Cedar Ridge Preserve 12/26/2010

Today was day one of my plan to run DFW area trails. I found a few close by that I knew were paved, too short, or were a pay to enter type of trail. Not what I was looking for.
Then I stumbled onto Cedar Ridge Preserve (thanks Trails.com). I'd heard of before when looking for mountain bike trails and usually just disregarded it because they don't allow bikes. They do not allow anything but hikers, walkers, and runners. From what I read it was 6 loops and roughly 6 miles. Exactly what I was looking for.
Contact Info:
Cedar Ridge Preserve
7171 Mountain Creek Parkway
Dallas, Texas 75249
972-709-7784

When I arrived there were about 20-30 cars parked. This initially concerned me. I don't like running around a lot of people. I wanted to enjoy the trails...alone!
I noticed one lady with a big German Shepard and signs saying pets must be on a leash, so I'm guessing pets are welcome.
Fortunately, I only saw a handful of people, all hikers, and all very polite. Well to me anyhow(see Angry Asian below). Here is a link to my route:
View Cedar Ridge Preserve 2010-12-26 in a larger map
Picture of the entry way into the preserve I took them on my way out....which is why they are nighttime shots...


So I started off...trails were very well marked. Very well maintained. Very enjoyable.
as you will notice I did about 7 miles but stopped to snap a pic of anything that caught my eye.
Here are a few of the trail:

Here are few of my favorite shots I got of the pond.
Right before I found this overlook picture below, there was an older Asian couple I passed. I said hello, they ignored me. I stopped to pull out my camera and the guy started yelling at some rocks. He then proceed to angrily kick all the loose rocks from the trail. I can only imagine he fell previously. I really, really really, wanted to ask the guy what he expected to find on a nature trail! I did get some satisfaction in the fact that I figured he busted his butt on a rock, AND that he'd probably never be back! And of course the view made me forget all about him.


So to wrap things up...their are 6 loops. Took me 7 miles. At the back of the preserve their was an awesome pond worth stopping and checking out(see pics above). The 2 difficult loops are as they are listed. Difficult. Not impossible or impassible, Just pretty steep climbs for the area! On 2 occasions I slowed to a walk and labored up. On several more occasions I felt these lungs burning as I gasped for air while climing. But like any good uphill....there is a downhill, these were typically fast and fun. A few parts of the trails were covered in leaves and became a bit slippery. Despite the full day of rain we had 2 days ago, the trails were in good shape. Only about a mile stretch became even slightly muddy. It wasn't anything sloppy and gooshy. Mostly just sticky.
The park closes at 6. I was minding my time closes. I started the last trail with 20 minutes left. I took a wrong turn and popped out in a neighborhood. I had to back track and as soon as I got back on trail I found a tower. Here is a pic I took from up there:

Made it back to my truck at 5:52pm I was the only vehicle left. Worth mentioning is: I did not see a single piece of trash at all anywhere! (this is very rare for the metroplex)
What a great day!



Here are the remainder of the pictures I thought were worth sharing. Makes it hard to believe this is only minutes outside of Dallas. And right in the mess of the DFW metroplex.

A few pictures at a stream crossing. In fact I believe it was the only stream crossing. There was a bench here that would of made a nice spot to sit and relax.

This tree stopped me in my tracks. Not sure why it did, but it sure makes a nice picture!And few of the view

-Jeremy-
www.crazyaboutultras.com

back at it....

o my blog has not been all that I hoped it would be.

I have 1 anonymous follower and my blogging has become a bit stale. I fear I have not even lived up to the title I have given it. “Elwell’s Running Adventures”. I had a few adventures. More setbacks though. After my most recent exploit: “Running for WILD”, in which I ran 105 miles through the DFW area in 30:01, I was terribly burned out on running. I followed this run up with a 25 mile pace run with my brother Jacob. He did a similar solo effort but went 160 miles. I think I over trained for my 105 miler. It was essentially like working a second job for 3 months. Then the day came and went and I questioned myself why I would want to do something like that ever again. Then 3 weeks later my younger brother does over 50 miles further. Then I had to ask myself “Does it ever end?” “Do we just keep running further and further?” “How much can my body AND MIND take of this?” My answer was, and still, is I just don’t know. Since September I haven’t completely quit running. I was still doing 5-10 miles a week with my dogs. I still maintain www.crazyaboutultras.com. I still pay close attention the upcoming races. I did however use my time to lift weights and get into a bit of mountain biking. I built up a decent 4x4 vehicle and took it off road a few times.

So I imagine you know where this is going.

I am really gaining a sense of adventure. Some one on expeditionportal.com called it “wanderlust”. That sums it up perfectly. I have been lusting to simply disappear into some deep forest land and truly enjoy nature. I have researched trails and forest all over the US. I know more 4x4 trails, mountain biking trails, assumed routes, and paths, but I have yet to actually ride them or drive them. I have a deep desire to throw caution to the wind and get rid of everything I own and simply hit the road.

Fortunately, for my loved ones, I have been working on a reasonable solution. I will keep my job. As miserable as it makes me sometimes, it still pays fairly well. That and I’m on my second semester of college. YES! After 10 years I have gone back to school.

But I still have that wanderlust to soothe.

My plans are to use my days off, my vacations, any free time I can russle up and start overlanding.

Overlanding: the self-reliant over land travel to remote destinations where the journey is the principle goal.

I will finish my vehicle and make it an adequate overland vehicle. It will be capable of sustaining myself, another person, and 2 dogs comfortably for up to a week or 2 at a time. Coupled with this, I will tote mountain bikes and running gear.

Did I forget to mention I am running again? I have signed up for the cowtown 50k. I am back to training. This time around I promise not to take it so serious it feels like a job. My goal is 4:30 finish time, or a top ten finish. There are a few other races that have captured my enthusiasm again. For now I will be sticking to 50k/50milers and working on building up a decent speed. I’ll leave the long 100/150/200miles to my younger brothers! I enjoy sleeping through the night….not running (or sleep running as we call it).

Back to overlanding…I want to travel to remote locations, backwoods, back country and wilderness areas. Some place that isn't a campground. Some place that isn't a massive tourist location. Somewhere that will require 4wheel drive to get to. I can setup a primitive camp site, i.e. tent only, and enjoy nature. Then, with my free time, I intend to explore further via mountain bike. If I don’t feel like mountain biking then I will run. If I don’t feel like running, I will hike. And if I don’t feel like doing anything at all….then I won’t.

Now I know this all sounds wonderful, but I have one weekend off every 3 weeks, and 2 weeks of vacation a year. Not necessarily the kind of time to do the exploring and traveling I have in mind. Especially seeing that Texas is only 3% public land and therefore I would be traveling quite awhile just to find some backcountry/wilderness to enjoy. To soothe my soul while I am unable to travel I will stay close to home. I have discovered tons of hiking/biking trails in the DFW area and Texas, as a mater of fact.

So in my days off or my free time I will run as many of these as I can. I will bike the rest! My training partner (who dislikes running) will be content to ride alongside me while I run. If the trails allow it, the dogs can come too. Hopefully this will account for majority of my training and the dogs training!

Other sports that are becoming very intriguing are rock climbing, kayaking, and canoing.

Eventually I will have my degree. I will have a job that allows me the freedom to do what I want when I want. Maybe a few trips and this will be out of my system. May a few trips and I will be moving to the mountains. I don’t know. Maybe next year I will have a strong desire to move up with my company and make lots of money. All that I know is that for now I have what some call “wanderlust” and I must get away.

Sorry for the lengthy post! If anyone reads this….lol….I do intend to keep at it! I do intend to give trip reports! I do intend to take a kazillion pictures too!

And if anyone in the areas in down to tag along let me know. I have plans on becoming a NTTR member (north Texas trail runners www.nttr.org). I also want to find a 4x4 club, or maybe meet up with some other Ford Bronco owners.

2011 races I am looking forward to:

Cowtown Ultra (50k)--February 26^th

Nuesces 50 mile in Rocksprings TX--March 5^th

Leadville SilverRush 50 mile mountain bike—July(Saturday)

Leadville SilverRush 50 miles trail run---------July(Sunday)

Happy adventuring,

Jeremy