Patience

The sun and its benevolent rays of photons shine radiantly on the rocks and sand. Fortunately, the heat is not intense this early in the year. For now it is warm and rather comforting. The day is coming to an end and yet I have just begun my ascent up Telegraph Pass. The twilight hours linger with the open landscape as daylight begins to diminish across the open desert. I come to this trail once a week and it is my dose of “real” trail running that keeps me sated. I haven't done near as much trail running as I'd like this year but I know that it's still early and I will be bagging peaks and bombing trails soon enough. I have to let my body adjust to the desert climate and practice a very crucial skill that all ultra runners must hone, patience.

Patience is what can make anyone a great trail runner. I am fortunate enough to possess some talent with patience that has also worked well in my non-running life. On the trails it is clear that patience is necessary if you want to trail run with longevity and more importantly, injury-free. I may not be winning races but I have an innate ability to keep moving along slow, steady and consistently. This patience has been tested in a new way out here in the desert. I have been dealing with learning to wait until my body acclimates to the weather out here before I can get back to my level of running I am used to. It seems that my body has grown accustomed to taking some down time in the winter and not pushing my limits too much. Around this time of the year I would normally be running in snow and ice with strong winds blasting at my face. I would be content with just having made it out the door and braved the elements for 30- 45 minutes or even a full hour.  But the scene down here in the desert country is different this time of the year. Right now is the prime time to do your running out here. Cool mornings and sunny afternoons make it perfect conditions for runners to run their hearts out. Oh, and also no snow makes it pleasant running weather too. The conflict I’m facing is that the weather makes me want to be running at my peak but I’m dealing with a body that is accustomed to taking it easy in the winter months. 

This is why patience is needed. I ran the Yuma Territorial half marathon at the end of January and did quite well finishing in 1:38 with very little training (I was able to snag 2nd place in my age group too!). This inspired me to keep pushing my limits and jump into a 50K in mid February. Of course, my body had a different plan. I could have pushed on and went to the 50K race and "struggle-fested" my way through it but instead I sided with patience and took an easy weekend of hiking instead. I had also caught a slight cold prior to the 50K so I didn’t really get in a long run at all. My longest run would have been that flat road half marathon which would have been poor metrics to judge my capability on a rugged, hilly, and technical 50K course that is the Black Canyon Ultra.

I’ve made due here in Yuma and I have been sticking to running the many canal trails that vein their way from the Colorado River through the many agricultural fields here in town. The trails along the canals are mostly dirt, small rocks, and loose sand. Sometimes when the wind picks up a small dirt devil that smacks you in the face and you better close your mouth or you’ll be crunching sand with your back molars even after a rinse of water. And as for when to run, you’d want to get done by noon at the latest since there is almost no shade. There is temporary reprieve as some large bales of hay sit next to a farm field that can provide shade about 4 miles into my run, but other than that your best bet is to find an electric pole or keep moving. 

As for my weekly run up Telegraph Pass, this run is always pleasant. There is a group that I’ve been running with called the Yuma Desert Runners and we always seem to enjoy our run. I never wear a watch (actually I only wear a watch during races to make sure I'm eating regularly) and simply go with how I’m feeling that day.  The first mile is pretty technical but it’s where you can run fast. The next mile is pretty much all up-hill. It’s quite steep as you gain just under 900 feet in a short distance but the view from up top is hard to beat in Yuma. On the way down it can get a bit harry if you have a fear of heights as the trail has drop-offs near the edge that would definitely leave a mark on you, if you somehow managed to survive the fall. But after making it back to the first section I love finding my grove and blasting through the rocky sections. I can almost close my eyes when I’m in my grove and let my feet do the guiding. Just feeling my way through it and nimbly making my way back to the trailhead would be satisfying enough but I’m also greeted with a spectacular sunset that spans the entire horizon just as I finish my run. The perks of the desert are many, you just need to know where to find them.

As I’m preparing for the hot summer that will have me running at 4am to avoid the 120 degree heat, I am patient because I know that when my body is ready it will let me know. For now, I’m okay running easy and by feel. There are plenty of trails to discover and when I run them they will share their wisdom in due time. I’m content exploring more of Yuma and know that each place is special because it’s not always about where you are, it’s about what you make of where you are. Also being with cool people helps too. And like my friend Chaz who I met down here recently told me, “If you’re a miserable person, you’ll be miserable everywhere you go.”