Summer is Here

One way to make the heat in my local hills seem like nothing, I mean absolutely nothing,  is to run in Corona (Riverside county).  This of course I did last weekend.  Then, on Thursday, I hit the trails again.  This time in my normal stomping grounds, Aliso/Wood Canyons.  I took off for the trails during the afternoon precisely to get myself more accustomed to the heat.  It felt like a cool spring day compared to the treacherous heat in Corona.  It truly was a lovely summer day with blue skies, a hot sun and a semi-cool breeze. 

I stepped over a gopher snake in Aliso Canyon.  With its tail end sticking out of the brush, I could tell immediately he was not a rattler.  Then I turned into an empty Wood Canyon, empty because few venture out into these canyons during the afternoon in the summertime.  About two and a half miles in, I hopped over Wood Creek onto Mathis and made a quick turn onto Coyote Run.  Coyote Run meanders in and out of deep shade, where I stopped to take in the beauty and fully cool down. 

Coyote Run Trail: 

From Coyote Run, I opted for the rigorous trail called Rock-It, duly named for its white rock floor.  Feeling stronger than I have in a long time, I took that trail to West Ridge.  On Rock-It I encountered my first people on these trails today – two different groups of hikers, 5 people total. 

Rock-It Trail:

Though it seemed relatively cool to me, I surmised that it was not so for others by the looks on their faces as I made my way up West Ridge to Top of the World.  And then as I progressed, a fire truck with lights swirling drove down the ridge, and after that two more emergency vehicles.  When I arrived to the Top of the World, I found a vantage point where I could see a rescue effort way down on Car Wreck Trail.  My best guess was that heat exhaustion had overcome a hiker along that steep, exposed trail.  I think this because there was no helicopter evacuation.  It seems like when someone is physically injured, say a broken leg or such, a helicopter transports the victim out of the canyons.  (I never heard what happened, but am hoping that no news means good news). 

Anyway, I closed up my loop by running down Meadows Trail, totaling 11.41 miles with 1,329’ of elevation gain.  I felt fine afterward.  However, my foot was wasted back at home.  I really am not sure what I am going to do about this.  I limped around all night, and woke this morning still in pain.  I skipped a run this morning, instead went for the gym membership.  I am stumped and a little dismayed.  Perhaps I will throw in the towel, get an MRI and take some months off.   I really am at odds about this.  Most of the time I am in denial and don’t think about what I should do.  But now, a calm has come over me, as I realize that the time is ideal to slow down and try to get healed. 

It Ain’t But One Hill

I “ran” Billy Goat’s 1/2 Marathon and Hill Climb on Saturday.  I typed “ran” in quotes because there was much hiking involved during the first 6.5 miles.  I don’t know why it was so dang tough –  just as the race director, Steve Harvey, promises, “it ain’t but one hill.”

That one hill is called Indian Truck Trail.  And it starts at the base of the mountains in Corona, California and climbs up, up, up to The Main Divide.  That “one hill” though quite strenuous, would have not been so bad if it weren’t for the heat.  It was hot out there in Riverside County on Saturday.  HOT.  And being as spoiled as I am living on the cool coast, my body just rebelled. 

The trip to the top was uneventful, meaning, I didn’t feel like I was going to die.  I took up the very back of the pack, noticing that nearly everyone suffered from the heat.  Boy was I ever happy to turn around and run downhill.  You see, there was little shade along Indian Truck Trail, so there was not much opportunity to cool off.

On the way down, I told myself to maintain between a 12 and 14 minute mile, which was asking a lot in the near 100 degree heat.  (I heard that it was 98 in the late morning).  This got so tough (keeping up the pace) that I resorted to song counting just to make the time pass quicker.  “You can’t look at the garmin until you listen to three songs,” I’d tell myself.  After a few miles, I felt that I would collapse if I did not slow down.  With absolutely no shade whatsoever for those last three miles, there was no relief.  I filled my cap with ice at the aid station, and aside from dripping salty water into my eyes, I’m not sure I noticed any difference.  Amazingly, I learned that the woman running alongside me for mile ten through eleven was 4 1/2 months pregnant!

Oh how immense my misery was!  Miles eleven though thirteen, I wanted nothing more than to drop to the mountain floor and pass out.  I felt nauseated and a little confused.  And the only thing that I could do to cool myself down was to stop running.  And this I did often.  Then out of frustration over time passing too slowly, I’d pick up my feet again and trot some more.   

I crossed the finish line with only a few runners remaining on the mountain.  Immediately I held onto the timing table, wanting to fall to the ground.  My blood was boiling, I felt so hot.  People were so kind and helpful getting me to a chair in the shade, where they waited on me hand and foot – I got cups of cold water, ice on my neck, you name it.  Within about a half hour, my blood had stopped boiling and I was feeling almost back to normal.  Billy Goat is an event that I’m glad I finally got out to do – but I can’t put up with that kind of hellish misery anymore.  My God, why do I do this to myself? 

Not Summer Yet

Gym day yesterday, I was back on the trails late this morning.  I opted for a medium sized loop in Aliso and Wood Canyons.   I ran first through Aliso Canyon, turned off onto Wood Canyon Trail and made the first quick left onto Meadows.  Meadows is roughly 1.5 miles long, with the first half mile being relatively flat – exposed, but flat.  The remaining mile, still exposed, is a switchback with quite a climb, not quite brutal, but tough indeed.

 

Though we were socked-in back at my house – the sun shined brightly in the canyons.  The marine layer hovered just offshore, hiding the Pacific Ocean.  My view from Top of the World was misty.  And I got some cool breezes because it’s not quite summer yet.  

I struggled to pick up my speed for the last 4 miles of this 9.5 mile run.  The run down Mathis, though downhill, was still tough – a good heat training trick, since there is absolutely no shade.  I figured that if I averaged a better pace than normal, I’d have enough time to get some grocery shopping done before tending to the rest of my day.  I managed that, but it came at a price.  Not talking about the standard prices, like eyes stinging from sweat and some overheating (got that though too).  I’m talking about that dang foot trouble.  Oh well.  I went off to my afternoon meeting with a limp, then got so busy for the rest of the day, that I neglected to stretch and take care of the foot.  Doh!  I guess I could still do it tonight before I go off to bed.  But I probably won’t.  At the very least, I will tape. 

9.42 miles, 1,164’ elevation gain

Beautiful Disaster

Boy have I been fooled and spoiled by our marine layer.  Socked in every day, living in perpetual shade fooled me into thinking that I could drive to the top of Ortega Highway and run along Los Pinos Trail (and during the afternoon no less!).  Ummm, I practically stroked out.  Seriously, in the most beautiful, idyllic scenery, nausea set in, a familiar feeling I’ve experienced from heat sickness.  I needed to rest often, and wanted to collapse to the ground for a better rest, and probably would have if I wasn’t on such a remote trail. 

Well, with that said, it was a beautiful run (kinda run, mostly hike), and just a mere six miles, I did survive.  I even smiled often and posted “guess this trail” pictures to Facebook.  And as an added bonus point, I got a good ass-kicking on a terribly technical trail.  Kept myself upright the entire time.  Best of all, thank God, “Lordly, Lordy had mercy on me.”

Scenes from the beautiful disaster:

Catching Up

The sun barely shines around here as we head off into summer.  Instead, most days the marine layer floats above us so thick that puddles form on the ground.  Often, I need to run the wind shield wipers as I drove the boys to school in the morning.  June gloom we call it. I much prefer blue skies

Despite the gloom and crazy-hectic schedule, I have managed to get in two solid weeks of training (though I haven’t written a single word about them). I am so pleased to have succeeded in actually training these past two weeks – and perhaps I owe my progress in part to my two new Marine Corps Historic Half  hats sent to me by Lumberjack (notice the pink and white caps in the photos below).   I think the east coast has better hat vendors then we do on the west – these are the softest most comfortable hats I’ve ever worn! I love them. 

And so, without further ado, it is time to catch up on my training notes.

Monday, June 1, the sun decided to show its face early in the afternoon.  I set out for the steepest trail in Aliso/Woods Canyons, taking on Mentally Sensitive Trail at a snail’s pace.  It was one of those rare occasions lately that when I reached the ridge I could actually see the Pacific Ocean – It was not covered by a blanket of clouds.  Feeling somewhat out-of-shape, I closed up my loop by running down Meadows, a nice steep switch-back into the canyon.  The prizes for this run:  I ran up on two snakes and ran 8.16 miles with 1,029’ of elevation gain.

Aliso Creek

My two snakes:

Tuesday, June 2, it was dark and gloomy and I just couldn’t bear getting out there on the trails. I hit the gym and did 6.13 miles on the motion trainer, 10.81 miles on the bike and got in some weight training.

Wednesday, June 3, I was back at the gym, mainly because of time constraints, and it was so damn gloomy out.  I did 4.81 miles on the elliptical crossramp and 5.98 miles on the cycle before rushing out the door. 

Thursday, June 4, it was once again back to the gym beneath dark cloudy skies, with 7.14 miles on the motion trainer, 4.7 miles on the cycle and some more weights. 

It was not until Friday, June 5, when the sun finally decided to grace us with its appearance that I headed out for another run.   I was pretty dang bummed out when I realized that I had forgotten my garmin.  So, I sat in my truck for a good twenty minutes and downloaded the MapMyRun app onto my phone, set up an account etc., to find that the gps app added about two miles onto my run, crossing me over 8 lanes of the toll road even.  Whoa.  Since this out-and-back is a usual route for me, I have lots of data on the course, so I know I ran approximately 6.8 miles with  961’ elevation gain.  I felt good about it. 

Saturday, June 6, back to cloudy yucky skies, and the gym for 6.53 miles on the elliptical crossramp and some weights.  

Sunday, June 7, I waited until afternoon when the sun finally showed up, and ran a big loop at Crystal Cove and Laguna Wilderness.  This too is a semi-usual route, but this time, I ran it counter-clockwise because I hate, absolutely hate climbing out of this loop along No-Name Ridge which is a 4 mile uphill with no cover whatsoever.  This time, I ran down No-Name, all the way to the Pacific Ocean, which I stopped by for a quick “hello”.  In all, I ran 10.7 miles with1,462’ elevation gain.

Monday, June 8, bye-bye sun (boo-hoo).  Back to the gym for 4.87 miles on the elliptical crossramp, 9.45 miles on the cycle and some weight training. 

Tuesday, June 9,  REST.

Wednesday, June 10, the skies were dark and cloudy once again, but I decided to go to the sun.  After some freeway driving, and eventually some off-roading, I found myself in the lovely humid, but sunny Trabuco Canyon.   Much to my dismay however, gnats swarmed my face and ears.  Not having grown accustomed to those buggers this year, I was not able to embrace the gnats.  At one point, I snorted three up into my nose and aghast by this fact, I opened my mouth (never open your mouth in a swarm of gnats!).  With my mouth open, I swallowed a gnat or two, and chocked on them!  Almost just as bad as the gnats were the biting flies.  There were much fewer of these critters – but their bites were overwhelmingly annoying.  Still, it was a lovely, lovely run, so full of beauty (even going up the wretched W. Horsethief).  The terrain was also quite difficult, treacherous in fact, full of rocks and boulders where I nearly tripped and broke my neck a dozen times.  Thankfully, I kept upright the entire trip.  Obviously, I have grown out of practice on this technical terrain.   In all, I put in 5 miles during this short run, with 1,552’ of elevation gain.

Trabuco Trail:

The base of W. Horsethief:

Going down W. Horsethief:

Thursday, June 11, the marine layer once again socked in the coast and I put in 6.54 miles on the elliptical crossramp at the gym. 

Friday, June 6/12 I went out beneath wet, soggy skies for a big loop at Aliso/Wood Canyons.  A freaky, ghost-like cold mist blew through the canyons and the ridges alike.  The ocean was nowhere to be seen.  But that was okay.  I needed this run, and am happy I got to do it in cool weather.  I ran 12.47 miles with 1,258’ elevation gain.

Wood Canyon:

West Ridge & Meadows:

Saturday,  June 13,  REST.

Sunday, June 14, we got some sun, but after a pretty social weekend, I decided to sleep in and hit the gym later with 4.78 miles on the elliptical crossramp and 11.65 miles on the bike.

And now, I am caught up.  Here’s hoping I can up the ante over the next two weeks.

Thanks again Lumberjack for the terrific hats!

40 at Nanny Goat

With a week off from running (but not off from cross-training), I am finally able to sit and write about Nanny Goat 2015.  If you have just tuned in, Nanny Goat is an Old Goat, around-the-clock circuit race that takes place on a ranch in Riverside, California.  About 200 runners set up camp along the one mile loop, with several groups of runners taking up residency in the barn, which we run through at the beginning of each loop.  There is a 24 hour run, and two 12 hour runs, one taking off Saturday morning, the other Saturday night. 

I arrived Friday night, with my oldest son.  We set up camp just outside the barn.  Being that said son broke a tent pole on a camping trip this past spring break, I was armed up with a band new tent – a mansion tent, compared to what I’m used too. 

Early Saturday morning, more runners arrived and erected their campsites.  Our tent neighbor was Tony – the same guy who was my neighbor last year.  We took those last miles together, those painful miles that I felt I could not take another step.  What a joy to see him again!!  He said to me as he set up his site this year, “Do you remember what you said at the end of the race last year?”  No, I did not remember.  But I could have guessed.  He told me that I said there was no way I would Nanny Goat again this year. 

My headquarters for Nanny Goat:

The runners gathered in the goat pen at about 8:15 AM Saturday morning, and we were off for our circuit race at 8:30 AM sharp.  I had hoped that taped feet would ward off heal pain for many miles.  No such luck.  I struggled from the get-go. But it was not all miserable, as I was in the company of many friends and acquaintances, not to mention the best one-man crew ever!   When I needed a soda, a towel, a tub of water to wash my face or feet – my boy did it all for me. 

Scenes from the course: 

A good calf stretch does the plantar fasciitis good:The first twenty-six miles were quite the struggle.  I stopped frequently, and stretched also frequently.  On mile twenty-seven, my heals ached so badly, I dropped by the tent for a foot bath.  Afterward, my feet were so dang clean, I could not get the tape to stick.  My son suggested I throw dirt on my spanking clean feet – but I just couldn’t do it.  Instead I popped two ibuprofen (the first and only of the event) and took off on the course.  I felt good – I had finally gotten my groove.  I ran until dark with good spirits, stopping by the barn for a hamburger and various other snacks (mainly potato chips – actually, my diet throughout the even consisted of potato chips.)  Finally, at nightfall, I changed my shirt, put on a jacket and headed out again under darkness.  I’m not sure where I was mileage-wise.  My son was pushing me forward, assuring me that I would reach more than 70 miles at the rate I was going. 

Some time before midnight, I’d say around 11 PM, but I’m not really sure, I decided that I just did not want to do this anymore.  My one-man crew somewhat pleaded with me to carry on (but I think that he just really wanted my air mattress).  I really was done though – forty miles was a good workout as far as I was concerned.  Eventually, I made a deal.  I would not drop from the race, instead, I would sleep for a while.  For a long time actually.  I set my alarm for 5AM, with the intent of possibly getting out for another ten miles in the morning before quitting time. 

Thing was, as soon as I lay down beneath the thick sleeping bag, my body shut down, and I froze.  I shivered for it seemed several hours.  Struggling in the dark, I changed my clothing hoping that would help – but it still took some time for my body to get back to normal.  I probably didn’t get to sleep until about 1AM, and woke frequently from the constant cowbell ringing in the barn. 

I turned the alarm off at 5AM resolved to officially throw in the towel.  At 6AM, gave the air mattress to my son and crawled out of the tent to watch the runners who went through the night coming through the barn.  I was not jealous one bit.  This was not my year to go through the night.  I’ve done it twice before, and know what it’s like.  Yup, forty miles was good for me this year.  I am better for it.

My crew: