Monthly Archives: June 2014

Around Oakhurst and the Shadow of the Giants

We took it easy on Friday and went on a couple of short hikes.  On the way from Oakhurst to Yosemite, we always pass a trailhead called the Lewis Creek trail.  After buying bug spray, we decided to give it a shot.  The trail drops several hundred feet to a large waterfall and pool.  The water was a little too cold to swim, but Preston and Tracy did their best to get close to the waterfall.

IMG_0975

IMG_0974

 

We hung out at the pool for an hour or so and then decided to drive to Nelder Grove. The grove is on the 50k course, but the 20k turns off before you get there so we thought it would be nice to visit. After a dusty ride up a long dirt road we finally got there. The grove is home to some of the giant Sequoias and Cedar trees. We walked through at a pace much slower than we normally do during the race and read all the posted information on the trees and the history of the area.

IMG_0981

On Saturday, we got to the start line a little past 6am to find the parking lot almost filled. We got a spot relatively close and went to check-in. The place was bustling and the race director, Baz, was his normal cheerful self. The day couldn’t have been any better weather. Low 60’s to start with nothing but a cloudless sky.

IMG_0982 (2)

IMG_0984

Everybody had great times. Tracy was successful in finishing her first trailrace in almost two years. She ran the 20k in 2:12. Preston came in 12 minutes after her, beating his previous year’s time over 20 minutes. I finished an hour faster than last year, breaking my 50k personal record with a 5:43.

Preston_finish_2 (2)

MTH-0213-L-Tracy_water

Jim_finish_1

 

Too much work, too little leisure

It’s been a while since I updated the blog – this “work” thing is getting in the way of me being a true “man of leisure”.  Things have been busy around the house.  We decided to have all the windows and external doors replaced which has been an ordeal.  It’s taken over 6 weeks (was a 2 week schedule) and has been a pain with all the dust and construction inside the house.  Not all of the delay was the contractors issue, we’ve gotten a ton of rain and the house has settled so that nothing is square.  I’ll post some pictures when everything is finished.

 

Over the past few months, Preston and I have run a few races close to home.  We have done a half marathon and couple of 30k/10k’s, but this week, we are back in northern California for the 25th running of the “Shadow of the Giants”.  The bigger news is that Tracy is with us and will attempt her first trail race since she installed “Jamie Summer’s knee”.

 

Yesterday we went to Yosemite for a hike.  We went back to the start of the John Muir trail at Happy Isles and the three of us hiked to Nevada Falls via the mist trail.  Round trip, we walked almost 9 miles and gained about 2300 feet in altitude.  It was an absolute beautiful day and everyone felt great.

 

Today we are going to find an easy hike just to stay loose.  Tomorrow at 7am, the race starts.  I am doing the 50k and hope to come in close to 6 hours.  Preston and Tracy and doing the 20k.  It’s a great course and the weather is supposed to be incredible.

IMG_0969

IMG_0953