After allowing ample time for my torn-up heels and hip flexor to heal, I finally made it out for a morning run. I kept the pace slow, somewhere around 9:30 pace, and was patient on the hills. I ran out on Yatton, which provides rolling hills, scenic pastures, and view of multi-million dollar homes. All in all it felt good to be out on the road again. My legs felt a little stiffer than usual, but that should change with each progressive run from here. I just need to get my legs worn back in.
Stats
Place: Round Hill
Time: 35:00
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Monday, June 21, 2004
The Maryland Challenge
My brother, Dave, and his friend Devon made the trek from Richmond, VA to my house on Friday night. We loaded all our gear into my car and set out for Waynesboro, PA, where we would stay the night and rest for the next day's hike.
The alarm rang at 5:00am. We matter-of-factly rose to our feet to prepare for the long day ahead. Breakfast included Clif bars, fresh fruit (cooled in the sink overnight), and Gatorade. We left the key on the nightstand as part of the pre-arranged quick check-out, tossed our bags in the car, and made our way to the trail head. I called to leave my first audio post and discovered the service was temporarily unavailable. I was completely disconnected, the best way to be before a hike.
We found the trail head to the Appalachian Trail (AT) without incident. After a short walk to the Mason-Dixon line (PA and MD border), we began logging our first official mile in our bid to hike the entire stretch of AT in Maryland. The air was cool, the sky slightly overcast, and the sun was still hanging low.
Miles 1-10
Starting Time: 5:50am
The first quarter of our hike was the toughest stretch on paper. On our way out of Penmar park, we somehow lost the trail and ended up following yellow blazes. Rather than walk back, we pressed forward and fortunately the trail later intersected the AT and the familiar white blazes. We soon began our ascent of the steepest grade we’d face all day. The trail became a formidable rock trail that required careful steps and attention to the switchbacks. More than once, I lost the trail and had to search for the white blazes to pull me back.
For me, the first ten miles were marked by tough hiking and emergent pains that would later become a much bigger problem. As we climbed the final hill before our first scheduled break, my right heel felt like it was on fire. This was partly a hanger-on abrasion from the previous week’s training hike. I also felt my hip flexor, which was last week’s unidentified “muscle.” The pain subsided before the break and I figured I was in the clear.
(photos taken with cell phone)
Miles 11-22
The map made this section look easy. For some reason, it was almost a deal-breaker for each of us. As we worked our way up the final hill to Washington Monument State Park, each of us thought we were finished for different reasons. My hip flexor hurt to the point that walking any further seemed insane. My heels both felt like they were being slowly ripped off. Dave’s knee was crumbling and Devon had a look of defeat as we crashed in a shelter near the parking lot. Dave’s friends Brian and Jen (married couple) met us just in case any of us needed to quit. Devon taped his ankles and Dave tightened his knee brace. I bandaged my left leg up around the hip flexor and taped moleskin on my heels. After some rest, stretching, and fuel (which took us an hour), we started back out on the trail for what became our fastest pace of the day.
Oh yeah, and we took a number of creative steps to avoid another emergent problem: chaffing.
Miles 23-32
This section was relatively flat and fast. We coasted through it at a 3mph pace. Our bodies felt invincible, needing only one stop at Lamb’s Knoll, which was atop a hill that we motored up without pain. We rested with an incredible cliff view. Then we took off, finishing the final 3.5 miles in an hour.
It was here that the beauty of hiking was impressed on me. Hiking has a remarkable meditative quality that when reach puts all worries behind me and leaves only open trail in front. The trail becomes a metaphor for opportunity and accomplishment simultaneously, with me standing at each moment precisely between the two, neither here nor there, taking one step at a time, one foot then the other.
How nicely Buddha puts it:
What you are is what you have been, and what you will be is what you do now.
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
We met up with Brian and Jen again in Gathland State Park, which had a vending machine with cold Coke. Life was good ....
(View from Lamb's Knoll)
Miles 33-43
... and then we hit the home stretch. We started the final quarter at a fast clip. As the sun was setting, we sped up to make up as much daylight ground as possible. We briefly pondered the meaning of passing by Burkittsville, home of the Blair Witch Project. When darkness settled in, it was only a matter of time before my knees, heels, and fading feet met their arch nemesis: Weaverton Cliffs. Coming down the mountain into Harper's Ferry is supposedly a beautiful trip during the day. At night, it's a hellish descent that requires careful attention to stepping and switchbacks. It was the only point all day where time seemed to stand still. I seriously thought there was no bottom to the hill. Total darkness and sleepless delirium made this thought possible.
We finally reach the bottom and worked our way to the C&O Canal towpath. This, too, is a wonderful walk during the day, when we could have seen the canal to the right and the Potomac River to the left. We did see a beautiful field of stars and a couple passing trains. This part of the hike was the most surreal. I was falling asleep as I walked. When I tripped over my trekking pole, I'd momentarily regain focus, but then the eyelids would start to fall again and I began weaving back and forth. When we finally reached the footbridge over the river and into Harper's Ferry, my body sighed with relief. We met my dad in the train station parking lot, cracked a beer, ate sandwiches, and then fell asleep on the car ride home.
Finishing Time: 12:30am
Bed Time: 2:00am
The next morning, we limped wearily out of bed at 7:00am and into Dave's car to pick up my car in Pennsylvania. We sped up, sped back, then I took a nap. That night our parents came over for an early Father's Day dinner.
I am still tired today. My feet still burn with blisters, though they are healing fast. My legs feel pretty darn good considering punishment they underwent. I am very satisfied, indeed, but the best part is I can soon return to RUNNING!
The alarm rang at 5:00am. We matter-of-factly rose to our feet to prepare for the long day ahead. Breakfast included Clif bars, fresh fruit (cooled in the sink overnight), and Gatorade. We left the key on the nightstand as part of the pre-arranged quick check-out, tossed our bags in the car, and made our way to the trail head. I called to leave my first audio post and discovered the service was temporarily unavailable. I was completely disconnected, the best way to be before a hike.
We found the trail head to the Appalachian Trail (AT) without incident. After a short walk to the Mason-Dixon line (PA and MD border), we began logging our first official mile in our bid to hike the entire stretch of AT in Maryland. The air was cool, the sky slightly overcast, and the sun was still hanging low.
Miles 1-10
Starting Time: 5:50am
The first quarter of our hike was the toughest stretch on paper. On our way out of Penmar park, we somehow lost the trail and ended up following yellow blazes. Rather than walk back, we pressed forward and fortunately the trail later intersected the AT and the familiar white blazes. We soon began our ascent of the steepest grade we’d face all day. The trail became a formidable rock trail that required careful steps and attention to the switchbacks. More than once, I lost the trail and had to search for the white blazes to pull me back.
For me, the first ten miles were marked by tough hiking and emergent pains that would later become a much bigger problem. As we climbed the final hill before our first scheduled break, my right heel felt like it was on fire. This was partly a hanger-on abrasion from the previous week’s training hike. I also felt my hip flexor, which was last week’s unidentified “muscle.” The pain subsided before the break and I figured I was in the clear.
(photos taken with cell phone)
Miles 11-22
The map made this section look easy. For some reason, it was almost a deal-breaker for each of us. As we worked our way up the final hill to Washington Monument State Park, each of us thought we were finished for different reasons. My hip flexor hurt to the point that walking any further seemed insane. My heels both felt like they were being slowly ripped off. Dave’s knee was crumbling and Devon had a look of defeat as we crashed in a shelter near the parking lot. Dave’s friends Brian and Jen (married couple) met us just in case any of us needed to quit. Devon taped his ankles and Dave tightened his knee brace. I bandaged my left leg up around the hip flexor and taped moleskin on my heels. After some rest, stretching, and fuel (which took us an hour), we started back out on the trail for what became our fastest pace of the day.
Oh yeah, and we took a number of creative steps to avoid another emergent problem: chaffing.
Miles 23-32
This section was relatively flat and fast. We coasted through it at a 3mph pace. Our bodies felt invincible, needing only one stop at Lamb’s Knoll, which was atop a hill that we motored up without pain. We rested with an incredible cliff view. Then we took off, finishing the final 3.5 miles in an hour.
It was here that the beauty of hiking was impressed on me. Hiking has a remarkable meditative quality that when reach puts all worries behind me and leaves only open trail in front. The trail becomes a metaphor for opportunity and accomplishment simultaneously, with me standing at each moment precisely between the two, neither here nor there, taking one step at a time, one foot then the other.
How nicely Buddha puts it:
What you are is what you have been, and what you will be is what you do now.
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
We met up with Brian and Jen again in Gathland State Park, which had a vending machine with cold Coke. Life was good ....
(View from Lamb's Knoll)
Miles 33-43
... and then we hit the home stretch. We started the final quarter at a fast clip. As the sun was setting, we sped up to make up as much daylight ground as possible. We briefly pondered the meaning of passing by Burkittsville, home of the Blair Witch Project. When darkness settled in, it was only a matter of time before my knees, heels, and fading feet met their arch nemesis: Weaverton Cliffs. Coming down the mountain into Harper's Ferry is supposedly a beautiful trip during the day. At night, it's a hellish descent that requires careful attention to stepping and switchbacks. It was the only point all day where time seemed to stand still. I seriously thought there was no bottom to the hill. Total darkness and sleepless delirium made this thought possible.
We finally reach the bottom and worked our way to the C&O Canal towpath. This, too, is a wonderful walk during the day, when we could have seen the canal to the right and the Potomac River to the left. We did see a beautiful field of stars and a couple passing trains. This part of the hike was the most surreal. I was falling asleep as I walked. When I tripped over my trekking pole, I'd momentarily regain focus, but then the eyelids would start to fall again and I began weaving back and forth. When we finally reached the footbridge over the river and into Harper's Ferry, my body sighed with relief. We met my dad in the train station parking lot, cracked a beer, ate sandwiches, and then fell asleep on the car ride home.
Finishing Time: 12:30am
Bed Time: 2:00am
The next morning, we limped wearily out of bed at 7:00am and into Dave's car to pick up my car in Pennsylvania. We sped up, sped back, then I took a nap. That night our parents came over for an early Father's Day dinner.
I am still tired today. My feet still burn with blisters, though they are healing fast. My legs feel pretty darn good considering punishment they underwent. I am very satisfied, indeed, but the best part is I can soon return to RUNNING!
Saturday, June 12, 2004
The Training Hike
We woke at 6:00am to the drums from Paul Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints. We ate breakfast and prepared to conquer: fresh fruit, granola bars, coffee, and Gatorade. We arrived and embarked about 7:15.
The weather was perfect—slightly overcast with sunrise highs in the lower 60s. The air was still damp from Friday’s downpour. Our first steps were fast and sweatless. At first, we took careful note of our progress, documenting the time used between checkpoints. After a couple hours, we settled into a steady hike where each step was simply followed by the next. We were no longer walking in the woods, we were hiking. After eight miles, we stopped at the David Lesser shelter, which was nicely appointed with a privy and nearby stream (0.25 miles) where my brother stocked up on fresh water (later purified with iodine). We lingered too long and set off in haste, blowing off the next three miles in 55 minutes. We stopped briefly at WVA Route 9 (Charlestown Pike) pondered the state line, then set back up the hill at the same pace. We were relentless until our bodies cried for lunch and we searched for Buzzard Rocks, which we did not find. Instead, we stopped mid-trail and rested for a half-hour, ate, drank, and returned on our merry way to the finish at Crescent Rock, a mere half-mile from the car.
We made it mostly unblemished. My brother’s knee a little used, his friend’s feet a little battered, and my unidentified muscle a little bruised (upper left leg, not quite quad, not quite hamstring, not quite butt).
We rest today thinking only of the 40.5 miles ahead this coming weekend. This was but a way-station on the trail to pain.
Stats
Distance: 23 miles
Time: 7:20
Pace: 3.14 mph
Consumption: 1 bag Turkey jerky, 2 Clif Bars, 1 PowerBar Protein Plus, 1 bag trail mix, 3 quarts Gatorade.
The weather was perfect—slightly overcast with sunrise highs in the lower 60s. The air was still damp from Friday’s downpour. Our first steps were fast and sweatless. At first, we took careful note of our progress, documenting the time used between checkpoints. After a couple hours, we settled into a steady hike where each step was simply followed by the next. We were no longer walking in the woods, we were hiking. After eight miles, we stopped at the David Lesser shelter, which was nicely appointed with a privy and nearby stream (0.25 miles) where my brother stocked up on fresh water (later purified with iodine). We lingered too long and set off in haste, blowing off the next three miles in 55 minutes. We stopped briefly at WVA Route 9 (Charlestown Pike) pondered the state line, then set back up the hill at the same pace. We were relentless until our bodies cried for lunch and we searched for Buzzard Rocks, which we did not find. Instead, we stopped mid-trail and rested for a half-hour, ate, drank, and returned on our merry way to the finish at Crescent Rock, a mere half-mile from the car.
We made it mostly unblemished. My brother’s knee a little used, his friend’s feet a little battered, and my unidentified muscle a little bruised (upper left leg, not quite quad, not quite hamstring, not quite butt).
We rest today thinking only of the 40.5 miles ahead this coming weekend. This was but a way-station on the trail to pain.
Stats
Distance: 23 miles
Time: 7:20
Pace: 3.14 mph
Consumption: 1 bag Turkey jerky, 2 Clif Bars, 1 PowerBar Protein Plus, 1 bag trail mix, 3 quarts Gatorade.
Friday, June 11, 2004
Training Hike Tomorrow
My brother, his friend Devon, and I are off for a training hike tomorrow morning. This is in preparation for a roughly 40 mile hike next weekend, innocently called the "Marlyand Challenge." The guys are heading to my house tonight. Tomorrow morning, we'll start hiking between 6:30 and 7:00am. About 22 miles and 10 hours later, we hope to return safely to the car and head out to my parents to celebrate Mom's birthday and eat some great food. Part of this trip is to work out kinks for next weekend. To document the journey, I'll leave periodic audio posts to document our progress, our fall-backs, and our general state of mind and body. Of course, this plan relies on cell phone signals, which if not present will only make me happier. Here is an itinerary my brother, Dave, put together of tomorrow's trip.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Poison Ivy
Well, I did it again. I broke the laws of nature as they apply to me. I saw the poison ivy when I was clearing the vegetation off the fence and I wasn't bashful about touching it. I went for a run BEFORE I took a shower. Man, was that a mistake. Date of contact: Sunday. Yesterday, I started scratching at what I thought was a mosquito bite. When I noticed it was poison ivy, I brushed it off thinking it was contained ... no big deal. Today, I felt my right eye swelling, then I started to panic. The last time I had poison ivy in a bad way was when I accidentally blew my nose with it before a high school soccer match. When both my eyes swelled shut, "blinking" became a whole facial movement. So I packed up my computer, bolted from work, and went straight to the doctor. The doctor was much more somber than I. Without blinking, he prescribed prednisone and Alavert. I greedily took both and am, well, a little better. My eyes are open, but the right eye is still a little swollen. The rest of my body itches fiercely and the lack of air conditioning makes it all much, much better. My wife is laughing at me as I type this.
Life is good.
For those folks who don't understand what that evil plant does to less evolved people like me, check out this woman. That could be me tomorrow morning. For more inspiring photos, I highly recommend The Grody Poison Ivy Skin Rash Hall of Fame Slideshow.
Life is good.
For those folks who don't understand what that evil plant does to less evolved people like me, check out this woman. That could be me tomorrow morning. For more inspiring photos, I highly recommend The Grody Poison Ivy Skin Rash Hall of Fame Slideshow.
Sunday, June 06, 2004
7 Miles
I woke up this morning knowing it would be another day of painting the living room. So far we’ve spent 4 days, largely waiting for paint to dry between the multiple coats in semi-humid conditions. At least the muddy salmon colored walls are gone, the pink ceiling is white, and the dark brown trim is almost white. So yes, we have one more bout with the trim before we’re done. After I painted the door and abandoned my wife to finish the baseboards, I mowed and trimmed the lawn. I dragged all the bulky tree limbs into a pile near the compost heap. I walked the dog.
... And then I went running.
I went on familiar country roads out past old Ketoctin Baptist Church (constituted 1751). The route was rolling hill after rolling hill, which required serious concentration at points to keep moving on the ups and make up some time on the downs. The air was cool after Saturday’s downpour, ideal for running. As I turned back onto Woodgrove to finish the final series of rolling hills, I became acutely aware of my legs bonking from standing up all day in the yard. Still I powered as best I could to the finish. I was very happy with the effort, though I’m pretty sore at the point of typing this post.
Here's the best photo of the chuch I could find. It really doesn't do it justice. I'll take my camera next time, but then again I've promised that before!
Stats
Place: Round Hill
Time: 60:56
... And then I went running.
I went on familiar country roads out past old Ketoctin Baptist Church (constituted 1751). The route was rolling hill after rolling hill, which required serious concentration at points to keep moving on the ups and make up some time on the downs. The air was cool after Saturday’s downpour, ideal for running. As I turned back onto Woodgrove to finish the final series of rolling hills, I became acutely aware of my legs bonking from standing up all day in the yard. Still I powered as best I could to the finish. I was very happy with the effort, though I’m pretty sore at the point of typing this post.
Here's the best photo of the chuch I could find. It really doesn't do it justice. I'll take my camera next time, but then again I've promised that before!
Stats
Place: Round Hill
Time: 60:56
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Today's Inspiration
I just realized that nearly all of the running images I see are photos of real runners in real settings. Today, and in the near future, I hope to show the artistic perspective of running. Afterall, art is a huge inspiration to many of us in other aspects of our lives. Why not running?
I don't know how much running art is out there, but I'm determined to find it. If art can inspire running, then certainly running can inspire art. Enjoy!
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