Heading up was awesome; we really took our time soaking in the moss, the canopy, meeting other hikers with their dogs (shoutout to Frankie!), and the sweet sounds of the waterfall. It clocked in at about 9 hours (and that's not counting our leisurely lunch at the summit and the mission to find the Mt Wilson/Elevation sign for that perfect finishers photo it’s at echo rock guys). Got a bit thrown off when our watches showed 9 miles instead of the expected 7 at the top, but overall, vibes were good.

Now, coming back down the mountain is where the anxiety kicks in. Just about a mile down and, as I suspected ITBS hits me. As a runner, it's a bummer because it puts me out of commission until the pain eases up. Any tips on dodging this ITBS on the longer hikes would be appreciated.