Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Last Weekend's Long Run

Ah, I have neglected to update the bloggo. Well, last weekend's long run was lovely. Huddart is greener than I've ever seen it. There are creeks bubbling where I've never seen them before and green ferns line the trails and decorate the canyons. Every boulder is covered in green moss. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera.

I ran up a trail that I usually run down. I had to keep turning around to look down the trail to recognize where I was. Even then with all of the greenery, I didn't recognize where I was all of the time. I figured I'd get to the top at some point.

I took a little connector trail that heads out towards another preserve. I wasn't planning on going all of the way out there, just about 10 minutes out to add more mileage. It was a bit creepy. There was no one up there and by the looks of the trail I didn't think that anyone had been up there in days. We have all of these gorgeous places but I see so few people on the trails. In the big lot at Huddart my car is often the only one there. I see LOTS of people on Pulgas trail when I'm there. You know why? They can bring their dogs.

On the way back down I met up with a nice fellow walking (illegally) with his dog and his son on one of the trails. He was immediately appologetic about the dog and I immediately told him that I thought the rule was stupid. (the East Bay parks all allow dogs on leash on the trails). The way I see it dogs have a special place with humans. We've been together at the very least about 15,000 years (some think 25,000 or more). If you require folks to keep their canines leashed and to either bury poop or pick it up I don't see a problem enjoying the great outdoors with your dog. In fact, it's only natural. As it is now you can't bring your dog hardly anywhere around here, so people don't go anywhere and their dogs don't get an opportunity to get out and about and learn how to be good canine citizens.

I've spoken to countless people who would use these wonderful outdoors more (or even at all) if they could walk/run with their dogs but they don't feel safe without them. I think a dog is a good big cat/evil human deterent. And just a heck of a good companion.

So how about even just a day or two a week where dogs are allowed on peninsula trails. Why not? Anyway, I just think that there are too many stinkin' rules. The Man's been bustin' my mojo lately.

The rest of the run was downhill, thankfully since I really needed to hit the outhouse. I used my cross country flats but the trail was well groomed with crushed gravel and not mudlicious at all. I could've worn my Vibrams. Fer sure this Saturday.

+++++++

The weather's been fabulous here! It's been in the 70's the past few days and it'll be nice like this through the weekend at least. It definitely affects my mood for the better!

Here's some cool ultra links that I found that have been very helpful -

A whole bunch of ultra links

A really cool automatic training schedule for ultras

I've used this link to make a better training schedule for myself. Lotsa weekend mileage!

3 comments:

NJ said...

Sounds beautiful there! We've finally lost all our snow here and today will be 61*! I love the green moss look...something magical about it. Nerstrand-Big Woods here gets that way in the next couple weeks and is one of the first places in the state that gets green. I'm planning to trail run there next week. The washing machine repair guy ruined my week to trail run this week. On top of it all, he didn't even fix the problem and has to come back. He's kinda creepy...Phillip Seymour Hoffman sorta look going on.

I've used that automatic training schedule...LOVE it! But that other one with all the links is new. Here's another one for you in case you haven't seen it yet: http://www.run100s.com/

Simon Anderson said...

Oh the beautiful life on the trails!

I ran around a couple of forrested reservoirs with my dog this morning and almost everyone I saw was running their dog. In fact thinking about it that's how I got started.

Keep up the good work.

CoyoteGirl said...

Thanks all!

NJ - Arrrgh! I hate it when you get one of those between 1 & 4 appointments - total waste of an afternoon.

Simon - Hi there! Yep, I ran with my German shorthaired pointer in highschool cross country. He went on all the afternoon workouts with us! Now there are big "No Dogs Allowed" signs at my old school. Rediculous.