02-22-15

first time running an xterra socal race

this is in crystal cove (just around the corner from derek's work), and since it's a state park, i was also able to use my state park pass to park for free.  score!  (saved $15!)

got there early to secure a good parking spot and rested in the car, reading my book

 since this was my first time out here, i didn't know what to expect.
took a lot of pictures to help me remember  =p
this was the first of many inclines
the sun was out at this point...i think this was probably the hottest part/time of the run because the clouds hid the sun about 30 minutes later

 if you look carefully you can see the trail of people running in the distance...that's where i'm headed.  O.o

 first of many rocky, steep, technical trails

 look at the dark grey clouds behind me!

someone offered to take my pic for me after i took the one above

 single track trails

 rain up ahead  thankfully it didn't come down too hard
but i did almost worry that i should've taken my jacket with me.  but it wasn't bad at all.  lasted maybe 15-20 minutes, and was just a small shower

 the sun tried to peek out again, but it stayed hidden

  just climbed up "the wall"...almost crawled up on all fours, but managed not to do that.  it was crazy steep

 YIKES!

 heading back down towards the finish line below

 and down we go!

[sorry for some of the weirdly edited pics.  just playing around with the different filters.  didn't bother to change them back, since a few were too dark due to the cloud cover...]

back at petco

matt cleaned out all the cages and played with the cats and dogs.  getting them to be a little more comfortable around him. 

THREE cats were adopted today!  (two by one couple)