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