zero

...as in zero running.

4 days... and Umstead cometh. I'm ready to run my heart out...

 

This past week, we moved from our Black Mountain base camp to our springtime destination in WV. Thanks to Brian for offering us a place to crash through the winter. Thanks to all the folks in Carolina who made us feel quite at home: mom and dad, the Hills, Carol, Brian, Elliot, Matthew, Drew and Michelle, Jus' Running... I dedicate my run to all of you. We'll be back!

 

Starting next Monday, Lily and I will be working at The Mountain Institute on the shoulder of Spruce Knob. Please keep in touch.

 

Matthew Kirk

C/O The Mountain Institute

HC 75 Box 24

Circleville, WV 26804

Congrats to Byron and Carl on their perseverance this weekend at Barkley!

 

 

one

3.18: off- (rest day)

3.19: off- (rest day)

3.20: off- (rest day)

3.21: off- (rest day)

3.22: off- (rest day)

3.23: 59 miles in 14:02 (12:50 actual running time) on the Bartram Trail (run ended at 2:15 AM on 3.24). My taper for Umstead had already started; and then, the combination of wonderful spring weather, a full moon, and fresh legs changed my plans…

This Easter Sunday, there was a spur of the moment decision to set out to fulfill a five year dream: a non-stop traverse of the Bartram Trail. Conditions seemed ideal: the Sunday/Monday forecast showed no signs of precipitation; the near-full moon was set to rise at 10 PM, perfect for a noon start of the southbound journey.

The trail was fresh in my mind from a four-day stage run back on New Year’s (w/ Brian, Mohammed and Uwharrie). That adventure wetted my appetite for another attempt at a non-stop traverse (possibly as an encore to Umstead). With my fitness peaking and my post-Umstead plans now far from Bartram, it occurred to me that the time to try was now.

Lily, Uwharrie and I drove down from Black Mountain on Sunday to begin the four mile approach to Cheaoh Bald from Locust Cove at 10 AM. We greeted several northbound thru-hikers along the AT. Uwharrie ran the first 30 miles with me; Lily returned to the car to meet us at Wayah Bald. Along the way, she left a cache of food and water at 23 miles.

We reached Wayah in six hours and seven minutes. After refueling, I set out solo into the evening headed toward Franklin. Along Trimont, I startled a herd of wild pigs and piglets (literally running right through them). There were also several deer spotted. The animals seemed to be enjoying the end to this beautiful day. I met Lily and Uwharrie at the ranger station in town (43.5 miles) in 8:58. She had picked up two large veggie pizzas (still hot!), and they were delicious.

I caught a ride with Lily to Buckeye Creek TH, omitting an 11 mile road stretch. It was 10:20 PM when I began the long, dark climb up over the Fishhawks. I was well-fed and running strong. If I could maintain a 4 mph pace through the night, it seemed very likely that I could finish this 100 mile traverse in less than 24 hours.

The moon rose to greet me on the ridge. The sky was clear, the wind was blowing, and the temperature was plummeting. I focused on my footing and my pacing. Although my hands were cold, I seemed to be warm enough moving. Atop a rocky outcrop, I saw a brilliant shooting star plunging into the western sky. A beautiful night! I had no idea just how good the conditions were going to be…

This is what plagues me the most when I think back on my decision to quit at Osage overlook. It wasn’t easy. But the longer I sat in the warm car debating it, the easier quitting became. Go figure.

Everything seemed ideal to complete this traverse. Although I was tired, my body felt good. There’s no doubt I could’ve kept going. I decided that I shouldn’t: the remaining 41 miles would’ve taken an irreparable toll on my Umstead performance.

Still, I wonder whether two weeks from now, I’ll wish I placed my priorities elsewhere…

Time will tell.

two

A sunny Sunday morning at Oconee, the day after the traverse

3.11: off- (rest day)

3.12: 14 miles in 1:50 up the Big Creek Trail. Lily, Uwharrie and I stop in the Smokies on our way back from a teacher’s fair in Knoxville. Of course I jump into midnight hole on our way back down. Lily witnesses the plunge and says I look “miserable” afterwards. I warm up outrunning the car back to I-40.

3.13: 10 miles in 1:14 at Warren Wilson. It’s a nice sunny day. I serendipitously bump into Kevin while warming up along the Swannanoa. We run together on the trails of his beautiful collegiate backyard while Lily and Uwharrie get in a hike.

3.14: off- (work/rest)

3.15: 76 miles in 18:37 on the Foothills Trail. Brian B. and I head down to join Richard, Byron and Brian K. on this latest attempt. Denise and Irene provide excellent support. We start at 12:21 AM at Table Rock; most of us make it to Jocassee by dawn. The morning brings thundershowers but soon clears. I refuel at Whitewater just after noon and head back out into the lightning and hail wearing a garbage bag. I finish the last leg by 7 PM: not as fast as my previous time, but given the slippery trail conditions, inclement weather and a sore quad, a very solid effort. Byron and Irene have rented a wonderful cabin at Oconee, which is an ideal place to recuperate afterwards. Thanks for organizing this adventure Byron!

3.16: off- (rest day)

3.17: Five miles with Uwharrie, Adam, and Lily on the Coyote Trail. We’re able to manage some speed play on this short workout. The legs feel good…

three

The New River Trail, milepost 15

3.4: 11 miles in 1:31 around Biltmore Lake. Drew takes St. Onge and me for a relaxing tour around this smooth 2.2 mile loop after work.

3.5: 11 miles in 1:27 on the trails of Warren Wilson with Adam. Lily surprises us with an early return to NC from GA! She hikes with Uwharrie while we run.

3.6: 11 miles in 1:23 around Biltmore Lake with Lily. The weather has been nice and sunny so far this week.

3.7: off- (rest day)

3.8: 61 miles in 8:28 on the New River Trail from Galax, VA to Pulaski, VA. This rail-to-trail route traverses some very scenic countryside. Mom and dad provide transportation and car support while Matthew and Lily offer bike support. Rick, Adam and I are very lucky runners to have such a crew. At the start, the sun pokes through the cool drizzly clouds and the temperature warms. By the time we return on the Fries spur, it’s sleeting and the wind is blowing hard. I come through the 50K mark perhaps a little too fast in 3:55. This relentlessly flat terrain is something new to me and works my hamstrings. The snow is falling hard as I pull into the finish. Adam finishes in under 10 hours. We're grateful for the wonderful support on this training run.

3.9: 10 miles in 1:38 with Lily and Uwharrie on the Mountains-to-Sea trail and back to Adam’s house. This is a nice sunny and cool day, perfect for a recovery run!

3.10: 10 miles in 1:11 from the house, around Lake Tomahawk and to the laundromat. Another beautiful sunny day, another great week of training!

The crew at the start (minus mom and dad)

One of the many trestles along the trail

The finish!

four

2.26: 11 miles in 1:14 to Lake Tomahawk from the house. Rainy and very windy today.

2.27: 19 miles in 2:35 at Warren Wilson. Uwharrie runs the first lap with me as flurries come down. I heed Jon's advice and check out the loop around Lake Owen, a nice addition.

2.28: 20 miles in 3:03 up to the parkway from Montreat. U-dog and I are drawn to the snowy mountains on this beautiful sunny afternoon.

2.29: 25 miles total. 11 miles in 1:14 to Lake Tomahawk from the house. Later, Adam, Uwharrie and I crank out a rugged 10 miles in 1:38 at Kitsuma. Adam logs an impressive negative split, but I can only tie with my PR. After a visit to the Laundromat, I cap off the day with 4 miles in 23 minutes (5:45 pace) around Lake Tomahawk. Quietly, I ponder living in leap years.

3.1: 5 miles in 26:42 (5:20?! pace) after work with St. Onge. We stampede into downtown Asheville vanishing from the hippies’ gaze before the twilight fades: what a trip.

3.2: 20 miles total. 15 miles in 1:53 from the Hill Hostel onto the Mountains-to-Sea trail and back with Uwharrie. After work, a 5 mile fartlek with Uwharrie along the Quarry road.

3.3: 11 miles in 1:15 to Lake Tomahawk from the house. Nice and sunny. Solid week.

The dream is important. In us it activates the brain, and in all creatures, even insects, the brain activates the body. Insects presumably don’t dream, but in some species subtle environmental cues activate the nervous system to flood the body with hormones that cause massive muscle growth as well as engendering all sorts of other changes. In some aphids, mere changes in day length result in them growing wings and the musculature required to power them. Surges of hormone production resulting in huge physiological changes of the body are universal not only for insects, but also for reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. If some animals’ brain hormone production can be triggered by mere flashes of light and other numerous and seemingly trivial external cues, then it does not seem preposterous to consider that just maybe we can be molded by fierce dreams that allow us to perform what we’d otherwise be incapable of accomplishing. -Bernd Heinrich, "Why We Run"