Practice Run at Ohlone

"Holy sheeit. Oh my God, help me. What the heck was I thinking? This absolutely sucks. I am so stupid. God, this hurts! Now I'm just pissed. Fricken walk. Oh yea, power walk. Aaaah, that's the ticket."

These were just SOME of the things going through my head as I made my way up to Mission Peak on Mother's Day. Danny B. who is a friend from high school, a fellow former cross country runner back in the day, and an Ohlone 50K veteran said, "Let's get your practice run in," and so here's how it went.

We met at the parking lot on the Sunol side of Mission Peak and left a car there. Then we drove over to the Fremont side of the Peak and commenced our run back into Sunol. All in all it would be about an 11 mile trip, but at the end we added another 1-1/2 to 2 miles, but I digress.

I hadn't even hiked up Mission Peak in at least 10 years, let alone run it, and looking at it from the base was like looking up at a monolith of some sort. I KNEW, just KNEW this was going to hurt. I had two 20 ounce hand held bottles of sports drink and a 20 ounce water bottle on my waist pack. Up we went. Danny jogged, but as I got going and my heart started to pound into my throat, I started to power walk. What a lifesaver.

Okay, let me just say that going up the face of Mission Peak is pretty bad, but then getting onto the side trail that loops us around to the south side of the peak is excruciating. It was on this trail, that was only about 12 inches wide and either had switch backs or went STRAIGHT UP, that I was regretting my decision to do this 50K. My legs were burning as though I was doing hundreds of squats at full speed. My heart was pounding out of control. I was a mess.

I was swearing and cursing. I was pretty much acting like a toddler going through a temper tantrum. It was during my fit of fury that I also began to think, "Ultra runners are truly insane. How do they do this and love it so much? How can they enjoy this much pain?" I was so angry at myself for being such a wimp that I started just stomping up the hill, and as it turned out I found a rhythm, and then started to feel better. I would run/jog anytime the incline leveled out a bit (but it was still all uphill).

Here are some pics of us at the top of Mission Peak. Mind you, it felt like the dead of winter up there. The wind whipped through us and whatever cloud was passing over the peak landed on our clothes and bodies and made us shiver. Brrrrrr!

Wow I made it to the top!!!


Mission Peak's landmark. Just a pole with arrows pointing to different views off the peak.


Time to go downhill now!









Okay, so the downhill off the peak is SCARY. Dowhnill is Danny's specialty and he FLEW! It was steep as steep can be, pretty much straight downhill to this novice trail runner. And the tiny trail is full of rocks of all shapes and sizes as well as loose sand! It was like trying to run on a slip and slide. So I did what I do best... walked carefully downhill until I got to a wider, less rockier portion of the trail. It was during this downhill portion when I learned what everybody meant when they said, "Ohlone is a technical course." Basically you're not allowed to zone out when you're tired because you have to really watch your footing.

When the trail got nicer we went back onto the single track (aka 12 inch wide trail). We were slowly going downhill now and getting into the sunnier portion of the course. I have to say, it was really breathtaking! I knew that THIS was why Ultra Trail runners love this sport so much. Talk about being one with nature, and close to God. Wow!!!

It was so green, so peaceful, the sky was so blue. I had never been down the backside of Mission Peak into Sunol so this was all new to me. It was awesome. I found some newfound strength in my legs. We took in some gels. I hid behind a manzanita bush for a quick potty stop, and then we jammed down into Sunol.


On the way down I saw jack rabbits, a buck and 2 doe, a snake, and of course, cows. When we got into Sunol we decided to go a little further back up the trail toward Little Yosemite Valley. Another CRAZY, ABSURD uphill climb, but this time I handled it better mentally. And power walking up those inclines saved me, I tell you. I was able to run strong on all the other parts of the course.






Here is a pic of Danny coming up the hill toward Little Yosemite Valley. He's one of those hard core trail runner who just DOESN'T walk!
Unfortunately I have no more pics to share, but by the time we got into Little Yosemite and headed back toward the parking lot, my legs were FRIED CHICKEN! Done, finito, toast. As it is today, my quads are seizing! Danny estimated the total run at about 13 miles. With the snack, potty and picture stops and a few breaks here and there, it took us about 2:45 to get back to the car. I estimate our total run time was about 2:35. We quickly got water and then headed over to the other side of Mission Peak so he could get his car.

I left with a better appreciation of the task ahead of me on May 18. I don't know why I thought it was going to be easy, but it's not. The climb to Rose Peak from Little Yosemite Valley is even higher and more arduous than the climb up Mission Peak. I anticipate being on my feet for at least 6-1/2 hours. You can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be having some serious conversations with God along the way. I think the downhills are going to be even tougher than the uphills.

I really can't wait to do this. It's going to be a refreshing change from running the usual marathon. 31 miles of God's country! If the Costanoan Indians did it a couple hundred years ago, I can too. I think! ;)

Thanks for reading!!!