If you forgot to exfoliate in the shower this morning, then I've got the perfect trail for you! Our fearless leader, Steve "Harv Dawg" Harvey took a group of us out on an "exploration" run Saturday morning. We had a good-sized group of adventurers: Chaz, Kirk, Rachael, Kristen, Maya, Lori, Lorraine, newcomer Shari, Steve, and myself. We met up at the corner of Ortega Hwy. 74 and North Main Divide Road and carpooled up N. Main Divide until we hit the Main Divide fireroad. From this point it was 1.7 miles to the top of the Trabuco Trail. The last time I was on this section of the Main Divide was the Old Goats 50K. During that race, I was so tired, it felt more like a death march. So I was anxious to see how I did this time. It is a gradual uphill and I was happy to find that I was able to run up most of the way.
Old Goat Steve At the top of Trabuco, we hung a right and stayed on Main Divide. I found myself running next to Steve. We started chatting. He has been running trails for 20-30 years or something like that. He's been on almost all the trails in Orange County. But yesterday we were on an "exploration" run. He was taking us on the East Horsethief trail, which his mountain biking friends had told him was one of the most challenging downhills in the area. So this trail was new to all of us, even Steve.
So we ran down Main Divide a little ways and found what we thought was the trail head. It looked innocent enough, starting out. Much of the trail initially was runnable singletrack, though rocky and mostly downhill. But it seemed that the farther we ran, the steeper and more
overgrown the brush was. Then we were quickly drawn into a mess of overgrown brush, loose rocks and sand, extremely steep slopes, abandoned tractors, and tree branches that grabbed at our shirts, shorts, hats, and sunglasses and filled our shoes with rocks and sticky things! My legs were so scratched up from running through the overgrown brush. After a while it started to hurt because branches were scratching my already scratched up legs! This is where I got the idea that this was something like exfoliating. Sometimes the trail wasn't always clear, and I don't think a single person made it down that trail without falling! I actually took a bad fall myself and seem to have sprained my ankle. It is swollen and I am icing it as I type this. The trail came to a sudden end at some land cleared out for a housing development. We had to climb down a 
concrete storm drain and then onto a paved road in Lake Elsinore. Then we ran up the street to the El Cariso truck trail and back to our cars.This run was crazy, but so, so, so fun! We were laughing at the ridiculousness of the trail we were on. Later, Steve figured out we weren't even on East Horsethief. This gnarly trail is called McVickyer. With the new housing development being built, we might be some of the last people to go down this unmaintained trail. This was just another good reminder of why I trail run! It's so much fun! We go out on an adventure almost every week!
I'm supposed to be running the Tahoe Rim 50K next Saturday. I'm just a little concerned about my ankle. Hopefully the swelling will go down, since Tahoe is going to be my last, final long run before Mt. Disappointment.
And whenever we do the real East Horsethief Exploration Run, sign me up!
Some more pictures from our run on Saturday. . .
Looking over Lake Elsinore
Kirk and I before all the madness began!
2 comments:
Michelle, the spirit of adventure that you captured makes me yearn for the next run like that. And, it will be that much better for the company that we'll enjoy.
Mend your wounds, but savor them at the same time. They are proof that you spent some quality time living, and not just existing.
Michelle, I was so excited when I came across your blog today! I loved reading your blogs and all about your fun adventures! It looks like you are keeping busy and having a blast! You'll have to check out my blog and keep in touch. C-ya!
Post a Comment