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.

A Big Loop Around Big Creek

Since the traverse my runs have all felt like utility miles. I've been running enough to maintain decent weekly mileage, but that's about it. Nothing too exciting. My runs have barely been worth getting my shirt sweaty, much less writing a blog entry about. In the past this has been a routine that once I begin, I have a hard time breaking from. So to preemptively attack this issue I actually took two (two whole days!) off from running and planned an attack on a run I've been eye-balling for a while now.

Linking Mt. Sterling, Mt. Guyot, and Mt. Cammerer with one terrible loop

The loop begins with 4,500ft of elevation gain, (profile does not include 1.2mi sidetrip to Mt. Cam)

I hit the route clock-wise, beginning with a 6.2 mile ascent to Mt. Sterling. This trail has more elevation gain than any other in the Smokies, a perfect way to begin a 35 mile run. After about 40 minutes I abandoned any previous ambitions of running up Baxter Creek tr and settled in to a fast hiking pace. After an 1hr39min of shirt, shorts, and backpack soaking work I was relieved to be at the top of the tower.

A big appeal to me for this route is that after ascending Mt. Sterling you can see the entire days route.

Perhaps the worst 10k in the world???

Looking toward Big Cataloochee and Mt. Guyot

On the ascent to Mt. Sterling I spent a little time thinking about my own motivations for running long isolated sections of rugged trail for hours on end... a question that has been posed to me often lately. Typically to answer this question I will provide some glib response like, "Good question, maybe I should go for another run and see if I can figure it out." Today does not provide any better answers.


There are times when I think I can describe the "why" behind my own running. My attempts at describing why always seem to ring hollow though, and the process nothing more than grabbing handfuls of wind. In the end it is beyond my reach to truly say why I run, I only know why while I'm running.


By the time I've reached the Balsam Mountain Trail, I've moved on from such questions. I am simply a body in motion, moving quietly along the ridge and taking in the world around me. Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper, and Black-Throated Blue Warblers are singing their hearts out along the trail and I'm just happy to be passing through. The ridgeline section from Mt. Sterling to the AT is mostly runnable except for being brushed in and washed out in a few places. I hit the AT after about 3hr45min and it seems like a 4 lane highway by comparison. 

Cruisin' along near Cosby Knob

Heading North on the AT I kept myself motivated by comparing how I currently feel to how I felt when running the whole AT through the park. (Note: For this days run I feel much better).

I'm still experimenting with how to deal with this summer heat. Chronically I have issues with cramping, which for me is typically tied more to salt consumption rather than simple hydration. Finding a cheap and portable solution to this problem is challenging. For todays run I tested single serving packets of soy sauce. ...Did it work? Well, I didn't cramp so I guess so.

About 4 1/2hrs later I'm looking at Mt. Sterling from the other side

No one else at the tower today

Though there was great temptation to skip the side trip to the tower ( I was having very vivid day dreams of sitting in ice cold Big Creek) I pressed on and made the side trip. As always, completely worth it. This has always been one of my favorite destinations in the park.

Stomping along the descent past Mt. Cammerer an older couple asked me to take their picture. I wish I'd had a voice recorder to more accurately capture the conversation. Here's an abridged version.

Hikers: Are you a ridge runner?

Me: I am running along a ridge.

Hikers: How far you goin' today?

Me: I'm on about mile 30 of 35.

Hikers: ....Good grief.

Hikers: Well what are you gonna do once your done?

Me: Go home I guess.

I believe I might've been the only trail-runner they've ever met...

The last few miles were a blast. Bombing through the downhill sections was the most fun I had all day and the call of Big Creek was not quiet in my mind.

Soaking the legs and cooling off

After 6hr58min of running I'm back where I started. Upon finding a good spot to relax I spend not a short amount of time sitting in the creek drinking a recovery drink (not the kind you get at a running shop). Today was exhausting in some ways, but absolutely invigorating in others. A solid reminder of why I run so  much.

Shake Those Dice and Roll 'Em

Everyday we face risk and uncertainty. Some risks we can control, or at least minimize, others we can not. With good judgement and decision making, most of us make it day to day just fine. Oh, but it's this whole good judgement thing I keep getting hung up on.

Here's a little example. On most of my running, hiking or kayaking excursions the issue of how much water/food/gear etc is always an essential series of decisions in which I like to think I find a way to do the most (miles, days, what have you) with the least (gear, food, material items in general). Usually this works out very well for me.

Well we had a little backfire lately. I believe it happened on the Little River float trip. As per usual, I show up for this 3 day trip with a food bag that looks like it could fit in your back pocket, shelter-less and with a trifling amount of fishing gear. Perfect. The problems arose with my choice of water purification. As I have now learned, a few hasty drops of chlorine dioxide just prior to consumption will not treat river water which is flowing through a cow pasture.

What was the result of this poor decision you ask? Well, typically I'm an endurance fiend. Running, biking, and hiking near the point of compulsion in my life. But for a few days, my feats of endurance consisted of crow walking back and forth from the couch to the toilet. My life began to verge on the monastic, no solid foods for days... I even began to think of white bread as an indulgence.

Fortunately for me some magic beans known as anti-biotics made their way into my life and I'm now routinely running myself to exhaustion instead of the bathroom. Not to say the mental effects have totally subsided, I become nervous with every slight tremor in the abdominal region and begin surveying the room for the nearest facilities. Shall we chalk this up in the lessons learned category of life? I think so. I always knew not to drink the water when you're in Mexico, apparently the same rules apply in East Tennessee.