A Week of Weak

It was to be the week of a thousand miles... well 70 anyhow. I had it all planned out, with long runs, easy runs and which trails I was going to revisit and explore. With Lynnea and Sylas taking a grandma visit I had nothing but time and growing daylight to wear myself out.

Day 1

A Brand New... Gator!

That Friday I was all set to go... out of work early at about 3:30, right? WRONG! Our agency was at the semi-annual Christmas Tree Show and we won a brand new Gator 4x4... well with a sick boss guess who got to stick around until 5:30???

That's right ME! Once sorted out I headed to a revised edition of my planned run and got in a misty, muddy 7 miles with Lily dog. However, we had run out of daylight and found ourselves with 3 miles to cover of uphill technical "running" in the dark, foggy night time along the MST. Headlamp, yeah, I had three of those in the car. We just settled into our brisk hike on a spooky woods walk back to the car.

Day 2
My throat was a little scratchy but I figured it was just from the moist run the night before. Saturday I had a long run planned so I drove to Tennessee and the nearby Roan Mtn. From Carver's Gap I ran northbound on the Appalachian Trail on a chilly in the shade, hot in the sun kind of a day. I had no idea what the trail was like, except the initial section would reach the summit of Roan Mtn. (or close to it). Up top it was icy and slick in spots with what I thought was technical trail, very rocky. Once crested I slid off the back side and found that the north side of Roan Mtn is very very very steep. From 25 minutes into the run at the crest to my countdown timer 'beep' at 70 minutes I did a lot of very steep, downhill running. VERY STEEP. In fact as I made my way down I often contemplated turning back and trying my luck going south bound for the remainder of the run... in the future it is what I might just do.

At the turn around I stood still for a few moments eating a gel and thinking... okay, tiny steps. very. tiny. steps.
After making my way gently down the mountain for 35 minutes I figured it would take an hour to get back to the crest before a gentle run off the other side to the car and something cold to drink.

Within 200m I realized my plan would be ambitious. I should walk this I thought, but I did not set out to walk so, I ran and ran and ran, about 5 1/2 inches at a time. And, don't you know... I made steady progress for 45 minutes when I reached the last step of the climb up. And, then I found myself hiking. I was about 1:50 into the run, my longest by 25 minutes to date and the trail was loose, rooty, rocky and had become less runnable for my condition... so hike was it. My heart rate stayed elevated with the effort and soon I reached the crest again. Back down to the car with the open stride and dodging the ice on the trail. And... more sore, scratchy throat. Iwas a little tired. Surely just the wet, cold running. Surely.


Day 3
10 miles on the books... and ready to run once the weather cleared... which was to be early afternoon. So I waited and then soon felt chills on the skin, a pulsing headache and then... a fever of 100.7. Change of plans. I had the flu and was condemned to the house for 7 days... ughhh. What's the line about making a plan?

I did get in a little running on the nice days of the week. Fortunately, Lynnea and Sylas were away and so did not catch the bug too.

9 days later...
Last night I was finally feeling better and determined to get in my 12-athon run. Having been in the rebuilding mode this year this is the first 12th of the month that I have been able to actually run 12 miles!!! So, watching you all from the sidelines on the 12th of each month has been motivating. The run was probably the best of the year. I was rested and got in some strong climbing with tempo on the flats and built into some 10 race effort on the return. I was able to run an aggressive pace for 86 minutes!

Lesson: Next year, I'm getting my flu shot!

A Big Weekend

Amidst the first threat of High Country snow... up to 2 inches in the next 24 hours... I am making final preparations to head north to Virginia and the Mount Rogers Rec Area for a weekend of sleeping under vinyl and running over rocks and roots!

How much will I run? A lot.

How much will I read? A lot... maybe...

How much wood will I burn? Yet to be seen but probably commensurate with snowfall accumulation.

It will be a Big Weekend for me as I prep for upcoming 50k and 100k runs later this month and into the new year. What are your big weekend plans for welcoming October in style? What are you training for? How are you coping with being a fan of the biggest failed season in the history of America's pastime? There I go projecting again...

Happy running!

Woods Ferry 24 Hr.

I drove the 3 hours or so to Woods Ferry Rec Area with little in the way of expectations. My basic idea was to get in time on my feet, time on the trail and time running at night and not a single step in the front. That was it.

Since Boston my motivation to break through new barriers has been... non-existent. I've been slogging through some mileage every other day, maybe 30 miles a week. I've been thinking some about what I want do to next and I've been really enjoying my "extra" time at home with Lynnea and Sylas. That said, I had committed to run Woods Ferry for quite a while now and so I had the "goal" of completing 50k at a minimum... just trying to get out and run in the woods.

The Course
50k at Woods Ferry means 4 laps, each 7.75 miles in length. A perfect distance per loop with aid at about 4 miles into each lollipop. With temps in the mid 90s to begin on Saturday afternoon we shuffled to a start in a slow moving (mostly) blob. I haphazardly landed in the middle of the blob which worked itself into a mostly single file string on the initial horse trail.

Winding through tall pines the course begins with rolling, and meandering toward the highest point on the loop at mile one. Then, the trail drops away from this ridge and down, down and down into the first of several (dry) creek beds. Not much rain this year which created some dusty conditions (though muggy) early on. Another ridge, another dry creek and another climb brings the course to the service road and then to the power line trail.

The power line consisted of more climbing and descent. 3 hills leading back to single track of a mile or so in the forest, pine needles and sand as the majority of the elevation has been gained back. Soon the mid point aid station is reached and a good chance to stop and chat with the parade of amazing volunteers.

Section II

Many Moons Ago

The course then turns red, as in red clay. It also turns very flat and very runnable with lots of exposure to the sky as well. The night loops here were great to stop and gaze at the pinholes of the sky... the daylight loops got hot in this baking clay. I also had some difficulty spotting strewn debris at night in this section and after loop #3 I found that I was head to toe painted in the red stuff. So before causing permanent damage I stopped for a rinse off and a quick nap. Mistake.

A Quick Nap
10 hours later... yeah- 10 hours later... I awoke to the morning song of birds and chatter of the crowd. High praise for the Honda Element and its sleeping quarters, but my time on the trail was now short. Gone was the night and here was the sun. I had one loop to complete to garner 50k and so I set out, groggy and hungry. Choked down a couple of Cliff Bars and some Mint Chocolate Gu to regain my blood sugar and soon was swiftly darting to and fro through the twisty single track feeling great and dreaming of all the mileage to come.

Closing out loop 4 I sat down and gobbled last night's pizza, sat in my chair, cracked open a celebratory beverage (for finishing the minimum) and thought about going back out for #5. In hindsight, I was searching for a reason to go home and spend the rest of the weekend with Lynnea and Sylas. So, I packed up, turned my number in, picked up my finisher's award and got by with the bare minimum. Better than Chattooga I suppose...

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

50k in 17 hours is... a modest "accomplishment". Though, I am happy (not thrilled) with it. I ran, and that in itself is enough. I had my time on the trail around friendly faces. I ran in the heat, I ran in the stars (and I slept in my car).

The trail became a part of me (NOT all of me). I knew every turn and every hill, I Saw them, didn't Feel them. I had highs and lows and lots of mediums- it's mostly mediums out there though that is forgotten in time, I run for the mediums mostly- the time to settle the mind and check out from stresses.

A simple movement, repeated.

I saw the look of determination in those pushing their limits and in the end I felt like... a tourist in this race, not an involved participant.

To flow through 31 miles and not be fully engaged leaves a strange feeling with me and one I am not accustomed to. I don't know where this new trail leads, I can't recognize it, there are no signs to point to where I came from or where I am going. The sounds are strange, and the sights are new, this adventure is real.

Yet, there is no fear, just comfort... abundant comfort. The confusion arises from a habitual desire to achieve clashing with contentment, a lack of a need to prove something to myself. This year of transition has me scratching my head and wondering where the line is that has suddenly blurred? This vanished distinction that joins the living of real life and the experience of a running life... In time, things will settle. In time, I will recognize my surroundings. In the meantime, I will run. Far or short, I will run. I am a runner.

Happy Running.

Local Runner taking on the World

Just wanted to pass along some great news from local High Country runner Ryan Woods. Ryan is extremely talented, fast and tough... and a kind person on top of it... or at the heart of it. Anyhow, Ryan is headed to Worlds and we couldn't prouder! Check out the details here. and here too.

I'll be having a giveaway for some sweet new headphones in the next week so check back often and for goodness sake, follow In Clean Air!! It just makes sense. You want to make sense don't you?

Happy Running!