Phoneline Trail run

Early this morning (7am - brrr), I met up with Julie, Sheryl and Lynn (and Lynn's daughter) to run Phoneline Trail up Sabino Canyon and then run down the Sabino Canyon tram road. When I showed up, there were also a bunch of guys that I knew doing the trail - Steve F. (Sheryl's husband), Steve H., Mark M. and some other guy named Jim (am I missing anyone?) Of course, shortly after we took off, the guys left us in the dust, but it was great to talk to a few of them for the first 1/4 mile.

Sheryl and I were behind Julie and Lynn for the trail portion. We were fairly slow on our pace, which was good considering the accident I had there last year. No need to kill myself. Phoneline trail sits above the canyon and one wrong step (or fall) and you could find yourself off the edge! Julie and Lynn would periodically stop and wait up for us, which was nice. We all ran down the road together.

It is about a 9 mile loop, but after we finished, Julie and I headed out for a little more. We did a few small trails out in the Sabino Canyon area, adding on an additional 3 or so miles. So, I ran 12+ miles - I really need to start doing longer runs, so next weekend, I have vowed to do 14. Pemberton 50k is closer than I think. All considering, this trail takes longer because it is so rocky and steep in the beginning, so I was good with the length of time we were out there. It is so unbelievably pretty in that canyon. I have lived in Tucson for 22 years, but only in the last few years have I really discovered the desert and all of the beauty in it. Desert trail running really gets you in the middle of it all.

Next week: new trail route for me - I'm going out to Catalina State Park with Julie to run the 50 year trail (which I have done before) and connecting with the Sutherland trail (which I've never done before) for a loop. Week after: TTR run on AZ trail (50k). I'll only do around 15-17 miles, but it should be fun.

My spirit is soaring just being back on the trails on a regular basis. It is so good to be me.

Phoneline Trail Run - Sabino Canyon

Ran (and partly hiked?) 8 miles on Phoneline trail today with my friend Shari, who is lots of fun to run with! We went up on the trail (above tram stop #7), took a very long connector trail down to the road and came back on the road. Supposedly, the road is closed, so we were hoping to avoid getting arrested! There weren't that many people out there, but we did run into a few other lawbreakers. The road and surrounding area is being restored after the 2006 flooding that almost destroyed the canyon.

Yes, it was a little rockier than I should have been doing during my alleged taper for the Zane Grey 50k. I must have selective memory with Phoneline trail - I always remember it being easier to run than it really is! Lots of beautiful wildflowers and the weather was perfect.
Here is Shari leading the way down on the Sabino Canyon connector trail. We were both wiped out from Saturday's race still and so the first mile of climbing on Phoneline trail was excruciating on our shins and calves. I swear, I really am going to taper now! I had also done Tumamoc Hill on Sunday, for a total of 40 miles last week. Tumamoc Hill has a 700 foot elevation gain in the 1.5 miles up. I did the last long switchback 4 times for an extra workout, so I did about 4 miles altogether. That long switchback is rumored to be a 20% grade, so my glutes were still hurting today! Tumamoc Hill is great to train on; I used it to train for the Phoenix Summit Challenge, which was 7 summits in 2 days, for a total of 22.5 miles and 6,000 feet elevation gain. Although it is pavement, the steepness of parts of it allow me to do numerous hill repeats without having to travel far (efficiency for the busy person!)

I came home and did a weight workout (the last one until the race on April 26th) while I watched Eli Stone online (love that show!)

Seriously, I will be taking it easy from here on out. On the Tucson Trail Runners Yahoo! group, there was lots of talk about all of the downed trees on the Highline trail (which is the trail that the Zane Grey race is on) and most likely, they will not be able to remove them before the race. We'll be doing a lot of tree hopping, in addition to running/hiking up and down hill the whole race. Here is what the website says about the race:

"Trails from the Highline to the top of the Rim are generally steep and rugged, with elevations ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet. The trail is in and out of canyons, along a "high line" on the Mogollon Rim where the climb to the top of the Rim becomes vertical. Hence the name of the trail. The trail can be very rocky for long stretches. There are several water crossings, and a lot of downed trees to climb over. However, the rewards are magnificent views, cool canyons and fulfillment of your masochistic needs."

Yeah - I paid for it. When, and I'm saying 'when', not 'if', I finish this race, it will be the biggest physical accomplishment in my life (well, if you don't count surviving the kayak accident on the Gila River, but I digress...I'll have to save that story for another day).

One last note; I think Shari and I are considering running the Tucson Marathon in December. I swore I would never do it - it is on pavement - but we are doing the Pemberton 50k in February and thought that it would be a great part of our training. Also, I really would like to see how I do on a screaming fast marathon course (it is all downhill - 2,200 feet drop in elevation over the course).

But, I'm getting ahead of myself, as usual. I'm going to focus on a lot of rest over the next 9 days until the race. Looks like I'm going to need it.

Phoneline Trail - Sabino Canyon (back to the scene of the crime)

Happy New Year!

I made a return to Phoneline trail here in sunny Tucson, Arizona with Laurie this morning to start the New Year off right. This was the first time I had been back since my accident in November. I had a little fear about returning to the trail that sent me to the hospital back in November, especially after I fell at Catalina State Park just 2 days ago. I asked God to keep me and Laurie safe today. I can't stay afraid, because how do you get better at trail running? By doing more trail running. That is how life is, too.

Laurie and I had so much fun and I paid serious attention to the ground in front of me the entire time and had no falls. It is a very rocky and steep trail that runs along a ridge with a fairly good dropoff to the left.

Here is Laurie leading the way. I love running with her - she runs at a good pace and loves to talk. I don't think Laurie likes it when I take back shots of her, but I think she looks like a strong and sturdy athlete when she is running trails, and that is what I want to be. :)
We did around 9 miles.

It is a very beautiful canyon. We ran back on the road and got our feet wet on the creek crossings. I didn't care though, because it was good to be out in nature, enjoying what God gave us to enjoy.

Trail Runner Takes a Fall at Phoneline Trail!

It was me. I have fallen before when trail running, but never like this. I was on the Phoneline trail in Sabino Canyon when down I went. Along with other numerous lacerations and bruises, I punctured my right arm on a rock, which caused it to start spurting blood! I was so frightened. I called to my friend Martinho (Mar-teen-yo), who was ahead on the trail, but he couldn't hear me. I had to get up, bleeding everywhere, and get myself around a corner before he heard me. He came running over and took off his tank top and got it wrapped around my arm to stop the heavy bleeding. I almost passed out from seeing all the blood and I had a hard time breathing (I think I was panicking?) You can't really see it in the picture, by I have blood all over my legs, my left hand is covered in blood and my right arm is wrapped up with the tank top.

We were having such a good time before that happened! It is so beautiful there in Sabino Canyon. I kept a good attitude and we were even telling jokes on the way back to get help. No crying for me. We thought my bleed-out on the rock that I whammed into looked like a hieroglyphic animal!

So, we walked back to where the trail meets the road (we actually walked 4 more miles) and the paramedics were waiting for me. :) Thanks Martinho for being a true friend and making sure I got back safely!

I was whisked away to St. Joe's hospital, where my wounds were cleaned out (holy cow, that was about the most painful thing ever!) They didn't get all of the rocks out - they said they would come out with time. Oh, the wound that keeps giving; how nice! The puncture wound (we got a bleeder here!) required 4 stitches. I have blood on my trail shoes, skirt, and new running top! I was told that peroxide gets blood out. Who knew?

My sister came and got me from the ER (here I am with my niece Amanda) and I'm back at home resting with all my new bandages.

Crazy thing is, I kept worrying about what the other runners would think - this was the first time I had gone running with this trail running group. They said I was officially initiated into trail running. :)

Phoneline Trail - Sabino Canyon

Today, Laurie and I ran the Phoneline trail in Sabino Canyon. It was my first time running it and it was steep-very rocky. We ran from the Visitor's Center to the Phoneline trail, took it to the end, and then ran the Sabino Canyon 'tram road' back to the parking lot, which was about 10 miles total. She said it would be great training for the Bisbee Stair Climb race and it was! This morning was cold for this time of year (for Tucson), about 50 degrees at the start, so I wore a jacket. Total elevation gain - 1,348 and total elevation loss - 601 for a net gain of 748. It was definitely challenging.We had a great time - Laurie is so much fun and we just talked the whole time (when we weren't breathing hard!). Definitely have to do this trail again.

Laurie is going to be my new trail running partner from time to time - I'm so happy to find someone who loves trails in Tucson and is about my pace. She is training for the half Ironman, which is October 28th in Tempe, AZ. One tough gal. She also cooks, does gardening, sews, you name it. I look forward to lots of fun trail runs with her.

Any day when I do a trail run is a good day. It is going to be a good day!