Get While the Gettin's Good (or even when its not)

I've been trying to keep my commuting costs to a minimum, but Caitlin was making her famous enchiladas Saturday. This obviously warrants an emergency trip back to Gatlinburg. For Sunday I had day-dreamed all week about tackling some epic mexican food fueled run through the mountains. Unfortunately when the time came, I was like a fridge full of nothing but condiments. No substance. I began running up the Greenbrier Road at what can only be described as an ambitious shuffle. Five minutes later I'm walking and muttering a variety of four letter words under my breath.

I used the view of the Pinnacle as an excuse to stop and play with my camera a bit, hoping that the pause would turn the day in my favor. Barely. A few more times I debated with myself if my ego can handle such a blow as canning the day and heading for the house. Finally, I begin to settle into the groove and time starts to fly by.

Great Blue Lobelia

Up to Porters Creek trailhead, around the Injun Creek Loop a time or two and and out and back through Emerts Cove. A good mix of singletrack and gravel road that any runner is lucky to have in their own backyard. Not to mention an exciting encounter with a bear, which after my hysteric screaming and flailing display is probably still running even now. 

Downy Lobelia

New York Ironweed

About three and a half hours later I made it back to the car with a smile on my face, feeling like gold-plated awesomeness. Long-distance running is a funny thing sometimes... long runs make you energized, slow runs make you fast. Maybe one of these weekends I'll feel like really putting in some big boy miles, but for now I'll take what I can get.