Grand Canyon Video **Finally Works**

http://timnlinds.shutterfly.com/23

Spring is back...and so am I

It has been quite some time since my last blog post, since Mt Mitchell Challenge a month ago in fact. It is amazing how fast time can fly leaving you wondering where it has gone.  With a busy work schedule and plenty of other things in life keeping me busy blogging took a back seat for a bit. Thankfully running has stayed strong all year, an average of about 70+ miles a week. But with spring in the air, on the trees and all around I decided it was time to bust out the camera for yet another run. With limited time in between some weekend working and plenty of chores to last a lifetime, Linds and I made a trip to Sam’s Gap to visit the spectacular Big Bald. Although the weather was warm when we left we were welcomed with foggy, misty and windy cold on the top of Big Bald with no view. I soak in the memory of what the view was like last time and made a hasty decent as I had left my shirt in much warmer sunnier sections of the trail. All in all it was a great run and felt nice to get away from the home and the bondage of chores. Sunday we made a trip to Little Pisgah which is probably one of my favorite runs in the area. I love the views, the solitude and the absolutely amazing single track. We ran amongst the turkeys, turtles and lush greenery as we ascended the route straight up to Little Pisgah. Unlike Big Bald the day prior we were greeted with nothing but sunshine and clear views as far as the eyes could see. At last, the camera was filled with footage and my mind was in another place far from the grasp of the hustle and bustle below. As we soaked in the views and the spring weather I find myself thankful for much more than the escape from life’s daily grind. I got to spend an amazing weekend with a gorgeous amazing woman. We descended the mountain side by side and reveled in the beauty of the world around us I found myself forgetting the views as I couldn’t take my eyes of the gorgeous woman running next to me. Maybe I was just trying to keep up! Good news for me that view is around all the time. So down the mountain we went and back to the world as we know it. Spring, we welcome you and thank you for the welcoming weekend. Another run, another day and an awesome time in the sunshine!

Mitchell Challenge 2012

I went into the Mt Mitchell Challenge with 3 goals in mind.

1. Have Fun....CHECK

2. Video Document the entire race....CHECK

3. Find this famed aid station with free beer....CHECK

I will let the video tell the story...

Rattle My Heart 50k and Geyser Jumping!

One thing I have learned about trail running and continue to reinforce to myself as I see people pound away on the treadmill, is you take what you get when it comes to weather. I will say this, most weekends the weather seems to clear as if on purpose to allow for some epic trail adventures. But on occasion as we saw last week, winter will throw all she has at you which would deter the 99% from entering the wild. These are the days that make memories which last much longer than the feeling of cold in your finger tips and yearning to toss in the towel for a warm vehicle. Now maybe these comments would have been more suitable for last weeks blog with winter having finally made a presence, but I can't help but think about the weather today as I take a much needed recovery day listening to the rain gently fall outside. I sit here reminiscing about yet another fun weekend.

Yeeuuup....You guessed it another weekend adventure. I don't think Linds and I have had a single boring weekend since we have moved to Asheville some 6 months ago now. The wiki group and crazy friends we have met since moving here have kept us more than active. In true trail runner fashion on a week when Hallmark sits back, collects pure profit and laughs at everyone buying a card to express their love, which for some may take quite the effort to decide on the words of another to tell there significant other they love them, we chose to join our friends on yet another weekend adventure. This weekend we would be running in Black Mountain area in a running event extravaganza called 'Rattle My Heart 50k' and the weather was absolutely fantastic.

I will keep my words to a minimum and let the photos and video tell the story but to pave the way I will take a little time to offer all who read a bit of friendly advise. When you run everyday, week in and week out and the legs begin to get weary there is one activity you should avoid no matter what. Especially mid run when the legs are feeling quite tired and there is still plenty of running to do. So what might this be....well for those who couldn't guess it here are my few words of wisdom for the day. In simple words, You must absolutely never fool around a geyser and whatever you do never try to jump on this geyser while your friend video tapes...enough said, enjoy!

Double Shut-In and 40 Miles of pure winter suffering...I mean Fun!

After a couple busy weeks and a missed blog last week, I felt it was a nice weekend for another epic adventure. As most adventures come to fruition, so did this one. On Monday I had the great idea that it was time for a double Shut-In. Winter was also staging some fun throughout the week as well and decided to show up for what seemed like the first time all season. The best part about planning wild and sometimes crazy, and to most people,  stupid weekend adventure is we have enough crazy friends who share the same passions. Mountain running, and sometimes mountain running in adverse weather, which always makes for a great story and epic memory. With some roughly 40 miles ahead of us and plenty of climbing and painful descending for all, Damian, Hayley and I set out Sat morning from the French Broad Bent Creek parking lot. Damian and I would be running to the top of Pisgah, which was certain to be a view shared by no one else on a day like we had, and then back to the river. As we set of the snow began to fall, the wind began to blow, and the hands began to freeze!

The run went great. Lindsey was able to take Bent Creek road to the Gap and do some hiking there and stage some much needed nutrition for the long descent back down. As we crossed Bent Creek gap and continued our climb towards Pisgah, winter began to let her presence know each step of the way. The accumulated snow began to grow and grow and the wind began to howl. But nothing was going to keep us from making the top, and thanks to the weather and a closed parkway, nothing was going to keep us from coming back down, since there would be no temptation to escape the wintry mix then to run faster.  

As we approached the summit of Pisgah the center of the storm had passed over us and we were presented with some gorgeous clear views of the winter wonderland we had all to ourselves on this bitterly cold day. The view was shared as long as we could endure and then my legs reminded me that they were wearing shorts! Yes my own fault, but regardless it was time to make the return journey because as you remember there would be no option for opting out of the return adventure. On the trip back down spirits remained high as we laughed and ran our way down thinking about how awesome the adventure was. Winter gave us all she had. The wind howled and tried to keep us down. Cold hands tried to take me down and did a good job. Even the trees took a swing at us, as a branch creaked, cracked and almost hit Damian, just missing him by a couple feet as it landed in the middle of the trail. But still in high spirits though with some sore knees and feet we approached the parking lot to the joyous sounds of honking horns, meaning the heat was going inside the cars! 

All in all, an awesome day in the woods, briefly the sunshine, and mostly the cold windy snow. It never ceases to amaze me how different things appear in a different setting. The way the trail looks in the winter verse the summer, in the rain verse sunshine, and how awesome mountain running is in the snow. It was also a great way to wrap up the week and culminating run for my longest mileage week yet. The body is recovering fine and against my will I am bound to a day of rest today but not complaining too much. Thanks Damian for the great company and being as crazy as me. That was an epic journey and as always opens the door for so many other great adventures. 

Carrot Cake

Here we are already and January is slowing fading away in the rear view mirror. Having a job where each month more or less revolves around the end and beginning of each month I am more aware than ever how quick time passes by. So, like I said, here we are and January is already mostly over and we are well off in the not so new year anymore. What is refreshing is how much we have already accomplished. We are both off strong on our goals to run 3000+ miles for myself and 2500+ for Lindsey. With the knee feeling great I have been able to run everyday for almost 2 weeks and followed a 71 miles week with another strong 66 mile week. Lindsey's has had some hip pain and cycled in a bit of power hiking this week to allow some much needed and smart recovery, something I am too stubborn and impatient to try!
So, Carrot Cake, why and how did that deserve the title of this blog. Well, I love running and I sure do love eating. When combined together with good friends you can hardly ever go wrong. This Saturday Damien and Hayley were kind enough to show us the Mitchell Challenge course on a gorgeous sunny day, at least at 3000' near the start (not so much around 5000+ in the mountains). In return we made some deliscous Apricot Bourbon Chicken and Lindsey both blessed and cursed us with the burden of what felt like a 10 Carrot Cake. The cake was in honor of Hayley's birthday but the second fork hit cake and cake hit mouth we all felt like it was our birthday. Regrettably to admit, but not to reminisce, the cake slowly disappeared among the 4 of us!!! One thing I have learned in life is to enjoy the little things and yes Carrot Cake is one of them. Not entirely just the cake, but the long casual weekend runs, the great company, delicious food, and the way the sun can warm you from the inside out on a beautiful crisp January day. Just another day in the sunshine with a belly full of cake, Carrot Cake!

2012 Goals - Wk 3

With 2012 well under way Lindsey is crushing her 2500 mile goal for the year. With a good week on the knee and the Sultan 50k I found my way back on top as well recovering from a few 0 mile days early in the year. Most running this week was logged in the early am about 5am before i head to work. We did find some good time to hit the trails though and of course got in almost 33 miles on trail yesterday, though soaking wet in the South Mountains we had a blast and a solid hill climb workout which lasted 5+ hours! So here is the standings doing well and still having an absolute blast.