The Countdown Begins

Today was the thirty-second consecutive day of running as I approach one of my favorite races of the year . . . the race that started it all.  The race that turned me into a trail runner: Calico Ghost Town Trail Run.

The nightmares have not begun – nightmares about being unable to find the start line, or running in sandals, one shoe, or even naked.  I feel alright about the approaching challenge.  Actually, I’m not thinking about it much at all.  I’m too busy packing for this weekend trip.   I am however beginning to feel little aches and pains.  I’ve foam rolled at least 3 times already tonight, not to mention nervously done clams and bridges on my living room floor. 

The only reason I ever hit the trails was so that I could train for Calico.  Sunday will be the fourth consecutive year that I’ve run it.  Sunday will be the third year that I’ve brought my husband and our boys along.  Sunday will be the first race that my girlfriend and her children will join us the night before for some cabin-like “camping”, and the first race that my mother, father, sister and youngest brother will attend.  Calico is the race of firsts.

Of course, I will come in nowhere near first place.  And I doubt my wisdom in running the day up to this race.  Originally,  I “semi” planned to run a only a mile each day from Wednesday onward.  Instead today, I hit the trails with my friend Michael for a nice (yet challenging) out-and-back to Top of the World in Laguna Beach. 

And I over-dressed again.  With the heater on in the car the entire trip, I wore long sleeves.  Those sleeves came off at the top of the first climb.  They would have come off a lot quicker if I hadn’t been working so hard to kind of keep up with Michael, who runs those climbs amazingly. 

A Beautiful Day for Running / A Beautiful Day at Top of the World:

Heading Back on this Out-And-Back:

5.93 hard miles run today (9.54 km):

Milestone!

I woke January 17 with the idea of ending my running streak.  I was wiped-out physically and emotionally.  I seriously didn’t see how I could manage even one mile!  But with encouragement from running friends, I decided to run the 29th consecutive day.  I ran it a little grudgingly.   First I did some weight training, some floor exercises and ab work, then with an errand to run in town, I ran to it, did my errand.  Then I simply ran back, making a loop (because I’m a loopy gal) totaling 2.44 miles. 

This morning, I felt renewed.  Yet, I needed the trails to wipe my brain clean of its clutter, useless clutter.  And so after making breakfasts, packing lunches, then getting the boys off to school in two shifts (different start times), I finally hit the trails at Aliso/Wood Canyons park. 

I took off on Aliso Creek Trail during a chilly winter morning (for coastal Southern California) dressed for the cold.  In fact, I feared that I would regret leaving my gloves behind.  Believe me – that, I did not regret.  I warmed up really quickly.  To top it off, I felt strong.  Surprisingly strong on my 30th day of Streaking into the New Year.  I never would have thought.

I didn’t have much time today, so I wasn’t sure which loop I’d run this morning.  But I was pretty sure I’d run Mentally Sensitive.  Mentally Sensitive is the best trail in the local coastal hills to wipe the slate (brain) clean.  Another great thing about this trail is that I need to run some of Meadows to get there.  And Meadows is one of my favorite local trails.  As is evident by the multitude of pictures I take exactly at this spot:

Meadows’s Subtle, Yet Grand Entrance:

I turned onto Mentally Sensitive with my old friend Blue Heron in sight.  Besides my bird friend, I saw only one other living thing as I ran along Mentally Sensitive, one cyclist, who I hopped into the grass for so that he could pass (even with my deep loathing for tics). 

Mentally Sensitive will probably never be easy.  But I will write this:  IT IS SHORT.  And its views are lovely.  They are more than lovely.  They are majestic.

Running Mentally Sensitive’s Start:

My Feathered friend – do you think he recognizes me?

The Climb is Brutal on Mentally Sensitive:

Yes indeedy, any excuse to pause briefly to snap a photo on this trail (notice the lack of a wide smile here – regardless, I WAS HAPPY):

I reached the top of Mentally Sensitive at about mile four with plenty of energy.  I figured I had enough time for a little detour.  So, instead of turning right toward Top of the World, I turned left and ran into the soccer field above Laguna Beach.  From there, I headed to the “fountain of youth” for a swing break.  I don’t care anymore if people see me – a woman just weeks away from 47 swinging away on the playground.  Playing on the swing set really helped wipe that slate clean.  I didn’t stay too long though, as I wanted to run.  And so run I did.  Off from the swings, I took off for Top of the World.

Swing Break:

Breakfast at Top of the World:

With time fleeting, I ran down Mathis this morning.  It’s a fun trail – a truck-trail of sorts, lots of room, little technicality.  I focused on taking it quickly (without falling).  And I of  course, focused on form.  I felt content, relieved, revived.

So, so happy that I didn’t end my streak yesterday, especially after this morning’s fantastic trail run.  Now it’s take it easy time, though I do plan on taking this streak up to my race.  We’ll see how that works for me.  LOL. 

Running down Mathis:

Miles run this morning on my 30th consecutive day of running: 11 (17.7 km):

Day 28

Early into this whole thing, I intended to end my running streak yesterday.  I have a favorite race coming up and I feared (and still do somewhat) to run up until race day.  I have never run up to race day.  In fact, I have never, to my recollection, run the day BEFORE race day. 

Running-wise however, things seem to be going swimmingly, in fact, I seem to be gaining strength.  Therefore, I decided to run the 28th day of my running streak.  Actually, I NEEDED to run today.  My mood was less than perky, actually it was in the pits. 

I set out the door this chilly afternoon for a quick out-and-back.  And I ran up three flights of these stairs (below)  to cross the pedestrian bridge, and three flights down to take me into the state beach where the traffic speed limit is 15 mph.  The steps’ lower landings were puddled with urine, sadly.  But there were no pot-smokers taking refuge in the stairways today.  I ran past one homeless man who turned away at my glance.  Other than him, my trip to the beach was stranger-less.

A sign that the tourists, on the whole, have left our seaside town:

I felt strong.  I felt free from worries.  My feet moved with ease across the asphalt.  I ran through the campgrounds (twice, there and back) and ran through the state beach to Capo, until the sidewalk ended.  The sidewalk does actually end, and I named it that (Where the Sidewalk Ends) in honor of Shel Silverstein, the children’s poet. 

After my out-and-back to where the sidewalk ends, I decided to extend my run a bit and cut into Doheny Beach to run the boardwalk.  From there I ran out to the jetty, then ran up a climb, where not that long ago I needed to rest frequently while walking (before I began running regularly).

Today’s run, was not exactly an out-and-back as planned.  It was the opposite of a lollipop.  An upside-down lollipop.  I suppose it was a noose.  In fact, this was a regular run I used to do before I became a trail runner.  And it was oh so difficult, though beautiful and satisfying back then.  After becoming a trail runner, I began to loathe the road.  But getting out there on the road recently convinces me, that I need these road runs once in a while.  Trail runs make them seem so “easy”.  More importantly, I love the nostalgia, the nostalgia of this used to be my “long run.”

Running along the parking lot, headed toward Capo Beach (where the sidewalk ends):

My camera does nowhere near the justice of the scene above me as I ran back – thousands of seagulls swirled high above, making me feel that everything was going to be okay:

Miles run today:  6.57 (10.57 km)

I dedicate this run to dear friends involved in a horrific car accident a few days ago.  My family thanks God they survived (though I’m not saying God had something to do with their survival – I still lack faith in God’s actual involvement in our lives, though at times, like this accident, it seems like God has a direct hands-on involvement).  Prayers go out the the big-rigger driver’s family whose father/son/uncle/nephew/grandfather(?) did not survive the accident.

Trabuco, West Horsethief, Main Divide, Holy Jim Loop

First things first, I did continue my streak yesterday, day 26, the day of my Uncle Norm’s funeral.  I woke, put on some running pants, a warm shirt and beanie, laced up my shoes.  Then without brushing my hair, or even my teeth, I ran out the front door and ran a little over the minimum required (1 mile) for Streaking into the New Year.

Day 27 (today), I took to the mountains to run with Tom B. and Ed H.  We began our journey in Trabuco Canyon for a nice steep run up West Horsethief.  THE West Horsethief.   It is a heck of a climb that I ran every inch (though at a tortoise pace).

Rain came down upon us going up Horsethief, though I didn’t even realize at first.  I only knew it was raining because the rocks that I ran upon were first spotted with drops, then finally darkened all over from wetness.  And though that trail was still a bear, it was unbelievably short.  Harding Truck Trail successfully dwarfed my “regular” trails.  

Overall, the weather was wonderfully cool, the skies gray.  I saw more people hiking up Holy Jim than I’ve ever witnessed.  I’m not sure if it’s because this weekend is a holiday weekend, or because “spring is in the air.”  Either way, though they crowded the trail, I was delighted to see them.

I ran very quickly down Holy Jim hoping to catch Ed, who had a pretty good lead.  As I flew down the mountainside, I asked some hikers if they’d seen him.  They said that they passed him not two minutes ago.  TWO MINUTES AGO? 

Well, I picked up my pace and ran about a mile down that switchback with no Ed in sight!  Two minutes my foot!!!  I guess I didn’t calculate that Ed was running as well.  But still, you’d think I’d catch a glimpse of his bright shirt.  He was nowhere in sight.

About 3 miles to the truck, I was turning those switchbacks faster than I can remember when I came upon a hiker couple making their way up the trail.  I didn’t say a word, just smiled, and the woman said, “You’ve almost got him!  He’s just around the bend.”

Well, that cracked me up!!  How did she know?

Sure enough after about a HALF MILE, I came up on Ed and said “Aha!!”  I think that I startled him.  He’s a dang good runner and I was proud that I finally caught him (true, he missed the turn-off to Holy Jim, being that this was his first time on these particular trails, so that set him back some).  But STILL, I caught him.   

This 27th day of running was a fun one for me.  I loved the stream crossings in the end.  Enjoyed seeing the multitude of people making the trek up Holy Jim.  I wish everybody could see Holy Jim’s beauty (though of course, not at the same time : )

Another trail run success.  How fortunate am I to get these guys to run with this old gal?

Me, Tom & Ed:

Tom & Ed at Trabuco Trail head:

Rusted, bullet-ridden car on Trabuco Trail:

Running a gradual climb on Trabuco:

Ladybugs on West Horsethief Trail:

View while climbing West Horsethief (notice sliver of Pacific Ocean in far background):

Running The Main Divide toward Holy Jim Trail:

View of Riverside County from Main Divide:

A quick pose at Indian Truck Trail / Main Divide Intersection:

More Views from the Main Divide:

Me & Tom about to make our descent down Holy Jim Trail:

An eerie Holy Jim Trail this winter morning:

Boy Scouts at creek crossing on Holy Jim.  Not wanting to wait, I cracked up the line by plowing right through the water.  It was COLD.

I love ferns, especially in the wild:

Running beneath leafless figs toward the final stretch on Holy Jim Trail:

Miles run on the 27th consecutive day of running:  13.86 (22.31 km)

Victory

I finally did it.  I ran to the top of Harding Truck Trail – all 9.33 miles of it to “Four Corners.”  I ran every inch.  I saw two hikers going up as I headed off (never saw them again).  And four hikers passed me on their way down as I ran up that seemingly never ending climb.  I only saw one cyclist on my way down (he was pedaling up).  So, I was virtually alone this entire run.   

Though it was a grind I truly enjoyed every second of it – even when the wind howled, even when it felt like it would blow me over.  Absolutely delightful.

So, what did I do during all that time?  I thought very little.  I mainly concentrated on the run.  I mainly thought about my body.  Not really thought, more like FELT.  I felt what it was doing.  Was it straight?  Was it relaxed?  Was I mid-foot striking? Were my shoulders down?  Whenever the run got difficult, sure enough the body wasn’t right.  Usually, the problem was my lower legs weren’t relaxed.  And as soon as I relaxed them, all was well.  To aid in this relaxation, I thought to myself, “Don’t resist.  Don’t resist.”

For those of you considering the 30k Harding Hustle, my run today is the same as the race.   And it is doable.  If I can run it, you can run it.  Even if you’re not up to the mileage, you have plenty of time.  The race is in July.  It will be a little hotter then. 

I’ll make a long, long, long story short, as I have lots of pictures to share.  I was absolutely thrilled to finally see “Four Corners” from a distance.  But it took a LONG time to get there from the first sighting.  Once I reached the white gate that marks The Main Divide, wind blew strong.  I got a bit goofy with pictures.  And if you can believe it, I SAVED my camera today with some smart thinking.  I actually looped my camera’s wrist strap around the gate latch.  Sure enough, a wind gust blew my camera right off the post, and there it was dangling in the wind, with its lens open.  Close call.  If I had not thought ahead, I would have killed yet another camera.

Hopefully the pictures can tell the story more than I can with my words.  It has been a tough day with terrible news.  Plus my uncle’s funeral is tomorrow, and the surreal aspect of life is a little overwhelming right now. 

A good note – today was the 25th day of my Streaking into the New Year.  

Just beginning, about 3/4’s of a mile into Harding Truck Trail:

Climbing high with an ocean view:

And it goes up and up and up . . .

Approximately the 5 mile mark (& I’m still smiling, though I probably gained some more gray hairs – LOL):

Remnants of the last fire a few (perhaps a couple) years ago, the contrast is beautiful:

Peering up ahead, turning corner after corner on this enormous switch back, wondering when Harding Truck Trail is going to head north:

Majestic views of the lowlands and of the trail I’ve already run:

The trail begins to turn, as does the foliage:

With “Four Corners” in sight, my pace quickens:

The trail’s inside edge:

Looking back at approximately nine miles run:

Yay!

Victory!!! (Posing at “Four Corners”)

Running back down:

The final stretch (about a mile remains!):

18.66 miles run (30 km):