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Mt Wilson

For a while there earlier in the year, I was spending at least one day each weekend out in the San Gabriels or Angeles National Forest.  Then, because of travel or other weekend commitments, I didn’t get out there for a about six weeks.  Yesterday, though, Elan, Guillaume and I left LA at the crack of dawn to run a 25 mile loop around Mt. Wilson.

The first 12 or 15  miles went pretty well for me.  Guillaume and Elan were running really strong but for first the first half of the run I wasn’t too far behind them.

Guillaume got some great photos, especially during the climb up the Mt. Wilson Trail to the summit.

Approaching the summit:

From the summit, we ran down the Rim Trail to the Gabrielino Trail and down down down almost to Chantry Flats to where it connects with the Lower Winter Creek Trail.  I was still feeling good during the descent and even during the first couple miles of the climb back up Lower Winter Creek. We then followed Lower Winter Creek to Upper Winter Creek, which is a steep, tough climb and I really suffered during that climb.  I had been doing pretty well with calories but by this point in the run, I was definitely falling behind.  And instead of being smart and taking in a bunch of calories, I just pushed through. But in reality, I was barely moving.  And every time I looked at my watch and saw time slipping away, I got more and more upset with myself.  (It’s not that I had a time goal, but I was judging myself by looking at my pace/time and comparing that to my effort and realizing that I was working harder and harder and harder to move what felt progressively slower and slower.)

Elan and Guillaume had been kind enough to wait for me at the “bench” at the top of the climb.  I got there and rested for a minute or two, but again, instead of thinking about the calorie deficit, I focused only on finishing the run.  The five mile descent to the bottom of the Mt. Wilson Trail should have been quick and “easy”.  The first two miles felt pretty good but then the wheels came off for good.  I wasn’t feeling injured or sick or dizzy or anything else that physically would have been a problem.  I just wanted to be done but couldn’t will myself to make that happen.  I trudged down the hill, running some, walking some, and generally being a big baby.  During the last couple very exposed miles all I could think about was dunking my head under cold water.  When I got to the bottom…

I’m guessing it was some combination of overall exhaustion, lack of sleep, stress, not taking in enough calories or electrolytes and then once I started having a bad run, instead of mentally getting myself out of it, I spiraled deeper and deeper into it.

I took a nap yesterday and got a really good night’s sleep.  I didn’t do any training today and instead spent the afternoon walking around Venice with Elizabeth, Charlie and Gus.  We finally stopped in at the new Toms store and cafe to see Elan at work, get Elizabeth a coffee and try on some shoes.  (It’s a great spot and I definitely recommend stopping in if you’re on Abbott Kinney.)

I’m not going to run tomorrow either (though I might swim).  Then I’ll play the rest of this week by ear.  I’d like to run and I feel like I need to have those planned “big weeks” to finalize my preparation for San Diego, but unless I’m careful, I could very easily put the whole race at risk.

It may not have been one of my better days on the trails, but it is always fun to hang out with friends like Elan and Guillaume and even a bad day on the trails is a big step up from a “good” day at the office! 🙂