Sunday, January 13, 2008

Boney Moutain

This weekend I had to opportunity to run my first race of 2008. It was the Boney Mountain 21K Trail Run, part of the XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series. The races are put on by Generic Events and I think they do a pretty good job. The definitely are able to put on some races on some pretty nice trails around here. I've done a couple of their other races - Malibu Creek, twice and the La Jolla Canyon Legend, now called the Pt Mugu Trail Run. Each of these are fun races on wonderful terrain. Boney Mountain was no different, maybe even better.

I'm very fortunate to have been able to run in the race at all. It was originally scheduled for Oct 28, 2007. That was the weekend of the Marine Corps Marathon. Unfortunately the race had to be rescheduled due to the wild fires that were happening at the time. The trail was not ablaze but the air quality was just too bad for the event to go on.

The race locale was about 70 miles from my home, so it was an early morning. The race is almost all single track, very nice. The first miles is on road and then once we headed onto the single track, we fell into a pretty nicely paced single file line. There was a little jockeying for position, but not much. The first significant hill at mile three worked wonders at thinning out the ranks. I was surprised at the number of people that were forced to walk. I didn't really mind counting myself among them. The single track was a pretty deep depression in the ground about 2 feet wide and sometimes more than a foot deep. There was a group of about 6 of us in lock step from about mile 3 to 5.

One of the prettiest parts of the run was along the Blue Canyon Trail. After that began the real challenge of this race. Around mile 7 there is an earnest climb for the next 3 miles with about 1500 feet of elevation gain. I was pleased that along this stretch I was able to run, power hike or walk past a half dozen people or so. Check out the elevation chart here and an example of the views from the top here.

Once we hit the summit it was mostly downhill from there. I expected to be passed by the masses as I usually am but was really pleased when I was only passed by 3 people. I was passed by three more on the home stretch, flat, mile. There was just nothing left in these poor legs at that point.

My final time was 2:35 (official results aren't posted yet). So with no real expectations other than to get a run in and enjoy the scenery, I'd have to say it wasn't a bad day. I had heard others comment that the times at this race were on par with times from Malibu Creek. Although Malibu Creek is a mile longer, this course was more difficult.

After breakfast of eggs, muffins, bananas, oranges and coffee, I walked the mile or so back to where the cars were parked and headed home.

Earlier in the week I'd done my tempo run. I ran 6 miles at 8:07 pace. I'm pleased with that as well. Today the quads are complaining a little but I made it to the gym for some crosstraining; 35 minutes on the elliptical and some weights.

Sooner or later here I've got to set down my race goals for 2008. Maybe I'll have time mid week for that. I'm looking forward to reading all your reports about Disney and RNR AZ.

23 comments:

Tyler said...

Sounds like a fun race.
To bad my knee is being a stubborn POS. :<.
I was going to run this one with you. Im deff. going to run the Mission Gorge one. Its home turf!


PS. I beat you. :)

Joe said...

You clearly achieved your goal of a nice run with scenery!!! Wow, those pictures were spectacular! I just had Gretchen look at the pix and her comment was "Yeah, and you get to run next to old cornfields."!!!

Your tempo run sounded super, Darrell. Hope the hip is behaving. The sore quads have a clear reason...they'll be OK by Wednesday.

Great post...have a super week!!

Backofpack said...

Those pictures are spectacular! And the elevation looks killer. It's great you got to get in on such a beautiful race.

Pat said...

that looks awesome. But tough. I love the places you get to run in.

Randy - Maniac #788 said...

Thanks for all your support and thanks for stopping by already, I'll try to have a more detailed report up by tonight sometime.

Wes said...

Great race, Darrell! Give them tired ole legs a little rest and get that race schedule out!!! Woo hoo!!!!

Neese said...

Sounds like a great time to me running two 10k's+ some. Won't you consider the marathon in Greenville? lol we could talk about Ohio for about 2 seconds until you take off ahead of me! :D

SoberMommie said...

Congratulations on your finish time!!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great trail run. I look forward to seeing what marathons you have planned for 2008.

Afternoon Tea With Oranges said...

Nice job, Darrell! What awesome scenery! You are not one to back down from a challenge, for sure!

Anonymous said...

That elevation looks like quite the challenge. Nice work! And, what great scenery. Sounds like a good race for you overall! :)

Anonymous said...

sounds awesome!

Sarah said...

That elevation chart looks killer. Beautiful views! Sounds like fun. : )

Legs and Wings said...

Good all 'round boy! Scenery is amazing and great tempo run buddy.

Jessica DeLine said...

good job out there! You must have been gone by the time I finished 30 minutes later. It's been 2 years since I ran Malibu Creek but I ran 3:09 there AND at Boney Mtn. Malibu was definitely a little bit easier than Boney but maybe not much.

Rae said...

Sounds like fun! I've always thought the Xterra races sounded like a nice change from the usual type pavement deals. I think they have one around here somewhere...

Randy - Maniac #788 said...

Hey Darrell, one point and one question....I'm #788 not 778, but just a minor point....
Question...I'm looking for a marathon in early Feb...to keep a monthly string alive hoping to eventually get 6 in 6 or 12 in 12..lofty dreams...maybe...anyway...I'm kind of eyeing the ARR Desert Classic on Feb 2....any thoughts..or other suggestions?

Anne said...

I'm late to the party, as usual. Those Xterra Races are known for their challenging courses. Sounds like you nailed it.

Anonymous said...

Darrell, this is Doug Padilla from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune sports department. Just wondering if you'd like to take the time to tell me your story for a published article. Let me know: doug.padilla@sgvn.com

Ryan said...

Nice race. Looking forward to seeing those 2008 goals. When/where is your next 26.2?

Unknown said...

This race sounds like my Big South Fork Race... and that is tons of fun. Can't wait to see how many marathons you are going to tackle in 2008

Scott McMurtrey said...

i remember running the socal trails when my dad lived down there last summer. i'm jealous. our trails still of multiple feet of snow. with more coming. nice for snowboarding - but snowboarding is more expensive than running. :(

Journey to a Centum said...

Boney Mt. sounds like one I'd like to try someday. That looks like a killer climb on the elevation profile!