Training Week 7/15 - 7/21

Well I basically missed an entire week of training with our move which was to be expected. But it's not like I didn't get an workouts in. Lots of squats and dead lifts with all the moving of boxes and other stuff! But I got back at it a bit this past week.

Mon: Off

Tues: 5.5 mile trail run. So I went to this trail right by my house. It is part of the Roanoke Mtn State campground. I am guessing it will be my "hobby park" which is the close to home trail I head to for a quick run. It was pretty good....not very technical....but it did have some hills. I went in the afternoon and it was brutally hot...but I didn't walk any of the hills which was a victory I feel like.

Wed: 8 mile trail run. I went back to the Roanoke Mtn Loop but this time added on an out and back trail that connects over to Mill Mtn. It was called the ridgeline trail. It was even hotter today and my run was brutal. I felt okay until I got to the ridgeline trail but that wiped me out...it was pretty steep uphill (for me at least) and my body was like "no way" had to walk it which hurt my pride a bit.  I stumbled back to the car...rough.

Thurs: 6 mile (I think) trail run. Went to a place called Explore Park. I can get on the Parkway right by my house and just took it all the way to this park. It was kind of an interesting/weird place and I will check it out more in the future. My run again was brutal...and was again in the hottest part of the afternoon. I got turned around (aka semi-lost) a few times and my body wasn't feeling great. I am going to have to adjust to the fact that every run here in Roanoke is pretty much a hill run compared to what I'm used to. It is hard on my legs...but I guess if I can keep going it will make me stronger in the long run. I will probably mtn bike more here than run since they have some great mtn bike trails.

Fri: Off

Sat: 24 mile trail run. So my friend Abran told me when I left Winston Salem that we needed one more "proper" trail run together before I left NC. Proper meaning...not on an easy local hill with tame trails but some serious singletrack and adventure in the mtns. That....is a "proper" trail run.

We decided to hit one of our favorite trails in Boone which is up Calloway Peak and then a ridge traverse over to Grandfather Mtn. This is an epic run and has it all. Trail running....rock climbing and scrambling...ladders....cable...exposure...and amazing views.

I came down and stayed with my mom and then met Abran and my friend Darrian at the Price Park trailhead Sat morning. What a day we had. It was epic and an amazing time. I was worried about how I would do considering I had struggled so much with my running the week prior but the weird things was I felt pretty good. It's amazing what good company and amazing trails will do for your body/mind. At one point we had about 3 miles of straight uphill and I just got into a great rhythm and just cranked it out. It gives me hope that I can do these kind of runs. And that the old man/married/3 kids guy can hang with these younger/single/run lots of miles in the mtns dudes.

Good news! More stairs! (Inside joke for Matty, Yimmy, and Dougie 

Calloway peak was pretty cloudy on top and so was our initial crossing of the ridge but it is such an amazing trail I didn't even care. We did some great climbing and scrambling....and just running and traversing that kind of terrain is so much fun. 

(Abran and Darian scrambling up some different ladder sections)

(Darian snapped this pic of me climbing up above him)

The terrain was awesome...and I loved the climbing. Occasionally as I would jump from rock to rock I would let out these whoops of joy.

We ended up popping out by the swinging bridge on top of grandfather mtn which was pretty weird. We went from all alone in the woods to this mass of tourists cramming themselves into the visitor center. 

At this point we had been out 12 miles or so and we were VERY muddy...like head to toe....and soaking wet from sweat. I walked into the visitor center to refill my water bottle in the drinking fountain and man I got some strange looks. The guy standing next to me at the water fountain just kept glancing at me and finally said, "man you alright? you look like you been through it." I was like "yeah I'm great! Just out for a little run" He waddled off to get back into his massive SUV his "wilderness experience" over and we headed back out on the trail.

(A little mud on the tires....)

One thing that was amazing was the temperature change. On thurs it was 91 when I ran. The temperature on top of grandfather mtn according to their gauge? 61! Yes 61...a full 30 degrees cooler than my run 2 days before in roanoke. No wonder I felt better.

The clouds actually blew off for a bit so we could see more going back across the ridge but a good sized storm was rolling in from the distance. We could already hear the thunder and see some lightning from it so we had to pick up the pace a bit so we didn't get caught up high in it.

Finally got back to the car after being out there most of the day. What a great day and I had a blast being out their for an epic adventure with two friends.

There was only one thing left to do after getting off the mountain and after a day long adventure like that....

You're not in Kansas anymore Kenny...

Okay so I'm back. After all the craziness of the move and then not having internet for a few weeks or so I haven't been able to blog. Lots to say and record so I'm not really even sure where to start. Still feels weird to not be in NC and to be living here in Roanoke. I'm sure I will have more to say about it as time goes on.

Training Week 7/1 - 7/7

Mon: 6.5 Mile trail run (in the rain)

Tues: 7 mile run at tanglewood greenway (in the rain) Was moving at 49.45 for the run.

Wed: Tempo Intervals on Road 6 miles. (in the rain) Warmed up with 1 mile. Ran next one at 6:15 pace then next one at 6:45 pace...then next one at 6:15 pace then next one at 6:45. 1 mile cool down.

Thurs: 11 Mile trail run. Got out to Salem Lake to run with Matty. Probably last one we will do before I move. I have really enjoyed these SL runs with him over the last few years. One of the few times we get to just be together and talk or just run silently next to each other. Sad I won't get to do them as much but we have lots more trail runs together to go still.

Fri: To Durham to work on some project for my sister at her new house. Had a great 4th of July cookout after a full day of yard work and projects.

Sat/Sun: Going through stuff and Packing like crazy at home. One week to go!

Well I started out this week strong with four days of runs but then ran out of time/energy/motivation towards the weekend. Missed my long run which isn't good but there isn't much I can do about it. I'm in a race to the finish and crunched for time and the training is going to have to take a back seat for a bit here. And the rain! It rains every day basically! Time to re-evaluate any adventure plans that require a bike because I haven't been able to get on one at all basically.  The next week or two is going to be hit or miss with things but I'll train when I can and we'll see what happens.  

Training week 6/24 - 6/30

Well I had kind of a "down" week this week meaning I didn't train as much which was fine. The body needed a little less load on it and I was busy doing other things. Sometimes you need to just enjoy life...do some other things...and let training take a backseat. Did a bit of that this week which was nice mentally. Oh and the rain didn't help either. Lots of rain and more coming everyday this week. Hopefully I can have a strong week coming up regardless. But I'm worried about my bike legs (and planned off road triathalons) since I can't seem to get out on my mtn bike much. Anyway my week.

Mon: 7 mile road run. Hill workout.

Tues: Off. I met up with my old roomate from college Michael Yelton who is a fly fishing guide in the Lake Lure area. Went out early and had a great time fly fishing for white bass and catching some smallies. Nice weather and a beautiful morning to be outside. The Broad river and the Lake itself are both really nice. Was a little rusty with my fly fishing but remembered how much I enjoy it. Going to get back into fly fishing more when I get to VA.

It was funny to talk about the "good ol days" a bit and hear about people. He always kept up with people better than me and I admit that some of the people he kept telling me about I couldn't remember who they were or what they looked like. Has it really been that long? Almost 15 years....so I guess yes it has.

Wed: off (rain rain)

Thurs: 11 mile trail run at Salem lake. Considering I hadn't run much this week I thought I would have felt better on this but for some reason the opposite seems to be the case a lot for me. The more I run the better I feel for some reason. Really humid...but an okay run.

Fri: Off. Headed back up to the mtns to get my kids from my Mom's.

Sat: 20-22 (don't know exactly) trail run on the Mountains to Sea Trail. So right near my mom's house you can access the mountains to sea trail which basically follows along the blue ridge parkway for this section. It's an interesting trail...still a work in progress so "piecemealed" together meaning one minute you are running a nice trail...the next you are out running on the parkway...the next running through a cow pasture. Kind of funny but it was still a good run.

Had some animal encounters too...
Early in the run I actually was cruising a downhill section...turned a corner and came up on a bobcat. I'm glad I had just recently gone to the bathroom or I might have peed my running shorts because it scared the mess out of me. I slammed the brakes on in time to see him raise up his back shoulders...make some kind of weird hissing/spitting sound and then take off so fast it was like he had been shot out of a cannon. Crazy how fast he moved and was gone. Also saw no joke 25 deer standing together in a field at one point...weird to see so many together in one place. If it had been sunday I would have assumed they were having church. Also I was climbing a ladder to go over a fence at one point and came down right into a group of turkeys who weren't happy to see me either. (sensing a theme?) Oh and I got a big kick out of the cows who were standing all along the trail at one point....don't normally trail run with cows though the cow pasture section was my least favorite part of the run. It's tough to run in cow pastures....and smelly too.  

Early morning on the MST trail....not a bad view from the trail. 

Ran out onto thunderhill lookout and snapped this pic a little later.

Beautiful stream that I followed up on one of my climbs up the mountain. 

After my run we headed out to a place called Blue Bear Mountain to go camping with the kids. Matty and Ames and their fam went with us. It was nice and cool up there and a beautiful day. Had a great time. Trout fishing (Ike caught a nice sized rainbow trout)...hiking in the woods (Maya was a beast out there! she may be my trail runner)...relaxing and hanging out (Ezra James loved the freedom of being able to roam around)....cooked dinner over the fire....and then all piled into the tents. Fun to let the kids all play together and then sit by the fire with my bro sharing a Deviant Dale's IPA.

Now that's a good day!

Sun: Off. had a lazy day getting up from camping....packing things up and headed back to Winston Salem. Too tired and too much gear to clean up to train.

Had a crazy last week or so with all my wanderings but have had some great runs and done some fun things. But we move to Roanoke in two weeks so it's time to stop messing around...get down to business and get some packing done.

Totals: Running 39 miles. Biking 0 miles (not good)