From my "cabin" in Silverado Canyon --- about four miles into the five-mile-long community that dead ends at the trailhead of Maple Springs --- I can see the moon glow and the stars sparkle above the ominous steep canyon walls, which are black-purple (a beautiful bruise) at dusk. Here, in this photo, I clear a trail that winds above the two-acre property owned by a dear colleague and friend who has been gracious enough to allow me to rent a two-bedroom cottage on her leafy, lovely estate. Maple Springs is pavement for the first 3.2 miles or so until a dirt fire road takes you up to Four Corners (another five or so miles), where it meets the Main Divide Road and the top of the Harding Truck Trail. I have yet to run up to Four Corners from my house, saving it for a future run. From my house, it's 4.2 miles of asphalt on Maple Springs until the fire road starts. It's also a pretty relentless uphill grade -- tough, but great for training. This morning, I ran three miles up from my home in 27:11, an elevation gain of about 1,000, then turned around and came back. I left at 8:30 a.m. The quirky fall weather was perfect: crisp, cool breezes interrupted by blasts of rapidly warming canyon air, like someone was running alongside me and opening and closing a refrigerator door. It was a short run for me, but the steep grade always makes it memorable. I took it sorta easy, not wanting to burn myself out before tomorrow's 30K in the Santa Monica Mountains with my new friends in the Orange County Trail Runners group. I like running solo and blasting my Ipod Shuffle, but also totally enjoy the camaraderie and bonding that occurs during group trail runs. Now, oatmeal and coffee, anyone?
From my "cabin" in Silverado Canyon --- about four miles into the five-mile-long community that dead ends at the trailhead of Maple Springs --- I can see the moon glow and the stars sparkle above the ominous steep canyon walls, which are black-purple (a beautiful bruise) at dusk. Here, in this photo, I clear a trail that winds above the two-acre property owned by a dear colleague and friend who has been gracious enough to allow me to rent a two-bedroom cottage on her leafy, lovely estate.
Maple Springs is pavement for the first 3.2 miles or so until a dirt fire road takes you up to Four Corners (another five or so miles), where it meets the Main Divide Road and the top of the Harding Truck Trail. I have yet to run up to Four Corners from my house, saving it for a future run. From my house, it's 4.2 miles of asphalt on Maple Springs until the fire road starts. It's also a pretty relentless uphill grade -- tough, but great for training.
This morning, I ran three miles up from my home in 27:11, an elevation gain of about 1,000, then turned around and came back. I left at 8:30 a.m. The quirky fall weather was perfect: crisp, cool breezes interrupted by blasts of rapidly warming canyon air, like someone was running alongside me and opening and closing a refrigerator door. It was a short run for me, but the steep grade always makes it memorable. I took it sorta easy, not wanting to burn myself out before tomorrow's 30K in the Santa Monica Mountains with my new friends in the Orange County Trail Runners group.
I like running solo and blasting my Ipod Shuffle, but also totally enjoy the camaraderie and bonding that occurs during group trail runs.
Now, oatmeal and coffee, anyone?