It's True! It's True!

The Government Canyon Mountain Lion story is back! I ran into an old friend at this years Fiesta Flambeau Parade run. This is a great run before Saturday nights parade in downtown San Antonio bringing and end to Fiesta week. It is a short 2.8 mile run, but along downtown streets filled with over 300,000 screaming people. What a thrill. At the post run party Bridget was telling me about her broken hand, She fell while on a night run at Government Canyon a week ago. What made it more interesting was the fact that she was told by the park rangers that there had been two reports of a mountain lion in the park. Mountain lions stalk their prey at night! Mountain Lions are not common in this area, or so we thought.
I had heard many stories about a mountain Lion in the park, but second hand stories and no definite sightings so I just took it in stride.It was possible though.
The next morning I met John and Tom for a 20 mile training run at G.C. As I relayed Bridget's story to John he said, "Oh yeah, it was Arnie who saw the Mountain Lion." Arnie? Now I know it's true. I know Arnie, and if Arnie saw it then it's there!
WOW! a mountain Lion where we run almost every weekend. How cool is that?
We've seen wild pigs, Coyote tracks, and other wildlife but never any deer. Makes sense. They either stay away in fear of the Mountain Lion or are soon eaten.
Oh well, we will continue to run at G.C. Knowing there is a mountain Lion lurking sure is exciting. We're too big for him, aren't we? I hope it doesn't get too hungry.

Back in the saddle again

Sunday morning April 19 was a beautiful day! 60 degrees and a cool northern breeze.
What a great day to hit the trails for a long run. Brian, Tom and I hit the trails at Government Canyon about 7:15 AM. We started on the climbs up Sendero Balcones. At the 3 mile mark I found a rock and stretched my achilles and calf muscles.
The plan was set by Brian, He wanted to log 25 miles that day. Tom and I would have to cut it short. Tom because of a soccer game his daughter had and I because I did not think I could run past 15 much less 25.
My foot was feeling better than I anticipated. We hit the most technical and steep trails early. Coming up Joe Johnston trail Tom spotted a large paw print. The recent rains left soft patches of dirt allowing animal prints to be visible and seemed to also make for soft treading. We stooped to examine the print and thought it was probably a large coyote.
At about 8 miles I started to slow down. At about 10 miles I felt lightheaded and stopped to eat a LaraBar(I switched from clif bars for awhile), this helped.
Tom was feeling good and running well. At mile 16 or so he bid us farewell and took off to make the soccer game. Brian and reached the parking lot at about 11:10 having covered 18+ miles. MY FOOT FELT GOOD but my lower leg muscles were a bit tight.
After chatting a bit, Brian took off up the trail for 7 more miles. I stayed behind to stretch the legs under the shade of an oak tree.
I was surprised I was able to run 18 miles. The cool weather and the company of good friends surely helped. It is so good to be back.

Mountain Laurels in Bloom

I slept in today and had my favorite breakfast(soft boiled eggs on toasted whole grain bread with olive oil,pepper,and salt) before hitting the trails at Leon Creek about 9:00 AM. It was a cool 60 degrees with a steady wind out of the north. perfect running conditions. The Texas Mountain Laurels were in full bloom. Bright purple flowers sprouting from the dark green leaves of this beautiful evergreen.
I am finally back! Comfortably trail running after a long layoff due to Plantar Fasciitis.I tried to stay in shape with Kettle bell workouts and Biking but it is just not the same. My legs are still getting accustomed to treading the trails and my lungs are not so strenuously pulsating anymore to provide "O" to my muscles.
Plantar Fasciitis is very frustrating. I massaged the sole of my foot and used night splints to stretch my foot back towards my shin. Nothing seemed to help until I got advice from a co-worker who is also a physical trainer. He recommended a stretch where the foot is placed against a wall at a 45 degree angle as you bring the hips in towards the wall. Then bend the knee in towards the wall. Also a stretch where the toes are the only part of the foot on the floor and the foot is pushed forward. I do this every day now. Of course, after warming up. Another thing is soaking my foot in Epsom salt. I had purchased Epsom salt months ago but never soaked in it. It works!