31 Runs in 31 Days - Runs 1 and 2

Off Road Pursuits, a group for trail runner around Southern California, has started a Strava group challenge for the month of December. The idea is to run 31 runs in 31 days. Sounded pretty fun so I thought I would give it a shot. Runs have to be 30 minutes or longer and if you are unable to make a day you can do two in one day to make up for the missed one. This seemed like a good way to end the year and maybe help add a little extra motivation to get me ready for a 50 miler in February!

Run 1 - Ryan Mountain - 2.9mi, 1,084 ft, 11:16/mi

Ryan Mountain trail in Joshua Tree is a great run that I have been doing for the past few years when I am in the park. The trail goes up about 1000' in 1.5 miles of steep rocky terrain. It is basically like running up a long set of rock steps. The run down is a lot of fun but you really have to be careful as a misstep could be pretty nasty. I had been trad climbing all day so was pretty beat by the time the sun was setting but I couldn't miss the 1st day of 31 runs in 31 days so I managed a nice run to the summit just as the sun was setting. It was a beautiful run and a great start to the challenge!

Sun setting at the start of Ryan Mountain Run

Run 2 - Morning Run with the Dogs - 5.9mi, 1,247 ft, 10:35/mi

Back in Big Bear for Run #2 and back to the daily fun. Took the dogs for our usual romp through the woods but tacked on an extra mile on the PCT since I hadn't taken them out in almost a week. They were loving it and as usual it was a fun run with my two favorite partners!

Harper and Bob Digger loving the extra miles