Bear Canyon Re-Opened!
Kiera and I headed out for a great 8-mile run up to Seven Falls in Bear Canyon this morning. It was her longest run since her last HM in January of 2004. It also took us about as long as her last HM - 2:35! For a whopping 8 miles. The lower trail was pretty trashed from the floods, and we had to keep stopping at each creek crossing to find the trail on the opposite side of the creek. Plus the rock hopping, rattlesnake, pictures for other hikers and gel mess all contributed to the slower time. (Yes, gel mess. As we left the falls, I took a hit out of the flask and deposited the flask back in the holder, apparently without closing it. Two minutes later, my right thigh was a MESS. I turned around and went back to the pools to wash it off. Meanwhile, Kiera was using every ounce of willpower to not wrestle a resting hiker for her Pringles.) But what a fantastic run. It felt great to be outside, running through the desert forest, next to a stream. We kept wishing we had a camera to capture the beaty in the greenery, rockslides, morning glories and the rest of the flowers. Kiera, additional thoughts?
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I'm not sure about OP50 in March. I don't know that I have it in me to train for a 50-miler right now. Shorter distances for sure - 50ks, etc. But 50 miles is a long distance, and I know I will want to focus my energy on other things this winter. Registration doesn't open for a couple weeks, so I have some time to decide.
Comments
Sounds like a nice run!
Except for that gel issue!!!
Posted by: Kim | September 4, 2006 04:14 PM
Angie,
Sounds like a great morning to be out running. I don't know if I could bring myself to run in an area where I might encounter rattlesnakes!
As for the 50 miler, there'll always be next year - or even another later in the same year! That's the great thing about our sport - there is always a race at some distance, somewhere. Cool, huh?
Posted by: backofpack | September 4, 2006 04:17 PM
> "Shorter distances for sure - 50ks, etc."
how cool! i love it that after becoming ultrarunners we can refer to 17 miles as a normal training run and 50k as a short distance! although i still cherish the quick 3 milers for speed training.
as for the 50 miler, do what your heart tells you to. as it's been said, there's always another race.
Posted by: nattie | September 4, 2006 05:50 PM
I only wanted those damn Pringles because what I had just eaten (espresso love GU) was about the grossest thing I've ingested in a long, long time. And I'm a sucker for those salty snacks.
But I think you covered everything. It was a fantastic day for a phenomenal run.
Posted by: Kiera | September 4, 2006 06:11 PM
Two and half hours for 8 miles? Why not? Sometimes I think the super fast runners miss out on some quality time spent on the trails :)
Posted by: Jessica | September 4, 2006 06:24 PM
Gel mess... now there's a visual that travels through cyberspace and into one's imagination in record time!!
I love Pringles. I mean really... Who doesn't love Pringles??
Posted by: Sarah Elaine | September 4, 2006 07:39 PM
Sounds like a great day, great run!
The 50 miler will always be there. Trust your instincts and do what's right for you.
Posted by: Sarah | September 4, 2006 09:15 PM
Ummm, nice salty pringles during a run, sounds good. In your situation, I think I would wait on the 50-miler until the head is free. Of course it depends on you - some people might see it as a way to clear the head - trust your heart.
Posted by: Jack | September 4, 2006 09:43 PM
8 miles is a good come back, whatever the time is. Registration will be open there until the week before, so you have more than enough time to decide. Just don't dwell on it right now, let it go until January. As you pick up base, 2 months will be aplenty to train specifically.
You may never want to run a 50 miler at all too. Doesn't mean a thing.
Posted by: olga | September 5, 2006 04:36 AM
Hi Angie!
Yup, I'm revamping my athletic goals too. There's no way that I can do a 50m this winter, and that's okay. I've got too much on my plate. Just getting in, and staying in shape while enjoying myself will be a good enough goal for me now.
Posted by: Tanya | September 5, 2006 09:11 AM
I think we all have those gel mishaps once in a while.
Posted by: D | September 5, 2006 02:19 PM
50 of anything is a lot.
Go get em!
Posted by: Josh | September 5, 2006 02:41 PM
I bet you remember to secure that flask the next time. I'm sticky just thinking of that gu-ey mess. Glad all ended well.
Posted by: Anne | September 5, 2006 02:56 PM
Sounds like a great run and it took me about the same time to get through a relatively flat 5.7 mile section of CCC from mile 42ish to 48ish.
Posted by: Rob | September 5, 2006 07:41 PM
Great news on Bear Canyon. If you can get out there with a camera, please do.
Congrats on the run, sounded like fun. 8 miles is a great distance for this stage of your come-back.
Have a great week running.
Posted by: Phil | September 5, 2006 10:51 PM
I'm going against the grain in that I recommend training for the 50 miler. At the very least it will take your mind off things and give you somethiong positive to focus on.
Posted by: Thomas | September 6, 2006 03:13 AM
Sounds like an awesome run, Angie. Hopefully Tucson is still green when I am there in late October. My recommendation for the 50 is to play it by ear until you absolutely have to commit. I have often put off race registrations until I felt I was physically and mentally ready to run it the next week. Then I just sign up and tell myself it's maintanence time.
Now, as for those pringles. I say she should have just grabbed them and run. Most hikers are already in partial shock to see us "crazy people" running where they are often struggling to walk. No way they would have caught you :-).
Posted by: Steve | September 6, 2006 08:38 AM