Black Mountain Marathon

Well, I have finished my goal for February but I was disappointed and only inspired to run harder and stronger. I finished 4:32 and was 32 overall out of 139 in a weak field. I should have been able to run a 4:15. I guess next year will have wait but I want to run a strong marathon before I tackle the Challenge.

However, I had a fantastic time seeing all of my friends who enjoyed a wonderful race.

I have attached a link to the actual run and the highlights.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080224/OUTDOORS/80224005/1019

Seventy Degrees

I can't beleive it was seventy degree in DC. However, Wed is suppose to be 15 degrees. Crazy.

Only 5 days till the big BMM. I am really excited about the race and all of my friends running. I can't believe I actually enjoy the marathons, etc. This will be my sixth and more to come to include a 50 miler by the end of the year.

I am making my plans for the Alpine Ascents group in the next month and they sent me a picture of my adventure to come. I am so excited about this outdoor fitness experience. However, today I had to paint inside my house so no mountaineering today but only in my dreams.

Rattle My Heart or Break My Heart

Today in Montreat was the first Rattle My Heart 50K. A hell of a run! This run actaully made me question all of my running and it was the hardest run I have ever completed. I actually had to pull myself together to complete it. However, it was the most rewarding challenge.

This course was mostly single track with about 3 miles paved road and 7 miles un-improved dirt road. There was tons of elevation changes. Seems like we were either going up or down all the time. Not a bit of flat could be found. The Kitsuma trail is a steep aggressive single track trail that climbs up to the ridge on the north side of the big grade on US 40 as your coming into Black Mountain from the east. Anne Riddle did her hill training on it the year she won the Pikes Peak Marathon. Another great highlight was Rattle Snake Ridge trail. This 9 mile of trail gains a little over 4,000 feet.

This run was put on by Adam Hill and I got to run with some of my close friends and it was fantastic. Pisgah was on tap at the end in Black Mountain to top off the best run of the year. Next week is the BMM run so I had better rest up.