Sunday, August 14, 2011

Solo run

Sarah was still not feeling well, so I set out for a fast sol run (and I had a time constraint to be back by 7, so I can have time to shower and pack for my bachelor party, and then make it to a 9 p.m. flight).

This was my first long solo run in a while.  One big difference between running with someone or a group vs. solo is the ability to really micromanage ones body.  One moment I'm feeling pretty good, so I pick up the pace.  Another moment  I get winded on an uphill so I walk for a few moments.  Then I'm feeling dehydrated, so I slow the pace way down and drink.

I went up Black Mountain, and then down into the canyon and to Skyline, where Sarah met me as my aid station and bandaged up a blister on the back of my heel while giving me a burrito and refilling my water.  Sweetest fiance ever!  I also met a cool Russian optics physicist on the way and talked to him about cell phone cameras.

Then it was back down into the canyon, and then back up to Black Mountain, and then back down to the parking lot where Sarah arrived just as I got back.

I was able to keep a brisk pace, moving at roughly 12 minute miles on average for 21.5 miles, despite about a 5000-5500ft elevation gain.  Not bad at all!

I felt great at the finish and still feeling good now.  So I suppose this is my peaking workout.  I got one more hard run coming up - going to do Mt. Wilson up and down on Wednesday, and will try to run as much as possible on the way up.  And after that is tapering.  Probably an easy 20 miler in the Marine Headlands 2 weeks pre-race, and then bring it to maybe 10 miles the last weekend pre-race.

So excited!

Rattlesnake Scare

On Saturday Sarah and I drove out to Mt. Diablo to practice technical downhills.  It was a scorchingly hot day which made me understand why the mountain is called Diablo even though, on the whole, it's not that diabolic.

Sarah was still battling a weeklong sickness, so we cut our run short and turned back.  I was leading the way on the downhill, happily hopping rocks, sliding on pebbles and joyously running.

Until I hear a terrible dissonant screech.  It sounded like the hiss of an extremely upset cat mixed with nails on chalkboard.  Instinct took over as I braked, stopped dead in my tracks and started backing up.  Only to see an already coiled rattler drop onto the trail from the mountainside on my right.  Everything happened so fast, I barely remember catching a glimpse of him, and next thing I remember I was already backed up a safe distance away.

Shit, that was scary.

I've seen rattlers before, but never one so angry.  In fact, I've never heard them rattle.  I expected it to sound more discrete, with each beat clearly discernible.  I guess now I know.

He continued to lay there on the trail, all coiled up.  I walked a little closer to take a look, and he got all uppity and started rattling.  So I backed up and left him alone.

After waiting for a few minutes and determining that he wasn't going to move, we trekked around him, higher up on the hillside.

What I like about seeing rattlesnakes is that they're a sign that the ecosystem is healthy, being on top of the food chain.

Sarah assured me that rattlesnakes rarely kill.  Apparently there has only been one rattlesnake death in the whole State of Utah's history.  But they can sure do a lot of damage:


Well, after all my miles on the trails, I was bound to run into a rattlesnake sooner or later.  And then I saw another one on my run today, but that one was peacefully chilling on the edge of a wide fire road.  So I respectfully passed by it on the other side of the fire road.