Catawba Run Around

I don't know how many times we've said we need to plan a trip to go up and run around McAfee's Knob. Heck it's even on the AT license plate for my home state and I pay extra to display it on the back of my car every year and I've never even been there!  So when Sophie sent the link to the Catawba Run Around I thought it best to go ahead and take that run off the to do list, but!!!! the weekend after Mitchell??? was I really going to feel like running a 50K the weekend after Mitchell?? A 50K where some of the finishing times for fast runners were over 8 hrs!! sounds like a horrible idea right? how i made it sound like a good idea in my head...the times must be slow because they were just lolly gagging and taking pictures and enjoying the views.... It will be a fun leisurely run with some great folks and we will get that awesome shot on top of McAfee's that we've always dreamed of...it's such a great group.....and dinner at the homeplace afterwards will be icing on the cake.....




What I hadn't planned on was getting sick the week after Mitchell. Tuesday afternoon the sneezing started, then the itchy watery eyes, nasal congestion, fever, and tiredness. I started immediately trying to fight it with hot tang/russian tea (ricks cold remedy), emergenC, vitamins, zicam, mucinex, whatever I could get my hands on. Friday I was still feeling it but decided to go along even if I decided not to run I could maybe just help with aid or do a short hike? I met Rick and "Dr. Doug" and around 6pm and we made it to the hotel around 8:30. Just to add to the frustration, on the way up I began to cough and when I laid down to bed it just got worse. Luckily Rick had some cough drops, but I just worried I would keep them up all night and that it was an even worse decision to run. "Dr. Doug" assured me Saturday morning that running would be the best Medicine so with his approval I geared up and hoped for the best. Long story short, I survived and it probably was the best medicine. While running I was worried that I had made a mistake. Being wet and at times cold and exposed to the wind a lot, my throat started giving me trouble. There were so many times I wanted to talk and joke but it just wouldn't come out. As soon as I stopped running (sucking wind), got dry cloths on and out of the wind things immediately improved. It was a long tough day but we had a blast. Rick, Jenny, Doug Sullivan, Snipper and I spent the entire day together frolicking in the fog. We were disappointed that we didn't get the fantastic views that drew us to the run in the first place, but we'll keep coming back if nothing else for another opportunity to spend a wonderful day in the woods. one day we'll just get lucky and get that McAfee's knob shot we have always dreamed of :)

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Mount Mitchell Challenge 2011

Well I have to say the 1st race of 2011 went down much better than I had imagined. I've been battling nagging little pains here and there since Hellgate and have not gotten the training in I needed to tackle 40 miles with much optimism. I was hoping Mo's Birthday run the last weekend in January would be a confidence builder and solid training run for Mitchell but it was the complete opposite. I felt sluggish, struggling to keep with the group, by the time we reached the turn around I new i was toast. My ankles were killing me and I knew the return trip wouldn't be of much benefit so I called it a day. I hadn't run more than 17 miles since hellgate going into Mitchell and I envisioned reaching the parkway in pain and having to drop down to the marathon. I was ok with that and with my training it was all I could really expect.

The weather forecast was looking very promising after 2 years of epicness I was ready for a break. The trail was to be clear except for a few areas of ice at the top, reports were that what was there was bullet proof and might warrant the use of traction devices. I was looking forward to not wearing a pack but decided to use one to carry the microspikes, a wind shirt, extra perpetuem, gels, etc. it is much lighter without the bladder and it came in handy once I shed a layer. I decided on capri's, short sleeve shirt, arm sleeves, fleece headband and a light capilene long sleeve. smartwool socks and pearl izumi syncrofuel xc.

It was strange to make it to the starting line feeling comfortable, not worried about the weather. Hugs all around and before I could blink we were off on another grand adventure. I was feeling relaxed and happy to be surrounded by so many people I love and the chance to meet new people along the way. One of my WNC favorites Dave Pryor and I ran down the road thru montreat admiring all the wonderful houses and catching up. Dave dropped at the summit in 2009, volunteered last year, so 2011 was his year! i knew he would have a good day and run strong. I hadn't been able to keep up with him on the last couple of training runs I'd seen him. He moved on ahead as I heard a "bear" behind me, a bear by the name of Dennis Norris. I was beginning to feel I had gone out to fast at this point and my legs were feeling heavy. Dennis and I both struggle to stay injury free and have trouble passing up fun for any type of serious training, haha. Dennis is super speedy and soon he was out of sight. I met a nice first time trail runner from Florida doing the marathon on the way up the last of the pavement before we turned onto the trail.

 This first section of trail is great, gentle runnable, beautiful, much more enjoyable than running up Appalachian Way which we had to do in 2010.  I tried to just get in a rhythm but it's hard because everyone bottlenecks into the single track and tend to get backed up when there are obstacles to pass. Downed trees, stairs, tricky footing. Before long we were headed up the toll road and things began to spread out, I did a mix of hiking and running, just enjoying all the rocks ; ) I came across Ashley Funderburk and another Charlotte runner and chatted with them which was nice as I was about over the toll road and ready to head up the state park rd and get a break from the rocks.

 I took out a hammer bar and munched as I climbed up the road, stopped and took a picture for someone, the views were incredible. nothing like the scene last year where we had to stay on the road all the way to the summit, fighting insane wind and freezing temps. so this year it was back on the buncombe horse trail, they guy in front of me pointed out a cut in the trees off in the distance that marked the spot where we would climb to the summit. As we ran along the horse trail he spotted a cell phone on the ground. I recognized it as the one I had used earlier to take a picture for someone. He picked it up and two steps later I looked to my right and saw the same guy in the woods taking a "break". We informed him we would leave the phone there on the trail for him :)  I was just relieved those award winning pictures I had taken weren't lost, whew. It wasn't long before a familiar set of legs came by, they were so familiar yet something seemed odd? the shorts, they were so short?  my eyes had not deceived me, it was in fact Doug, but dressed in a pair of Henrys shorts! then another great surprise came up the trail, Kathleen! I had been looking over my shoulder for these two all day. Doug motored on looking strong as Kathleen and I chatted it up, then another surprise, Dave was hot on our trail. We made our way up Commissary Ridge, waiting for all this bullet proof ice so we could break out the microspikes. We had a great little conversation about life and Dave and I reminisced about our 2009 adventure up Mitchell. It began to get slippery and we decided to slip on the microspikes. Luckily Kathleen had put hers on at the hotel because I never would have figured it out in my oxygen deprived stupor. They weren't totally necessary but did lessen the fear of falling. We popped out at the top and headed to the summit, got our numbers marked and decided to go all the way up to the observatory. I couldn't pass up the view. We were advised to keep the traction on until we were down the first part of the Black Mtn. Trail. This section is steep downhill, tons of rocks and roots. I stopped about half way down and took off the microspikes. I was happy to drop down on the gravel road, and get off the technical stuff for a while and enjoy some more views. The gravel road is the last notable climb, before the pounding downhill on the state road. My ankles were not happy as soon as they hit the pavement and the slightly banked downhill just added insult to injury. Maybe it was the overload of vitamin D after a long, dark, cold winter but heading towards the toll road I got really happy, as a guy I passed pointed out. I'm sure the aid station workers thought I was loony toons. I felt great rolling down the toll road, even the rocks couldn't get me down.  I got to run a bit with Stan but was mostly alone and decided to jam out to some tunes. I was stoked to make it to sourwood gap, have some quality beer and still be feeling good. I pushed that last section on the road and skipped the last aid station. It got hot on the road and of all times I didn't have a hat or sunglasses. I was so happy to see everyone at the finish, basking in the sun and the accomplishments of the day. A glimpse of spring on a february day was worth the two years of harsh conditions.

 In 2009 (epic weather) it took me 8:56:33 In 2010 (shortened  course) 7:31:39 and in 2011 - 7:32:54

SNOW



Tanawha 2009?



JJ and I had planned on joining the WNC runners on the Tanawha trail adventure this past Saturday, but with snowy forecasts for the area we decided to stick close to home. The Tanawha is an awesome trail if you ever get the chance to check it out don't pass it up. When I lived in boone back in the good ole college days before my running days I did many a hike there and on the Boone Fork Trail which connects up around Price Park. Such a great area for exploring and Price Park is a very popular picnic spot along the Blue Ridge Parkway where you can set up "base camp". Rick, Doug, Dennis and I did a Tanawha play day in 2009 and had a blast.

Friday night after making the final decision to stay home I contacted Joey who had shown interest in running around damascus and set up an alternative plan. I would pick JJ up @ 8:30, get to Joey's around 9am and then we would head up to do our Beartree Loop. Everything went according to plan and we were even able to drive the MINI to dtown and then hop in Joey's truck just in case the roads were worse on up the mountain. The ride up 58 along the creek was beautiful.

We got to FS832 (our normal parking/start/finish) and realized finding a place we could park without getting stuck was going to be a challenge. The entrance to Beartree was also deep and we weren't sure about blocking the entrance, beartree gap pullover was also deep so we thought maybe on down to the straight mtn. trailhead?? got there to find 2 VDOT trucks, 1 broken down and the other pulling out to plow on up towards Konnarock. He didn't advise we park there either as they might be coming back to try and tow the dead truck later on. We turned around and decided we would just have to make it work at beartree gap. 

We got "parked", geared up, and decided we would start up straight mountain first and end back at beartree gap with option to bail halfway and come back up the road. We ran back down the road to the vdot truck and headed up the trail.

WOW was the snow deep. We were all a little surprised at how much there was once you got back in the woods. I was immediately huffing and puffing. The climb up to the ridgeline was laborious but I remember back to summer and how it isn't easy then either and I'm usually hiking then as well. It started to snow again as we made out way up. We get to the top and the sky starts to break up giving quite the show of crystal blue sky, highlighting the grey snow covered ridges in the distance.  The wind was blustery on the ridgeline, and had created some nice drifts that ca

me up to my knees. Motivation to keep moving was the sweet downhill on the other side and as we approach the decent, Joey does a happy dance. I go on down to catch some video of he and JJ, breaking fresh snow on one of my favorite trails, so happy to be out. We can't stop trying to capture the splendor of it all with our digital devices, we want everyone who is missing out on this to be able to see it in all it's glory, but it's impossible.

We pop out at beartree lake and the sky is blue, seems like a nice spot for a group photo. We knock the heavy snow balls off our ankles and head up the road to the Shaw Gap Trl. One step and we realize this will be more like ice skating, the pavement underneath the snow is a sheet of ice. JJ takes a side to side approach to running up the road and I have to laugh as we weave back and forth single file fashion.

I grab my camera to document the train and I've already reached capacity (stupid small SD card). as I tuck the camera away for good I realize the beautiful blue sky has turned a dark grey, that didn't last long.  We pass thru the campsite that is normally home to the campground host to access the trail and we are in awe of the amount of snow piled up on the concrete picnic table.  I have to dream of the sweet downhill on beartree gap trl to propel me up to shaws gap. I just ate my only gel and I'm realizing its going to take more than 1 gel to get thru this?? We take a breather at shaws gap and I think it's a perfect chance to put down a snow angel. The guys don't humor me, something about it being to cold to get on the ground, huh sissy's. beartree gap trl is the beez kneez and as if I wasn't already pumped it started to SNOW again :) yippeee I think JJ was feeling it too because he leaving Joey and I in the dust. Joey came to the realization his hands were about frozen as we approached the road. I had some extra gloves so we did a switcharoo and got his phalanges nice and toasty again. That gel I had eaten was already burnt up so I pulled out some chewies when we got to the road. We passed up our chance to go back to the truck and headed on to FS832. It was slow moving up the road and I could feel my lack of calories catching up to me, I sensed that Joey might be dwindling as well as he eyed my chewies and asked if he could grab a few and then commented on how delicious they were, haha.

The last time Jenny and I ran this section I confirmed a "shortcut" trail that we had passed by many times so as we got close I suggested that maybe we should take it. Joey's eyes lit up at the mention of cutting it short and I was glad I wasn't alone. We cut over to the AT and headed back. There was some sweet downhill and one more climb/ridgeline scramble before we were back to the truck. Those last few steps I felt like a was carrying 10 lb weights on each ankle. I think we were out something like 3hrs.

I was warm the entire time in smartwool knee high ski socks, tights, pants, smartwool top, vest, patagonia torrent jacket, smartwool balaklava, hat with ear flaps, gloves. As soon as we stopped and started to strip off the wet cloths I was freezing, it was all I could do to get my shoes off my hands were iceburgs. I chugged some bolthouse farms cappuccino protein drink but was still about to die when we got to Whistlepig. I wanted one of everything on the menu but settled for a blackened hamburger with everything including jalapenos and some homemade onion rings that are to die for. Roger and Cindy the owners and Gypsy, one of our favorite locals laughed at our deteriorated state. I finally started to feel normal again after eating and enjoying a newcastle. The cold really takes it out of you, but it was worth every step!

Hellgate-2 Beth-0

Now that I've got your attention, this isn't going to be a blog about how I DNF'd at Hellgate again, but rather a celebration of what did go well in 2010!! I mean did you really want to hear about all that trudging along for 60 miles? booring.



Mt. Mitchell



January- I had an awesome time earning my crown at the Sultan's Birthday Run! and tons of fun running around in the snow.

February- I finished Holiday Lake and Mt. Mitchell 40, despite the ALL of the SNOW!





March - We had fun chasing Leprechauns around the Iron Mountains and I had a 30 min. PR @ Terrapin. Volunteered for the 3rd time @  the Creeper Trail Marathon.

Leprechaun Gang



April - Epic 42 Mile Night run leaving Damascus on the AT-S to Cross Mtn. connecting to the IMTR and finishing back in Damascus.  35 min PR @ Promise Land 50K

of the 9 starters only 5 would finish the 42 miles

Promise Land 50K

May - Great trip with Jenny and Mike Bailey to Capon Valley 50K, our first run there. Fun that you can camp and I was happy with a 5:11. We also had a great Memorial Day weekend helping Eric run a 3 day and then took off to SNP to run with Sophies group.

Cross Mtn. Day 2 of Erics High Country 3-Day

SNP Rip Rap Fun Run!

June - The Varmint 1/2, followed by the orange dot loop the next day, a great (new to me) run with Jenny and Rick from Iron Mtn Gap-Nolichucky on the AT, first time on the Holston Mountain Trl, and a consistent month of Wednesday night group runs. Great month of training, no racing.

July- 1st female @ Rattlesnake 50k, 15min PR there, 3rd time running that course and sadly the last.

Dirty Spokes 10k Beech Mtn. Mount Rogers run with Jenny. Iron Mountain group training run, back half of 50 mile course.

Rattlesnake

me getting schooled @ the 10K

August - Epic Roan Mountain adventure from Carvers-Dennis Cove. Todd Richardson Memorial 10k. Trip to Maine. Jennys birthday running of the Orange Dot loop with 3 BEARS!!

September - Sweeping the IMTR race. Eastman 10k. Bays Mountain 15 miler.
October - Stump Jump 50K. New River 50K volunteering. Incredible weekend of back to backs including government road loop and Elk Garden - Damascus on the AT. Masochist Training Run. Haunted Half.

Stump Jump 50K

November - 1hr. PR @ Masochist. Hellgate training run on Holston Mtn. w/ Rick. Bent Creek Gobbler. New York Trip.

2010 was great! and finishing 3rd Female in the LUS series was icing on the cake

There were so many great adventures and training runs, too many to list here. I get overwhelmed when I look back at my calender and photos and realize how much I was able to do in 2010. So lucky to live in an area where we can just run out our backdoor and hit the Creeper, AT, Iron Mountain Trail, Mt. Rogers, Roan Mountain, Whitetop. I look forward to doing it all again in 2011 and then some. I'm looking forward to doing more fun runs and maybe spending less $$ on organized races. There are a few favorites I can't pass up and few new ones I'd like to explore. Looking forward to making it back to more of the Adam Hill WNC group runs, I missed a lot of those last year due to weddings/travel. Gotta make it up to run with the Virginia Happy Trails again and with our friends over in West Virginia! I need to work on balance in 2011, more cross training and injury prevention. I'm slowly coming back from the damage done at Hellgate.
Got to do a fun New Years Day run with some IMTR peeps( check it out here http://jendenichols.blogspot.com/) and possibly venturing over for a run in Boone this weekend, weather permitting.  I hope everyone had an amazing 2010 and I look forward to seeing you in 2011!!!





 

Holston Mountain

Saturday I met Rick and Tammy @ Cross Mountain Tennessee for a run. Tammy likes to run South on the AT out to visit good ole Uncle Nick Grindstaff's grave.(Along the Appalachian Trail in Shady Valley on Iron Mountain, the dividing line between Shady Valley and Stoney Creek, there is the chimney-shaped grave of Uncle Nick Grindstaff, a man who, as the tombstone says, "Lived alone, Suffered alone, and Died alone.”)Here is one rendition of his story. http://www.hauntmastersclub.com/places/johnson_county_nick_grindstaff.html#anchor_30

Rick and I take the AT north about 3.5 miles to Double Springs shelter then as you are climbing away from the shelter on the AT the Holston Mountain Trail takes off to your left. The trail is blazed blue and is hard to follow at times for the first couple miles. It is 9.5 mile on the Holston Mtn. Trl. to the firetower where we turn around giving us about 26 miles total.
At a point 3.5 miles south of Low Gap (U.S. 421) and 3.5 miles north of TN 91, the A.T. leaves Holston Mountain and heads southeast over Cross Mountain to Iron Mountain. From this point, the blue-blazed Holston Mountain Trail (USFS 44) continues southwest along the crest of Holston Mountain to Holston High Knob. Before 1954, this was the route of the A.T. Its abandonment as the A.T. route, while necessary to avoid the wide valley crossings to the south, was nevertheless undertaken with some reluctance because of the considerable beauty and ease of traverse of this route. For 9.5 miles, this trail follows the mountain crest through pleasant forest growth with no major change of elevation. Outstanding features include Flint Rock, a high rock outcropping near Flint Mill Gap overlooking the Holston River Valley and South Holston Lake, and Holston High Knob with a USFS fire and communications tower. This trail is maintained by the Watauga Ranger District of USFS.http://www.cnyhiking.com/ATinTN-TN91toUS421.htm

We checked out this trail for the first time this year.  In the summer we experienced lots of overgrowth, including deadly Brier bushes and chest high stinging nettles. We were looking forward to returning to this trail after the cold had taken down the vegetation and leaves so it would be easier to stay on the trail and catch some views of the lake. What we didn't expect to find were the large amount of briers still on the trail. My legs were a sight to behold when we made it back to the car.

It was a pretty uneventful run, we just took it easy and enjoyed being out. Once you are on the Holston Mtn. Trl. you can catch some good views of the lake. It looks like a huge relief map from up on the ridge line. Being the time of year that it is we expected to see hunters. We only actually saw 2, but we did hear a couple of gun shots, and come across several signs they were among us. The 4 wheeler didn't have keys so we could only look, but we did get to try out the handy dandy tree stand! hope they didn't mind.

Just so I don't forget again, I'm going to put this down in writing.... This run has some climbing in it! I'm sure I'm still a bit tired from Masochist, but these climbs were boogers. We got to the fire tower, our turn around point and Rick decided to go up. I had only made up two levels the last time and with it being pretty windy I decided to just stick to the ground.

I explored around and looked at an old "out house" and another pile of concrete that I couldn't distinguish. You can see the C2 monument in the ground which we are guessing was a way for air traffic to identify the spot for landing.

I had packed a peanut butter, jelly, and cranberry sandwich so i munched on that and fiddled with my pack. The trip back was slightly quicker even though our pace slowed and our legs stiffened. I definitely need to spend some time with the foam roller, stick, massage, yoga, etc. I took a wonderful body movement class last night, including some tai chi, nia dance movement, yoga, kung fu, breathing exercises, etc. It was a great way to start loosening up all those tight muscles and lots of fun while learning.

I'm looking forward to the long holiday weekend and a trip to Asheville for great food, family, friends and a fun run! SO Very much to be Thankful for! Have a great holiday! gobble gobble!

Break out of the box!

The book club I'm in recently read The Last American Man, by Eustace Conway. One particular passage has just really stuck with me and I'd like to share it...
I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular.  The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the sun. The course of water over the earth is circular coming down from the sky and circulating through the world to spread life and then evaporating up again. I live in a circular teepee and build my fire in a circle. The life cycles of plants and animals are circular. I live outside where I can see this.  The ancient people understood that our world is a circle, but we modern people have lost site of that. I don't live inside buildings because buildings are dead places where nothing grows, where water doesn't flow, and where life stops. I don't want to live in a dead place. People say that I don't live in a real world, but it's modern Americans who live in a fake world, because they have stepped outside the natural circle of life.
Do people live in circles today? No. They live in boxes.  They wake up every morning in a box of their bedrooms because a box next to them started making beeping noises to tell them it was time to get up. They eat their breakfast out of a box and then they throw that box away into another box.  Then they leave the box where they live and get into another box with wheels and drive to work, which is just another big box broken into little cubicle boxes where a bunch of people spend their days sitting and staring at the computer boxes in front of them. When the day is over, everyone gets into the box with wheels again and goes home to the house boxes and spends the evening staring at the television boxes for entertainment. They get their music from a box, they get their food from a box, they keep their clothing in a box, they live their lives in a box. Break out of the box! Eustace Conway.
 If only for a number of hours a week running gets me out of that box and for that I am truly grateful. I hope in the future I can break even further out of these boxes!
I highly recommend this book if you have time check it out.


The gang at the start



I wrote a Masochist report last week and somehow it didn't save? long story short it was a great weekend. A pictures worth a thousand words so this should cover it.http://picasaweb.google.com/Iron.Mtn.Trail.Runners/Masochist2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCN_dx8HUnrOnwQE&feat=directlink

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Masochist Prequel





Getting Verbal Directions (stay with someone who knows the course)





Jenny Preparing her pack

 
I didn't make it up for a training run last year before my first masochist. A friend of mine has a cabin in the area and we had gone up in October for a wine festival and I managed to check out the "loop" while we were there, but that was all I knew. I prefer going into a race not knowing the course, but it may not be the wisest choice considering I did get off course last year. This will be Jenny's first year at Masochist and she was wanting to go up for the training run on the second half of the course so I decided to ride up with her and get one last long run in. We drove up Friday after work, stopped @ Macado's in Salem for dinner and some great people watching. Checked into the hotel in Lynchburg around 9:30? and I have to admit I went straight to bed, I hadn't slept well the night before and had been looking forward to some sleep. I knew 4am would come all too soon and it did.



Rob Running Strong



 I jumped up and showered and packed up my stuff and we made it to Sheetz with plenty of time to round up some coffee and breakfast. I had been to Sheetz many times with Rick for his pre & post race ritual, but had never actually ordered food. I have to say it's a pretty nifty system. Many runners slowly gathered, some old faces, some new. We caravaned to Montebello, which took longer than I had anticipated and there was another large group of runners waiting there. Everyone piled in to carpool to Long Mountain Wayside, we hitched a ride with Stewart and Aaron, both training for their first ultras. The drive to the start (which is actually 26.9 miles in the race) was beautiful, the sun coming up, the leaves, the mountains, the big ole moon, it was spectacular.

Running Up or Down?

We unloaded, signed in, Horton gave us a pre-run briefing and prayer and we were off. It was a good group for a training run. We bounced back and forth with people, settling into a nice relaxed pace. We got to run with Mike Bailey (capon cohort) and Rob French (nc runner), Guy Love (our home town boy away @ VT), Jack (very enthusiastic DC runner). I recognized some parts from last year and others were unrecognizable. We made it to the Buck Mountain AS FS520/48 and I distinctly remembered it from last year. Dan, Andy, and Angie met me here last year and drove past me on the way to the loop. I thought this would be a good spot for a group shot and then Snipes and his entourage rolled up just in time for the photo. Don't mind Mike in the background doing his business, he is special.

We all climbed up the road to the loop entrance where some wonderful soul had put out aid for us! thank you! jugs of water, chips, crackers, protein bars, and much to my delight, chocolate covered coconut squares!!





Surprise Aid Station = Happy Runners