Was suposed to get up early and meet Corey J, Matt C, and "Striders" John W at 6:00 AM on the trail. Work was tough this week, running's been heavy, and when the alarm went off my body and mind said nope. I hit snooze, figuring I'd start later and meet them on the back part of their out and back and finish up the Malan's Peak section with them.
Starting out I was feeling the run from friday night and it took about 3 miles to warm up. I started the climb on the south end of the BST up toward Beus and could see a group of people hanging out on top of the hill. I knew this was the boys, as Corey knows everyone and is a social butterfly and everyone knows John from Striders so the two of them running together is doomed for any progress.
Sure enough I ran into them shortly and Matt was joking that they had B.S.'ed for at least 45 minutes of the hour-and-a-half run. I jumped on the back of the train and tried to keep up. I was tired and the pace was pretty fast.
Coming out of Waterfall I took the worst digger I've yet to take on the trail. I went to kick a small rock off the trail and slipped/tripped, feet flying off the trail, hand and head making contact with the trail first, two full summersault rolls into the weeds. Looked worse than it felt and elicited some concern for my well being from the group. Got a couple good digs in my hand, and a sweet shiner on my forehead. I think we all had a good laugh about how the hell one hits their forehead on the trail. Ha!
Felt good on the run up Malan's and kept a good run going up to the lookout. I was the first one there, but Corey and Matt were kinda goofing off, so can't say I dropped them by any means. Thr group turned around at the overlook and I continued up. Haven't run Malan's in a long while and forgot what a pull that hill is.
Funny moment was after continuing on to Malan's Basin, I came back to Malan's Peak. No one was around at all and I stood looking out over the valley for less than a minute I am sure, felt the erge to "go" and well, "went" with my back to the trail, finished my business, turned around and there 10 ft behind me stood a yuppi looking couple with their two big poodle dogs. Ha! Lesson, don't pee with your headphones on.
11 miles 3100 vert
Week: 53 miles, 12,000 vert
7 of the last 8 days running: 68 miles, 16,400 vert
Heel feeling better, so trying to find my hill gear again. It's getting there. | 