Dog Love

I can't believe that you can love a dog as much as I love Talley. We hiked to Max Patch and had a great time. However, she is really showing signs of her age. Tonight, I swear she was breathing through a straw. Talley has breathing problems and I know my days are starting to be limited. Talley, you have been the best dog in the world and I will always love you!

Finished MCM 5th Year in a row

I finished the Marine Corps Marathon for the fifth consecutive year and I am very happy acheiving this goal. I didn't train very well but I still did pretty well for my lack of fitness.

Carolina Morning

Fall In North Carolina!

Greenriver Tunnel

My friend Matt Kirk took this picture and I think its an amazing picture. I felt like sharing it will everyone.

Fall Comes to Asheville

Asheville Fall Comes

Future Plans

My future plans involve Patagonian Andes.. in January or February.

Uphill Climb

Recently, through work, running, and a few outdoor experiences, I have found some inspiration. I have looked deep inside and found that when I am running and training, I am at peace with myself. However, consistency is the key to any long term goal.

The sun will rise and who knows what the tide may bring.

Shame

I am starting to get back on the wagon with my running. So I have concentrated on taking one day at a time.

Trouble

I can't seem to get a

break. This happend to my car on my street in DC. Crazy.

A DC Trash Truck!

Back on the Train Again

I have let myself down and strayed from the path. My running and adventuring has been a little flat and I am pretty disappointed in myself. However, things are going to get back on track if it kills me. Running is my centering device and I plan to find new and exciting ways to run and be competitive within my own groups.

Life is a difficult run but it can be accomplished with one foot in front of the other.

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.

Running Partners

These are two of my friends who made it along to the Mitchell turn around.

Mitchell Training Run

I have been behind in my posts but wanted to put my pictures from Mitchell Training run. It was a great day and about ten people made it from Lake Susan to Mitchell Turn around. From running in snow, using the Yak Traks and busting my ass on falling on my back, it was a wonderful run. Here are a few of my pictures from the run. Along the run, we say Mark and Anne Lundblad who are the elite in mountain running and they inspired us to run a little harder.

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina

What a wonderful picture from Asheville of the Biltmore House. I am running to Mitchell this weekend and it will wonderful weather. Can't wait!

Black Mountain Run. This Saturday will be a big run from Montreat to the Parkway in training for the Mount Mitchell Challenge. It is suppose to snow in Asheville so I will get to try out my yak traks and I am running a with a great friend, Mike Piercy.

Birthday/Maria/Neighborhood Party

Our neighborhood recently had a party in honor of my birthday and Maria, my neighbor, coming back from Pakistan. It was big hit, Pisgah and Highland was drank along with all types of food. Great turnout and Talley was even invited and made an appearance at the party.

Tow Path and New Ritual

Yesterday, I ran on the C & O canal for 20 miles. Since it was my birthday, I decided to run at least half my age and one mile to go on. So I ran 19 miles but during my run, I had to stop and chase a run a way horse that dumped its rider so I had to run at least a mile chasing the horse. I finally caught up to it and gave it back to the rider. However, the run was OK and I got pretty tired at the end of my run. BMM is in six weeks and I need to keep getting these long runs under my belt. My goal is for a 4:15 which should put me in the top 15 or so.

I kept repeating my mantras.... "hard work pays off" and "Nice and Easy". This seemed to make the run doable at the end.

This is a picture of the path during the summer but I tried to take a picture but my camera battery died on the way up to the run.

Pisgah the Beer of the Gods

Pisgah Brewery has quickly became my favorite beer. This picture was taken in Asheville this summer at a beer festival and it is one of my favorites.

Mountaineering here I come

Last week I met this guy with a sixty pound pack and these crazy looking boots walking on the mount Vernon trail (paved in DC). I knew from my recent interest in mountaineering he was training for an upcoming mountain excursion. He was dressed for -10 F weather and it was 30 F outside. Being the inquisitive one, I stopped and asked what he was doing. He was training for his ascent onto Mount McKinley. We talked about Alpine Ascents International,etc. He offered to provide advice to me regarding mountaineering, etc. He said he takes pictures and he gave me this website. lsshelton.com Pretty amazing stuff.

I really think I have found this Mountaineering to be a new passion of mine. I am trying to figure out when I am going to Mt. Ranier in the fall for my first jaunt "Into Thin Air".

Pretty cool.

Here is a picture of the guy in Russia. He has climed a lot of mountains all over the world.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I am planning a crazy run in Maryland. I am planning on running around 18 miles. So it will be half my age.

warm weather

It has been warm in DC the last two days in the high 60s and I enjoyed running today. I ran 8+ miles to Lincoln Park to Lincoln monument. I have to run 45 miles this week so I have a long way to go.

Friends of a lifetime

Sometimes friends come and go in our life but we always have a bond for the friends that have known us our whole life. This is my buddy Ben and his girl in Asheville at Sante.

Cold Mountain, Asheville, NC

This picture came from the Citizen Times in Asheville. Boy, it looks cold but I would love to find a way to hike and run it.

Back in DC

I am officially back in Washington DC as I try adjust from living in Asheville, NC for the last year and half. It snowed in Asheville but I am posting a picture of my dog from when it snowed in DC in early December. I have bronchitis and I went to the doctor and got some antibiotics so I am trying to recover to get back on my training for the Black Mountain Marathon. I am really missing the small town feel of Asheville and I will try to assimilate back to the DC rat race. I truly miss all of my friends that I have become my family. There is something about Asheville that it makes it special. I joke and say that I am salmon that returned home to its stream. I guess you will never be able to take those native colors off me. No matter where I may go, I will always be a North Carolinian.