XTERRA Boney Mountain 21k Trail Run Report

The Green Girl did the XTERRA Boney Mountain 21k Trail Run at Point Mugu State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains on Sunday, January 8th, along with a number of Sole Runners.

Buses at Paraiso Town Center

XTERRA coined this event as the 'Grand Daddy' of their eight race trail series.

Registration, bib pickup, and parking for the event was at the Paraiso Town Center. School buses transported runners to the starting area.

Coach Steve and the Sole Runners

The early morning sky was a beautiful shade of royal blue. The air was crisp and wind gusts sent chills through my body.

After being shuttled to the base of the mountain range, I met up with Coach Steve and the Sole Runners.

XTERRA Boney Mountain 21k Trail Run Starting Line

As we assembled in the starting chute, the race director offered a rather ominous verbal overview of the course and terrain.

Nervous laughter erupted throughout the crowd and then before I knew it, the race had started.

The Green Girl and Mentor Isabelle at the XTERRA Boney Mountain 21k Trail Run

My race strategy was to take it easy and enjoy myself.

One of the Sole Runners mentors, Isabelle, also had a similar plan in mind so we ran together.

The terrain was technical so we ended up walking more than we'd expected but the slower pace was welcomed as we were able to appreciate the breathtaking scenery along the course.

Sole Runners Brian and Stacey with their cowbells

Sole Runners Brian and Stacey rode their mountain bikes out onto the trails to cheer us on with their cowbells.

The trail varied from open fields to narrow paths to single track portions but was clearly and consistently marked.

The race was well supported with aid stations and medics stationed along the course.

View from the XTERRA Boney Mountain 21k Trail Run

The weather conditions were ideal. The cold morning had warmed into a bright, sunny, but not overly warm day.

The skies were clear enough to afford us a view of the city in the distance.

Towards the end of the course, we crossed a shallow, rocky creek.

Shallow, rocky creek

We balanced carefully on the rocks to keep from stepping in the mud.

As we approached the Finish Line, Sole Runners cheered loudly for us. Brian and Stacey were there, cowbells in hand.

The race officials let us know they'd run out of medals but would send us one in the mail. I assured them it was not a big deal.

The Green Girl carefully balancing on the rocks across the creek

The post-race party was held at Coach Dianne's house.

Along with Coach Steve, Coach Dianne leads the Newbury Park Sole Runners training group.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as we indulged in fresh fruit smoothies, pizza, and delicious Mediterranean food.

Coach Dianne's house

Coach Dianne's backyard overlooks the Santa Monica Mountains so we were able to gaze out at the trails we'd just covered as we were eating.

Trail running is good for the Green Girl's soul.

The Green Girl's 'Say Goodbye' Trail Cairn

say good·bye [sey good-bahy]
verb The act of saying
goodbye to all the things
you need to let go of 

The Green Girl finally managed to 'Say Goodbye'.

After my running epiphany at the top of Bill Eckert Trail yesterday, I felt a certain sense of empowerment and liberation.

As I ran back down the trail, I realized I was finally ready to Say Goodbye.

Ironically, after spending years trying to figure out the optimal way to perform this ceremony, it came to me in an instant.

I decided I would Say Goodbye and then I would leave the goodbye in the dirt of the trail.

I ran until something told me I should stop. I quickly grabbed a stick and dug the letters into the damp ground.

On a whim, I decided to erect a small cairn above the word. I felt the symbolism was apropos.

I stood there and mentally bid farewell to each thing one by one.

As expected, some things were easier to release than others.

When I had separated myself from the last piece of emotional baggage and that metaphorical weight had been lifted from my shoulders, I took off down the trail as fast as I could.

The Green Girl's Griffith Park Coyote Run

The Green Girl went trail running at Griffith Park this morning.

Griffith Park resides in the eastern Santa Monica Mountain range. The park covers more than 4,107 acres and features over 50 miles of trails.

At the base of the trail, there was a coyote. I gingerly walked by and started my ascent up Fern Canyon Nature Trail.

I passed a natural amphitheatre built by Boy Scouts. The secluded path was narrow and the ground was uneven. The trail appeared to branch off frequently.

Since this was my first time running at Griffith Park and I was alone, I didn't feel comfortable continuing on this path so I retraced my steps. I had concerns I would end up getting lost.

I was thrilled to discover a much more well worn Fern Canyon Trail branched off of Fern Canyon Nature Trail.

Fern Canyon took me to Old Zoo Trail behind the former zoo. From there, I turned onto the Bill Eckert Trail.

In 1.75 miles, the Bill Eckert Trail increases in elevation by 900 feet. The view at 935 feet was well worth the climb.



A peacefulness came over me as I gazed out over the city. I stared at the majestic snow capped mountains in the distance and my eyes danced on the fluffy white clouds in the sky.

Standing there, I had an epiphany. I've always struggled with the whole meditation thing. I would try over and over again in vain to force myself to meditate. The more I was told to relax, the more my brain would go into overdrive.

Running is my meditation. Running is where I can find clarity of thought.

The Green Girl's Sole Runners Palos Verdes Trail Run

The Green Girl joined the Sole Runners for a trail run this morning in Palos Verdes.

Coach Steve started off with the usual updates and then he called up a couple of Sole Runners, Rose Ann, and Mentor Sara.

They were among a number of Sole Runners who participated in the 13.1 Los Angeles Half Marathon last week.

Unfortunately, when Rose Ann arrived at the race, she realized she had left her socks and shoes back home. Mentor Sara saw how distraught Rose Ann was and when she discovered they wore the same shoe size, she offered to swap with Rose Ann.

After talking through the situation with Mentor Sara, Rose Ann finally decided she would go ahead with the race sans running shoes.

Coach Steve captured footage of Rose Ann running the race in her Crocs.

Mentor Sara's actions and Rose Ann's gutsy decision made me proud to not only be a Sole Runner but to be a mentor for such an incredible running group.

Today was my first run in a blue Sole Runners mentor shirt. I felt so official.

It was a beautiful morning for a run. I admired the contrast of the clear sky above the deep blue hues of the ocean.

As I started out on my run, my legs felt strong. It was one of those runs where your body skips that warming up period and you feel good from the start.

The terrain was fairly technical so I had to really concentrate on my footing - especially on the steep downhills. Interestingly enough, I found focusing on the trail to be incredibly therapeutic and I actually felt my entire body - even my shoulders - relaxing.

On my way back, I paused and just stared out into the seemingly endless waves.

I wished I could bottle up the euphoria from my run and beauty surrounding me and share that with everyone who asks me why I run.

CasITa-to-5k Goes Moccasin Trail Running

The CasITa-to-5k went trail running in Rolling Hills Estates after work yesterday.

I was anxious to try out my new Dirty Girl Gaiters.

One of the runners at the Rockin' The Coto Trail Half Marathon had recommended Dirty Girl Gaiters after I mentioned having to stop numerous times to dump rocks and even a small branch from my shoes.

The gaiters shipped with Velcro to affix to the back of your shoe. I had carefully cut the strip to match the pattern on the back of my shoe so it would be more aesthetically pleasing.

The gaiters were surprisingly easy to put on - you simply put them on with your socks and then when you put on your shoes, you clip the hook to your laces and you stick the Velcro to the piece on the back of your shoe.

Rolling Hills Estates is a gated community located atop the hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The city includes 25 miles of bridle trails and 10 miles of bicycle paths.

We decided we'd run along some of the horse trails so we parked and started down the Moccasin Trail.

I enjoyed running up and down the gentle rolling hills. The ground consisted of loosely packed sand and rocks. Freshly fallen horse manure created somewhat of an obstacle course for us.

Moccasin Trail led us past the South Coast Botanic Garden. This 87-acre garden was once a landfill.

A white fence lined the soft-packed equestrian trail which led us by numerous horse stables.

Markers labeled each fork in the trail. From the Moccasin Trail, we ventured onto the Botanic Gardens Trail.

The abundance of trees offered ample shade for us to keep cool on a warm evening.

Given the loose terrain, I was thrilled to have my new camouflage gaiters on. It was a relief to be able to run without having to wiggle my feet to move rocks out from under my soles.

The gaiters were surprisingly comfortable. The hooks and Velcro held them firmly in place.

By the end of the run, the gaiters were thoroughly coated in dirt, my shoes were rock-free, and I was one happy Green Girl.

Rockin' The Coto Trail Half Marathon Race Report

The Green Girl did the Rockin' The Coto Trail Half Marathon this morning.

It was my first trail race and my first small race - it was capped at 25 runners. The course was on horse trails in the gated community of Coto de Caza in Orange County.

I emailed the race director, Charlie Alewine, before I registered to make sure a three hour back of the packer half marathoner was welcome. He replied that there was no time limit and I'd be fine.

I was apprehensive about doing my first trail race. I was also intimidated to discover Charlie Alewing Racing races are popular among ultramarathoners.

My fears were put at ease when I saw how relaxed all the runners were as we waited for the race to start. I chatted with another runner, Gail, who mentioned a few of them had done a full marathon yesterday and were doing another today.

They explained the course was an out and back and to look out for an Easter Bunny stop sign designating the turn around point.

The next thing I knew, the race was starting. We headed down a paved path to the horse trail. The trail was well groomed and lined with a white aluminum picket fence.

I wasn't used to running on trails with such loose dirt so it took me awhile to fall into a comfortable pace. Fairly large rocks kept getting into my shoes so I had to stop a few times to shake them out. At one point, I even managed to get a small branch in my left shoe. Despite the slight inconvenience, I thoroughly enjoyed running on the horse trail.

The entire course was surrounded by rolling hills and large homes.

The sky was overcast and the weather was perfect for a run.

It was a good day for me. I felt strong and my body felt good - no aches or pains. After struggling with posterior tibial tendonitis for so long, I don't take my running for granted.

I got a good chuckle when I saw the Easter Bunny stop sign at the halfway point.

I've been experimenting with my nutrition in preparation for the Athens Classic Marathon. I'm one of those runners who prefers real food to sports nutrition but I've been trying different forms of bars and chews to see if I can find something I like.

Today, I ate half a package of Morinaga Hi-Chew Strawberry Fruit Chews and a three Black Cherry Clif Shot Bloks with caffeine.

I brought 10 ounces of water and 20 ounces of Gatorade but I realized I should have brought more water and less Gatorade.

On my way back, I stopped at the unmanned aid station and was thrilled to discover a bag of cheese puffs. I quickly poured some into a paper cup, refilled my water bottle, and took an extended walk break as I happily munched on the salty puffs and sipped Gatorade.

I was making excellent time when it started to heat up around Mile 11. I started taking more and more walk breaks and my pace got significantly slower. A 03:15 finish got further and further away and I finally decided I would be satisfied with a sub-03:30.

Charlie and his wife enthusiastically cheered me on as I got to the finish.

I hung around to cheer on some of the marathoners and chatted with some of the other runners. Everyone was extremely supportive and encouraging. It was a small race with a huge heart.

I thanked Charlie for putting on such an awesome race and assured him I'd be back very soon.

No Sole Runner Left Behind!

The Green Girl joined the Sole Runners for another Tuesday night trail run with Rad Runner Girl.

It was my first run sporting my Team Jamba Juice gear.

My friend Brisa's sister-in-law, Vanessa, returned after having injured herself on a run with us a few weeks ago. She brought along her friend, Michael. She was still experiencing some knee pain and was wearing a brace.

As we took off, we fell into our natural groups - the fast runners in the front and the back of the packers faithfully trailing. Vanessa and her friend opted to walk and were actually the very the back of the pack.

When we crossed over to the trails, I ran back to Vanessa and her friend to make sure they knew where the entrance was. I reassured them I would wait for them at the next fork in the path and then I took off to catch up with Betty and Michelle.

At some point, Vanessa and her friend actually passed Betty, Michelle and me. When we reached the three-way intersection, there was no trace of Vanessa and her friend. This was disconcerting to me because the unofficial Sole Runners' motto is 'No Sole Runner left behind' but technically, they weren't left behind since they passed us. I tried to call her but she wasn't answering her phone.

Further up the trail, we encountered some cyclists and I asked them if they had seen a couple matching Vanessa and her friend's description but they had not. If they should run across them, I asked them to please pass along a message that the back of the packers had turned around and were heading back.

When we returned to the parking lot, Vanessa and her friend were not there and we weren't sure which car they had come in. Through process of elimination, we decided it was probably this one car but I had my doubts because it was a new car with dealer tags still attached and Vanessa hadn't mentioned buying a brand new car.

I alternated between calling my friend Brisa and Vanessa but neither of them were answering their phones.

As the night grew darker, some Sole Runners had to leave but some stayed behind to wait for Vanessa and her friend. I felt bad because I had no idea if they were still out there on the trails or back home safe and sound.

Finally, I decided I would drive back to the base of the trails and just see if I could somehow locate Vanessa and her friend. I asked Rad Runner if she wanted to hitch a ride with one of the other runners back home but she agreed to hang around.I drove my car up onto the dirt and directed my headlights into the mountains but I quickly realized that only granted us a couple hundred feet of visibility. We got out of the car and I switched on my headlamp to red light flashing mode.

We alternated calling out her name at the top of our lungs but only succeeded in attracting the attention of the wildlife. After a few rounds, it was as if we were participating in a two-way conversation.

All of a sudden, Rad Runner Girl grabbed my arm and pointed out two dark shadows in the distance. I yelled out Vanessa's name and she responded in the affirmative.

They thanked us for waiting and were grateful for the ride back to the parking lot. We discovered the suspiciously new car belonged Vanessa's friend, Michael. Ironically, in retrospect, it was actually advantageous that Brisa never answered her phone because had I talked to her, I would have thought Vanessa had left in her car and we would have taken off.

Rad Runner and I texted all the Sole Runners to let them know Vanessa and Michael had been located. One of the Sole Runners was about to head back to assist in the manhunt.

Driving home, I let out a huge sigh of relief. In the moment, I hadn't realized how stressed out I was but I could feel the tension throughout my body.

Sole Runners Tuesday Night Trail Run

The Green Girl joined the Sole Runners for another Tuesday night trail run. I had missed last week's run after waking up with a broken neck. I was unable to lean or rotate my head for a couple days.

I always find the Palos Verdes ocean air refreshing and last night was no exception.

I was the only back of the packer but Coach Gary was kind enough to stay back and run with me.

Both my calves got really tight shortly into the run so I slowed to a walk to give them a rest. I didn't want to end up with intense cramps again.

I've been struggling a lot lately with muscle tightness. It's been so bad that I've been getting deep tissue massages on a weekly basis.

Luckily, after taking an extended walk break, my calves loosened up enough for me to resume running. I relished having the ground fly under my feet.

I'm going to make an appointment with a professional to get some expert advice on how to relieve some of my muscle tightness. I'd like to find some relief from my extremely tight calves, quads, and hip flexors. Stretching, rolling, and massage don't seem to be enough for me right now.

The Back of the Packers Rattlesnake Encounter

The Green Girl managed to make it to the Sole Runners Tuesday night trail run after an usually hectic day at work yesterday.

Rad Runner Girl joined us once again and appears to have become a permanent fixture on the these runs.

As usual, I ran with the back of the packers, Michelle and Rozie.

Rozie and I were running slightly ahead of Michelle when we heard the characteristic hiss of a rattlesnake. Rozie actually spotted the snake in the brush. We sprinted ahead and when we felt we were at a safe distance, we started yelling for Michelle to watch out for the snake. We instructed her to run on the left side of the trail to avoid the rattlesnake's general vacinity but she panicked and froze.

We finally coaxed her into continuing the run but we were all uneasy after the encounter.

I'm going to research the proper protocol for responding to a snake bit and look into purchasing a snake bite kit so I will be prepared should one of us end up getting bitten in the future.

As the evening progressed, the sky cleared and we were able to catch a glimpse of the sun setting.

After our run, we laid out our yoga mats and stretched in the parking lot. I commented that I wished I had my foam roller with me and Rozie pulled a little one foot roller out of her trunk. It felt so good to roll right after the run. I'm going to look into getting a small one to keep in my car with my mat.

The Barn Owl Trail Run

Rad Runner Girl joined the Green Girl on another Sole Runners Tuesday night trail run last night.

I am very grateful to the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for affording us such beautiful trails to run on. Thanks to this group, 1,200 acres of open space on the south side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula will be preserved in perpetuity.



The trails are shared by hikers, runners, trail cyclists, and even the occasional horse.

We explored some of the more challenging trails last night. I had suffered from severe allergies all weekend and the congestion was affecting my breathing. I struggled to keep up with the group.

As we climbed the first incline, my right calf cramped up and I had to walk off the pain. I can only assume my labored breathing could have attributed to the calf discomfort.

When we hit the grueling Barn Owl Trail, I was forced to shuffle slowly up the hill. My heart rate skyrocketed to 189.

A couple of miles in, my calf loosened up and the wheezing dissipated. My spirits lifted and I finally settled into my run.

As we headed back, the onshore marine layer clouded the Palos Verdes sky and cloaked the setting sun in its ominous fog.

Sole Runners Trail Run With Rad Runner Girl

Rad Runner Girl joined the Green Girl on her Sole Runners Tuesday night trail run in Palos Verdes.

Rad Runner Girl is going to be doing the City of Laguna Hills Memorial day Half Marathon on Monday. She was anxious to get one last hill run in and she's never trail run before so she decided to come check out the Ocean Trails with us.

The weather was warmer than usual last night and there wasn't much of a breeze.

Rad Runner Girl took off with the faster group and I settled comfortably into the back of the pack.

Even though my beloved camera is on the brink, I still insisted on snapping [mostly blurry] shots along the trail.

The wildflowers have dried up and many of the stalks had turned the color of hay.

I felt a sense of libration on my run yesterday knowing I have finally found the right pair of shoes for my little feet. I love my 1012's.

Since I started running in them, I haven't had any plantar fasciitis flare ups or posterior tibial tendon discomfort. I also noticed my arches are a lot less sore when I do my nightly massages with the Tendon Rescue.

As we headed back down the trails, the clouds cleared and we could see a full moon in the bright blue sky.

I forgot to charge Mr. Green Garmin so he died on our way back.

Tonight is Long Beach SparkTeam skate night at Skate Depot. They offer 'Cheap Sk8' on Wednesdays from 8:00 - 10:30 pm. Skating and rental is only $6.75.

I can't inline skate because it aggravates my plantar fasciitis but I can roller skate.

I'm looking forward to a fun night of skating with the Sparkers.