Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team: Modern day heroes
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
RSF 17-miler
I completed the Rancho Santa Fe 11-mile course Saturday night. I got home around 7 p.m. after seeing Ariana and decided, with Liz doing the SDIT on Sunday, I needed to run that night. Headed out through the lagoon and got into a good pace. Got to San Dieguito Park around 8 p.m. and headed into RSF.
The course is almost all pedestrian/equestrian trails that follow roads or go through easements between properties. I didn't see another runner the whole time! I guess the RSF crowd doesn't walk their dogs either! It is a great course with rolling hills, stables and ridiculous homes to ponder -- just what do you do with 15,000 square feet?
Ran out of light about 8:30 and got the head lamp out. I expected a sucurity patrol to stop me but never saw them. I'm sure they had other more serious crimes to attend to, like missing golf carts, trampled flowers or the Country Club party getting "out of hand" (I could hear it all the way from the driving range).
Seriously, it was a really good run. I called Liz at 9 to let her know I was OK. I didn't tell her I was still in the middle of RSF -- didn't want to worry her before her big race. I confessed to it later, so karma was hopefully restored. The only bummer was going home on Lomas Santa Fe pavement/concrete. I thought a lot about where I'm at and concluded, I am "livin' it right"!
Adding the 5 miles to get to and from the start (San Dieguito Park) from home, I ended up doing 17 miles in about 3:30. Did some walking but mostly ran at 9:30 to 10:00 pace. Only issue was my feet hurt coming back on the pavement. Legs feel good -- maybe I can do this long distance stuff.
The course is almost all pedestrian/equestrian trails that follow roads or go through easements between properties. I didn't see another runner the whole time! I guess the RSF crowd doesn't walk their dogs either! It is a great course with rolling hills, stables and ridiculous homes to ponder -- just what do you do with 15,000 square feet?
Ran out of light about 8:30 and got the head lamp out. I expected a sucurity patrol to stop me but never saw them. I'm sure they had other more serious crimes to attend to, like missing golf carts, trampled flowers or the Country Club party getting "out of hand" (I could hear it all the way from the driving range).
Seriously, it was a really good run. I called Liz at 9 to let her know I was OK. I didn't tell her I was still in the middle of RSF -- didn't want to worry her before her big race. I confessed to it later, so karma was hopefully restored. The only bummer was going home on Lomas Santa Fe pavement/concrete. I thought a lot about where I'm at and concluded, I am "livin' it right"!
Adding the 5 miles to get to and from the start (San Dieguito Park) from home, I ended up doing 17 miles in about 3:30. Did some walking but mostly ran at 9:30 to 10:00 pace. Only issue was my feet hurt coming back on the pavement. Legs feel good -- maybe I can do this long distance stuff.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Xterra Malibu Creek
So begins my training for R2R2R. What better way to guage your ability then a hard Xterra trail race one week after Wildflower? My friend Cami and I drove up to LA Friday night, had dinner in Topanga then woke early Saturday for the race.
Malibu Creek State Park is where M*A*S*H was filmed and a really pretty area. Even though I lived in LA, I'd never been. The race is a 14 mile trail run wtih 2,500+ feet of climbing and descending, including "Bulldog" which is 1,500' up over a couple of miles.
We ran through along and across the creek then headed up. My heartrate was maxed trying to run and I found power walking to be more effective. I passed a number of "runners" this way. At the top were treated to a beautiful view of the fog covered valleys with the peaks sticking out.
You reach the highest point at mile 6 and the rest is rollers with a big downhill at mile 10. Traversing around the rim of the canyon was great with views on both sides. I hit the big descent and let my legs go to see what I had. I felt this would give me an idea of how I'd feel during the descents in the Grand Canyon on R2R2R. I felt good going down and was surprised to find I had no soreness in the hips, knees or ankles after.
I caught Cami in the flats around mile 12 and we ran in together for a time of 2:27. We had a great time after with Brent, Rachel, Mark and the other SD folks who showed up.
Great location...great event...great confidence boost. Now to find a 50K in August that isnt' super hot!
Malibu Creek State Park is where M*A*S*H was filmed and a really pretty area. Even though I lived in LA, I'd never been. The race is a 14 mile trail run wtih 2,500+ feet of climbing and descending, including "Bulldog" which is 1,500' up over a couple of miles.
We ran through along and across the creek then headed up. My heartrate was maxed trying to run and I found power walking to be more effective. I passed a number of "runners" this way. At the top were treated to a beautiful view of the fog covered valleys with the peaks sticking out.
You reach the highest point at mile 6 and the rest is rollers with a big downhill at mile 10. Traversing around the rim of the canyon was great with views on both sides. I hit the big descent and let my legs go to see what I had. I felt this would give me an idea of how I'd feel during the descents in the Grand Canyon on R2R2R. I felt good going down and was surprised to find I had no soreness in the hips, knees or ankles after.
I caught Cami in the flats around mile 12 and we ran in together for a time of 2:27. We had a great time after with Brent, Rachel, Mark and the other SD folks who showed up.
Great location...great event...great confidence boost. Now to find a 50K in August that isnt' super hot!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
R2R2R
So my so-called friends Paul and Mykl decided to do the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim without me, eh? Hmmm...nothing like being left off the list to motivate me to match or better their accomplishment...
Seriously, running the Grand Canyon has been on my list for awhile. Why? I could say "because it's there" but that would be inadequate. I've been to the GC several times and, however perverse this may sound, running it seems to be the best way to experience it. You avoid the mules, tourists and expense of riding, hiking or rafting it. You get serious exposure to the geography and you get it done in a day.
BTW, the "run" is 48 miles with 10,000+ feet of gain and 10,000+ feet of loss. Ouch!!!!
I had talked with my friend Shannon last Fall and we both had interest. So, when I saw Paul's trip report, I emailed her about doing it and the answer was "yes"! She added her friend Megan so now we have a team of a surgeon, an ER doc and a Wilderness First Responder, so we should have the medical taken care of! So, onto the training...
Oh, I haven't even done a marathon yet...what am I thinking?!? Well, I've done some pretty long runs/hikes/climbs at elevation, so I think putting in the miles + some serious elevation is the main thing training wise. So, now I'm planning on running up some of the local mountains I usually hike up like San Jacinto (10,834'), San Gorgonio (11/060') and doing lots of hill repeats!
I'll mix in some Xterra races, a 50K and some crazy long bike rides as well.
Can you say "ultra"?
Seriously, running the Grand Canyon has been on my list for awhile. Why? I could say "because it's there" but that would be inadequate. I've been to the GC several times and, however perverse this may sound, running it seems to be the best way to experience it. You avoid the mules, tourists and expense of riding, hiking or rafting it. You get serious exposure to the geography and you get it done in a day.
BTW, the "run" is 48 miles with 10,000+ feet of gain and 10,000+ feet of loss. Ouch!!!!
I had talked with my friend Shannon last Fall and we both had interest. So, when I saw Paul's trip report, I emailed her about doing it and the answer was "yes"! She added her friend Megan so now we have a team of a surgeon, an ER doc and a Wilderness First Responder, so we should have the medical taken care of! So, onto the training...
Oh, I haven't even done a marathon yet...what am I thinking?!? Well, I've done some pretty long runs/hikes/climbs at elevation, so I think putting in the miles + some serious elevation is the main thing training wise. So, now I'm planning on running up some of the local mountains I usually hike up like San Jacinto (10,834'), San Gorgonio (11/060') and doing lots of hill repeats!
I'll mix in some Xterra races, a 50K and some crazy long bike rides as well.
Can you say "ultra"?
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