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Meeks Bay Trail

July 22, 2020 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 60’s - Perf

Comments:
Another gem of a trail!

3 memories of this run stand out:

1. In 2002, when I was 17, I ran this trail for the 2nd time (1st time was the previous year and - coming from pancake-flat YUBZ - walked every uphill - completely humbled. This year, I actually trained and started beating the veteran ultra runners! ... however, I got lost and ended up not only running 17mi’s (previous long was 9 lol), but I experienced my first-ever bonk and was totally unprepared and had no idea what bonking was - it freaked me out.

2. In 2009 when I decided to run CIM, I only knew LR’s on trails from Camp Fleet Feet - so naturally, for my first-ever 2.5hr run - I did Meeks bay (Camelback - probably 2k of calories on me lol), but it was here that I truly rediscovered my passion for running (after having been a slave to the watch & workouts for the previous 5-7yrs).

3. In 2014, 2wks before the Lake Sonoma 50, Parker and I took the WJU sprinters up to a Cabin a “booster?” Had offered us throughout the season. Well, the weather was slated for a blizzard but I had to do something! Well, in the middle of a wild snow storm, I did a 2hr “run/hip-deep pow hike” from Meeks Bay. I just remember being an hour out, complete “white out” from the snow - breaking trail and being at total peace - one of the coolest moments. I came home the next day - from altitude - and did 44 repeats of this .3mi steep hill in Rocklin - averaging 7:30-40 per mile for 2hrs and after that knew I was gonna top-10 at LS.

So yeah, a lot of good memories on this trail and today was no different. Took it super easy (had to from all the climbing yesterday!). The trail starts right off Hwy 89 (about 10min before you hit Emerald Bay) and gently rolls on dirt/soft sandy dirt for 2k then you lock in for a .75mi/400’ technical climb. Plateau in an open valley for .5mi then more technical climbing! I believe if you keep running on this trail you eventually meet up with the TRT at around 9k’.

Even though outbound was chill, inbound felt understandably awesome as it’s all technical downhill back to the main 2k service rd. Good recovery day! 400m repeats with Parker and Craig tomorrow.