Homeless GU

Z – “Are you selling the GU?”

H – “Yes.”

Z – “Am I reading this right? 26pks for $3?”

H – “Yes.”

Z – “So if I give you 3 $1 bills… you’re going to give me 26pks of GU?”

H – “Yes. Meet me at the MacDonald’s by St. Vincent’s at 6:30p.”

Z – “I’ll be the one in the lime green Element.”

H – “I’ll be walking my dog.”

I started debating whether or not this was a scam. I’ve been pretty fortunate with my Craigslist ventures. I’ve bought and sold plenty of items, but this seemed too good to be true. If you know me by now… you know that I oftentimes find myself in sketchy situations… ie: not so pleasant hotel/motel rooms, sleeping in shopping center parking lots, roaming remote back country trails in the wee morning hours… so of course… my curious side got the better of me. I know, I know… “curiosity killed the cat” but… cats also have 9 lives! So with that theory going for me… I was going to be fiiiiiine.

As I made my way to University Blvd I turned up the radio… excuse me… I “turnt” up the jamz. No… like for realz tho. Any time I go downtown Birmingham or Atlanta… the rap MUST come out. So there I was… stopped at a red light, seat leaned back, gently bobbing my head to the smooth sounds of Young Jeezy. Ok, so maybe the lime green Element isn’t a “Caddie with diamonds in the back”… I do have a Black Diamond headlamp in the back seat… that counts as a diamond in the back right?

I pulled into the MacDonald’s parking lot and immediately saw the seller. The girl was in a dirty pair of blue jeans, a hoodie, a black backpack slung over her shoulder, and of course… she was walking her dog.

Z – “Do you have the GU?”

H – “Yes.”

She unzipped her backpack where I could inspect her stash. I only had a $20, so I had to go make change. I offered to buy her some coffee or some food… she declined. I like this chicka. Strictly business. 

As I walked into the golden arches for some coffee, I noticed two nurses across the street smoking cigarettes. They were staring intensely. Have I been set up? Is this a sting operation? Could these two blondes be narcs? I shrugged it off and purchased my coffee. I walked back out to meet my seller… I handed her a $5 bill… she handed me a box.

Z – “Keep the change."

I turned up Young Buck, took my first hit from my newly acquired stash, and drove into the sunset.

The transaction itself… looked sketchy as hell. I’m semi-surprised someone didn’t call the cops on us. I’m almost 100% positive this chicka picked up a half a box of GU’s left over from the Mercedes Marathon weekend... but who am I to judge? I'm a GU junkie and needed my fix... 

Craziness. Have I hit a new low? Maybe. I’m buying GUs from homeless folk off the streets of Birmingham for Pete’s sake!!!  I think it’s because I haven’t really pushed myself in a few months. I’ve been battling a nagging plantar fasciitis spout for a little while, but I’m thankful for the break.

Let me catch you up…

I bought a mountain bike. On ride #2... Althea fed me some humble pie. About halfway down “Blood Rock” my senses kicked in… “hey bro… what the hell are you doing?!”

I picked myself up, wiped the blood from my knee and continued down the mountain. A few miles later… I clipped a tree, flipped over the handle bars, drilled the back of my legs on something, and slid down a hill… only to be stopped by my head… against a log. Yep. I’m still paying for that one. I still have swelling/bruising on the back of my legs! So much for the healing aspect…

I’ve also had the opportunity to run with some really great people. 

I’ve started doing a lot of training with Sunny since we are running an event later this summer together. It’s been a blast bouncing around the trails with her!

I am also trying to be more social within the BUTS (Birmingham Ultra Trail Society) group. I unfortunately live a little further from Birmingham, so I rarely get to catch group runs and fun outings… but I did get a chance to share a few local brews at Cahaba Brewing with the group during the new shirt release party. It was fun catching up, meeting new people, and being talked into a certain epic overnight race this summer that the BUTS are putting on (thanks Kyle…). 

I’ve spent a lot of time taking in some really relaxed running...

 

Catching some sunsets…

Celebrating St. Patty’s Day on one of my favorite overlooks...

 

You know… the norm! ;) 

 

But thanks to some friendly discussions, a link being sent to me, and maybe a few too many brews… a seed has been planted… so now... it's time to plan an adventure... 

 

Till tomorrow…  

 

Althea

What happens when ultra runners have to lay off their feet for a while? She happens.

Going from running +10hrs a week to the big goose egg (0)… well it has not been easy... my wife can contest to that. I don’t train like most folks.  I don’t base my mileage or training around race season. I just love to run year round. I love to run the same trails throughout the changing of the seasons because they turn into completely different trails! It’s amazing how that happens!

In my opinion… I’ve been handling the whole not running thing pretty well… I’ve still been on the trails, but it has been mostly hiking. And since *insert douchy voice* SPRING BREAK!!! is coming up soon… I have gotten back into a gym routine. Ok…  maybe my gym routine is not because of Spring Break. For the record… I DON’T do Spring Break. I never have, never will…unless… it will involve some sort of weeklong epic endurance adventure! Mostly I got back into a gym routine because of the Nulivscience sponsorship. I’ve been taking their plant based supplements for a little over 2 months now and have been happy with the results. I had been lacking motivation to get into the gym for strength training, but after partnering with these guys… I’ve been incorporating some much needed strength training into my life.

It hasn’t all been easy… there’s been a lot of complaining and self pity going on in my world. Kati mostly gets the bulk of it, but to keep it fair… I’ve made sure I’ve branched out to my closest friends too! You’re welcome guys! I can say though… the amount of support and advice I’ve received has been amazing! It has helped me stay focused and most importantly…stay positive! And Kati’s shown me some tough love… on days that I’ve been down and wanting to just come in from work, grab a beer, and slum around on the couch… she’s literally forced me out the door to go play. 

After a long week of being cooped up inside and at the gym… we enjoyed a relaxing Friday night with Owen and Sunny. It was a night filled with pizza, chocolate milk, hot tea, talk of bikes, adventures and other craziness. This left me anxiously waiting the bike shop’s call on Saturday. I was dying to be back on some single track moving at a good pace. Well… I got a call from Chuck and he was stranded at the mechanics shop while his car had work done. After a lovely morning of Dunkin Donuts and fabric shopping with the wifey… we swung by and picked him up. He bought us lunch before heading back to the house. After relaxing for a bit, we decided to get out and about. We swung by and picked up Althea and headed out to Oak Mt to hike. Chuck has been recovering from a broken foot so running would be kept at a minimum. We headed up to the falls to start our 6 mile loop.  

After a few hours of playing in the woods, I dropped Chuck off and headed home to get cleaned up. Then it was off to Tin Roof for a few drinks with the Crump brothers. Good People Brewing IPA and fun live music had me creeping into bed waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay later than I’m used to.

I woke up Sunday to an absolute perfect weather day… blue skies… white clouds… breezy and 70degrees. Now of course that only meant that the days during the week would be dreary, cold, and freezing… but that’s Alabama winters for you. I had planned on taking full advantage of the day. I packed a cooler, my hydration vest, and headed to Oak Mt to meet up with the Crump Bros. After lounging lakeside and basking in sun's rays for an hour… it was time to ride. Stephen (Scrump) has a bike… his brother, Chris… well let’s just leave it at “I had a bad experience." We started off by doing a 5.5 mile loop around the lake. It felt wonderful flying down rolling single track again! Of course it’s not running… but I’m moving fast through the woods!! WIN!! We wrapped up the loop and headed back to our spot by the lake to let the girls hike and yes… I’m including Chris in with the females. When the ladies got back, we packed up and headed back to the car... but I wasn’t done.

I refilled my vest with the clean tasting, purified water from the OM beach bathroom sink before heading back onto the single track with Althea. It was late afternoon and most everyone was already off the trails and heading home to enjoy a relaxing Sunday night. Not me… no sir! I was just too excited to be back in the woods covering distance! I rode 6 miles before deciding to turn around and head back.  After throwing Althea into the back of the Element, I walked down to the beach area to say hey to a few friends.

Standing in the hot shower with a cold beer in my hand… I smiled. It felt good to have my thighs burning from climbing again… to feel the rush from swiftly moving through the forest... I felt alive again... I felt normal again. Being on the bike will never take the place of running. There is just something about running… it’s so primal… so original… it would be hard to replace that feeling of freedom… but Althea is close. I named my bike Althea which is a Greek name meaning  “healing.” I felt it was appropriate. I am extremely excited about the adventures I will share with her. I feel as though it will make me a better rounded athlete and make me appreciate running more. Maybe this “injury” was necessary… maybe it happened to open my eyes to a whole new world… a new fantastic point of view… whatever the meaning behind it is… I will continue showing you the world… shining, shimmering, splendid…

Oh and you're welcome. If you own the movie... Aladdin will probably be watched now... if not... enjoy "a whole new world" being stuck in your head for the next 3 days... 

Till tomorrow... 

 

Pain Vaults

Pain vaults. Every single person on this planet has one. Some can hold more pain than others… but nonetheless… these majestic vaults exist. Follow me on the journey into my pain vault...

My pain vault is in an undisclosed location so don’t bother trying to locate it on your own. The vault itself is a lot like Riche Rich’s vault… MASSIVE and located on the side of a mountain… only mine doesn’t have a huge sculpted portrait of my face on the outside. It’s a long haul up to the entrance, so I don’t visit that often… usually only once a month. I do make small daily deposits though. There is a specific currency accepted by my vault, and it usually comes in forms of runs and workouts. It does accept other forms of currency… music, happiness, memories, etc... because one cannot live on runs and workouts alone. These deposits are necessary to ensure I’m ready when it’s time to cash out for some good clean fun.

To this day, it’s sometimes hard to find the entrance to my own damn vault. For it’s nothing fancy… usually covered in mud, dirt and the occasional trace of blood… but you’ll definitely know it when you get there.

Upon entering the vault you will notice the lighting. It’s usually pretty dim and gloomy through the initial hallway, but don’t you worry your pretty little head… it gets brighter as you go. It’s relatively quiet through this long, winding hallway. Your heartbeat is usually the only company you will share but if you listen carefully… you can hear a few loose demons whispering in the shadows. Pay no mind to these devils… they’re more talk than anything. It is, however, extremely important to acknowledge these pesky little entities. If you don’t at least acknowledge their presence… they’ll bite down on your heel and won’t let go until it bleeds. It’s best just to give a little smirk, stay focused and move silently past. More times than not, you can pass through without causing much of a stir.

The hallway is looooooooooooooooooooong and painful so don’t lose faith. If you stay resilient, you will eventually make it into the main chamber. Ladies and gentlemen… the room you’ve all have been waiting for. The room where all the deposits are stored! It’s time to enjoy that hard earned work… 

WAZAM!!!!!

You bust through the door entering into a most glorious room! A room full of laughter, music, singing, and memories! By this time you’re probably hurting pretty bad. Enjoy it! Embrace the suck! 

This moment… right now… is the reason you’ve been saving up these deposits! You know you have the reserve to push forward… so go!! Enjoy your riches!!!!

Now some bad news...

There is one teeny weenie section that remains dark. A small shadow is cast in the far corner. I hate this part of my pain vault. In the shadows lies a chest bound by chains...

This chest holds a special type of pain… a bad and evil pain. INJURY. This pain is not a welcomed visitor in my vault. Most of the time, security is on top of their game and they keep this nasty trespasser out… but sometimes he sneaks in and camps out in the chest.

This evil chest has had its share of deposits. From the big stuff like dislocated shoulders, ITB issues, stress fractures… to smaller items such as lacerations, bumps, and bruises… and everything else in between. This chest has been filled from time to time… but for the most part remains empty and covered in cob webs.

By the grace of God, this chest has been basically empty for the past few years. However… a deposit has been made in the form of plantar fasciitis. It’s not a bad case… but backing off from laying down serious miles is needed. A few short years ago… back when I was young, dumb and full of stupidity… I would have tossed caution to the wind and worked through the pain. Luckily my wandering mentor, Kaepora Gaebora, was kind enough to share some of his worldly wisdom with me…

He’s told of great and wondrous adventures from his travels across the land and has given me insight to what it takes to do these epic escapades. One must be healthy to pursue great adventures…

So I rest. I wait to withdraw from that evil chest in the corner. I will still make deposits into the pain vault… for now it's less miles on my run/hikes, possibly venture into other areas of endurance… probably write more than usual...hell, may even pick up the old Gibson and write a new song.

Thank you for visiting my pain vault with me. I would love to visit yours sometime. But until then… keep making those deposits… I promise they’ll be worth it.

Cheers to the weekend!

Till tomorrow…

ps: I'm a huge Legand of Zelda nerd... My wife compares me to Link because of all my solo adventures... but if you got the Zelda references mixed into the above ramblings... consider yourself a life long friend. 

 

Hook, Line, Sinker

So I felt disappointment for the first time in my entire life about a week ago... I felt caught in an intense emotional fog...

I've thrown around the idea of completing a 100 miler for a while now. Last year was all about pushing the limits and finding myself as a runner. Coming into this year that was the goal... to complete a 100 mile race. So when Mr. John Gregg said... "throw your name in!" (referring to the Wasatch lottery)... I did.

I would like to personally blame this man for this feeling of disappointment... my first feeling of disappointment. Ok... maybe not the first time... and maybe blaming him is a little harsh (considering Wasatch wasn't even on the radar for me...)

Of course I'm just playing. John Gregg is a great runner, great husband (please... correct me if I'm wrong Katie)... and all around awesome guy.

After patiently waiting for the lottery drawing I was a little disappointed when I didn't see my name. Well I did see my last name... they just had the wrong first name in front of "Andrews." Even more disappointing was the fact I passed on the Thunder Rock 100 signup because of the off chance that I did get into Wasatch... I couldn't pay two pricey entry fees within a week of each other. Luckily I was about 4 miles from my car when I found out the terrible, terrible news. The next mile was a pity party, but as soon as I started scampering down the summit of Shackleford at sunset... it all went away. All was right with the world again.

Still, I was hooked. I took the bait. I swallowed the 100 mile lure and was slowly being reeled in... it's just sooooo shiny and sparkly and pretty...

So I made a training plan. After putting it together, I slumped back in my chair. Depressing. This looks miserable. Ugh. I haven't made a training plan in well over a year. Why? Because a piece of paper should not determine my efforts for the day. Last year I ran by how I felt on any particular day. Sure... I threw down long runs when I knew I needed them, but if Saturday wasn't the day for a 30 mile run... maybe Sunday was. Not having a plan works best for me. Earlier last week I was 100% ready to sign up for one in May... that is until this weekend.

After clocking out of work on Friday I headed straight to the state park to follow the plan...

 

For the first hour I ran hard. Killing every climb... destroying every downhill... but it just wasn't fun. It felt like work. I started the climb up Shackleford as the sun was setting. I hit the summit and started chasing the sunset. Boom. Fun again. My mind was so far from that 100 mile training plan it was ridiculous. The next thing I knew... my headlamp was on and it was dark. After being horribly defeated by the deer I was attempting to race... I was back at my car. Dang that felt good!

When my alarm went off Saturday morning... I wasn't all too anxious to get out of bed. That stupid training plan kept popping in my head. "SHUT UP!!! I know I have to go run!!" Any other Saturday I would have hopped right out of bed and been on the trails before sunrise. I started making every excuse I could think of... and then... "BEEP!" My phone went off. Sunny (my snowpacolpyse host mom) texted me asking if I wanted to run. "Yes!" After white iced, rainbow sprinkle donuts and coffee, an unsuccessful shoe shopping experience, Mexican and margaritas with Kati, Erik, and a "I asked for no salt" diva (yes... I went there Sarah Anna) .... Sunny and I hit the trails. A solid +2hr run... the kind of running I absolutely love.

After cleaning up... it was time for guitars, brews, and bros!! Loooooong night of great music, great beers, and great company!

When my alarm went off Sunday morning... I was NOT happy. Ugh. High Gravity... you got me. Not feeling up to par... I lounged around the house and watched the Canadian high school sitcom drama "Degrassi" and some stalker show (she puts up with my running... I put up with her shows... fair trade).

I finally got up and out to the trails. Perfect. Exactly what I needed. I couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable afternoon. The weather was amazing, people were out in the woods hiking with their dogs, every one looked so happy...

 

 

"Is it because it's the next big thing? Life is too short to waste half a year on something that you aren't 100% on... and who said anything about boundaries? There are no boundaries with or without a 100 under your feet."

Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else before it sinks in. Thank you...

The only race that I'm 100% sure that I'm doing is late in the summer and I'm super stoked about it! It's going to be a blast! And I think that's exactly what racing should be... FUN! I'll of course sign up for races as the year progresses... and I've got a good amount of self supported fun runs planned (God willing the first in a few weeks)... but for now... I'm at peace and enjoying running too much to worry about the next big thing to cross off the list.

I'm still carrying around that sparkly fishing lure... but the line has been cut. I'm no longer being drug up to the surface. I've been set free... for now (dun dun dun). Maybe I'll check off that 100 miler this year... maybe not... but what's the rush? This is an endurance thing right?

Till tomorrow...

The Alabama Snowpocalypse Diary

January 28, 2014

10:47am

Dear Diary,

I just left the offices and entered into the warehouse where there is mass chaos. Everyone is yelling and making there way to the front. I am not entirely sure what is going on. I will fall into the crowd and investigate this madness.

10:54am

Dear Diary,

I have surfaced from the dark pits of the warehouse to discover there is snow outside of the facility. It appears to be sticking to the roads. I will soon abandon the facility and set my sights on the safety of my home.

11:03am

Dear Diary,

The country roads are packed. There must be trouble. I will turn on the radio to find out more.

11:19am

Dear Diary,

I have made it onto the interstate 65. There is hardly any traffic. I am confused as to why I am hearing horror stories broadcasted on the radio. Snowpocalypse.

11:29am

Dear Diary,

I just passed over Hwy150. Gridlocked. I am worried the stories I am hearing are true. I must get gas before proceeding to my final destination. I will be forced to stop in Hoover to replenish my fuel source.

11:32am

Deary Diary,

I am at a stand still on the exit ramp. I have made numerous calls to shoe stores inquiring about a pair of running shoes. All attempts have failed. Running home is out of the question without a reliable shoe. My work boots will not suffice.

11:59am

Dear Diary,

I am still on the exit ramp. There is worry the car in front of me will continue to slide backwards until it connects with my car.

1:53pm

Dear Diary,

I have made it into the mall parking lot. I must relieve myself inside and possibly search for food.

2:15pm

Dear Diary,

Food is out of the question. Every thing is shut down. I will continue in my car towards home.

3:30pm

Dear Diary,

I have moved 20ft in the past 1hr15mins. I am caught in a no man's land where there is no possibility of refuel for miles. I am afraid I will run out of fuel.

4:22pm

Dear Diary,

I have consumed most of my rations: a banana and granola bar. I only have gels remaining. I must begin to think of possible shelter.

5:00pm

Dear Diary,

I have obtained an offer from a local resident for housing for the night. I will park at the next safe place and formulate a plan.

6:03pm

Dear Diary,

I have safely parked. I will replenish supplies in the local store before preparing the trek up to the residency.

6:06pm

Dear Diary,

I have messaged the local to inform her of my travel plans. I gathered the necessary supplies: granola, water, and wine. I estimate 6ish miles between my current location and my destination. I am in high spirits.

6:36pm

Dear Diary,

I have been stopped by several motorists. They have inquired about using my phone to contact loved ones. I welcome the break. Running in work boots and jeans is extremely uncomfortable.

6:47pm

Dear Diary,

I have crossed the bridge. There is no movement from the hundred of cars in route. I have passed multiple abandoned cars.

7:00pm

Dear Diary,

There is no hope for the motorists traversing the hill. The brave cars are sliding back down as soon as they start gaining ground.

(Abandoned cars on top of the hill)

7:15pm

Dear Diary,

I am at the base of the neighborhood. Abandoned cars are abundant. I now will begin to climb the many hills of the neighborhood. Wish me luck.

7:30pm

Dear Diary,

The roads are dark and icy. I have reached my destination.

8:00pm

Dear Diary,

I took the warm shower offered to me by the local (Sunny). She now has provided me with hot soup and grilled cheese. I am grateful. There are two other locals residing inside the home. I can only assume these are her offspring.

8:13pm

Dear Diary,

I am full. Homemade cookies have been placed in front of me. I will stick to protocol and consume two to ensure they are safe for further consumption.

9:00pm

Dear Diary,

The wine has been opened. Delightful stories of ultra running and trail running are being shared. All is well with the world.

11:32pm

Dear Diary,

I have retired for the night in the purple room.


January 29, 2014

6:00am

Dear Diary,

I am awake, but there is no movement in the house. I shall stay in the purple room until the locals begin to stir.

7:17am

Dear Diary,

I hear movement. Sunny is preparing coffee, pancakes and sausage.

9:05am

Dear Diary,

The news is broadcasting the snowpocalypse devastation. I pray all is safe.

11:09am

Dear Diary,

We have bundled up and prepared empty backpacks. We are venturing down to the local store for supplies. Mia will accompany Sunny and myself on the trek.

12:04pm

Dear Diary,

We have packed our bags full of supplies and have started the trek back. I have established contact with law enforcement. My brother in law will have his trooper car at the base of the neighborhood. I will hike the supplies up to the residency and trek back to begin the journey to my abandoned car.

12:39pm

We spot an elderly man with a cane at his mailbox. We established contact. We safely aid him as he walks back to his home. He is safe. We carry on.

1:09pm

Dear Diary,

I have said my goodbyes. I am forever grateful to Sunny's family for their hospitality. Hopefully one day I will have the opportunity to repay them for graciously opening their home. I will now stop for a quick snack before continuing my journey.

1:47pm

Dear Diary,

I have established contact with my brother in law. I am currently in route to my car.

2:09pm

Dear Diary,

I have set off for my home. I am hopeful.

2:40pm

Dear Diary,

This will be my last entry. I have safely arrived at my destination. I am home. I am safe. I am blessed.


The Alabama Snowpocalypse. There is no one to blame. It was a freak system. It is not the meteorologists fault. The temps were below freezing and within an hour of snowfall, roads were frozen over completely. Other parts of the country may make fun of us for the state of emergency due to 1in of snow... but we as a state... we are not prepared for this type of situation. It RARELY happens. I am more than thankful for the kindness of Sunny and her family for opening their home to me. I cannot begin to thank them enough. They are a part of the local trail running group BUTS and until this past Sunday on top of Shackleford... I have never officially met them. The trail running community never ceases to amaze me. Throughout the past 48hrs I witnessed first hand so many people helping out their fellow neighbor and have heard of so many more amazing stories of genuine kindness. I will continue praying for all those who were caught in the storm with no place to go. We should take this as a lesson learned... to always be prepared for anything.

Till tomorrow...

Keeping It Simple

Let's be honest with each other for a second... I'm a grandpa.

It's Friday night... 7pm... and I'm grocery shopping. EXTREME!!!! Actually... it's not so bad. We are walking through Publix, I just picked up a huge package of Sour Patch Kids, and just made eye contact with a gorgeous Belgian... and when I say gorgeous Belgian... I mean the variety pack of beer. This is a typical Friday night for us.

On weekends that Kati has to work... I get a weekend pass to do as I please. This means late nights getting smashed with my friends, strip clubs, and hard core drugs...

Actually it means none of the above (grandpa remember?). It simply means I'll be in my robe, house slippers, and in bed before 10pm and get to run for hours on end without feeling guilty that I'm leaving my wife home alone. Keeping it simple.

Saturday:

After going into work for a few hours early Saturday morning to run the monthly alarm tests, it was trail time!

I work close to Tannehill State Park. By no means is it my favorite place to run. It is a smaller park, decent singletrack with some wider trails. To get any decent mileage out there, you have to string together some loops and run them a few times. However, Tannehill has so much history behind it.

I parked in my normal spot near the Blacksmith shop and popped in to see what he was making. After chatting for a few moments I hit the trails. I started out on the wider jeep trail until it hit the singletrack. A few miles in I came across the slave cemetery.

 

I love this place. It's extremely peaceful. The South has so much history. I'm not saying all of it was good, but show me a history that was. I'm proud as hell to be from the South. We, as a region and country, have progressed so much, and I'm so thankful to live in a place that believes in equality. Hopefully we will continue to progress as a region and country and continue the fight for other types of equality as well.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

I sat around a few minutes praying and paying my respects to the dead before heading back into the forest.

I hit a few switchbacks before rounding off my 2.5hr run out at Tannehill.

I usually don't break up my runs but on days where I have other obligations (haircut)... sometimes it happens. I grabbed a glorious double bacon cheeseburger on my way to get my hur did... and before I knew it... I was at the north trail head at Oak Mt. A solid 3.5hr run would have me back at home, showered up with pizza in the oven before the wifey got home.

I didn't have a specific route I wanted to take. I simply wanted to do a lot of climbing and be on top of Eagle's Nest at sunset. I started on the Blue trail and headed up to King's Chair for a brief peek out over the valley. I ran hard along the ridge of the Blue trail until I hit the Orange/White connector. At the end, I decided to blast down the Red trail. I knew if I went down Red I'd have to climb Shackleford. I love running the Shackleford ridge during the winter because all the trees are dead and it gives way to some amazing views. I dropped down the long Yellow/White connector climb and continued on Yellow around Tranquility. I refilled my water bottle in the bathroom before heading back onto the trail. I heard some hammering up near the old abandoned cabins so of course I had to make the steep climb up through the pathless woods to investigate. The Boy Scouts were fixing up some of the old broken down cabins. Well... I say the Boy Scouts... the Boy Scout's dads were doing most of the work... the boys were mostly huddled around the fire pit. I followed the gravel road up to the beginning of the Lightning MTB trail. I chatted with two MTB riders as I downed a salted caramel GU. I took the horse trail to the base of the Y/W connector to ensure another good climb.

After surfacing from the climb, I ran the ridge until I hit the Orange connector to hop over to the Blue trail. I was in the shadows now. I was racing the sun at this point. You can see Eagle's Nest almost the entire time you are running the Blue ridge. I was keeping time by the amount of sunlight left on Eagle's Nest tree line. I finally got to the base of Eagle's nest before making the steep climb up. I scaled to the top, climbed the rock facing, and looked out over the horizon. I tossed on my headlamp and started the decent right as the sun started to disappear over Shackleford...

Sunday:

I got up early to catch a sunrise... well... I didn't get up early enough to actually see it, but I did spend a lovely 2hrs cruising some of Alabama's finest single track. It was perfect to say the least!

I got back to the house in time to have a cup of coffee with Kati before she headed off to work. I then proceeded to enjoy my bacon, toast, and orange juice breakfast before curling up with the cat for a 2hr nap. I awoke from my slumber, cleaned up around the house, took the recycling, and ate lunch. What to do now? I guess I could go back out and run...

I parked at the beach area, laced up the shoes and headed back out onto the singletrack. There were soooo many people out hiking today! I stopped to take a picture for an older couple who had just climbed to the overlook on the Green trail (quite impressive btw!). We chatted about the crazy Alabama weather (is weather the go-to language for older folk?) and then we parted ways. I debated whether I really wanted to go down to Peavine Falls. Beautiful weekends attract so many hikers to Peavine. "It would be nice to soak my feet..."

After descending down to the base of the falls, I removed my socks and shoes and soaked my tired feet for a few minutes. BRRRRRRRR!!!! The water was freezing... but relieving at the same time. I sat on a rock to let my feet air dry before re-lacing and heading up out of Peavine.

I finally got back down to my car. I threw my water bottle into the back, grabbed a koozie, and headed down to the water. I peeled away some trees sagging down into the water to reveal an ice cold beer. You really don't need to pack a cooler in the winter if you have a good hiding spot near the edge of the lake. I finished my weekend off basking in the warm sun with an ice cold brew in hand...

(Well... I really finished it off with an Epsom salt bath and an ice cold brew in hand... but I'll say it was by the lake... a little more manlier that way...)

This weekend was all about keeping it simple. I put in a little over 10hrs on the trail. No specific routes, time goals or mileage. Just pure and simple enjoyment of being outside and on the trails. Honestly... I think it's better that way.

I guess it's about time to throw in a Red Box, pour another Belgian, slip off the house slippers, and call it a night...

Till tomorrow...