Dipsea

The Dipsea is an incredibly unique running experience. Because I had run to the top of Mt. Tam on a very rocky surface the day prior, I was not going to do the entire Dipsea, but it was a fun run non the less. From the base in the city of Mill Valley the Dipsea is a series of thousands of stair steps up and then over the top of the ridge and eventually to the ocean.
I was a little tired so only did the first flight of 250 steps.
Good work out... way better than a Stair Monster.

Mount Tamalpis

The next day was in Mill Valley. Up at the end of town is a beautiful redwood valley that holds Mill Creek. The creek was still running this late in the year and the shade was a delight to start the run. I finish with a steep and rugged trail up to a fire road. Am running along and thinking how far I was going to go. I had not intended to go to the top. I have been there before. But as time past and I saw the sign that said 2.6 miles to the top I thought what the heck and went for it.
The fire road up to the top of Mt. Tam is very rocky. The rocks are sharp and angular so the foot fall seems is never flat.
At on turn where the Weaver Trial is there is a 270 degree view from the ocean with tankers to the Golden Gate, to the City, to the Richmond Bridge. Not a cloud in the sky and no fog so my oh my what a sight!
Get all the way to the top and after some water, fly down as best I can on the rocky terrain.
Beautiful and big run.

San Francisco

Took a little vacation and went to SF and Mill Valley. Got to stay in a new part of San Francisco for me anyway...Pacific Heights. Right on the top of Pacific and Broderick. Just had time for about an hour and so I head down first thing toward the Marina District. This is the most incredible downhill ever. Remember the Streets of San Francisco...well this was one of them. Steep steep downhill, but through a very nice area. Homes were all stately and well kept. It was a very foggy morning in the City...go figure...but the sun shining through light a Monet painting. Got to the Marina and there were a bunch of runners there. It was nice to see so many healthy people out and what a great place to be. Much nicer running environment than down in the Union Square area.
Turned and head home and oh yeah...that giant hill I went down...I need to go up. I knew it and had circled around a bit to make it less daunting, but still a good stout hill to finish.
Nice SF run.

Four Canyons

Sunday was less of an event after the sighting of the big cat on Saturday. I went into the park to start training for the upcoming Pacific Coast trail run.
There were a lot of people of all sorts in the park and on the trails. I saw hikers, dog walkers, people on horseback, runners, and even the neighbors Bill and Priscilla walking their dog and with some friends.
It may be the end of summer and everyone trying to get one more good day in, or maybe just a pleasant Sunday, begging for some outdoor activity.
I ran up Garzas and Oakview Terrace, (1), the trail that was taken away from the Fiesta Run, and then down Redwood Canyon, (2), up the switchbacks of Garzas Canyon (3), and on to the Mesa, and then up Crest and down Maple Canyon (4). Felt pretty good but could not run the whole way up the switchbacks...more training needed.

Mountain Lion!

Well it happened. It is a beautiful late summer Saturday morning. I head out a bit after 9 am. The plan is to run up Middle Canyon to the water tank, and then take the tank trail to the next water tank. I was going to run down Country Club and home. It is a good sized hill but just a light little Saturday go...
So I run all the way up the hill and am marveling at the beauty of the day. In spite of having worked a long tough week I seem to feel light on my feet and take the hill relatively well. I am playing tag with the US Mail truck until she wins to the top cul-de-sac. I am past her up the final approach to the water tank when I spot a relatively large animal sauntering up ahead by 50 yards or more. Well that will stop you in your tracks regardless of the time of day or circumstances. My first thought is a big bobcat, but it is too slinky and then--swoosh the tail...the tell tail? ouch...It was a mountain lion. As mentioned the neighbors had seen one last week. This must be the guy. He/she/it is not very big. A juvenile I would suspect. Being out so late in the day would indicate the same. As known they are beautiful animals.
I stop running as soon as I see him, but I do walk at his pace behind to continue to get a good look. He eventually rounds a bend and out of sight, so I stop. Then he looks around the bush. Yup, definitely a lion. Great classic feline facial features. He does not know what to make of me. I decide to do what we are told to do. Keep eye contact and appear large. So though I have on my dark glasses, I keep staring right at him, pull my shirt up and spread it out in my arms above my head. I did not make a lot of moves aggressive or defensive, but just made myself big.
He did not like that. He looked away and looked back. Then rather than deal with whatever I was he headed off.
That was my cue to depart as well. Just to be on the safe side I backed up for a while looking up the hill. Then turned and walked down checking behind every couple steps.
When I got to the cul-de-sac, I resumed my running, and yes, making a new plan for the day.

Wow...a mountain lion sighting! Cool, but definitely heightening the senses for running in the trails. Again, not a great specimen in that he was clearly out in the middle of the day, close to housing, and not very large. I know where he is and he can have that area. I will run elsewhere for a while. They are supposed to cover 30 square miles in their haunts. Nice to encounter the awesome power and beauty of nature while running.

Are the Stars Out Tonight?

Friday morning actually, a very dark sky, no new moon yet, and clear so indeed the stars were out. I am not a big astronomer but I know Orion's Belt...that is the three across and three down making the belt and sword. It was three quarters up the eastern sky. And the dippers of course.
It was just a remarkably dark morning and the stars were clear and bright.
A great day for a run.
By the time I head home the sky has lightened and turn pre-dawn gray and the only item left is a bright planet appearing as a star in the east...Venus or Mars I am thinking.

Scaredy Cat

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My. We had some friends over for dinner last night. I made pizza and we had soup and salad to go with. These friends happen to be neighbors. They live around the corner, down 1/2 block and up a hill...all tolled six houses away, maybe. Why is this important? Because they reported seeing a fully grown mountain lion sauntering up the driveway a week ago. This is their fifth sighting in five years. Why is this important? Because I run past them just about every weekday morning at 5 am, and runners look just like the prey (deer) that mountain lions like to fee upon.
So this morning, a dark, starless morning, with no moonlight, felt a little creepy. As previously mentioned I carry a flashlight and a robust pepper spray. But having learned how they attack, clamping on the back of the neck, I am not so sure I stand a chance. But run I did. It certainly heightened the senses and added a little spring to the step this morning.
Who is a scaredy cat?

Worshipping at the Church of Mother Nature

Ah...the Sunday morning run. Long work weeks, make short weekends and can cut into the running time. But a beautifully clear, cool and breezy long run on a Sunday morning can make it all ok...
Ran up into the park on my favorite usual route. A few more hikers than usual and there were people with fishing poles heading to the pond on the Mesa. Haven't seen that all summer.
Got up to the crest and down the cool shaded paths of Maple Canyon and got swept up in the wonderful towering trees...dappled light shining through making an absolute cathedral of Mother Nature. The yellows and greens with the sun sparkling made multi-hued panes. The earth was cool yet inviting and the path soft as I head down with nary a soul around.
The Church of Mother Nature...great place to be on Sunday morn....
Got back to the Valley Road in time to watch some of the big iron that was in town for the Concourse and all the related activities...lots of the new four door Porsche.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

It was a little smokey this morning...more than a little actually. There is a wildfire raging in Santa Cruz county and the smoke drifted all day and night across the Bay. I could really smell it when I awoke, and decided to not push it too hard. The air was/is really smokey. Talk about "Red Sky in the Morning..," the stars were glowing orange in the pre-dawn sky.
You can really smell it and it is a little tough on the lungs. No where near what we dealt with last year, but you can now see the ash on the decks and the cars.

Perseids

The last two mornings I have been trying to see if I can catch any of the Perseids meteor shower. Yesterday was foggy and even the moon was barely visible as I totter out. Today was beautifully clear. The moon was pretty bright though. I was thinking it might be too bright and/or I might be too late. I got out just at 5 am both mornings.
One of the keen things many people do not get to see are wonderful celestial bodies and dark sky events, that us early morning runners do.
So just about through the run and thinking..."no luck..." swoosh-- a big shooting star from the north. I head home mostly northerly and it was nice and bright and made the morning run.
I read the paper to see what the sky might have to offer sometimes so I know what to look for...aside from watching where I run.
Nice to see...make a wish...

That Felt Better

Nice cool gray fog shrouded morning. That run certainly felt better. Felt stronger on the straights and actually charged the hills. Funny how you do basically the same thing everyday and it differs so much. Nice to have a smooth easy run and just get in rhythm, get the work in but feel good afterward. I guess that is what it is all about.

Just a Bit Too Far

Actually it was just a bit too hot. Went out a little late yesterday and it is hot already. Since I have been up in the hills lately, I thought it would be nice to just run a flat road run. So off I go and though I never seemed to get in a good rhythm I keep heading out. Finally saying to myself we will go one more hill and loop around. Do you do that? Just one more hill? Well yesterday it may have been one hill too far.
Did not bring water since I was only planning something in the six mile range, but ended up doing eight and a half or nine. So was a little gassed on the way back. So much so, that I made an unscheduled stop at the Garland Park Ranger station for water. I figured it was better to be found in there then out on the road.
Wasn't that bad really just a bit too far...

It was all that and more...

The Carmel Valley Fiesta Run was all that was advertised...and more. Hilly and trails that were full of roots and rocks...Advertised as an 8.3 mile run the Race Director informed the lucky 200 that had registered early (sold out and no race day registration available) that "Man and nature were working against us."
Co-workers Rodney and Rob K. and I chatted before the race and settled in with the crowd at the start to hear that the park rangers had required a course change on Thursday just before the race. That one single track on Oakview Terrace was deemed unsafe at any speed and so they had to re-route the run. It was now going to be an 8.5 mile race, and there were to be five ascents instead of four. And the worst part in my opinion was we had to run up Redwood Canyon, not down. I was so looking forward to that downhill. That was the Man against part.
The Nature against part was that a nest of yellow jackets had been discovered along the trail. This was an additional warning as to the dangers that are inherent in this sort of activity and should someone have and allergy now would be a good time to back out.
And so off we go...running in bunches....jockeying for position. We climb the first real steep section and are feeling like we have gotten warmed up when we go through the swarm for the first time. (Yes...the first time...) I did not realize exactly what it was until we were through. Some of the runners in front and behind got stung. I did not and just hit with some of the little varmints. So tough run...and frankly I hate to admit it...I did walk part of the last hills. Still hanging in and making ok time...we ascend the last time out of the creek canyon and there is a race staffer warning we are going past the swarm again and offering another exit if needed. We all charge ahead and again I escape. I wrote the Race Director today and told him I felt so lucky I went and bought a lottery ticket.
Finally sprint(?) to the finish. I come in at 1:35:36 good for 82. I am 12 in my division and just ahead of middle of the pack. Rob K. in front a couple minutes and Rodney behind by just a couple. Great race and lots of camaraderie all about.