Long run with the runs

Yup, you read that right! You might not want to read this! I won't be graphic, though, promise.

Today I set out on what I hoped would be 7-7.5 miles. I ran to the aqueduct and then down the path (paved side). My goal was to go to the end but I wasn't sure how far that would be. I didn't want to overdo since I had to turn around and go back.

I got to the last road crossing and had gone 3.75 miles. I could see the little building at the end, but again, I didn't want to push myself. So glad I didn't!!

About half a mile later, my gut decided it didn't like me. Unfortunately I was three miles from home!!  I found that it was actually worse when I walked so I ran more than I might have otherwise. I knew there was a porta potty at a construction site about a mile from home. Could I make it 2 more miles?! Ugh!! I was on the aqueduct and couldn't exactly "step off" so I had to try. At the next road crossing I looked as far as I could see to make sure there wasn't a construction potty there somewhere. There wasn't. So I plodded on.

I made it to the porta potty just in time. After that, I was fine. I have NO idea what caused the issue. I didn't eat the second half of my Bloks on the run, just in case. I ate them later and was fine. Actually, I've been fine ever since. Last night, I ate Panera. A turkey sandwich. So, guess what? I'm not doing THAT again!! In fact, I'm going back to eating right - i.e. vegan. With occasional eggs and shrimp (SO not ready to give up my shrimp fried rice addiction). We'll see if that helps.

Now I'm recovering with the pooch. Iced my toe. It hurt most of the run. Which is interesting cuz it DIDN'T hurt until the end of my trail run last week. It's all a learning process. Still loving that process!!!

Attempted Yoga

In Texas I visited a yoga studio right down the street from the house as often as I could. The last several times I went, I went to a "restorative" yoga class. It was awesome but more about stretching and relaxing than balancing and such and what most people think of with yoga.

There aren't a lot of options for yoga here in the High Desert. There is a studio several miles from our house. Cost plus distance just doesn't seem worth it. BUT there's a gym not too far away that has yoga (and other) classes as part of membership. And it's cheap - for a gym. $20/month. So I decided to do a free-trial and try a class.

I came home and walked Slugs a little (got the mail) and watched Ellen. I wasn't sure how long signing up for the free trial would take, nor how crowded the class would be so I left earlier than I needed to - 4:30. I fed Slugger right before I left.

The class was great. I liked the instructor very much. Unfortunately, I didn't like the gym atmosphere. Even though we had soothing music on, we could still hear their obnoxiously loud music. And I jumped every time someone dropped a barbell/weight.

I did find it interesting that I was MUCH better at balance poses than I had been previously. I'm blaming the running! I could actually almost feel like I was doing tree pose instead of floundering like I used to. So YAY!

When I got home, Slugger had eaten an entire bag of potato chips. Guess he doesn't like me being gone in the evening either.

I have the exercise room all set up now so I'm going to try yoga at home for a few weeks. If that isn't working for me, I'll try the yoga studio.

Getting Motivated

For Martin Luther King Jr weekend, I decided to go to Big Bear to see Dad and go for a trail run. Since I had a 3rd day, I'd still have time to do household chores and such.

Dad got into the planning for my trail run and ended up being my crew! He dropped me at the dump road and I headed toward Canada. He would then pick me up where the PCT crosses VanDusen Canyon Road, about 6 miles later.

First, I had to run through the burn area from the Holcomb fire last June. It was stark and bare and just sad. Dad and I have hiked this section before and it's like a completely different place. I have pictures somewhere of the foliage that was so prominent and beautiful. Now I felt like I was on the moon or something. Sandy ash everywhere. I could see Baldwin Lake the entire way. Until I got to the side of the mountain that I needed to go up.

The trail went up with a couple switchbacks for about 2 more miles. It was rocky which I hate. I did a LOT of walking. I felt like I was dancing along the rocks, kinda power walking. But I did it and I knew that once I got to the top it would be worth it. And it was!!

Once I went over the top, I was able to run quite a bit. It was SO pretty and peaceful. There were quite a few snow patches. Some just a stride or two, others longer. I think the longest might have been 20 yards. And mushy snow because it was warm. My shoes got a little wet but I'd prefer that to scary icy snow.

It was mostly level or downhill at that point. It was AWESOME!!! Man, I want to live there so bad so I can run on trails all the time!!! But really, I think that running roads is good for me too. One, it makes me appreciate trails when I get to them. Two, it's different so it exercises muscles differently. Three, life isn't perfect.

I had a radio with me so I was listening to the BB Repeater the whole time. I chatted with Dad at about 3.5 miles. He was going to meet me along the trail to see how I was doing. I hadn't been on this trail though so I didn't really know where that point was. It was so much fun to be running strong down a hill and look up and there's Dad!! We walked a bit and chatted. I had a mile or so to the road. I set off running. He walked back to his car hoping to beat me to the "finish"!

This part I'd been on and recognized several portions. I finished with 6.9 miles!! I felt FANTASTIC!! I was tired and was happy to start but that "runner's high" had already settled in and I'm still feeling it!! I could almost forget about the mountain I started out going up!

It SO motivated me!! Let's DO this!!! Whatever THIS is 😉

One of the snow patches. The only pic I took cuz I was having so much fun!

Winter Break ending

Slugger and I thoroughly enjoyed our 17 day break together. To celebrate our last day, we went for a hike. We ventured off to the PCT near here. Dad and dogs and I had found it earlier in break. Slugger and I decided to head "south" toward Big Bear. We were probably 30-40 miles of trail from being anywhere near there.

It was an interesting trail with interesting people. I'll leave it at that. We went about a mile and got to a very big water hole. Slugger REALLY wanted to go in. I chose to turn around. We even saw some horses on our way back!! Slugger did VERY well, considering.

Here are pics from the outing.