Mt. Ouch!

Being behind on training sucks and I only have less than 14 days left before the marathon and I really have not had a chance to do some long and gritty training. With less than two weeks left, I knew this weekend would be my one chance to do a long run but I figured I needed to do more than just do a long run. I needed to do something that would test me physically and mentally and there is only one place to do that and that is up on the trails and there is no test better than Mt. Wilson. I have blogged before about Mt. Wilson and I will keep blogging about it until I stop blogging. It is like my white whale. The one thing I cannot conquer but I keep on trying anyway. I have been to Mt. Wilson a total of 5 times over the last 4 years and I have only made it to the top once and that was my first time there. By the top, I mean a grueling hike literally up for 7 miles. The only downhill comes in the early miles but it is then followed by steeper and nastier incline to which your back throbs, your calves ache and you just feel like nature is playing a cruel joke on you.

I knew that if I really wanted to see where I was physically then it was time to hit the trail. I started off today with problem after problem. I spilled most of my Gatorade and luckily I had two bottles of water I stuffed in my hydration pack but I had no nutrition to help fuel me on the trail and that would be a key today. Ten minutes in my back started aching. I just tried to keep my momentum going passing up people along the way. Funny thing about Mt. Wilson is you’ll notice everyone walking like zombie turtles. They are hunched over, slowly moving, and gasping for air so there is no surprise when you start doing the same. I pushed, and pushed, and the sweat just began to pour down my face so I took my hat off to get some air and since the sun was still hiding, I was ok. I started running at one point, hoping to get some energy and I wanted to try and pick up my pace. Once I came to the tiny water creek, I knew it was time to climb again and climb I did. At times I found myself stopping and questioning whether I should turn back. I started to regret not bringing any snacks. I could feel my stomach growl and all I had was Gatorade that I needed to conserve and two bottles of water that I sipped slowly but regardless, I pushed on. My legs felt good at one point but then the trail would turn and go up and up. This is the kind of incline that makes you feel like you are on a treadmill because you’re literally going nowhere. My goal was to make it to the 5.2 mile mark no matter what and after 2 hours, I finally did with really nothing in the tank. I said hello to a few people sitting there and back down I went.

Downhill is my thing but a 5 mile climb up steep trails means you are running downhill for 5 miles at a blazing fast pace where you are trying not to break your neck. Most of the time, you are killing your quads to a point where you wish you were running uphill and that is saying a lot. My quads were beyond on fire but I finally made it back. It took me a total of 3 hours and 18 minutes and that is for 10.4 miles. 3 hours and 18 minutes in a marathon would be at least 18 miles but this is why I believe Mt. Wilson is every bit as difficult and more challenging than running the marathon. Once I reached a certain ridge at Mt. Wilson, it is supposed to be 1.9 miles to the 5.2 mile point. It took me over and hour and a half to go 1.9 miles. That is just absurd. You talk about mental challenge. There is just you and the trail. No water stations, no first aid, and no cheering section. I love the marathon because when you are just flat out tired, you can walk. At Mt. Wilson, you are walking when you are tired but you are walking up 2500 feet of elevation gain. There is just no relief from that but there is no other place I would rather be. The trail allows you to find your mental toughness. You have to dig deep, and you have to want to keep going similar to the late miles of the marathon. I could have done a long run but I doubt I would have had the type of test I did today that lets me know that I am ready to run 26.2 in two weeks.

My quads are a little angry..