Around the sun 38 times
Today marks my 38th birthday. We’re long past the days I could confidently say my age without thinking about it. How time flies! Anyway, I spent the day out running in the San Leandro Watershed. This is Run No. 3 on my super fast ramp up from not running at all to attempting the Burning Man Ultramarathon in three months. I did 6 miles 12 days ago, then 10 miles a week ago, and was aiming for 14 today. Due to confusion around which trails are closed to the public, I made some modifications, but it worked out at 15.8 miles. The only other problem was I expected overcast skies but got completely sunny instead, and I ran out of my 1.7 L of water in the heat. Thankfully it was toward the end!
Deer! Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
The audiobook choice today was The End of History and the Last Man by Francis Fukuyama. Liberal democracy, yo!
Made it to the Chabot to Garin Trail in Cull Canyon, Castro Valley.
Chabot to Garin Trail near Cull Canyon, Castro Valley.
Chabot to Garin Trail near Cull Canyon, Castro Valley.
When I encountered horses on the trail, I was not quite sure the proper way to pass without spooking them. Apparently I should have made more noise to alert them, but I think they did see me. I walked a wide arc into the brush so I would have some distance if they started moving toward me, but thankfully they stayed put!
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Horses on the path! I wasn't quite sure how I was supposed to pass without scaring them. Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Gates encountered on a trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Gates encountered on a trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Gates encountered on a trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Dinosaur Ridge Rocks at a peak in the San Leandro River watershsed.
Dinosaur Ridge Rocks at a peak in the San Leandro River watershsed.
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
I wasn’t sure if this was to catch loose livestock or mountain lions? It had a trail cam setup and a radio antenna. I saw a few other enclosures like this that were smaller and seemed like they were for mountain lions, but many were permanently wired open.
Strange animal traps encountered on a trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Gates encountered on a trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
A beetle found on a trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Weird huge mushroom! Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Another trap type enclosure, but I’m not sure what the target animal is here. Hogs??
Strange animal traps encountered on a trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Trail run starting from Proctor Staging Area up into the EMBUD lands toward Dinosaur Ridge.
Proctor Staging Area in Lake Chabot Regional Park.
GPS tracklog
Overall it took way longer than I was expecting, at 4 hours for only about 16 miles. But that tends to happen with these hilly trail runs!
Birthday cake and treats courtesy of Alan and Mankwai
