Run Club Run
There were two events going on this past weekend, one that's been going on for years and years that I've attended no less than 5 times, and one that had it's inaugural 'running'. Erinna and I decided to go for the new event this year, the Run Club Run. Teamdicky thought this up a few months ago and my first response to the invite was something along the lines of 'HELL NO!'. Well, after a bit of thought about it (and prodding from Erinna) I got out there and started to prepare. Two and a half months later I felt pretty good about my running prowess but alas, I probably shouldn't have been there anyway (more about that later).
Erinna and I got up super early Sunday morning for the unusual task of driving FROM the mountains TO the flatlands for an athletic event. I felt like absolute crap but after some 'come on, get in gear' prompts from Erinna we were off. We arrived at Crowders Mountain State Park around 9:30 and found a rag-tag crew getting ready for the run. The plan: Start at the parking lot in-between the two peaks, run to Crowders, run back to the lot, run to Kings, run back to the lot. About 10 miles, about 3500 feet of climbing. After a quick photo Rich said 'Go!' and we were off and running.
(click=make big/see everybody)
The group quickly split into two. I kept my pace nice and slow for the warm-up and by the time we hit the steep stuff I was feeling great. There was some seriously technical trail along the way that let me slow down and catch my breath. I lost the trail a couple of times but after a moment or two of wandering around I found it again. Crowders and Kings are strange little not-mountains that jut out of the surrounding flatlands and provide amazing views. I had dropped the rest of my group and found myself in that no-mans land in between the fast guys and the slow guys. At the top I was looking at the map when a hiker asked 'are you looking for the runners?' and pointed me in the right direction. Next was 2500 steps down the backside of the hill and then a steep gravel road down to the turn around point. I found myself gaining speed, taking longer and longer strides, and suddenly going WAY too fast. One misstep would have sent me on a 50 yard belly slide.
(Thanks for the photo Rich!)
A little before the turn around I saw the fast group headed back up the hill. I got to the bottom, turned around, and went to the task of retracing my steps. The gravel road had me walking a bit but seeing other runners still heading to the turn around made me push hard. I got to the steps and took them two at a time and found myself on top quicker than I had imagined. Back through the tech-top and down the steeps back towards the parking lot. During the downhill my belly started to rumble (in a NOT hungry way) and my knee started to hurt a little but I was excited that I was doing so well. I was feeling great when I arrived at the turn to Kings. However, I decided it would be a good idea to head back to the parking lot for a drink of water before heading off for the next leg. My belly was feeling worse and worse but there was no-one else around so I decided to head back up the trail. Just then I noticed Bill laying in the grass, shoes off, soaking up the sunshine. What a great idea! A very quick reconsideration and I was done. Run Club Run number 1, done. Great idea Rich. Thanks for lighting the fire under my feet. I would have never guessed I would enjoy something like this so much.
So, why shouldn't I have been there? Well, two nights before I picked up Erinna from work at midnight and we went out for a drink. We each had two beers, including an imperial stout, at the new Rocket Club here in West Asheville. Well...... Saturday morning we BOTH woke up with shall we say, food poisoning-like symptoms. By the end of the day I was also showing flu-like symptoms to boot. On Sunday morning I was dehydrated, way under-nourished, and with a weak belly... Erinna was about 8 hours behind me on the flu so Sunday morning she was ready to go... but Sunday night she said to me in a pathetic-sick-apologetic-tone 'I'm sorry I made you go'. Awww, that's OK sweetie, I'm glad we went.
Erinna and I got up super early Sunday morning for the unusual task of driving FROM the mountains TO the flatlands for an athletic event. I felt like absolute crap but after some 'come on, get in gear' prompts from Erinna we were off. We arrived at Crowders Mountain State Park around 9:30 and found a rag-tag crew getting ready for the run. The plan: Start at the parking lot in-between the two peaks, run to Crowders, run back to the lot, run to Kings, run back to the lot. About 10 miles, about 3500 feet of climbing. After a quick photo Rich said 'Go!' and we were off and running.
(click=make big/see everybody)
The group quickly split into two. I kept my pace nice and slow for the warm-up and by the time we hit the steep stuff I was feeling great. There was some seriously technical trail along the way that let me slow down and catch my breath. I lost the trail a couple of times but after a moment or two of wandering around I found it again. Crowders and Kings are strange little not-mountains that jut out of the surrounding flatlands and provide amazing views. I had dropped the rest of my group and found myself in that no-mans land in between the fast guys and the slow guys. At the top I was looking at the map when a hiker asked 'are you looking for the runners?' and pointed me in the right direction. Next was 2500 steps down the backside of the hill and then a steep gravel road down to the turn around point. I found myself gaining speed, taking longer and longer strides, and suddenly going WAY too fast. One misstep would have sent me on a 50 yard belly slide.
(Thanks for the photo Rich!)
A little before the turn around I saw the fast group headed back up the hill. I got to the bottom, turned around, and went to the task of retracing my steps. The gravel road had me walking a bit but seeing other runners still heading to the turn around made me push hard. I got to the steps and took them two at a time and found myself on top quicker than I had imagined. Back through the tech-top and down the steeps back towards the parking lot. During the downhill my belly started to rumble (in a NOT hungry way) and my knee started to hurt a little but I was excited that I was doing so well. I was feeling great when I arrived at the turn to Kings. However, I decided it would be a good idea to head back to the parking lot for a drink of water before heading off for the next leg. My belly was feeling worse and worse but there was no-one else around so I decided to head back up the trail. Just then I noticed Bill laying in the grass, shoes off, soaking up the sunshine. What a great idea! A very quick reconsideration and I was done. Run Club Run number 1, done. Great idea Rich. Thanks for lighting the fire under my feet. I would have never guessed I would enjoy something like this so much.
So, why shouldn't I have been there? Well, two nights before I picked up Erinna from work at midnight and we went out for a drink. We each had two beers, including an imperial stout, at the new Rocket Club here in West Asheville. Well...... Saturday morning we BOTH woke up with shall we say, food poisoning-like symptoms. By the end of the day I was also showing flu-like symptoms to boot. On Sunday morning I was dehydrated, way under-nourished, and with a weak belly... Erinna was about 8 hours behind me on the flu so Sunday morning she was ready to go... but Sunday night she said to me in a pathetic-sick-apologetic-tone 'I'm sorry I made you go'. Awww, that's OK sweetie, I'm glad we went.
