Planned: A Trail Run > 4mi
Actual: 8.22mi @ ~17:00

(I’m posting from work and don’t have the exact numbers in front of me. And before you mock my pace, consider this — I was high enough to see SNOW.)

I found a Flickr Trail Running stream last week and haven’t been able to push it out of my mind since. The pictures were beautiful, the runners tough. I made appropriate plans for the weekend.

My friend JE and I drove 30 minutes north to La Crescenta on Sunday, greeted by crisp temperatures and a healthy wind. And less than ten minutes into the run we had to walk because the trail was so steep. So, we trudged ahead, running off and on, finally reaching the ridge line where we came face to face with the ARCTIC. OK, it was chilly, there was wind, and I was wearing shorts and a T.

We ran over snow, ice, and lots and lots of rocks. We also recalled a chilly Cross Country race where our friend JPP, in preparation for the start, whipped off his sweatpants with authority. It took another teammate to point out that he’d forgotten to put on his shorts and was standing there at the starting line in a tiny tank top and his tighty whities. I have seen the nightmare — and it is very, very funny.

By the way, there are way more mountains near LA than I thought. When we got to the ridge and looked north all you could see were mountains. Amazing.