If you want to know what the definition of hard is, throw out the dictionary and head to Mount Wilson. After really being off my feet from running for about three months, I’ve tried to jump start my running with an accelerated training plan to get ready for the LA Marathon coming up in 2 weeks. I began running home from work 2 nights a week. I’ve hit just about every trail in Los Angeles to get the proper hill training and to increase my endurance but it has been nothing short of hell. With at least and extra ten pounds to deal with, my runs have been hard and slow. 3 mile runs seem like 6 and my 5 and a half mile runs from work have me running straight to the couch to just catch my breath. Coming off of a layoff of any kind can be very difficult but I have no choice to keep pushing through these difficult times so what can be more difficult than trying to get some training done at Mount Wilson? I am not sure but right now, I am inclined to say nothing.
With very little rest thanks to a hell of a week at work, I knew it would be a challenge waking up to do anything on Saturday but I managed to get up at 6:40 a.m. We arrived at Mt. Wilson about 8:20 and hit started about 8:40 and by that time, the sun was already letting me know I was in for trouble. I hiked Mt. Wilson once and that was last year on one of the hottest days of the year and I suffered the entire way up. I forgot to mention that it is a 7-mile trek to the top and of course that means 7 miles back. 14-miles really feel like18 when you are done. Last year, I was in pain the whole way up. I walked at a snails pace but somehow made it but forgot about the 7 miles back and tried running. I managed to go strong until a portion of the trail my legs cramped so bad that I’d wished I were dead. I was in so much pain after doing the trail and my legs were essentially crushed for a week.
So what did yesterday hold? Not much because I started out feeling sluggish and slow and knew my legs were not in the mood. After 20 minutes, I began to feel like I did last year. The sun was unforgiving and the first mile or so provides no shade. I tried upping the ante by running a bit which makes you look psychotic because everyone else is walking and struggling. I was only able to run about five minutes here and there as my legs began to really drag down. I just began to walk, take breaks, and hoped I could find some energy somewhere. I carried a bottle of water and had Gatorade in my side water bottle and before I knew it, I drank all my water. With over 4 miles to go to the top, I knew I had to conserve my Gatorade. Mt. Wilson challenges you, then it challenges again, then again. There were points where I just wanted to turn around and go back but this is when I remembered what it feels like to be in the late miles of every marathon. You start to doubt yourself. The Miles don’t come as fast as they did in the beginning and your body just wants to go back to bed but you can continue to go and hope your body goes with you or you can give up.
With views that were just stunning, I continued to push on. I’d pick up and run a little bit, then I would hit a portion of the trail where I had to walk. A lot of trails challenge you with inclines that do not stop but this trail breaks the barrier. At some point you are 3 and a ½ miles in and it seems like the trail gets steeper and steeper. At some point I felt like I was being pulled backwards. One of the key factors to this trail is that there are rocks everywhere in trail that adds to the danger factor. There are trees that have fallen and lay in the middle of the trail so you have to conserve your energy and strength to climb over and under as they block the path. Most of the trail, I found myself mumbling. I think most of it was just trying to tell my mind to keep going. It seemed like there was a stretch on the trail where I felt like I was barely moving but I’d come upon another hiker just in front of me and even though I didn’t ask them to move over, they did which always put pressure on me to not only go in front of them but to keep up a faster pace. I just kept summoning the energy but when I finally made it to the 5 and a ½ mile spot where you rest and check your mental status before continuing to the top, I just could not go any further. I was mentally and physically drained so I elected to turn around and go back. I know my lovely companion that day was disappointed but I just couldn’t keep up with her. Sometimes you have to concede and know when you have been licked.
In my only attempt to regain some respect, I took the challenge to run back down the entire 5 and a ½ miles. If you know anything about running trails, then you know running downhill is not only dangerous but one sure fire way to beat the hell out of your legs but it is a thrill. The real challenge is trying not to kill yourself when running down the sharp turns and the sliding rocks. There is a portion of the trail where you get to hide deep within the trees, shielding you from the sun but the bad part is the last mile to the end is all in the sun. It takes all you have to push and push and it seems like there’s never an end in sight. 3 hours and 20 minutes total time it took to do 11 miles. How insane is that? Another hour and I might as well have done a marathon but this was exactly what I needed. A true test that let’s me know I have a lot of work to do.
If you need something to inspire you, then go read a book. If you are looking to see how mentally and physically strong you are, then go up to Mt. Wilson!
Check out the photos on my facebook page!
No comments:
Post a Comment