Continued from the previous page . . .

UPPER SHEEP CREEK TO HORSE CREEK RIDGE

After blitzing through this aid station, I had another half mile of downhill, then relatively flat, trail before crossing the big creek and facing a steep climb to Horse Creek Ridge.

 

 

 

Dehydration and my lack of training caused calf, hamstring, and foot cramping after I hiked up that slope faster than most of the people around me.

I wasn't really going fast. I maintained a slow, steady pace and was surprised how easy it felt, considering I haven't done any real hill training yet this season and I'm not acclimated to elevations this high yet, either.

Many back-of-packers in the 30K had trouble with this climb and stopped repeatedly to rest, some even sitting down. I probably should have done the same! Even my slow, steady pace was apparently too fast for me today (dehydration and inadequate electrolytes contributed, too). The only time I stopped was to take a couple pictures of the scenery and runners behind me.

Time to get to work

Now there's an idea:  just sit down next to the trail and rest! (no , that isn't me)

ALONG HORSE CREEK RIDGE

I cramped repeatedly in the next mile on the ridge and going down to the fence and spring.

I especially had trouble getting through one deep, muddy spot on the ridge that required a large step down into a ravine. I had to massage my hamstrings and calves before proceeding through it or I would have fallen in the mud.

From then to the finish I avoided any large leg movements up or down that would tweak those muscles the wrong way.

Not as many flowers on Horse Creek Ridge as we normally see (spring is 'way late this year).

I would have run part of this ridge if my legs hadn't been cramping.

There were some mountain bluebells, yellow avens, and other small flowers on the ridge.

Looking back at Horse Creek Ridge as I start my descent

THE START OF THE LONG DESCENT TO LOWER SHEEP CREEK

The parts of the course that I feared the most were not problems.

They included a very steep downhill section coming off Horse Creek Ridge (next photo) that didn't hurt my knees -- maybe because I was more concerned about leg muscle cramping right then! -- and two log bridges over flooded Upper and Lower Sheep creeks. I don't balance well on logs but the bridges were no problem.

 

 

Above and below: don't trip along the fence line -- that's barbed wire! Note all the dandelions.

 

A bit of a trail detour to avoid the worst of the mud at the bottom of this hill

 
Looking back at Horse Creek Ridge

Clump of mountain bluebells

 

Good view of the "ship's prow" formation in the distance before dropping down to the spring

Continuing the long descent to Lower Sheep Creek on the next page . . .

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the Ultra Lab

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© 2011 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil