Got out late this morning, but ever so grateful because I’ve been working more than usual, leaving little time for morning runs.
The stats:
Miles run: 10.03 (16.14 km)
Elevation gained: 1,253 ft (382 m)
The pics:
Entering Meadows:
My “Everything’s-Everything’s-Gonna-Be-Alright-Bridge (because if I make it to here, chances are very good that I’m surviving the run 
Top of the World:
Robber’s Cave:
Okay, I’m wondering if the English translation for Cholla is SATAN. I’ve come across many things on the trail, and I’ve learned to stay away from many of those things – like say for example, Stinging Nettle. You would have thought by now, I would have learned about Cholla Cactus, AKA Jumping Cholla. I have after all, run Cholla Trail on countless occasions. But I have only admired this treacherous plant from afar. That is, until Tuesday morning.
There I was, minding my own business, running along Aliso Creek Trail in Aliso Canyon and I passed by a Cholla in bloom. It has such a lovely (deceitful) flower. I stopped and went back to snap a photo. I took one from afar, then I pushed in close, stepping beneath the lower branches for a close-up.
I stepped away oblivious to what had transpired beneath the bush. But I realized right away with the first step that I took. Ouch! It felt like needles were poking the bottom of my foot. I glanced down to see that I had stepped on a fallen Cholla branch. And I could not kick it off. After some attempts using my other foot, I managed to break the branch away. What remained were dozens of Cholla thorns penetrating the soles of my shoes – poking ALL THE WAY THROUGH the insoles. I could not take another step without prickly pain. AND my attempts at releasing the thorns were futile. They poked quick and deep into my fingertips, drawing immediate blood. I took a rock and tried to shave off the Cholla thorns. But that only broke them at the surface, still leaving them deep in my shoe. Finally, I found a thick branch that I used to pry the suckers out of my shoes.
STILL! One little thorn dug into my forefoot after I put my shoe back on and tried to run. After unlacing them two or three more times and trying to dislodge the unseen thorn with my bloody fingers, I sat at the side of the trail nearly beaten. Forty-five minutes already wasted dealing with these demons, I whimpered a bit before pulling myself back in the game. “It’s just an obstacle,” I told myself. “Figure out a way!”
When I walked I could not feel the thorn. When I ran, it jabbed hard into my forefoot. Obviously, it was buried beneath the insole padding. So instead of finding the little sucker, I decided to crush the little it where it hid. With a rock and some spirited anger, I smashed down into my insole, then laced up my shoes once more. Success. Obstacle defeated. I was off again, for a shorter run then planned, with a loop totaling 8.39 miles (I guessed 8.4!!)
I am certain to never stop anywhere near a Cholla cactus again. Never, ever, ever!
I saw a couple of these little guys along the way:
I didn’t run up that mountain quickly at all. In fact, I met a two hikers again and again on my giant switch-back, as they made their way straight up the mountain, bushwhacking their way. I didn’t stress over my inability to pick up my feet any quicker however. I enjoyed the the lush mountainsides and little creatures along the way.
I arrived at “Four Corners” quicker than I figured I would. And I thought to myself, “I can do the loop. I can, I can!!” But alas, I had already stashed my extra water on Maple Springs. I didn’t dare make my trip across the “desert” without reserves. “Four Corners,” by the way, is a junction of four trails: 1) Maple Springs, the trail that I came up, originating in Silverado Canyon, 2) Harding Truck Trail, a 9 mile uphill battle beginning in Modjeska Canyon, 3) The Main Divide heading north (I think) and 4) The Main Divide heading off toward Modjeska and Santiago Peaks.
View from “Four Corners”:
My breakfast at “Four Corners”:
In all I travelled fifteen miles during this wonderful mountain out-and-back. The back was all downhill, with plenty of wishes at my disposal along the way.
This morning I hit the trails in Aliso/Wood Canyons for my first run this week (day 117 in my fitness streak).
Miles run 13.38 (my guess was 13.37!!), 21.53 km.
Elevation gain 1,244 ft. or 379 m.
Spotted: 2 bucks, 2 does, 1 mouse, many lizards and goats, goats goats! (& I was wearing my Nanny Goat shirt 
I got a really late start this morning, late for a mountain run. I didn’t get into my truck until 8:30 AM, didn’t begin my off-road driving until about 9:00 AM. My feet, ever so delightfully, hit dirt at 9:30 AM.
I decided to run my semi-usual Holy Jim / Horsethief loop counterclockwise, the opposite that I usually run it. Oh. My. Goodness! The climb up West Horsethief was brutal. BRUTAL. Instead of growing angry up that grueling climb, I told myself to use this as a learning experience. (And it worked, I didn’t grow angry or throw a pity-party-temper-tantrum once up that blasted hill).
The views brought to me by West Horsethief:
Even after reaching the top of W. Horsethief, I still had plenty of climbing ahead. Heat came down in abundance! At times, I needed to stop in the shade to cool my body temperature. I felt the heat sickness coming on, but thankfully was able to keep it at bay (experience did its job today!).
I didn’t see any other runners out on The Main Divide, though I did see two mountain bikers. All I can really say is that it got DANG TOUGH out there on the mountain ridge. Thank God for Holy Jim! Though gnats swarmed my face when I hit this giant switchback, I was oh so relieved, because Holy Jim signified a downhill, mostly shady, five mile run. And it was glorious. Truly glorious. There’s nothing like downhill shade when you’ve been doing uphill sun!
Yay shade!!!
I met two hikers on this fun downhill trip. We chatting briefly. When I mentioned West Horsethief, they said in unison “Everybody hates Horsethief.” Euphoria hit with about 3.5 miles remaining as a breeze hit my face and the multi-colored wildflowers swayed at my shins. Again, it was beautiful. Truly beautiful. And amidst enjoying this beauty and euphoria, a thought entered my brain. That thought was, “This is the part when you fall.” (Falls usually happen in the center of euphoria). Wouldn’t you know it???? Not three steps later, I tripped on a cluster of boulders. I tripped hard, but was able to save it, and thankfully didn’t fall. (It would have been a terrible fall).
I washed my face at the trickle spring and made the last 2.5 miles in good time. As I ran that last mile in I approached a dry Holy Jim Creek and opted to run across a small log to practice my balance. I was almost patting myself on the back for good balance when the log turned and dumped me onto the dry, rocky creek bed. I hit hard, with no roll whatsoever. I guess the “Fall Fairies” still had it in for me – they didn’t so much like my “save” earlier up Holy Jim. They made sure that I bloodied my palm and knees before the end of today’s run. I lay there in the rocks, bees buzzing about my head, and also my cap that lay a couple feet away. I felt light headed as I pushed myself back upright and needed to think twice on whether or not I hit my head. I did not hit my head, but my wounds, caked in wet dirt, ached a great deal. I staggered a bit before picking up my run again. With just about 1/2 mile remaining in today’s run, the “Fall Fairies” left me a treat in the middle of the trail – two nice sized chunks of ice. Yes ice! Can you believe it? I iced down my knees and palm and then made my way across Holy Jim creek, this time across a board secured about 3.5 feet above the creek. I didn’t run it, though I made it across without falling and was able to pat myself on the back for good balance. 
Oh how I love mountain runs! I can’t wait until the next one.
Miles 14.18 (22.82 km)
I can now talk about Nanny Goat without tearing up. It’s not that I’m sad about it. But even thinking about the event teared me up. I don’t know exactly why. I just know the whole experience has made me emotional.
I haven’t had time to run since I crawled ran walked across the finish line on Sunday. I’ve done some workouts at the gym since then. One thing that I noticed immediately was that the weights I had been lifting suddenly seemed quite light this week. I guess it’s time to up the weight.
Today, after some set-backs getting out the door, I finally made it to Aliso/Wood Canyons for my “recovery run.” I ran a semi-big loop which included climbing Mentally Sensitive -- a hard-ass incline with an ocean view at the top and a stop by several adorable goats grazing upon the meadow grass. Talk about a goat recovery!
As I ran along the ridge, I began receiving text messages from my oldest son. He was sitting in his high school class during a school-wide lockdown. Apparently, (though we had no verifiable facts at the time), someone had found an empty rifle carrying case in the parking lot. Knowing only for sure that they were on lockdown (all students locked within their classes), the police were swarming the campus and a helicopter hovered above (reports from hubby’s text messages), I decided to pick up my pace a bit for the last five miles. Though I was quite fatigued, I managed to run it all the way in, not as a speed-racer mind you, but in plenty of time to make it home to worry more and see all the television news vans and parents lined up along the road near the high school. (The students were finally released at about 4PM, an hour and fifteen minutes past regular time, and as far as we know, no gun was found.)
10.88 miles run
