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.