sbhikes
02-23-2010, 21:43
I finally decided to try trail running. I think this is a sport I could enjoy.
The other day I decided that I missed feeling really super in shape like I was on my big hike, so I set off in the morning carrying only a light windbreaker (weather is nice here in Southern California), a little money, a credit card and a phone. No real itinerary.
I thought maybe I would just jog/walk up to the Trader Joes, but then I thought hey it's not that much further to a popular trail head, so I aimed for that.
Then I remembered there was a trail I could follow to get to the popular trailhead, so I did that.
When I got to the trailhead, I thought hey this trail running is really nice, maybe I'll just run up to the water fountain part way up the trail. So I did that, walking on hills, but running when it was flat.
When I got to the water fountain, I thought why not just go to the view point. I don't have to run the whole way. So I ran the flats and walked the hills until I got up to the view point, stopping to drink from a small creek that was running. Meanwhile, I met lots of trail runners and they were very friendly and seemed to be happy people.
When I got to the view point, I decided I was pretty thirsty so I better go back to the water fountain, so I ran down.
Then I thought I would run back down the trail to the park where there's another water fountain so I did that.
Then I was getting hungry so I thought maybe I'll just run down to the 7-11 and get a snack. Then I thought hey there's a nice bagel shop down the street, I'll go there. Then I thought hey there's another better bagel shop a few miles down the street so I went there instead.
When I got there, I was pretty spent, so I mostly walked back home. Total of 15 miles altogether. I was so sore.
But I had such a great time. It was like an ultralight day hike because I had no food, water or gear beyond my windbreaker. And it was kind of like my big half-thru-hike, leaving my "home" each morning without a clue where I would end up at the end of the day, drinking water as it was available.
I hope I can do it again. I did overdo it a bit, but it was a lot of fun.
The other day I decided that I missed feeling really super in shape like I was on my big hike, so I set off in the morning carrying only a light windbreaker (weather is nice here in Southern California), a little money, a credit card and a phone. No real itinerary.
I thought maybe I would just jog/walk up to the Trader Joes, but then I thought hey it's not that much further to a popular trail head, so I aimed for that.
Then I remembered there was a trail I could follow to get to the popular trailhead, so I did that.
When I got to the trailhead, I thought hey this trail running is really nice, maybe I'll just run up to the water fountain part way up the trail. So I did that, walking on hills, but running when it was flat.
When I got to the water fountain, I thought why not just go to the view point. I don't have to run the whole way. So I ran the flats and walked the hills until I got up to the view point, stopping to drink from a small creek that was running. Meanwhile, I met lots of trail runners and they were very friendly and seemed to be happy people.
When I got to the view point, I decided I was pretty thirsty so I better go back to the water fountain, so I ran down.
Then I thought I would run back down the trail to the park where there's another water fountain so I did that.
Then I was getting hungry so I thought maybe I'll just run down to the 7-11 and get a snack. Then I thought hey there's a nice bagel shop down the street, I'll go there. Then I thought hey there's another better bagel shop a few miles down the street so I went there instead.
When I got there, I was pretty spent, so I mostly walked back home. Total of 15 miles altogether. I was so sore.
But I had such a great time. It was like an ultralight day hike because I had no food, water or gear beyond my windbreaker. And it was kind of like my big half-thru-hike, leaving my "home" each morning without a clue where I would end up at the end of the day, drinking water as it was available.
I hope I can do it again. I did overdo it a bit, but it was a lot of fun.