ln(7)

2.13: rest
2.14: 1.5h, 800’ 2x Ida +ppp
2.15: 1.5h, 200’ MTCC +ppp
2.16: 1.5h, 1000’ 3x Ida +ppp
2.17: 1h, 100’ Peavine
2.18: 15h, 14,200’ Heartbreak Remix
2.19: 1h, 200’ around town +ppp
∑=21.5h, 16,500’

Bookended sessions of heavy lifting have announced the arrival of the weekend warrior. Training has taken a detour, strolling further outside the comfort zone, becoming reacquainted with sleep deprivation. Routine and consistency have been traded in favor of trial and tribulation.

Despite the toll of last weekend’s winterized RAM on my energy levels, the C-train was scheduled to come to town with a new remix on an old adventure. Lily was out east and we were down to one vehicle, so we decided to move the start of Friday’s midnight marathon to Graphite.

Shortly after starting up Heartbreak Ridge, I realized that I was in for a tough slog. Trekking through the night has never been my forte. With lows in the upper teens, we had to constantly adjust our conservative pace and clothing layers to remain cool enough to stay awake, yet not uncomfortably cold.

The primary goal of this outing was to rack up some elevation and time on the feet before joining the rest of the wnctrailrunner gang at the 5th annual Rattle My Heart 50K in Montreat. After an interminable ascent along the Buncombe Horse Range Trail from the South Toe, we realized that we probably wouldn’t have enough time to ascend Mt. Gibbes and make it to the fun run start at such a sluggish pace.

We turned around just shy of the summit of Potato Knob and welcomed the sunrise on our descent to Lake Susan along the Toll Road. Many thanks to Mohammed, Terry and others for feeding us and keeping us warm in preparation for the next leg. Uwharrie took a nap instead of a lap, which was a prudent choice for the old pup. Thanks to Brandon and Hannah for facilitating this option.

After easing into the Rattle loop, I struck up Heartbreak for the second time with a solid rhythm. The shirtless springtime weather was almost a shock to the system compared to the night before, not to mention last weekend. I was certainly ecstatic to feel so remarkably fresh at the finish, but after a fish taco and just a few more hours, I was ready to face plant into bed.

Thanks to MadA for another heart rattling!