I completed the Crystal Cove Trail Run. The race was located in and around a canyon directly across Coast Highway from a beautiful stretch of the Pacific Ocean between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.
The day started at about 5:00am when I got my wake up call. I packed my running bag and stopped at the cash machine before hitting the freeway at 5:45 am. The truck had something flapping around in the bed, so I had to make an unscheduled stop to remove the items from the back. No traffic problems except for some early morning roadwork in Laguna Beach. I arrived at the race site at 7:00. A little late, but at least I found parking in the upper lot. The goal was to get there at 6:30 and park in the lower lot, like my friend R, but oh well. She was gracious enough to store my valuables in her car after walking down the hill to get my bib and new t-shirt.
We warmed up, went to the restroom a couple of times ate some gel, drank some water, and removed several layers of clothes before heading to the starting line. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day, but there was a chill in the air before 8:00. We wore our hat/visor, sunglasses, shorts, and only one shirt/tank. It was enough. All of the other layers of track pants, jackets, hoodies, t-shirts, extra waters and snacks stayed in the car.
Wave 1 started promptly at 8:00. It seemed like some people started in wave 1 that were about our speed, but we held up and asked the starter to do a wave 2 for those who were smart, like to pass others and wanted to smell the roses and check out the amazing views. Wave 2 started about 5 minutes after wave 1 - we ran for the entire first mile and we were close to the frontrunners of our wave, well - we could see them anyway. There was a section of single track running at mile 3, so you had to continue to run through that section, otherwise the people behind you couldn't run. Peer pressure was good at this point, I was just hoping that the water station was coming up soon. Some of the hills were ridiculous and the first water station was right after mile 4. After water station there was a steep section of downhill running, which I was good at. Apparently, I am not afraid of falling when I run downhill. A lot of the others were running gingerly. I just let gravity pull me. Of course, almost everyone passed me when we had to go back up the 'elevator'. This was an extremely steep section of the course, people were cursing the organizers, walking and even taking pictures, the rock face was crazy and it was probably 1/4 to 1/2 a mile straight uphill. I was walking, and I found out that I am not a fast walker - uh oh.
I figured at this point the course would turn back downhill, since we were halfway done, but it didn't. At the mile 5 water station, I couldn't see R anymore. I think some people passed me while I enjoyed the Gatorade and water they were handing out. I headed back out walking up the next hill and when I could, I ran. After mile 6 I told myself to run, so I mostly ran, but walked for a little while, I told myself that I could finish a 5k at this point, since most of it should have been down hill, I could still see some sections where it was definitely uphill. At mile 7, I told myself, only 2.3 miles left and that I should start running. Then came the water and aid station and a conversation with the volunteers - oh there was a reason for the conversation. A woman fell on the gravel right in front of me about 500 yard before the water station. I had to inform them, while getting my fill of Gatorade and water. Anyway, I think I ran the rest of the way. I started passing some people that I didn't recognize - I eventually figured out that they were either part of the 6k race or they started in wave 1. I couldn't believe that I was so zoned out and/or delirious at the waterstations that all of these 'new' people had passed me.
The next section was mostly downhill, you could see the awesome houses in Laguna Beach and the water at the Crystal Cove State park. I passed several people that I had been running with on the last section and I sprinted the last 1/4 mile. It felt really good. A little too good. I wished I had used some of that energy in the sections where I was walking and talking and drinking water.
Overall, I felt like I had a good event. I hadn't trained for 9 miles, I probably should have, but I did try to work in a lot of hills the last few weeks. I met my goal. I completed the course in less than 2 hours! I got 10th in my age group and I got to see a good friend that I don't see often enough. Overall, it was a success. Check out the results here.
My next race will be the Cardiff Kook Run in Encinitas on Superbowl Sunday! I have a choice of running the 5k or the 10k. I am hoping that the Firefighter will join me, if he decides to participate we'll do the 5k. It's a costume race, what are some of the best costumes and the easiest to run in? I have never dressed up for a race. Last year there were lots of kooks and a group of awesome Flamingos.
