Wildflowers of The Great Soggy Mountains

The Smokies are a place with four great hiking seasons, but maybe only three great running seasons. Seems like every run I go on lately I end up with Aqualung stuck in my head all day. While midsummer is a time of all things sweaty, soupy and brushy on most of the park trails right now, A trip to the high country can yield a few small rewards.

Clingman's Hedge Nettle

Closed Gentian

Pink Turtlehead

Mountain St. John's Worth

Indian Pipe

Or if you'd rather not and just say you did you can just watch a couple of videos about running trails until it cools off again.

Some fool running the AT through the Smokies
Hardrock 100 2011

Heat, Humidity and Hallucinations

My favorite runs are big loops with little driving to get to the trailhead, or better yet, big loops where I can just run out my front door. I also prefer runs that don't fall on days with a heat index of over 100. But hey, it's July, what are you going to do?

I give you exhibit A.

25.4 miles, 8,000ft elevation change, and about 1/2 on single track trail

Drenched with sweat and in danger of being carried away by horseflies within the first few miles, my mind began to play tricks on me too.

For a moment, I thought someone left giant slices of watermelon for me

Baskins Creek Falls

At the falls, I heavily considered taking the bushwhack trail back into Gatlinburg and cutting a few miles of my run. After dunking my head in the creek a few times, (and seeing how overgrown the trail was), I decided against it. 

The section of the run through Gatlinburg was a unique kind of torture. Everyone I passed had a Coke, Smoothie, or Ice Cream. On any other day I would've indulged and perhaps given in to temptation, but despite being hungry and dehydrated I knew my stomach would violently reject anything as delicious and calorie dense as what the tourists were enjoying. I kept moving forward, watching clouds of mashed potatoes float by. Everything I looked at somehow turning into food. 

Not being one to easily learn lessons. Two days later I found my self biking in this same mind warping and oppressive heat.

The elder Worth sticking to my rear wheel

100 miles

Gatlinburg, Dandridge, Cosby and back to Gatlinburg. Dad jumped in for the middle 40, setting a personal best for the distance at 3hr20min (3hr10min if you don't count the time he spent sitting in a gas station eating snack crackers). 

Stay Cool

Short Runs, Long Rides

With only some reluctance, I'm finding myself lacing up the shoes and heading out on a few runs again. Tuesday I was at Newfound Gap to do some filming on the AT with Walt from the Great Smoky Mountains Association. Walt is putting together a quick video about running the AT through the park and you can check out some of his work here.

Since I was already in the neighborhood, I thought I might make quick a trip over to the Jumpoff. Well, I made the trip out there, but it wasn't quick.

I wish I could say my legs are light and springy after my little running hiatus, but this is simply not true. My strides felt slow and uncertain, even the most brief inclines providing a flush of lactic acid into my quads. Where I did see improvement was in my mind set. My time on the trail wasn't about chasing numbers and piling up miles, it was just fun. Exactly what running along a high lonesome ridgeline should be.

The runs are coming along slowly, but the rides are as good as ever. Wednesday I pieced together a really fun 100k ride out to the Cosby/English Mtn area and back. My Dad even tagged along for the middle 50k.

Crossing the Big Pigeon at mile 25

"You wouldn't mind if I sat down a minute would ya?"

As per usual, I didn't take enough food. Luckily I found a someone willing to sell me a few peaches. After some negotiations, I paid a dollar and a half for six slightly bruised peaches. It's a buyers market right now...

The discount fireworks were tempting, but I opted for peaches instead

Augmenting Adiposity (Takin' it Easy)

If you're a person who keeps up with such things, you may have noticed I've done little to no running over the last week or so. This isn't due to injury, burnout, or any other ailment common to a runner's life. It is simply a break from running. Each year around Independence Day and Christmas I take about two weeks to pig out and enjoy the holidays. I MIGHT run or bike some during these times, but probably not. While breaks like these aren't necessarily key to a great running career, I think they are integral to a long one. Which to me is the more important of the two.

This years' 4th of July break has been a good one. One particular story I'd like to share is a fish tale. During a fishing trip this past Wednesday on the Big Pigeon River I was taking quite a beating from my Dad. By the end of the day he had caught the two largest fish as well as doubling my total (20 Bass for him, 10 for me).

One of two very good-sized Smallmouth Bass

To my credit, I did manage to catch the most inches of fish in one cast. Let me explain... About mid-way through the trip I accepted defeat, if I couldn't out-fish Dad I figured I would at least have fun in defeat. So I tied on a topwater lure. These lures don't produce as many fish, but the ones you do catch are a lot of fun. After about my 3rd cast with a baby torpedo, I heard the characteristic "Ploosh!" of a topwater strike. Initially thinking I had caught the fish of the day, I was soon confused to see a fish only in the 12in range. As I pulled the fish from the water it became clear why this little guy had produced such a fight, he had some assistance... there were TWO fish on one lure. I've heard of this happening, but never quite believed it. Luckily I have photo documentation!

In other news, there are folks who haven't been taking breaks. One is Jen Davis, a NC based ultrarunner who is currently trying to lower the overall record of 47 days for traversing the ENTIRE Appalachian Trail. She's having some shin issues, but if she works through them she has a good shot of lowering the mark. Personally, I'd love to see everybody get chic'd!

An equally impressive, but lower profile feat has been Matt Kirk's thru-hike of the Mountains to Sea Trail. A long distance hiking trail running lengthwise across North Carolina. He covered the state in 24 days, not too shabby!

My hat goes off to these two. I will eat copious amounts of blackberry cobbler and ice cream over the next few days in their honor.

This Guy Again?

Good interview over at Running Times with Kilian Jornet, winner of the Superbowl of trail racing and arguably the best trail-runner in the world.
http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=23236

He mentions running hard on the uphill sections and resting on the downhill's and flats. Certainly counter to my own style, but this is coming from a guy who claims Western States is "like a road race" and was "back to normal" the day after winning the most competitive trail race in the US.

Running Gear: A Necessary Evil

Not all of us can hit the trail for hours on end with little food or water like some folks, who are either getting their energy from the sun or are simply made of different things. If you're anything like me, a long day on the trail can feel more like an eating contest than a feat of physical prowess. Finding a way to carry all the stuff I need without feeling like a pack mule is a task easier said than done.

Camelbak Lobo, "The Enabler"

The best pack I've come across so far for the job is the Camelbak Lobo. I purchased this jewel at cost back in my outdoor retailer days and have used it almost exclusively for my long rides and runs. I'd like to think I could write an objective "gear review," but being one prone to anecdote over objectivity I guess we'll call it a gear ode instead.

What I look for most in gear is the ability to forget I'm using it. It's just there doing it's job and I don't have to concern myself with finding water, carrying enough food, or taking the pack off and on to get what I need. To me, a long run or ride should be like reading a great book... your're simply in the moment and then all of a sudden you find yourself turning the final pages. When I'm not fussing with gear I can direct my focus to my friends and surroundings, the real reason I'm out there in the first place.

Hacking away at least .01oz of weight prior to the Traverse

On all but the hottest days I find the Lobo to be good for about 30 miles, either running or hiking. Thus giving the pack its' nickname of "The Enabler."  The Lobo has performed well enough to keep me from purchasing any other running pack for about three years now. Due to one critical design flaw though, I have found myself guiltily surfing through the "hydration" section of several online running retailers. 

The bottom pocket of the Lobo is accessible on the run... barely. Said pocket is located in a spot on your back best described as only barely within your reach to scratch. The stuff pocket underneath it is even worse, especially when the pack is full. Several times I believe I may have done compromising things to the integrity of my shoulder while trying to put away wet rain gear on the run.

With this in mind, lets take a look at the newer model... The Camelbak Octane XCT 

About 8oz lighter AND a place to put snacks than you can actually reach

I've taken a gander at hydration packs by Nathan, Salomon, and some of the other big names. I have not been sold on any of them due to either A) no accessible pockets without removing the pack or B) too small of a hydration bladder. So pretty soon I may be breaking with my extreme stinginess and spring for a new camelbak, because hydration is important you know...