Friday Night Run

"I'll have 3 double expressos please." The barista opened her mouth, I jumped in and pointed to @Ashly Dewberry and Matt (the Dean) Vest and said, "In separate cups!" I mean what am I... crazy!?

We merry three headed out from the Franklin 5 Points Starbucks Friday at 430 pm. It was about 100 degrees. We planned to run the back roads to Grassland Middle which would be a 25m or so out and back. The coffee charged us up as we chattered at each other and ran fast dodging traffic. Labor day weekend brings 'em out of the woodwork. I had dropped water at the Old Natchez Trace/ Moran Rd turn. We guzzled water in the heat. I looked at Ashly- he looked good- fit- the fire seemed to be back and the injury now in the rearview mirror. Ash went back a different route for a solid 20m.

Matt and I ran out of sun shine on the way home. I had only a small blinking blue light on me to get us home. We ended the run at the Franklin Pub with a cold pint. 

The Time is Now

I am finally feeling whole more than a month after the Tahoe 100 (report still to come). This morning I flew over the hills of Percy Warner with ease and fire. I am back. I am ready to reload and I am super stoked to have @Ashly Dewberry back in action, albeit a step or two slower than he'd like to be but REGARDLESS.

It is TIME TO GET DOWN! Nashville's ultra scene is starting to bubble and grow- the FF Dirtbags, Highland  Rim Ultra Club, stud company @swiftwick blowing up on the race scene, a new store opening up soon (Nashville Running Club). Everything is falling in place for Greater Nashville to become a true ultra hive.

So- ultra or 5k... I urge you to throw off all your "cannots" and take on something that SCARES YOU a little this coming season. This is where life gets sweet and as Ashly would say "now you're living!"

God speed!!!

The Reset Button

The Tahoe Rim Trail 100 is now complete and behind me. I have just returned from a week of sun and fun with family in Gulf Shores where I melted into a buttery ball of relaxation. The dings are healed up now and I have regained feeling in most of my toes. Seven days with no schedule and time with my awesome family has left me well... happy, happy and rusty.

We've got some fun to have!

I ran most days but no more than 4 or 5 miles while I was there and really in an effort to feel ok about the amount of calories I planned to consume that day.  So Sunday I got my trail shoes and hit Bowie for an eight miler with some tempo miles. My mind started creeping forward to potential upcoming races.

I am ready to get back to the trails. This time I will change up my approach. This is still coming into focus.

Oh, and I am finalizing my TRT 100 "report"... soon come Mon!

Sterling Mountain

Thank you Endurance Sports-best store for endurance athletes and Swiftwick- best socks for runners.

Mt Sterling Firetower

Sterling Mountain was the last of the out of town trips that had been tossed out by friend and advisor, Jamie Dial, a TRT100 vet. Mash and I had considered Big South Fork for our final out of town sojourn but this idea was poked as a place for flat, fun running NOT Mtn training. Sterling on the other hand boasts 4k of climb in a little under 10k of terrain. Not to mention the tumbling river flowing beside the Big Creek Trail. A place of pristine beauty in a place that feels still wild and relatively untouched.

We started a three day trail fest with a Thursday night run and Percy Warner Park hitting the trails for 16m tired night running with full bellies. Friday am we headed east after placing our volunteer requirement forms in the mail (yes TRT requires 12 hours of service to run their race). Once at the Big Creek Camp Site we geared up and hit the trail for a twilight run just shy of 13m up Big Creek Trail.

camp and Big Creek

We tossed up camp. Mash fixed spaghetti that was so good, hung out a bit and hit the sack. Early Sat am we drank coffee and prepped for Sterling Mtn. The trail route would be Big Creek to then follow signs to the summit of Sterlin Mtn. The trail crossed multiple mountain streams- some knee deep and ice cold. The trail became more of a dry creek bed. Fist sized rocks made the upward traverse a technical one. At the summit- as advertised was a fire tower that was open. we climbed and took a few pictures a couple was at the top and offered us a pull off some dark hard liquor in a plastic canteen. I declined knowing that I had only traveled a little over 12 miles and had many more to hit 30 for the day. We finished and relaxed the rest of the afternoon and evening - cooking dogs and sausage over an open fire and enjoying being done.

Big Creek

We finished the run with an out and back where we passed a back country campsite closed due to "aggressive bear activity". Luckily, Yogie was nowhere to be seen.