Seaman's it's been ages!

I cannot remember the last time I ran the trails at Seaman's Gulch.  The loops in this trail system are very short and it is impossible to get over 7 miles without doing a lot of repeat loops.  This is the perfect place to take Mini-Me for another short trail run.  This time it was the two of us and Michele.

She always talks me in to treats after these harder runs!

Losing the use of my hands!

The title of this blog may not be what you think.  I need to explain.

Today is Saturday.  We were supposed to do our long trail run on Wednesday.  However my youngest daughter got very sick and by Wednesday was getting worse.  We postponed the run to be Friday instead. Thursday night i got a grand total of 3 HOURS of sleep.  That's right 3 hours and they were NOT even in a row!  So a long trail on Friday was also a no-go for me.  Michele was so nice to adjust her running schedule AGAIN, and we planned for Saturday morning.  The goal was 14 miles.

The inversion came rolling back in pretty good, so the temps were very cold.  When it's cold out and the sun isn't shining and the air is full of moisture it feels even colder!  I wore my new Brooks gloves to keep my hand warm. Nothing is worse than cold hands when you are running....nothing!

Our plan was a loop that we have really grown to enjoy a lot; Clockwise loop through Seaman's and down the Public trail to the road, run to Veteran's, main Veteran's loop, drop into the bike trail, run Junk Yard, D's Chaos and back out the same way to Seaman's.  With the inversion hanging around there was still some icy artwork to enjoy.

We really felt good and had a great time.  Not used to running on Saturday's there was quite a few more people than we are used to seeing.  For the most part they were all friendly.  The trails were in GREAT shape today!  And we saw a friend... Kim!  She is an awesome tri-athlete!  I am so impressed by people who can swim!

The strangest thing to see today?  A couch.  A fake leather greenish coach.  Someone had hauled it all the way out ad sat it in the middle of the junkyard loop. Not sure why... but there it was.

So...what is the deal with me losing the use of my hands?  They were cold!  Even with my HIGH TECH double layered $40 gloves on!  The cold inversion just froze them.  Towards the ends of our run I could not get them to work correctly.  I lost all dexterity in them!  When I would try to do anything I felt like I could not control my fingers at all.  The kicker came when I wanted to take a picture of us near the end of our run.  Everything I tried to push the button on my phone to take the pic, I would drop my phone.  Luckily I caught it each time. I had absolutely no control of my hands. It took me holding the phone and Michele pushing the button to get a photo of us. WORTH IT!

Death of a Yak Trak

So, my Yak Trak's have "unofficially" broken twice in the last month.  It's unofficial because I have managed to rig them back together each time.  Well on today's run, they finally met their demise.

The plan today was 14-15 miles.  We hit our new favorite loop....Seaman's to Veteran's with some Junk Yard.  We planned on adding a little bit in the bike park to get us to the 14 mile range.  Kris (feeling better) will not run that many miles.  It is not a question of whether or not she CAN she just will NOT.  So, she planned to meet us at Veteran's.

We weren't sure if we would need our Yak Trak's or not.  So we strapped than to or packs and headed out.  Within 10 minutes we knew, they needed to go on.  There was just way too many icy areas.  SO we stopped.  Michele said, "Wouldn't that be awful if one of us dropped a Yak Trak down the cliff."  Then I hear a yell of "Oh no!  I dropped my Yak Trak."  Sure enough while she was trying to put it on, the Yak Trak sling shot out of her hand and down the cliff side.  She had to hike down to retrieve it.

We continued our run uneventfully.  The trail was frozen, then hard dirt, then patchy snow, then torn up hard dirt, then terrible ice.  It was so difficult to get good footing or momentum.  But we plugged along anyway.

We met up with Kris and headed into Veteran's.

 The running was slow today due to the terrible trail conditions, but we still had a good time.  Slowly my Yak Trak's began to uncoil and snap.  By the end of the run..... 13 miles.....they were dead.

 


Time for a new pair!!!

First Annual Poker Run

Here is the idea.....run a 7 mile trail run.  At every mile, draw a card.  The runner with the best 5 card poker hand at the end...WINS!!  Sounds fun couldn't wait.  Unfortunately our dearest running buddy Kris is under the weather and couldn't join us.  We decided to draw her cards for her and text her each time to keep her in the game.  So ready to go!!!

 We put our Yak Trax in our packs, not sure if we wold need them or not.  We started at the Seaman's Parking lot and headed towards the public trail that leads to Veteran's.  At exaclty 0.09 miles in tothe run we had to stop and put our Yak's on.

Our legs felt very heavy. What was going on?  We were feeling like we were in such great shape for our upcoming 20 mile Wilson Creek Race.  Today was a humble stick slapped across our face.  We dragged the first mile!  At mile one we drew our first card.  What did I draw for Kris?

 HAHA how fitting!  We put it away and drew a new one.  Then we trudged along.  Our legs didn't feel normal until probably mile 4.  They were just so heavy and our calves BURNED!!  Each time we stopped to draw a card, we would text a picture to Kris.  She would text and telll me from where on the pile to draw, then she would say I was a cheater, etc.

We finally hit the downhill section of Veteran's and felt some relief in our legs.  I began to feel a weirdness in my foot fall.  It felt as if I was running on a spring, like I was inspector gadget or something.

I suddenly realized what it was.  Darn it!! My Yak Trax broke. Luckily I carry a small leatherman in my pack.  Just a few minutes and it was ready to go!

As we headed up the last hill we had an eerie sight!  Four big black crows on the trail.  Three quickly flew away but on ehung around. He sat on the fence for quite a while.

It was a bit creepy at first.  Then when we got home I googled what it might mean.

"It is said that if you see just one crow it is considered to be unlucky. If you see two black crows it is said to be good luck. If you see three black crows it is said to mean health. If you see four black crows it is said to mean wealth. "

Hey alright!  I could use some wealth!!

We finished by running a total of 7.3 miles.  Our legs were so tired from running in the soft uneven snow.  Our poker hands ended up like this:

Michele

Jodi

Kris

Michele technically won but she said since she was the "game-master"  she couldn't be the winner.  So, YAY I am the winner!!!

After I had to prove to Kris that I did not cheat, it was time for the gift exchange.  We all are so much alike!!  We ALL bought calendars for each other! Too funny!

Climb Every Mountain....

On today's run it was unfortunate that I had the song "Climb Every Mountain" from the Sound of Music in my head.  That did add a whole new level of meaning to the trails today.

We loved our Junk Yard loop last week SO much that we decided to run it again.  The plan was to add a bit more at the end and try to get in 14 miles.  It has been pretty foggy for the past two days, but it made for a beautiful trail run.  We were definitely "Running in a Winter Wonderland" today.

We ran a lot smarter today (if that is ever possible).  We fueled more often and walked the steep hills.  Our 50K training is going pretty well so far.  It was a fun, frosty day!

13.5 miles.  Not too shabby for the morning!

3 Trail runs in 6 days....LIFE IS GOOD!

After a drought of trails, we have really stepped it up a notch!  Today was our third trail run in just 6 days.  Only one word can describe that....RAD!  Not only that...we are planning our upcoming black Friday run and upgrading it to EPIC!!

See how happy I am!!

Why are we running so may trails and upping our miles?  See this shoe charm?  We are training for ultras now!!!  WooHOO!!


Michele has decided to upgrade her water pack to match me..

Today we parked at Seaman's Gulch and ran the public trail to the canal ditch.  Then we ran the ditch to Veteran's Cemetery.  It was a really chilly and frosty morning.  But luckily also very sunny.

Michele could not get her watch to recognize satellite. When we got to the road the led to Veteran's she made me STOP.  So she could fix it.

IT was 1.75 mils to the Veteran's parking lot.  Then we ran the usual loop and headed back.  We wanted the run to be no less than 8.  So when we re-entered Seaman's we did a little bit extra.  Final mileage.  8.0 exactly.  Good day.

Back on the trails!!

What a wonderful day!  A day to finally get back on the trails!

My last trail run with my sister was May 11th!  That is 47 days ago! So, I was so pumped to hit them again today for the first time in what seemed like ages.  But then.....

Last night I got terribly sick.  I was so nauseous that I actually went to bed at 9 PM (very unlike me).  I didn't know what was wrong; recovery issues, stomach bug, who knows.  I knew when I woke up this morning I would be devastated if I was too sick to run.

No, a rooster didn't actually crow this morning to wake me up.  I only have hens.  But my iPhone did wake me playing lovely harp music.  I slowly sat up and waited to see if the nausea was still present.  Waited.  Waited.  GONE!!  Hooray I would be trail running today!!

I was so excited, that I was forgetting everything.  IT was  as if I'd never ran before.  Went out the door, forgot my watch.  Back out the door, forgot my bag.  Out the door once more, where's my water.  Finally had myself together, out the door for last time.  Before pulling out of the driveway I sent Michele the usual "I'm on my way" text. But this time my text said; "Leaving now. OH BOY!"

When I got to the bottom of my hill, Michele had not yet responded back.  Did she remember?

Ten minutes later, the weirdest thing happened.  Suddenly I had no idea where I was.  I had no idea which road I was on or anything.  I slowed down and frantically looked at landmarks.  Where am I?  Was this some strange side effect from taking so much medication for so long?

It only took me a few seconds (though it seemed longer) to realize where I was.  Going the right way!  But still no response from Michele.  She better be awake!!

It is about a 30 minute drive for me to get to my sister's house.  It wasn't until I had been on the road for 20 MINUTES that I finally received a smiley face response to my earlier text.  OK, at least I knew she was up and happy to go as well.

The trail we picked for today was Seaman's Gulch.  This is because the hills are friendly and it's a pretty short loop.  This being my first trail run in so long I had no idea what to expect.  It was a warm morning so although we were running a short run we still knew we'd need to carry water.  PROBLEM. I cannot wear a hydration belt right now.  So, Michele had to carry my water for me.  She said she was going to be my mule.

Hey, I thought, not having to carry my own water, I could get used to this!!!

I was so excited to go, FINALLY!  Michele snapped a picture of me when we started.  Can't you just feel my joy??

I would have loved to do a "fast Cory" leap and I felt like doing one, but my new tumor-free body is not quite ready for that yet.

 

We ran Seaman's counter-clockwise.  Michele felt it would have less jarring of a downhill if we did.  We had never ran it this way and it was an absolutely genius idea.  I felt pretty good, a little tired.  Then suddenly, here comes the nausea again. Oh No!!  Time to stop for a water break.

 

 

I looked at my watch, WHAT!?!?  "We have only gone .8 of a mile!"  I shouted.  I was breathing heavy and so tired and nauseous!!  Then I remembered something Laura had left as a comment on my last blog:

 

Measure your progress from what is in your life now, not what you were capable of before. Enjoy getting strong again!

 

 

I shared it with Michele.  What great advice.  It really helped me out at that moment on the trail. So, thank you so much Laura!!

 

 

After the first mile there was really no more climbing.  I felt great and ran at least 75% of the run!  It felt so good to be out there again.  I loved it!

 



I couldn't have asked for better weather or a better running partner.  We did 2.68 miles in 31 minutes. Not too shabby for us gals!!

So today, I ended the nightmare of a chapter that I have been living for 6 weeks.  I can now do nothing but look ahead to greater runs and happier days!!

Back on trails....FINALLY!!

After it being too cold, too crazy, too muddy and a number of other reasons.....we finally got back on the trails today!  As I was driving to Michele's I realized why I like them so much....

1) No pace goal
2) No distance goal
3)  No music
4)  Slow pace, easy going, social time

It is just completely therapeutic!!  Especially with all of the intense marathon training I have been doing!  Found this great quote last week that basically sums it all up.....

"No Excuses! Get up! Get out! Run! There will come a day when I can no longer run.... Today is not that day" - Lisa Tamati (ultra marathoner)

We ran the Seaman's Gulch trails today, looped around a couple times to get it close to a 5-miler.  When we first got out of the car and had a bathroom stop, I bent down to lace my shoes tighter.  Oh boy, here comes a dog!  "Get out the pepper spray."  I told Michele.  Then I hear a voice saying "he's friendly."  And a man walker appears (the source of the voice).  The dog sniffs around me, which I do NOT like.  Shoe tied I stand up.  This "friendly" dog then starts barking and sorta growling at me!  What in the world!!  The owner calls him away from me as the dog is still barking at me.  "Sorry, he's really friendly, he just doesn't like black clothes or sunglasses."  Great so apparently I need to run in pastel colors and without eye protection on sunny days to be safe now!

Side bar:  I don't know why he made to comment about sunglasses because I actually wasn't wearing any.

We were hoping the trails would still be frozen and dry.  The temp was 27 degrees so we were pretty confident they would be good.

It's too bad that some people are disrespectful of staying off the trails when they are muddy.  It makes it become "ankle breaking" for others.

But for us the trails were frozen and really nice except for the few spots where they were abused like this picture.

There wasn't a lot to take a picture of today,  So here is our view of the dump!

Great day to run with my best running partner!!  My only dislike about Seaman's... a lot of dog owners use this area.  Me and dogs are not BFF's.