Xterra Trail Run
By: Seth Margolies, MFACategory: Seth Margolies, MFA
This past holiday week I was asked by my dentist if I would run the Topanga Canyon trail run. Since it was only nine miles I immediately said sure. What better way to burn off the extra calories I ate at my Thanksgiving dinner over my friends Alex and Melodys house.The run was called the turkey trot. Yes some dressed up as turkeys to run it
The race was an early one. It started at 8am so I got up at 5:30am walked the dogs and headed north west. with my friend Emily who was there for support. We get there and the sights are beautiful. It is a state park over looking the pacific. Still I had no idea what I was in for in terms of the run. I figured a nice trail with plenty of room.
I meet Dr. Glick around 7;45 and we catch up on old times, running and my teeth. He asked me about New York and told me that I have to run the Catalina Marathon.It is beautiful just like the run I was about to take.
Dr. Glick and I start out together but I had shoe issues and so I stopped to adjust and tie. I then spent the next two miles climbing the mountain. Here I am just finishing a marathon three weeks earlier and I am huffing and puffing like the four hundred pound man I use to be.
I finally make it up the hill when then we turn into a single track. It was straight out of a Rambo movie. The trail is narrow and the down slide steep. Branches hang low and brush cuts up your arm. There are hairpin turns and three foot drops. It was narly. WHAT WAS I THINKING? I thought it would be a nice Saturday jog and here I was in a military training zone. These runners were serious.
Most of us hate running up hill but we all know downhill in these conditions is worse. I had to stay focused and alert. At no point during this race could I catch my breath. No comfort zone. All I was thinking was, boy am I not in shape This was serious running. I finally made it out of the war zone and onto a fire road but only to find it was a two mild climb a couple of thousand feet up. I am praying at this point for this to end so I could start training in earnest for this type of running.
I make it up the hill and then see the most spectacular view of the pacific ocean. I wish I could say it took my breath away but at that point I had none. I then pick up the pace to run down the hill to the finish where Emily was waiting with a camera. All I remember saying as I was smiling across the finish line was, this makes marathons look easy.
I wish I was better prepared but I did my best and only missed my time goal by 3 minutes. I was alert and careful. Very easy to get injured on a run like. I did not, and have a certain pride wearing this medal. I met Dr. Glick and he told me that Catalina marathon is just like this. Guess I will run it. Exactly two weeks after I run the LA marathon.
I had fun met some great people and burned a few unwanted calories. What better way to spend a holiday weekend? Today I will go and walk the auto show. Pretty simple compared to yesterday. Please feel free to share your stories and or comments and remember I am humbly yours. This is designed to talk about things that might help inspire motivate and educate all of us so please share and whatever you do JUST HAVE FUN