Saturday’s long run was awesome. The weather, trail conditions, foliage and company (of course) all aligned to make what was my most favorite run of 2006.
Wendy, Skip, Linda, Chris, Kerry and Pete were appropriately outfitted for the 14-mile jaunt. Heck, Skip could have summit Mt. Everest . However, Eric Kosters was wearing his traditional battery powered neon vest which reflected a kind of “Search and Rescue” feel with a hint of “Crossing Guard” mixed in. I had previously never considered shopping at Home Depot for running gear. Maybe Eric will break out the coveted Black & Decker gloves and/or Makita protective goggles for Twin Peaks ! And apparently, I party fouled by wearing Dolphin like shorts (from my days at “Pooters”; male version of “Hooters”). Next week look for the yellow Danskin full body suit with LA Gear trail shoes.
The run started promptly at 6:30 a.m. in front of the Holy Jim trailhead. Pete (who lives in Fountain Valley ) didn’t have the option of sleeping the night before. Nonetheless, all were accounted for aside from Paul who learned that “better be on time” means “better be on time”. Wendy is a stickler on punctuality so arrive early or get sent to your room.
The warm up, to West Horse Thief (WHT), was a gradual incline perfect for waking the quads. Unfortunately, it could never prepare you for the nasty nature of WHT. With Kerry and Eric leading the way (what’s new), we drugged up the steep switchback which immediately increased our heart rates towards the dreaded anaerobic zone. For some reason, WHT seemed both steeper and shorter than normal. In any respect, all OCTR made it thru the tight turns, over the rocky surface and up the steep profile.
After taking a short break atop WHT, we continued up the North Main Divide (NMD) towards Holy Jim. The first half-mile was a nice gradual decline. That changed in a hurry. The next few miles had a steady incline that required some healthy effort. After a short downhill and a few up and down spots, we came to a fork in the road. I was told to stay left If I wanted to reach Holy Jim. If you go right, onto Indian Truck Trail, you end up going down the East side of Santiago Peak and towards Eric’s house which would ultimately land you in Bed, Bath & Beyond searching for a pair of running socks.
We continued and there was another nice one mile of significant incline and then we kind of evened out our way to the entrance of Holy Jim for the 4-mile or so downhill fall. Linda and Chris needed to get back home so they took off down Holy Jim while Kerry, Eric, Pete and I shot the breeze with a few mountain bikers parked at the top. Kerry split down Holy Jim with Eric and Pete following approximately 10 minutes later.
I hung out to run with Wendy and Skip as they glided their way up the NMD. Wendy claimed to have spotted the largest Mountain Lion paw print she had ever seen: right in the middle of the road. I asked her if she had taken a picture of the paw print but was told she had no camera. I found that amusing as she carries just about everything but the kitchen sink. Then I wondered. Does Wendy know the difference between a wild animal track and the tread marks left by a pair of worn Good Year Eagles? She also claimed to have only taken two potty breaks which I found very suspect given her history. I think she had a mild case of altitude sickness so I let her off the hook and didn’t pursue the conversation.
Once reaching the Holy Jim down entrance, Wendy and Skip took a short break for some Gu and the soon to be dreaded apple; Adam and Eve? Skip comes prepared. He had his trusty Swiss Army knife packed away in his extended stay backpack. I guess we’re supposed to brandish the corkscrew in the unlikely event of a mountain lion attack. NEWS FLASH- Mountain lions are terrified of tiny scissor and scatter when those ½ inch blades hit sunlight. Being the gentleman he is, Skip offered me a fresh slice of apple which I (in hindsight) rudely rejected. Being small minded, I missed the true significance of the gesture to break bread with my new running brother and told him to basically stick it. I have some mending to handle here and may need a group hug to eradicate the negative vibe generated. I will be offering lightly salted Edamame for the next run with Skip in an attempt to salvage the situation by sharing a good pea (they’re actually beans but no pun opportunity there).
SIDE BAR
I don’t want to get on a rant but, the whole Gu, Energy Bar, Electrolyte drink thing is out of hand; how did Steve Prefontaine ever manage to run much less set 14 records? The whole eat, drink while running is promoted by multi-million dollar corporations that worry about their bottom line and not you’re finishing times. Are you supposed to eat before you get hungry? No, that’s called putting on weight. Been there, done that. Are you supposed to sleep before you’re tired? No, that’s called lazy. Are you supposed to satisfy yourself before your partner? Absolutely! That being said, the human body is an amazing piece of genetic engineering. Do you really think we’re designed to drink water before feeling the sensation of thirst? Do you believe once thirsty, during a race or run, it’s too late to hydrate? Think about it. Remember, evolution moves at a snails pace. Your body is designed to wear down prey by running it into the ground. So, do you think the one flaw in the human design is the thirst mechanism kicking in too late? More likely, your body will tell you when to eat, drink or rest. Getting bogged down with water before and during a run has killed more people on long runs then dehydration. That being said, I was feeling very comfortable at the top of Holy Jim and was following my internal system cues for nourishment. It told me I was OK and needed no change. Wow, that was a diatribe to explain “no apple thanks.” I do like Clif bars on occasion to be totally wishy washy on the topic.
OK, BACK TO THE RE-CAP
So, after the Johnny Apple Seed incident, I peeled off (get it) down Holy Jim to avoid the uncomfortable chill and core (get it) conversation. Had Skip offered some Passion Fruit and not some ordinary garden variety, common place apple maybe the whole thing turns out different!
Half way down Holy Jim, Wendy, Skip and myself re-unite as buddies again (though Skip was emotionally blocking and needed Dr. Phil) and the discussion goes from music to kids and then to massage parlors. Pretty normal regression as topics tend to sink towards seedy subjects as lactic acid invades the system. At the start of the run, a happy ending meant we would all make it back to our cars without injury. Now, the phrase had new meaning and I was imagining hot oil hitting my back. Instead, I think Wendy spit on me cause I was slowing her down. Skip stumbled a few times and fearing the domino effect, I took off for the safety of my Jeep. About 1,000 yards from my car, I tripped in front of about 5 people, hand planted and followed it all up with a nice summersault; 7.5 from the East German judge (b_ _ ch!)
All in all, that run was my most favorite outing of 2006. It figures the running gods made me wait 364 days into the year for the experience. The top of West Horse Thief is one of the most scenic places in Orange County . The North Main Divide going towards Santiago Peak was in good shape and the Inland Empire views were stunning. Holy Jim is just that, Holy. I felt like I was running effortlessly on clouds. It was surreal at times. I would like to thank Wendy for organizing (even if anal) and the rest of the runners for allowing me to accompany you on such a neat, local adventure. It’s during these runs I realize how lucky I am to be alive, live in OC and hang out with such quality individuals.
Happy New Year!
Charlie
P.S.
And the whole time I’m thinking, where is Greg? Is he still looking for the lost pair of Oakley Thump Pros? After completing his first Ultra, is he too much to hang with the old gang? Did he actually use a weak excuse like “I have to pick someone up from the airport?” Certainly he is aware of taxis, airport shuttle services, town cars, buses and limos. It’s not like Jessica couldn’t have made the airport junket to let Greg run. Things don’t add up here!
Category: Training Runs
