Sunday, November 27, 2011

running mountains

here we go, up up and up, to the top of the santa ynez mountain ridge. my sister lindy and i drove up saturday morning. it took us an hour from my home which is waaay down below on the edge of the pacific ocean . i live about center and straight down next to the sea, on the other side of the middle  peak.



 we are driving up here to see chuck, my husband. he is in an ultra run. a fifty mile trail run. the run is on the back side of this ridge we're on. looking at this photo the ocean is on our right, the back country on the left. he is in the back country. along with seventy two others. running fifty miles.


 we are at one of the check points now. behind me is a makeshift tent with supplies for these endurance athletes. we waited (a bit anxiously) for chuck and cheered as each person came through. then, we saw him. he's that blue dot right above the words on this photo. notice the rugged back country from where he's come. there are a lot of hills.


 he was so happy to see his friend and fellow athlete.


now he has to replenish before heading back out. there are foods with potassium and salt. and if you think you see a bottle of maker's mark whiskey on the table, you'd be right. some of the runners might need it i suppose. (i'm quite sure i would).


 this is the check point we were at, i think there were at least five more throughout the course. i am always in awe of the people who volunteer their time to help. my husband appreciates it very much. everyone is so nice and supportive at these things (they must all be bloggers) ((bloggers are the nicest people on earth)).


he was with us for five minutes before heading back out. can you imagine finishing a marathon and beginning again? and on a trail too?

 see you tonight honey. have a safe trip. lindy and i watched him run off and then headed back down the
mountain. we had a day planned. which thankfully didn't include any running.


as we were driving down the narrow windy road, this red-tailed hawk suddenly burst out of the bushes to our right ( there was shrieking) (by us) flying almost into our car, swooping over the hood and then as if we were in the wildwood book, he soared only inches from the ground, right directly in front of us! and then, suddenly again, he made an immediate stop and an abrupt turn into the brush on our left, attacking (scaring the wits) out of a small bird. the bird flapped his wings madly and flew straight up and away and the hawk, seemingly satisfied with himself landed on the top of this small dead branch. and stayed. i was shaking whilst trying to raise my camera, i've never been this close to a red-tailed hawk ever. i counted to three as he looked at me, raised his tail to poop (which indicates flying is next) and then he was off.


 in glorious graceful flight.


 i wished for a moment wildwood were true. i would have asked him to keep an eye on my love.



chuck and i and my sweet sister lindy. photo courtsy of  kevin steele. for kevin's images of the run
go here. (chuck's photo is the first one, he's wearing his handknit hat, a purl bee pattern.)    :)

oh! lindy and i had a fabulous day, we went to a holiday fair, shopped, and played with owen (i only glanced up at the mountain once). chuck finished some time after eight p.m. and walked in the door at nine o five, after fourteen hours of (torture) running. and although he's tired now, i know he'll do it again. if your reading honey, i'm proud of you. and i forgot to ask, did you see a bold red-tailed hawk?

22 comments:

  1. Wow! What a day! Congrats to Chuck...well done! And what an amazing experience you had as well. Thanks again for thinking of me at the holiday faire! xoxo

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  2. Good lord! 50 miles! I am so impressed - I can'tt even do 1. Good for you Chuck and good for you shoppers also. Sounds like an awesome day and love the close up of the hawk. I love their screech.

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  3. How awesome Lori and very inspiring too! What a truly beautiful spot to have a run, although that is a little too intense for me.
    I hope you had a super time with your sister. I saw from a comment you left on Karen's space that you didn't knit a stitch this weekend so you Must have had a good time.:)
    Me? I cast on a pair of socks using size 0 needles! I now have to sit right under the light so I can see what I'm doing!
    xx

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  4. I'm exhausted just reading about the race!! Congrats, Chuck!

    The rest of your weekend was much more appealling to me--looks like it was beautiful; a great time to be outdoors with family and red-tailed hawks!

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  5. I saw the blue spot and cheered him on! Boy, he must have been sweaty when he came home, and oh so proud! Even if he did not see the hawk, it surely saw him!!! Great day, and thanks for taking us along, us all shrieking along, of course, and having so much FUN with you and Lindy and the nice helpers (yes, definitely bloggers)! But most of all I`m glad Chuck made it and returned home safely.

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  6. I admire your husband, I can hardly walk a mile!!! The mountains look lovely and I know how rugged they are. What an experience with the hawk. He must have known you needed a photo.

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  7. but i'm sure that bird did watch over him! i must read wildwood if he has something to do with these hawks my family loves so much. chuck is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. you must be very proud. he's a badass. :)

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  8. It looked like a wonderful day complete with a red tail blessing.

    Congratulations to your husband, "strength" yes!!

    xo

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  9. oh dear god times a million. chuck ran 50 miles, on steep trails? i can only say amazing.

    i was thrilled to share in the sight of a red tailed hawk. it sounds like he sought you out; i'll bet you thought that too. is there a totem for a red tail hawk? if not i'm channeling my own: it means good health and much love will surround you.

    i love the photo of that hawk in flight. what grace. lori, i am working with a personal trainer who is also a dancer and she forces me to move like a dancer. hahaha, only my hands and arms find the means to cooperate. but i love it. this hawk in flight reminds me of that kind of grace.

    tsup, mwah & kiss kiss my friend ♥
    kj

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  10. Oh oh oh ohhhh myyyyyyyy. What an athlete! Running is not my forte. Heck, I trip when I walk. Kudos to Chuck for doing something über amazing!

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  11. Is Lindy from Lindy Love...She just has to be...oh makes my heart sing thinking about my sis.Your hubby is pretty gosh darn amazing,but I already knew that...he married you.Big Hugs sweet Lori,Cat

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  12. Chuck is amazing! I love to run and that means for me one or two miles, I can't even imagine 25 let alone 50!!!!!
    I love you giving tree below! Glad you had a happy Thanksgiving!
    xoxo

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  13. I wish I posessed one tenth of what Chuck has in his exercise genes ;)
    I'm impressed for sure, but more than that I admire him for honoring his body and allowing it to be the vehicle it was meant to be. We are machines, and when well-oiled there's no stopping us.

    Here's to those who refuse who refuse to stand and rust.

    Way to go Chuck! I'm glowing with your beautiful wife ;)

    xo
    Lo♥

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  14. My jaw dropped when I read 50 miles, I had to read it again. Wow, please wish your husband my best congratulations--it's awe-inspiring...

    and that hawk---gasp...

    xoxo

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  15. chuck is amazing. i can't imagine running 10 miles, let alone 50. i might walk tho.......the views are amazing....

    (p.s. i love the giving tree! ;-)

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  16. Go Chuck!! time you entered Comrades Marathon here in SA . . . . .
    Love the hawk Lori - great interaction!

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  17. This was a great post. Your husband must inspire you on a daily basis. Also, I have to say it's breathtaking where you live.

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  18. What an amazing achievement! Well done that man!!

    Such beautiful country up there, and the hawk is so majestic. Glad you all had a good day :D

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  19. Utterly amazing.. congratulations to your husband on his run!

    Wonderful pictures. So glad you and your sister had a good time, too.

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  20. 50 miles? And running it? Uphill? Amazing. I guess his being thankful for strength in a previous post paid off. Lovely lovely views from atop the mountain.

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  21. Congratulation to Chuck! My husband also run's ultra trails , and afterwards always says it was his last, but it never is!!
    Fantastic views.

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  22. Such a lovely landscape to run!

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xoxo lori