My Elfish Self

My fifth trip to Wilderness Peak was a solo effort.  Heather was resting her mountain legs for a day.  I was hoping I'd layered up right for the crispy morning effort.  It's nice to not have to wrestle with extra clothing on the move.  I've been working on my (not so) fast/power-hiking while I ease back into my relationship with all things Cougar mountain.  In my struggles, up these tall and twisted trails, I've found it helpful to practice keeping my hips underneath me, bringing my glute muscles into it as much as possible.  By keeping my back straight and my shoulders squared it's easier to do so and I can baby step myself right up the most vicious of the verticals that characterize Cougar.

It's safe to say that my legs are still re-morphing... especially my calf muscles.  The training is loaded with pretty serious verts... there doesn't seem to be too many level places to run around these Issaquahian Alps.  My body weight is a factor.   I'm carrying extra tonnage from my long and protracted lay off.  This is hard on the old stickpins I got for legs.  I had to take some crapola medication for nerve-damage issues stemming from last years electrolyte/immune system imbalance thingy (f'ing shingles)... and it really made this non-running couch-eating potato gain some sneaky-ass weight.  I'm running these deer trails like I'm a Wild Buffalo don't ya know.  Rest assured the pounds are pouring off with the rain forest sweat and it won't be long before I'm back to my linebacker... I mean... my elfish self.

Also different for me is the fact that I'm running closer to the ground.  From the store bought commercial trail shoes to the real thing can be quite a change.  My Salomon 3D ultra-pro's have a significant heel drop compared to the trail/street trainers that I was using while I was building my base mileage.  Hard on the calfolas when you drop yer heel!   My whole left calf muscle thing started last year because I got a little over zealous about the minimalist running shoe craze and ran my ass off around Greenlake in Seattle until my barefooted calf muscles started screaming uncle. Stoooopid me.  I love the feel off the trail right there under me but I HAVE to remember how technically different it is for me.  I'm definitely getting used to it.  My Salomon's are the best shoes I've ever owned.  At least they have become my standard bearer.  I keep a golf ball in the toe of each when they're resting... it gives me extra swelling space in the toe box!

It turns out I'd dressed right and made necessary temperature adjustments with my hat and gloves.  I made it to the top via the slightly longer route with 30 secs to spare.  Nice. My fastest ascension yet this year.  I re-grouped trying not to zook, I signed the book and headed back down... ever mindful of my tight ass tiddleywinks.   I trucked on back in record time and tucked back into our private little aid station we call 'Poco Nube" (home) and took a long hot shower, iced my shredded shins and gave thanks that I can even run at all.  What a blast.  My legs are gonna be getting it good this year.