Someone needs to be the caboose

Yesterday I went out for my first official trail run with the Tucson Trail Runners. Let me preface this with the amusing events that led up to my first run with TTR.
I like to be honest about my abilities. I also like to know where exactly I'm headed when I'm expected to meet up with others at a specific place and time. As a result, sometimes I offer and request more information than may be necessary, and apparently can come across as pretty green. So, in announcing my plan to participate in yesterdays run (listed as 'ADVANCED' on the TTR site) I made it clear that I would run the full 28 mile loop, but gave fair warning that I am currently a bit of a tortuga. I am slow, but consistent, was what I hoped to convey. I then asked specifics about the location of the (very easy to find) trailhead, and this further concerned the run director. Midday Friday I received a very nice e-mail asking me to please call one of the TTR organizers. Basically, my questions had led them to believe that I was probably clueless, and perhaps a liability. I did my best to reassure Ross, a very nice guy, and told him I looked forward to meeting him Sunday morning. After our phone call he sent out his own e-mail reassuring the other RD folks who had concerns about me, and I was officially welcomed to the run.
I actually managed to take two days off in a row this weekend. Saturday I ran errands, did laundry, and made a batch of trail bars. I spent the afternoon finishing reading Hamlet, watched a horrible movie that turned out to be a complete time-suck (I should have known better) and got my things together for the morning. I woke up Sunday around 4:30, checked the weather, got dressed and ready to hit the road. I knew it was supposed to take me about 45minutes to an hour to get to the trail head, so I left at 5:30 to be sure to get there in plenty of time. Apparently, 5:30am is the time to drive on Speedway; there was no traffic, and nearly every light was timed perfectly. I found it amusing that my run was going to start at the Eastward dead-end of Speedway, as I live at the Westward end.
The weather was perfect and it was an incredible sunrise. The ridge was obscured by a blanket of clouds and I was excited for the run.

 

Tanque Verde Sunrise. Ridge Obscured by clouds

As the light started to come up, the parking lot started to fill with other TTR's. Renee and Dallas were there, and it was great to see them. Sarah and Mike, whom I had met last weekend at the Pemberton 50K were also there. (Which, by the way, I was right. They look fast and they are fast. Mike told me they finished Pemberton in 14th and 15th place!) I reassured the folks who had concerns about my abilities face to face, and told them I'd see them at the end. They were all super nice, and I was excited to have found a new group of folks to run with. (Thanks Renee&Dallas!)

 

Douglas Springs Trailhead sign. The start and finish of the day.

We got off to a good start. The climbing began more or less right away, so it was a lot of 'fast hiking' for pretty much the first 10-12 miles, with a few bits of running sprinkled through there. I had told myself I would try and take pictures as I went along, and I did my best to snap a few. Unfortunately, they are all still being taken with my phone, which is less than ideal, but will have to suffice for now. 

Here are a few pictures from the way into Douglas Springs campground and the Cow Head Saddle:

A look back on the trail we had been running up on, about 4 or so miles in.

Madrone, one of my favorite plants. The picture obviously does it no justice.

Trail sign at Douglas Spring campground, 2.4 miles to Cow Head.

Cow Head Saddle. Elevation 6100ft. Not quite to the summit of Tanque Verde

About 8.5miles into it, and about 2.5 miles to the top of Tanque Verde

The majority of this run I spent solo. I had more or less expected that to be the case. I had no problem with that, I know I can complete these runs, I just know that for now I'm not one of the fast folks out on the trail. Someone needs to be the caboose. Every now and again I'd catch a glimpse of Wayne and Darrel, two very nice guys whom I got to know a bit over the course of the run. Generally they were about a half mile or mile ahead of me, best I could tell. The nice side about this is that it truly allows me to use my long runs as a place for meditation and reflection. The air was crisp, the scenery was incredible and I was having a fantastic day. 

When I reached the official Tanque Verde Ridge peak, I took the 100yd diversion to see the view. Unfortunately, there are no pictures to share. The peak was completely encased in a cloud, and it was fantastic. It made me think of Laputa, and the thought of flying down the ridge made me eager to start my descent. 

Sign surrounded by Madrone pointing the way to the summit.

Old School Trail Signs

 The corridor leading out from the peak into the Juniper basin campground was fantastic. I felt like I was running through a secret fariytale forest. I snapped a picture of myself and of the corridor.

Smiling, as usual. My friend Casey commented that she'd never seeing me wearing so much white, I told her it was so I was easier to find if I got lost!

Magic.

As the day went on I passed a few hikers, most of them coming from the direction I was headed, most of them with puzzled looks as to what exactly I thought I was doing running this trail. (I'm sure all the runners before me received equally puzzled faces) It was an absolutely perfect day to be outside. Not too hot, not too cold, not too cloudy, not too bright. It was spectacular. When I reached the Tanque Verde trail sign Darrel was waiting there. It was nice to see another face, I told him I hoped he hadn't been waiting too long, and that there was no need to slow down on my account.We started running the descent, chatted a bit, he plugged back in to his book he was listening to, and I let the gap between us increase again. 

Tanque Verde Trail sign, about 5 miles from 20 mile aid station, I think.

The descent was great, lots of rolling hills initially, super technical trails. I had at least 3 close calls, one of which brought me very close to a faceplant into some prickly pear. I was grateful for my two handheld water bottles, as they took the abuse and saved my hands from being turned into hamburger. I stopped to snap a few shots of the ridge from the descent, to see where I had come from, and also looking to the west, where I could see all of Tucson. Somewhere in here we ran into Ross, who had come up from the Javelina site and was taking pictures. He chided me for calling myself slow and said he would no longer believe anything I had to say on that subject. This was very encouraging and gave me a good boost to keep on moving along.

Ridge from descent.

Ridge, looking out to the southwest.

 As I really started moving down the ridge, the strangest thing happened. My phone started ringing. I was so confused. It was completely anathema to think that it would be ringing, I pulled it out of the pocket on my backpack and answered it with a confused 'hullo?' It was Lacy, and if I had had any sense, I would have stopped running and stayed in a point where I knew I had reception, but I was still thrown off that it had rung and that I had reception at all and besides, I was having a really great time running downhill! So, the conversation was very brief, consisted mostly of me saying 'yeah, i'm on my run, at about mile 17, whoa can't believe I have reception, weird.' and then the call dropped. I laughed about it, put my phone back in its pocket, and kept running.
The rest of the run was pretty straightforward. I was happy to reach the Javelina picnic site where Donna was waiting with many wonderful treats. I refilled my water, ate about half an orange and one of my trail bars, used the bathroom and got ready to head back out. Wayne and Darrel were both there and we discussed the best way to head back. Cactus Forest trail was the way to go, it seemed. It was either that or the road. Running the road for 8 miles didn't really appeal to me, but the trails started to get very spidery and confusing, as far as I could tell by my map, once Cactus Forest ended and we got closer to the Douglas Springs trailhead. Wayne took off and I figured I'd see him at the end. Darrel was checking out his toe and I said I was going to make a go of it with the trails. Donna gave me directions to the trailhead from the picnic area. She also gave me encouragement as she drove past me out of the picnic area, on her way back to the Douglas Springs trailhead.
The Cactus Forest trail was super easy and nice to run on. My legs were feeling good, my feet were feeling okay, and I was still very much enjoying my Sunday. At this point I was into about 23 miles, with about 5 more to go. Darrel eventually came up behind me and went on ahead. We'd randomly meet up at the many trail signs, look at my map, discuss the best way to go, and then part ways again.
The final 4 or so miles:
The Shantz trail. I shant run it again if I ever have the choice. This trail was like running in a miniature wash. Super sandy, my calves protested the majority of the way, and it just kept going. But, as I hoped it would, it got me there.
I reached the Douglas Springs trailhead after 7:42.04 of running. My Garmin read 28.96 miles. Ross was there snapping more photos, Donna and Steve had another great spread of goodies to eat set out. Darrel and Wayne were there, along with another very nice runner who's name I didn't catch. The Tucson Trail Runners really were a fantastic group. They welcomed me into the fold and encouraged me to keep up the good work. I was glad to know that my pace wasn't too tortuga-like to fit in amongst their ranks, and I hope to see many of those same friendly faces at the OP in a couple weeks. Yesterday was my last long run before the race. The next couple weeks will just be consistent easy miles, giving my legs a chance to rest up for my first 50!