Lost and Found

1325 Views 6 Replies 7 Participants Last post by runinbehind, Nov 7, 2007

JJJessee

Discussion Starter · Nov 5, 2007

Lost & Found Nov 4, 2007 6th Annual Bridges and Trestle Training Run The State of Franklin Track Club holds an annual no-frills, no cost, long training run starting at the caboose in Damascus and ending at Whitetop Station along the Va Creeper Trail. This is practically my back yard so I’m SO IN. The actual run distance is 17.6 miles and the elevation difference is about 1750’. Since there is barely a single step downhill the whole way an average grade of almost 2% is commonly under foot, but there’s some 3%+ near the end just to winnow your wheat. It’s a 10am start, so I sleep in on an extra long night. And since I’m blessed to live so close to this practically famous rail-trail, I packed some food and clothes in my pack, and biked the 8+ miles to the start. I always over-pack, usually only forgetting something critical in favor of things like Ipods, cameras, and such. While juggling these items about 6-7 miles out I drop the camera, twice. At least I didn’t run over it. I roll in to Damascus and head to the nearest of about 5 bike shops in a town of less than a 1000(?). I pay to have my bike shuttled to Whitetop Station for my return trip. I give them a keyed cable lock to secure it until I arrive at the top then walk back to the caboose. There’s plenty of time to change into shorts and short sleeves. I get my camera to snap a few pictures only find my only live battery is gone. Lost in the fall – one or two- no doubt. Grrrr. The day temps have already left the 30s and promise to peak near 60. Absolutely Ideal Running or Riding Conditions, and still some nice fall color on the mountains too boot. What a day! A group of a dozen+ runners consisting mostly of SFTC regulars has gathered. I recognize several but I’m the new kid and not well acquainted. I spoke to a guy from Atlanta who read about the trail in a magazine and drove up for the run. But soon the little group is off. Myself and another guy bring up the rear and most of the pack disappears (for good) up the trail. A mile and a half we stop for a stretch and I happen to notice the key pocket in my shorts is upside down and NO KEY. Oh Shite. The start of an uneventful day is off to a great start. Well. I could shuttle down and return with cutters later, bust the lock maybe, who knows. Maybe I put the keys in my pack, but almost sure I put them in my short’s pocket. Buddha Provides. Back to running. Here’s my program: .6 mile jog Repeat 5x 1 mile recovery 1 mile M pace (9:55) .5 mile recovery .5 mile HM pace (9:10) cooldown 2 miles Total 17.6 miles I did fairly well on hitting the numbers, some above- some below as usual. A bottle of Clip, well-spaced S-caps, a gel, and a banana along the way left me in pretty good shape by the end. I should have taken the gel sooner. Even my gimpy foot didn’t begin to whimper until mile 13. I think my Garmin missed about .17 of the trail, but I ran out the programmed 17.6 and the programmed workout stopped near the top right in front of my bike. I take a break to change back into warmer, drier riding clothes. Voila. My keys are in my tights pocket. Hey, just because I’m 52 doesn’t mean necessarily I’m playing with a full deck. Anyway, I chitchat with a couple of riders who came up close behind me. And one of them knew my neighbor, runnerBeth –small world, though steep in places. I ride out on further down about a mile to the actual trail end at the NC state-line -just to give it a kiss. And in the process discover I’m not wear my shades, well even worse –their my DW’s new rose colored shades. Could be hell to pay. Fortunately on the return I manage to find them lounging in the grass where I changed. Duh. Biking down the moutain was a blast -as always. And the circling buzzards that had longingly followed me up the trail had dispersed in hunger. I stopped back at the caboose for a quick stretch before the final 8+ miles. I start thinking about that battery. When getting close to that area, I start to peal my eyes for the little 1" trail-colored gray square. Voila. Lounging in the grass undisturbed. I remove a glove and make the grab. Guess what. 20 yards later I’m wondering where my other glove is. I turned around and fetched it. Totals: 8.82 on bike 1:02:06 17.6 on foot 3:09:00 28.00 on bike 2:14:52 Not counting breaks and transitions and hunting stuff Rocks fer brains, JJJ "Okay, move on along. Nothing to see here folks." <img alt="" src="http://i20.tinypic.com/2vmhx8l.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> Pre-ride blessing of the Clip2 in Handheld meditation <img alt="" src="http://i22.tinypic.com/nqrdwx.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> A Bridge and Trestle we didn’t run. Bonus Material YouTube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAoIWB6DE9k" target="_blank">These guys ran the whole trail a coupla weeks ago</a>

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