Javelina Jundred: On the Backbone Trail

I wanted to write about my training adventure on the Backbone Trail while it was still very fresh in my mind, but I realized if I immediately wrote about it, there’d be a whole lot more “F Bombs” dropped in the post. Best to take a day, or four, to reflect about the experience.

The day started out early and rough, but only because I heard a guy crazily crying out in the streets at 3AM waking up about 8,000 residents of Los Angeles. Considering I didn’t sleep well the night before the Bulldog 50K I figured this was a good sign and I’ll have a great day on the trails. I got up and had oatmeal and coffee – just as I did for the Bulldog. So far, this was working out perfectly!

Umm, I may have spoken too soon.

Unlike, in the Bulldog, I didn’t have any CarboPro with me. I was expecting a new shipment and it didn’t arrive before this run. I even contacted the fine folks at CarboPro a couple of times to find a local retailer, but those bastards fine folks didn’t contact me back. There could be one person working that customer service department for all I know, and they’re on vacation. Believe me, I know how that is.

Going in with no CarboPro was a snag, but I wasn’t going to let it get me down. I practically packed a suitcase of Hüma Chia Energy Gels to carry with me and I was going to take some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as well, but I couldn’t stuff anything else in my hydration pack. I seriously considered duct taping them to me, but aerodynamics y’all.

The morning started out chilly which gave me false hope for a cool day. I met Mitch and Sundar (both training for the Rio Del Lago 100) at Malibu Creek State Park. From there, we drove one car to Will Rogers State Historic Park where it was already starting to warm up. This was going to be a point-to-point run finishing at Malibu Creek. Different numbers got tossed around, and all I knew was, this was going to be anywhere from a 26 to 30 mile day.

Those numbers didn’t scare me and certainly doable in the time frame I thought I’d do them in, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The climbing and narrow single-track started early which wasn’t a complete surprise to me since I’ve run this section of the Backbone before. It’s a weave of steady climbing with somewhat smooth and easily runnable sections.

I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge fan of single-track. I wish I could say I was, but I don’t particularly care for such narrow lanes and in this case, high brush coming up along the sides, which could have slithering creatures hiding in the wings of unsuspecting of runners coming through. I tried hard not to let any paralyzing thoughts creep in, especially after the last experience I had with a slithering creature.

Once we hit the fire road, about 7.5 miles in, I already consumed a couple of Hüma Chia Energy Gels and energy-wise, I felt good.

Making our way to Trippet Ranch, we ran into some trail friends.

Once we got to Trippet around 11 miles in, we met up with John who would lead us through the rest of the Backbone to Malibu Creek, because while we had a map, neither, Mitch, Sundar, nor myself knew exactly which way to go. Getting to where you need to go is so much easier when you have a guide who’s been there before. Our guide also brought us ice! And it was so refreshing at this point because it was getting warm, and about to get a whole lot warmer.

And this is where the run starts to get very interesting.

You see, between Trippet Ranch and Malibu Creek, there are about 14 to 16 good solid miles. The exact mileage became a complete blur to me, but what’s important to know here is, there is no other water source during these miles. None. Knowing this, I filled up my hydration pack to the brim before leaving Trippet and prayed to the weather and water gods the weather would stay this way and I wouldn’t need much water.

The next several miles consisted of never-ending climbing. Up and up and up we all went.

Early on, John pointed out a tower we were marching to, which was going to be our “half way point.” The tower looked about 800 miles away and I wish I was kidding. I wish he was kidding. 800 miles of never-ending uphill single track.

I became that person who was asking “how much further?” I didn’t want to be that person, but every step I took closer to that tower, I swear someone was picking it up and moving it further away.

Up and up we went, conversing and making up stories. We passed the time. Slowly. Until we got to the point where we didn’t converse much at all. Partly because we were a bit scattered along the trail. We got in our own heads. At least I know I did.

I wondered why this trail was called Backbone. The trail curves and the hard technical sections were reminiscent of bones?

Once we got out of the shady canyon, our exposure to sun and heat came on full throttle. And I was running out of water. 70 ounces dwindling down, and so was my energy. I continued to consume my gels, but I needed to consume water with them which only lessened my water quantity even more.

We never actually reached the tower, but we passed it. We were near it’s presence and I thought that meant downhill. Not sure why I even thought downhill, but I found a little comfort in it. That is, until I realized there was no downhill, yet, and only more sun exposed heat uphill climbing. Oh sweet baby Jesus.

Once we got to the top and downhill was the only way to go, the heat was intense and my water was getting lower and lower. I tried to ration it, but it was difficult because I only went by feel. My goal was to reach Tapia Park in Malibu Creek which is the site of the final aid station in Bulldog, because that was our water source.

“How much further to Tapia?” I asked.

“About 4 miles.” I heard back.

You got to be kidding me. My heart sank and my spirit got low.

At that point, I started praying hard to sweet baby Jesus.

Slowly I made my way downhill and it would’ve been fine and dandy, or at least somewhat fine and dandy had this been smooth single-track trail, but it was hot and technical and single-track and I had no energy, and water was still being depleted. With 4 miles still remaining until a water source, I had to conserve as much as possible.

What made this section, and most of the single-track a nuisance for me is the fact I kept getting scratched by the branches sticking out. On my legs. On my arms. On my shoulders. Snagging my shirt. Every single time I got scratched, F***!!!! Darn you branches!! It was really the only time I wish I had a machete with me to cut all those branches down.

Back at Trippet, I had joked with John I would drive his car back to Malibu Creek and meet them there. Eventually, I wanted nothing more than had I followed through with that.

I went into a dark place.

How was this training me for Javelina? Is Javelina even going to be like this? I don’t see the point. I don’t see the benefit. All I’m doing is hiking. I hate technical trails. I hate single-track. I hate being scratched every other minute. I hate not having water. I was supposed to be somewhere else. I’m never doing this section again! Ever! Some people would love to be out here doing what I’m doing! Of course, if they knew it was actually 97 degrees and they had no water they might change their mind. Darn you CarboPro people!

This was all in my head, of course.

With a few more miles to go till the end, Mitch and John had stopped to rest. As I and Sundar came upon them, I kept going.

This is what I know about myself, I don’t care how slow I’m moving, but if I’m moving, I’m not stopping. Stopping would not have done anything for me at this point, but prolong the finish. So I kept going. John came along with me as Mitch and Sundar hung back and enjoyed the serenity of the area. It was quite serene and beautiful, and if I wasn’t in a time crunch I probably would have stayed back and took a photo, but I needed to be done.

“How much water do you have?” John asked.

“I may have about a cup left,” I said.

And then I took a sip. Nothing. My pack was dry.

“Actually I’m completely out now.”

John had refilled a small Gatorade bottle he had given me earlier with some water he had. That Gatorade was probably the highlight of the day. I never drink Gatorade, but I drank it and it was like that Fruit Punch was the best thing I ever consumed! He had frozen the bottle and it melted to a perfect slushy consistency. Ooh wee! That thing was miraculous!

About a mile later, John and I reached Tapia and I refilled my pack and Gatorade bottle with water. I didn’t need much because I only had a couple more miles to go.

We had the option of going through the little/angry chihuahua section of the Bulldog course or walk along the road. I honestly didn’t have the energy or tenacity to conquer the little/angry chihuahua so we opted for the road. Cars zoomed by us quickly and I’m pretty sure my heart rate got pretty high here.

When I compared this run to last week’s trail run, I did about the same mileage, but the Backbone took 2 hours longer. John’s response when I told him that: “Good.” This run also took about an hour and half longer than my Bulldog 50K time. Backbone is waaaay tougher than Bulldog. By far!

As much as I struggled during this run, it answered my question, “How was this training me for Javelina?”

Simply – I may have dark moments during Javelina. Those moments may become darker and last longer, and I need to learn how to work through them. And that just doesn’t apply for training to go 100 miles. That’s training for life!!

During the miles I struggled in, I absolutely felt miserable.  One thought that kept appearing in my head was – the only way out is through. I got through this training session and I’ll get through Javelina because I’m taking sweet baby Jesus with me, and I’ll make sure I have water and CarboPro as well.

Maybe it was better I didn’t know what was to come on this day. I had to maneuver through thoughts and dig deep within myself because I had to get home. The only way out, was through.

At the end of the day I completed 26.37 miles. I fought hard for those last 14 miles, and fought extremely hard for those last 6.

I think there is a certainly level of toughness one needs to have to get through the Backbone trail and I definitely found myself tapping into that. In retrospect, I’m extremely happy I experienced part of this trail I’ve never been on before.

But, I think I now know why they call it the Backbone Trail:

Thanks Urban Dictionary, and thank you for reading!