http://www.santafenm.gov/

88. Visit SJC Mission http://www.missionsjc.com/

89. Visit Texas

90. Visit The Grand Canyon http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

91. Visit Utah

92. Volunteer a trail race

93. Volunteer at a Assisted Living facility

94. Volunteer at a food pantry

95. Watch Schindler’s List again

96. Watch The Dollhouse again

97. Work up to a 2 minute plank

98. Write 2 poems (0/2)

99. Write 5 short stories (0/5)

100. Write a short play

Summer Just Wasn’t My Season (The Inevitable Look Back on 2013)

I planned to run to Santiago Peak and end the year with a triumphant run. Not feeling well when I woke, I slept in some. Then I decided that 2013 really wasn’t a year to end with a triumphant run. A run in Aliso/Wood Canyons was more apropos. It was time to get back to where it all began, well, not actually began, but when it all came together with me and trails. Somewhere along the trails this year, I lost something on the run. I lost my drive. I lost my strength. I lost my confidence.  (And I couldn’t help but think, “I’m too old for this self-doubt and self-loathing!”)

2013 began with plantar fasciitis. This aspect alone didn’t wipe me out. There were lots of personal struggles. I gained a good amount of pounds (make that a “bad” amount of pounds).   And I tried so desperately to use the trails to bring me back. But my heart just wasn’t there. It was somewhere else attempting to get myself right again with the world, right again with myself. Then Old Goat happened. Being pulled at mile 41 in a 50 mile race put quite a stomp into my stride.

And then summer arrived. Summer. It just wasn’t my season. The heat nearly did me in more than once. The season ended with my head hung low, a severe limp in my right side, a major loss in work hours and no advancement in my personal strides.

In 2013, I sprained my ankle running a road marathon. In 2013, Twin Peaks was cancelled due to the government shut-down. In 2013, I lost my patience too many times. And in 2013, I said good-bye to two friends, one was silver, the other gold. (Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.)

Good-bye Phil Olaskey (We met in 1977):

Good-bye Tommy Ryan (We met 6 years ago)

So, 2013 was a struggle! Heck, when isn’t life a struggle? I survived it.  In fact, I learned much.  I learned that much of what I learn on the trails applies to my life overall.  I realized that this is indeed why I was given the gift of trails.  So that I can learn.  So that I can appreciate.  And there was much to appreciate this year.  In 2013, my son went another year without a seizure. In 2013, we managed to keep the house yet another year.  No one became seriously ill and all of my family is still intact. I read great books in 2013.  I met wonderful students. In 2013, I also met new good friends. And I re-united with old friends.

And so, on this last day of 2013, I took to the trails in Aliso/Wood Canyons, the place that I found my own way on the trails.  The place where I learned to tell direction and read the peaks and ridges – the place where I lost my fear of wilderness.

On this last day of 2013, I took off down Aliso Creek Trail with no pain in my foot.  None.  The park was crowded, and I mean crowded with hikers.  That is until I took a left from Wood Canyon onto Meadows Trail.  I saw one mountain biker.  Then I headed onward to the steepest trail in the park, my greatest challenge in Aliso/Wood Canyons – Mentally Sensitive Trail. 

About a mile in, I met father and son mountain bikers.  The father was laid-out on the trail, his son looked as if he had been crying.  I could see his father was conscious as the son moved the bikes and their gear off the trail.  I stopped to check on the boy’s dad.  He assured me his father was okay.  I told the boy that I could not leave them there.  The father still on his back with his arms over his face said a few words about being “okay.”  But he still lay in the middle of the trail.  I wasn’t even sure he could move.  Turns out the man had flown over his handlebars, and that worried me greatly.  The boy said that I could go, that they had water and a phone.  As I gave him the ranger station’s phone number we both noticed another mountain biker barreling down the steep trail.  Both the boy and I began hollering and waving our arms, “Stop!  Stop!”  That biker came around the bend with a screech, stopping just as the injured man scooted himself off the trail. 

I was so relieved to see the injured guy could move.  I also noted the absence of blood.  As the other mountain biker and I discussed what we should do, the boy said that he had his mother on the phone.  Eventually, both I and the other mountain biker took off when the injured biker was sitting upright.  As soon as I turned the bend I phoned the ranger station.  You can imagine my aggravation when no one answered! 

Before I reached the top of Mentally Sensitive, another biker went over his handlebars.  I approached as he used the bike to lift himself from the dirt.  He didn’t look good.  No blood.  But his face was ashen.  I asked if he was okay, if I could do anything for him, did he need me to phone someone.  He said he was okay, but had probably damaged his ribs.  After a small conversation, I convinced him not to take Mentally Sensitive down.  I suggested he take Meadows which is less steep and much easier to manage.  After what I told him about the remainder of Mentally Sensitive he was convinced and went on his way as I ran onward into Moulton Meadows Park. 

Mentally Sensitive:

I ran onward to Top of the World and took in the same view I have relished countless times.  I ran the remainder of this last run of the year with hardly any pain, just knowing there were lots of life’s lessons from today’s run to sort out over the next couple days.  I suppose I should close before the new year actually gets here.

Happy New Year!  Thanks for reading and all your support.  I so much appreciate it!  And also, for enduring this long, long post. 

Miles logged:  10.78