I haven’t had much time this week because I have been running as much as I could. The cure for burn out is more running! I was very happy to run till I drop. Not the healthest way to train but it satisfied that craving for more running.
I aimed to run at least 100 miles a week. It is a bit much from my usual of 50-60 miles. Any sane person out there wouldn’t attempt this.
I feel like I can do it. It is just for a month. I am doing this virtual race across Tennessee and I need about 400 miles to finish it. 100 miles a week for 4 weeks.
The week result has been good. I haven’t slacked off. I did about 10 miles a day during the week and on the weekend I would do 25 miles a day. So every night I walk or run for 3 hours. Weekend would be the entire day spent on running.
On other news, I signed up for the Devil Dog Ultra. I am excited. Last year I did their lite version (50K), so this year, I will be running the 100K. Next year probably the 100M
This weekend, I went down to near Damascus (Mt Rogers area) to do a training run for the Iron Mountain trail run. My day was great. I ran with some fast people and we hung out with the race director and his wife afterward. The most happy reason of all was I could put in some long run. The trip costed me a lot of money. On the next training run, I have to think of a cheaper alternative.
It was as advertised, Smokies is a paradise for people who like outdoors.
I love every moment of it.
I first heard of The Smoky Mountains National Park as a kid from the Smoky Bear TV ads.
When I was a teen, a friend went there during one summer and he talked about swimming and camping and biking. Since then it was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to visit it someday.
I started doing camping stuffs just a few years ago and it was kind of on my radar as a place to go too, but because of my running schedule and also I was still not brave enough to go out on my own, I was relunctant to make a trip there.
Smokies reminds me of the movies the Last of the Mohicans and Dances with Wolves. Well those two movies didn’t set in the Smokies – but I associated the trip with the two movies because of the wildness and remoteness of the place.
I stayed a week in the Smokies, from Saturday to Saturday. The first and last couple days were at Smokemont campground. Then I went out on my own to do a loop backpacking on the Benton Mackaye Trail (BMT) to Deep Creek and took the Appalachian Trail (AT) back with the help of some connector trails (Hughes and Bradley Fork) to camp Smokemont. My family members were not conditioned or had the desire to do backcountry camping like me. Also the mileage is high, totaling about 60 miles in fouqr days.
Day 1 of my backpacking was pretty easy. Hiked from Smokemont Campground following the BMT. The horse trail/road out of the camp was flat and easy. The trip to camp 47 was relatively short. I started off around 11 am and got to my night 1 camp around 3 pm. There were some elevation gains and lost. I had about a 40 lb pack on me fully loaded with water and all the things I thought I need. Certainly I could and should have packed lighter (firekit/firstaid was not used and so with many other gadgets).
Night 1 campsite was peaceful. I had nice weather. It was by a river. I slept with fireflies dancing around my head with the sound of roaring river nearby. I had the camp all by myself.
Day 2. I woke up early – not super early but got up when my body couldn’t sleep any more. Made Breakfast, and packed up. Little did I know it was hardest day I think. I felt the whole day was always climbing. I encountered a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Even with a rain jacket on, I was wet. It was also first time hiking through a storm. There was only one lightning strike near me, and I was on the descend portion at the time. I was not afraid. I got to camp at Mt Sterling around 5 pm. It was a solid day of 8 hours hiking.
Night 2. I arrived at camp cold and wet. First thing was to have shelter set up, then cook, and last was water collection. I went to bed when sun was about to set. I had the site all by myself the second day. Nobody hiked up to Mt Sterling in bad weather.
I woke up in the middle of night to a spectacular moon rise. I at first thought someone had come to camp and had a fire going. Due to needing to pee, I went out of my tent and saw it was the moon. There was an eerie feeling with the dark radio tower in the background.
Mt Sterling tower
Day 3 would be my longest hike. It ended up about 30 miles and a 16 hours day. I should have left camp in the wee 3 am hour when I woke up to pee in order to make it to camp in the daylight.
I chose to sleep in till 5 am I think. By the time I was ready to leave it was 7 am. The morning was beautiful.
I did not start the day well as the trail was still covered with dew. During the descend from Mt Sterling, I slipped couple times and one time I was on my hands and knees. Nothing seriously hurt but that experience scared me, especially while falling, my heavy pack pulled me in the direction of the fall I did not want to go. It was like a choke and a squash. I was squished and flattened like a pancake.
I walked into a rainstorm again on the third day. I was wet then dry and then wet. I re-wore my wet clothes from the previous day and let my body and sun dry them.
The whole trek on the third day was mostly ascend. By 2 pm my spirit and body was broken. Like in a marathon, you hit a wall and bonked. My legs refused to move, but I pushed myself on. Unless I move I wouldn’t make it to camp. There were like 15 more miles to go. I started having blisters on both feet due to the wet socks and the grits that got in. I had one pair of dry socks left and I decided to change into them. I thought it was a good decicion but just within an hour, it rained again. Still I believe fresh socks helped my feet.
I made it to Tricorner Shelter at 7 pm. I stopped there for water only since the site was full of campers. My ultimate stopping point was at Pecks Corner which was 6 more miles away. Without a pack, I could run 6 miles in an hour but with a heavy pack and blisters on both feet, I was hoping get there by 11 pm.
Night 3. at Tricorner Shelter, I refilled my water. Prepped for my dinner. The rain stopped/lightened off once I got started again. People at the shelter thought I was crazy to head out again with the storm just happened and night was about to fall. I had my headlamp on my head and my dinner in my hand as I set out.
The night hike was uneventful. I made good speed after the rest at shelter. My feet didn’t bothered me that much. It was mostly downhills. There were some climbs. Then I saw Gatlinburg nightlight in the distance. My spirit was lifted. I was still 2 miles from the camp – an hour more to go.
No one was at the Pecks Corner shelter when I arrived. I had it all to myself. At first I was worry being so late to shelter that I might not have a place to sleep and it was also not so nice to wake up everyone (since most people sleep when sun goes down). I was relief that I didn’t need to make any apologies.
Day 4. My feet improved after a night of drying out. They were still tender from the blisters, I put on old wet socks. They were all wet. I tried to find a pair that seemed clean. I tried my best to descend from Pecks Corner as fast as I could. Day 4 hike was short. There were maybe 2 miles of descend. The rest 8 miles were mostly on flat trail – Bradley Fork Trail. I made it back to Smokemont by noon feeling pretty happy to have survived the trip.
some photos from the trail
oh and bears. I did saw some and all of them ran away from me. They were too quick for me to snap a photo of them. Cute animal.
River Scramble 10k and Bust the Banks 13.1 are Richmond gems of trail running in the city.
I did this in 2018 as my first trail racing. It was a lot of fun. Full of adrenaline rushing down hill and power run up hill, rock hoping and scrambling, it was what I imagined trail running to be.
Arm with experience now, three years later, it was still thrilling to run, but I am no longer green. Of course my horizon has broaden. A three mile park is nothing compare to something like Grayson Highlands I just did two weeks ago. But it packs a lot in a small area.
I do feel like an adult in a kid playground. For many, this might be their first time on a trail. People do get injured. One of the ladies in front of me tripped and fell. She pulled to the side and sat down. I wanted to urge her to walk it off but likely she wouldn’t and she was waiting for her ride to the finish.
The 5k runners started an hour after us, and I was at the tail end of their race. The markings for the 5K and 10K are the same and they also reused a portion of the 10K course. Unbeknown to me, I thought I was running on the 10K course, so I followed the trail marking and added 2-3 miles to my 10K run.
Even for me an old timer, boo hoo, I got lost on the last quarter mile to the finish. It was not the course marking fault or the course marshall. We just miscommunicated. I arrived at the trail intersection and the guy was pointing left so I turned left. Then he called out right, so I looked back and he said you are on the right path but he might have spoken to another runner. Later I realized why he was pointing left. He wanted me to be aware of the step and not tripped but I misunderstood him of telling me to turn left. He was actually standing in front of the course marking and thus I didn’t see it. He was just a kid so I didn’t make a fuss after doing an extra loop. He was inexperience at being a course marshall and I was not well prepared like my other race, having the turns memorized.
Amazingly by making a wrong turn I ended on a 5K event course.
No matter to me. Originally, I wanted to finish my run quickly so I could do the 5K as well. It kind of worked out that way, though of course I didn’t get a 5K time since I didn’t officially registered for a 5K and also I didn’t start at the 5K start. The finish location is almost the same. I got a 10K time – of almost 2 hours – one of the worse ever, but it was a 9 mile run, so not bad.
I still enjoyed it. Tomorrow I will do the half marathon. The course is relatively the same. I won’t get lost again.
update: I knew the course like the back of my hand when I ran the half the following day.
Need to prepare for my seneca run with only two more weeks left.
This week has not been great with training. 0 mile run.
I was really lazy. After work each day, by the time I ate I did not want to head outdoor. Each day was the same.
Hope to get some miles in today. I need actual course experience. A couple places on the course is having me worry. I read from previous reports of people getting lost. So I am thinking to head out there tomorrow. Why not today? I already had something going – hiking/running signal knob.
The race is stressing me out. I might need a new headlamp. Not sure where mine is at. I hate it when I misplace things. This is not like me. Hate it when I have to replace things.
I have been buying stuffs for the race. I got tape to tape up blisters. I got wipes. Needles. I got a new watch. I might need better socks. Compression socks. Need shoes too though not for the race…but after the race, I need a good pair. I need a real trail shoes.
I really didn’t have any content to post, so just getting this out. I feel each day blends into the next and a month is gone. Nothing special. Happy Halloween Guys! Scary.
Hope this will be a short post because I am kind of out of time. I’m on the metro after almost 6 months, where I normally do most of my writing. But today will only be one stop because my work has moved much closer to home.
I still rant about the traffic. It took me 1 and half hour to get home last night with maybe half hour at my own local community.
A day that I don’t post anything is like a day wasted or gone. What did I do that day? What did I do that week, month, or year?
When I was young, I have memorable experiences, and you can remember everything. When now I am older, all these recent years seem to pass so quickly. I can’t even remember what happen last week, or last month, or last decade. I felt I have not don’t anything significant.
There is actual a study done to prove this. We remember less and less much as we age.
I feel that is a reason why I need to post something or else my life just passes by and I can’t recall anything that happened.
I am really out of topic to write…so going to go out on a limp to talk about money aspect of my last trip.
It is a sensitive topic…even if it is not a time as now when many people don’t have a job. I really don’t know the number, but I have heard something worse than the Great Depression. Is it like 20% of the population are out of job?
During my trip to Atlanta, I tried to not spend too much. Flying though, can’t be cheap…I used to fly American or United, but their services disappointed me – they are no frills, but it is their way – their corporate culture treating their lower paying customers, just rub me the wrong way. I got it no frill. I have been on cheaper airlines but they do well, but somehow I can’t stand American/United services.
Then I discovered Jet Blue and that was Amazing (remember in January about my layover trip to Boston for a Wendys shake?). Same too for Delta. Their services are A+. Of course I later learned you pay a bit more for Delta, but I don’t mind (though I read with Corona, people are paying double to fly on Delta). Off topic, only recently I found out both Jet Blue and Delta were being partially owned by Warren Buffett; ya no wonder the two companies are so good; but now he sold his share, hopefully quality won’t decrease.
There was no direct Jet Blue flight to Atlanta. This time I booked Delta. It was expensive, but I found out they are one of the few airlines that do social distancing seating. Everyone wearing masks is a given, but they leave the middle seat empty, that was a surprise. They lost ton of money by doing this. I have no regret. They also say their jets do not recycle air, but pump fresh air from outside.
Today, I finally tallied my spending expense for the trip. Flight was about $400. Uber $200. Food $300. Hotel $250. I paid $60 for checked bags. Originally, I was going to do under the seat/carry-on, but I had to bring a lot of stuffs, I was too tired the night before the trip to be creative in my packing, and decided to get my bag checked.
Things that surprised me was I spent a lot on Uber. When I went to San Diego, I rented a car, and I thought that was expensive, but looking back, on that trip I spent less on transportation than having Uber. Rental was something like $30 a day. For me Uber was $90 on one of the trips, and bled my heart. So my trip to San Diago was cheaper; $200 cheaper!
A thing I learned from the trip was how to pay for things using my phone – contactless payment! I made many stops to gas stations and convenience stores during my 100 mile run. It was not easy to pull my credit card all the times from my running pack, so I started to use my cellphone for payment. I found out how easy it is. I had Google Pay set up long long time ago when I first got a Google phone, but I never use Google Pay in stores because at the time it was not popular (none of the store support it but I think one or two stores). But now it was ubiquitous but I didn’t know. I just went up to the register, unlock my phone, press and hold the power button (not sure if this step is needed), but by doing that my credit card shows up on the screen. Then I just hold the phone over the credit card payment unit, and it beeps (and does it stuff) and my phone shows the payment confirmation. That’s it. Easy. No more pulling out wallet and putting things back.
I was learning as I go. Another wonderful thing I learned was using the airline app for boarding pass. I have been seeing other people doing it for a while now, but I was always reluctant to try new things. I like to have a piece of paper in my hand and walk up to the gate agent with my boarding pass – that is my ticket. But this time, I read holding paper is not safe, since so many people would touch it. So I switched to relying on the phone app. It was easy. I used the app to check in. It had my boarding pass. I used it to check my luggage, going through security, and finally boarding the plane. It was entirely contactless. On the way, I can check the gate number, check the status of my luggage, and check my seat assignment. They changed my seat because I was being seated next to someone, so they offered to move me to a seat with the middle being left empty. I was delighted. Instantly the seat assignment in the app was updated. So no need to print out a boarding pass any more.
Nothing much was done in regard to my to-do list. I packed last night. Basically just dumped everything in the suitcase.
FedEx was closed and today morning I had to work. I tried to go during lunch but after stopping by my mom’s place for lunch, I ran out of time. There was a company team meeting immediately after lunch and I couldn’t be late. I made one last ditch effort to go to FedEx to have my turn direction laminated, but the line was long and I was cutting close to missing my flight, so I left FedEx without getting the turn sheet laminated.
The flight was uneventful. Our flight was not full. They seated everyone at every other seat. I originally booked on a seat with someone next to me, but they called me at the gate and reshuffled me to a seat by myself, which was good.
99% of the shops in the airport was closed. There was no food to buy at all. Suck for those who have lay over. There are some people at the airport. Getting through TSA was a breeze. Hardly anyone. There were maybe three or four people in front of me. Everyone was wearing a mask.
Funny story. As I got to the TSA officer, she had me pull down my mask and I was confused. Then it dawned on me, she needed to see my face to verify my identity. I had expected them to just know by looking even with a mask on.
At Atlanta Airport though, some people were not wearing a mask. There was also a guy on our flight, he was sitting two rows behind me refused to wear his. The flight attendent spoke to him couple times and they even brought him a mask after he said he did not have one. Later the guy claimed medical reason for not putting a mask on. To me it was baloney. Any way, they left him alone. I thought they were going to kick him off the plane.
This was hapened much later, I got to Atlanta and had my mask on as I was looking for a place to eat. Many restaurants close at 9. So Iwad not able to get dinner. There was a McDonalds and Wendy’s but I don’t want fastfood. But one thing I observe the locals and realized no one was wearing a mask! This was inside a store. Absolutely no one. They were standing around chatting. Surprised surprised. The culture is really different from the Northern Virginia and DC area. So I pulled off mine too. When in Rome do as the Romans do. Haha, talk about being safe. I thought I was the only one had this observation, I got online and found other people (a user who stayed at the hotel I was staying last month) made the same observation that no one is wearing mask here during their peak outbreak!
Everyone was concerned that I am increasing my risk of getting the COVID19. Can’t help when you are in an enclosed space with about 50-70 other people. Plus the trip back. Atlanta/Georgia now has seen an uptick of infection. This will be a wild weekend. I believe Atlanta is in something like phase 3 of the reopening.
I am kind of scare myself.
In regarding to the the remaining tasks: – buy batteries for my flash light and gps unit. find a fedEx place to laminate the turn sheet. Get well rested for tomorrow. Review the map again. Find good food place. Enjoy the ride.
Oh the start time will be 6 pm tomorrow (July 3). Pretty certain now. There is no way to get myself to the start line at 2 or 3 am, which means by very little or no sleep. The safer choice is get as much sleep tomorrow and fuel up.
On reflection, those who have been following my blogs, this was like a planned chaos. I was frantically getting my things together and it was a wild ride. Those around me (family, and coworkers and maybe you online readers) are frantic too because they want me to succeed. Some people are really good at getting their life together, and it is like a rocket launch in executing a perfect launch sequence – with no error, and everything is completed on the dot. Not me, it was and bouncy up and down at near missed. I do plan, but only rely on it 30-40%. At least I am in Atlanta now. That is the most important thing, forward movement. Hopefully the run will also be a success and I will be back home in a couple days.
Edit to add – Real time: Race has started 4 hours ago, going mich slower than anticipated. 15 miles in. Usually I should be at 20 miles now
I wasn’t going to post anything today since it was a nice day off. I had a good morning run, and did not have more to add. However, I came across this nicely done video that captures my mood for today and usually how I would feel when I am out in the woods alone. It is about a guy visiting a crash site of a WW2 plane in Pennsylvania. I don’t know the guy myself, but based on his Youtube handle name, it might be the “expert” who posted a lot about hiking The Laurel Higlands Trail, and I relied on his information, when I backpacked part of trail last year on the Memorial Day weekend, coincidentally.
I chickened out to do my 50+ miles last weekend even though it was a perfect weekend.
I did a long run though – a 7 hour marathon. Yes it was super long. I did not feel motivated to push myself to run faster. I dragged myself out the house in the morning. That’s good in itself.
When I started, I was kind of aiming to run for as long as I could until I drop, maybe to midnight. I checked the weather. It was against me, forecasting that rain in the evening and lasting into the next day. I know I might need 12-13 hours to finish a 50+ miles, and so would be caught in it. Not good.
I was going to try to run a 50 miles any way but only half heartedly. That was the reason the first 27 was so slow. I aimed to save my energy for the second half.
I had no committed plan in mind when I started off. I was smart enough to bring myself a bottle of water and the runner backpack this time. For food, I was expected to stop back at the house from time to time to top off on fruit cups and all other goodies.
My route was going to be a 4 loops of 13 miles around the neighborhood, like many times I did before. However having done that so many times already, it would be a boring run. I decided not thinking about it and just go by feel. I don’t know how to explain this. If I feel good I’d run, if not I quit. Yes, it was a very dangerous thought to have on a long run, because I will likely quoit prematurely.
It took me a while to get going. It was nippy (50-55F) about 10C. Normally cold doesn’t bother me. But recently, 50F was not something I can handle in short sleeves. I put on a second layer with a long sleeves, which was my normal winter run getup when it is 30 F outside. I was feeling wimpy because the cold.
I walked the first few miles to get my core temperature up. Ditched the outer layer. I tied it to my waist.
Through out the run it was like this. It was a combination of walk and run and repeat. Note I normally do not walk on my run.
First few miles. I love this neighborhood and this was where I started to seriously run
I stopped by my mom’s place, which was around mile 6. I haven’t seen her for two weeks. Of course we kept our distance and I didn’t go inside the house. She came out with water for me. I didn’t need it because I was carrying my own today.
Normally at this point I would turn around and head back home and then repeat to build up the mileage.
Today I felt a bit wanderlust. I headed away from my house on Stringfellow Rd (weird name) toward the other direction. I was brave enough to cross the divided highway, Lee Jackson Mem Hwy.
I don’t usually go here because it is on the other side of the busy highway. It led to a part of the bike trail that I never ran on but it is considered one of the pride trails of the Fairfax County.
The trail runs along side of the Fairfax County Parkway, which crosses the whole county from the south-eastern end to the north-western end. The road was built recently (about 20 years). Note we rarely laid down a completely new road here. This road was one of the big undertaking.
This road is long. The mile marker where I entered the road was at 26.5. That was maybe little more than half way. I don’t know how long the road is. Maybe 40 miles? (I looked it up 35 miles)
First time running on the Fairfax County Parkway. North bound at mile 26
The bike trail is beautiful. The whole trail is wide and mostly rustic feel and plenty room to run. My goal was to run as far as I could. At that time my mind went into full planning mode. I want to run 26 miles before heading back. However, I might likely get caught by the storm later on my way back and I didn’t have my rain jacket with me. I was not willing to rough it out with the element. I also didn’t have my flashlight. The trail has no street lights and is rather remote from residents and markets.
At that point it was around 8 miles into the run. I know the trail has only a few businesses until I get to the city of Reston. To me Reston was very far away. I know how to get there by car but never attempted by running there before. It is crazy to even think about it. I did a quick math. Normally it would take me 25 mins in a car from my house. I decided to run until 3 pm then turn around assuming I might not able to reach Reston at all.
It was noon at the time. I was kind of regretted of not accepting food from my mom when I made a stop at her house. I started to feel hungry.
Fairfax County Parkway is like an interstate, so each exit or cross road is far away. This is good for runners and bikers because we don’t have to stop frequently to cross a road. It is amazing they built skybridges for us on some intersections so we don’t have to navigate through the car traffic.
I kept on trudging. In the end I saw Reston from the distance as it’s skyscrapers and office buildings came into view.
Reston being seen from the Fairfax county parkway overpass. The city is our silicon valley here in Fairfax/northern VA. It has many tech companies and data centers. It is still being developed.
I didn’t get to Reston Town Center, which was about few more miles (three-ish) but I turned off at Target to buy lunch. It was the first store I saw.
Healthy lunch! Strawberry Banana Smoothie with no added sugar. Forgot to check the calories.Adding some more substance to my lunch – Bear Naked’s Granola trail mix. If it is good for bears it is good for me
After lunch, I decided to turn around. The return trip was pretty boring. I didn’t get caught in the storm. I made a second stop at my mom’s place and she made me a real smoothie of her specialty an avocado smoothie. It was a great boost to my strength. I was at mile 20, generally, hitting my ‘wall’ (my glycogen limit – emptying my energy store). It was 3 pm by then.
However, I was not as tired as in the last marathon but I just was not as motivated to run. I was still on the fence whether to run another 26 miles but internally I was kind of dragging my feet. I knew deep down I didn’t want to do it. So I was mostly walking the last six miles. I hit the wall I think, but it was not that bad. I was just tired and I could feel my feet was not ready to run the diatance. It was like if I push on some more on, my feet would sustain so injury. Having run long enough from experience you could feel it if you are healthy or not, or know if you are tired versus that your body is about to crashed. It was probably at mile 24. I decided I wouldn’t go out for another loop and called it a day.
I was happy with the decision to head home. I was hungry. There was no point to drag out for another 6-7 hours when rain would come and darkness fall. The worse thing is to run when I not feeling it. It would be just miserable out on the road. I will save that 50+ miles for another day.
The overall route and race clock. I didn’t pause my watch even when I stopped at my mom’s place or at Target. I am old school. The clock kept ticking to simulate race condition.
Final thought? Nothing deep but some observations. I went back to a neighbhood/corporate park I thought was beautiful, however, it didn’t look that pretty on camera. My mood changed too I think. Oh, I came across the sign welcome to Centreville, but my phone was out of battery at the time to take a shot.
Originally, the purpose (a side mission any way) of this run was to shoot photos for one of my earlier race reports. I think though I was at some of the same places as before but it did not evoke the same feeling. They say you can’t step on the same river twice. I ended up not posting those pictures.
In awe 