Race report soon....

I will be posting a race report of my run in a couple of days.


5-19-2011

Day 162 - Last hike

Today was my last hike. That just sounded really weird. It was my last hike before my race. The last couple of days the weather has been perfect. It was a little windy and that keeps the bugs away. There was no one up at Pulpit Rock when I got there. Then a hiker came through and we talked for a few minutes. It is always nice talking to local hikers and learning more about the trails in the area. We wound up walking back to the parking lot talking about - what else - running and hiking. I really can not wait to do a long day hike after my race. Another great night on the mountain - any day or night you can get to the mountain it is a great day!!!


5-11-2011 - 3.2 miles - 1:20 - hike/walk/stopped to enjoy view

Chipmunk

The view from Pulpit Rock

The view from Pulpit Rock

The view from Pulpit Rock

Hawk

Hawk

Hawk

Day 161 - No running

No running tonight. I did go to the local track meet with the little one to watch some events. I might do one more hike but no more running until race day. Below is a picture of a spider taking care of a stink bug that was on the fence at the track meet.

Spider and Stink Bug

5-10-2011

Day 160 - Easy hike

Tonight I went for an easy hike up to Pulpit Rock.

5-9-2011 - 3.2 miles - 55:00 - run

Day 159 - Another easy run

Today I ran to the Pinnacle and back from the parking lot. Not to much action out on the trail. This will one of my last runs before my race. Everything is really getting green. A nice easy day on the trail!


5-8-2011 - 9 miles - 2:10 - run

View from Pulpit Rock

View from Pulpit Rock

View from Pulpit Rock

View from Pulpit Rock

View from Pinnacle

Copperhead

Day 158 - Slow run

Today I was just running for time on feet. These runs are nice because you can slow down and enjoy the views more. It was warm when I started and then when I hit the top of the mountain it really cooled off when the sun went in. When I got to the Pinnacle the sun came back out and warmed up fast. You can see the rain in a distance in the first picture. Another great day to be in the mountains!

5-7-2011 - 8 miles - 1:40 - run

View from Pinnacle

View from Pinnacle

View from Pinnacle

View from Pinnacle

View from Pinnacle

View from Pinnacle

View from Pinnacle

View from Pinnacle

View from Pulpit Rock

View from Pulpit Rock

Day 157 - Friday night run

Tonight I went out for a nice paced run with my friend Donny. We ran into my dad out on the run. He was just finishing up a bike ride. After taking for about 15 min. we headed back to town. Then ran back to Donny house then I had to run home. When I had 2 miles to go I thought I am going to run as hard a I can. I wound up running 13:29 for the last 2 miles. It was a fun night of running.

5-6-2011 - 11.6 miles - 1:40 - run

Day 156 - Easy run

I ran from home up to Pulpit Rock and back. Nice easy pace run with some walking on the steeper hills.

5-5-2011 - 7 miles - 1:10 - run

Day 155 - No run day

It was a busy night with the children and I wasn't making any time to run. The taper is slowly starting.

5-4-2011

Day 154 - Fast run

Tonight I wanted to get one more fast run in before I really start to slow down for my race. I picked a 7 mile course that I run quite often when I want to see where I am at with my speed. It was a lot warmer out tonight which was good for some last minute heat training. I pushed the whole run until mile 6 where I was stopped in my tracks to a loose dog. I think is was a pit bull mixed with something but I wasn't sure. Someone left their house door open and the dog came out to someone that just pulled up in a car. The dog didn't come near me but I wasn't going to make any move towards it. After the owner got the dog and went back in the house I was on my way for the last mile back home. I had a good run and was happy with the time.

5-3-2011 - 7 miles - 47:00 - run

Day 153 - Easy walk

Tonight I went for an easy hike or I guess it was more of a walk. It was really nice going a little slower and hearing all the different birds. After I made it up to Pulpit Rock it started to rain a little harder than I thought it was going to. I quick put my camera in a plastic bag and stuffed it in my back pack. Then I ran the rest of the way back so my camera wouldn't get damaged from the rain.

5-2-2011 - 3 miles - 1:00 - walk

View from Pulpit Rock

View from Pulpit Rock

Day 152 - Snake & Bat

Today I did the same run as yesterday - from home to the Pinnacle and back. Today is the second day in a row that I saw a snake. Today it was a copper head and I didn't have my camera. I guess I better start carrying a camera if I don't want to see any more snakes:-) When I got to the Pinnacle someone said watch out for the snake or snakes and I thought they said that just to be careful because they are in that area a lot. I said to them did you see any snakes today? The guy said yes right near where you just ran. All I can say is welcome back snakes it has been a quite winter without you - now lets just get along for the next couple of months;-)

A couple hours later I went for a hike and did my regular 5 mile loop. With only about a mile to go a bat flew over top of me. I kept an eye on it while it was flying in front of me. I kind of had a feeling it was going to be heading back my way. In about a minute the bat turned around and was coming right back in my direction. I had my video on my camera ready and it flew right over top of me and I could see it right above me on the video screen. Bad thing was I didn't push the button to record so I didn't get any video. Maybe next time. I had a good hike and my car was the only one in the parking lot.

5-1-2011 - 12 miles - 2:06 - run
5-1-2011 - 5 miles - 1:13 - fast hike

View from Pulpit Rock

View from Pulpit Rock

Hamburg Reservoir 

Hamburg Reservoir 

Day 151 - First snake

Today I didn't have much time to run. I thought if I am going to run it better be very rocky to get use to the rocks in my race coming up. I ran from my house to the Pinnacle and back. It is a very rocky run an you have to keep focus the whole time you are on the Appalachian Trail or you will stumble or fall. When I made it to the Pinnacle I saw my first black snake of the year. No photos - I didn't run with the camera today. Now every stick on the ground is looking like a snake. Making it home with a good solid run was nice. Later on in the day I went to REI to picked up a new headlamp, a double water bottle back pack and some gels. Now I almost have all my supplies I will need but I'm sure I will forget something.


4-30-2011 - 12 miles - 1:51 - run

Day 150 - No run day

No running today. My right knee was a little sore after carry my daughter up the mountain yesterday but I was going to take the day off anyway.

4-29-2011

Day 149 - Fun hike

Tonight I asked my youngest daughter to go for a hike and look for salamanders and she said "yes" woohoo! We got some old sneakers on so we could get muddy and play in the running water - all my sneakers are mud ready so I didn't have to look to far. One thing I said to her if we go I am going to do what I have been doing for the last couple of years - carry her to the top and she said yes. I only do it about once a year - not every time we go for a hike. I was excited because I don't know how many more years I can do this. She is 55lbs plus my back pack, camera, phone, water and some candy I think it was closer to 60lbs. We drove up to the parking lot. She wore the pack on her back, started the watch, hopped on my back, locked my arms around her legs and we were off. My breathing was fine the whole time to the top which is about 1.45 miles from the gate to the last pole at the top. We stayed on the road that I use for hill repeats. She did ask to walk a couple times but she said it was ok to keep going. Once at the top we stopped the watch and gave a high five to each other. Just this little hike we really worked as a team and it was a lot of fun and her feet never touched the ground - yes I am very proud of this hike. From there we went over to check the view out at Pulpit Rock. I thought she would of wanted to go back down the road but she wanted to go on the AT which is a little longer. On our way down we saw a salamander and in another 100 yards we saw a porcupine. It was right in the middle of the trail. We had to detour around and make our own trial because it was not moving. After we made it around I said lets run for a little. Once we crossed the bridge we kick out 3 deer and they took off running to the other side of the road. One more salamander sighting on the way back to the car and we were done for the night. It was a great night on the trail with my little one. 15 days and 5 hours to go.

4-28-2011 - 1.45 miles - 26:13 - hike with extra weight

4-28-2011 - 2.50 miles - 1:04 - hike

The view from Pulpit Rock

The view from Pulpit Rock

The view from Pulpit Rock

Salamander

Salamander

Porcupine

Day 148 - Easy pace

Tonight I met my friend Donny for a trail run. We started at the Hamburg Reservoir parking lot. The run led us up to the AT and hopped on the blue trail down to the Blue Rocks campground. There was only one family that was camping. We power hiked up the yellow to the AT. We skipped the Pinnacle view tonight and headed back to Pulpit Rock. It was very cloudy and looked like it was going to rain but it never did. We ran down the road to the parking lot. Nice easy pace tonight and getting more time in the heat was great.

4-27-2011 - 7.50 miles - 2:00 - run/hike

Cloudy view from Pulpit Rock

Cloudy view from Pulpit Rock

Day 147 - Fast hike

Tonight I went for a fast hike on my usual 5 mile loop. I pushed it right from the start and if felt good the whole time without running a step. With the change in temps I need to get some heat training in with what time I have left.

4-26-2011 - 5 miles - 1:09 - hike

Hamburg Reservoir

Day 146 - Loon

Tonight I was planning on doing 15 miles. When I was out for about 5 or 6 miles I saw - what I was told - is a loon. I thought it was a big fish at first until I looked closer and its head popped out of the water. I watched it for about 10 min. The water was so clear you could watch it swim everywhere. Once I got moving again I thought I was going to cut it short and call it a night. After I made it home I got another mile and half with the girls while they rode their bikes. The heat is here just in time for the taper.

4-25-2011 - 9 miles - 1:40 - run