Virginia

Freezing temps awaited me at 6:55 a.m. as I set off down Watauga Road, directly into snow coming down at a 45 degree angle. After a first mile out and then back, the rest of the course runs back and forth on the Virginia Creeper, a rail-to-trail.

The west end brings beautiful snowscapes from the trestle and through the forest. Dang malfunctioning Olympus!

I find the fresh, powdery snow difficult to walk or jog on. As I make my first turnaround on this west section I notice that snow melting on my shirt has begun to chill me. I wonder if I can endure five or six more hours of this. Eventually my core temp rises enough so I can tolerate it. I grow so accustomed to the snowscapes that when I come upon the crossing at Meade Drive, the dark asphalt strikes me as surreal.

First, a mile out and back on Watauga Road Monica Bracken nearing a top 10 finish
above two photos by Peter and Monica Bracken, courtesy of Frank Kibler

Heading out the east end of the course I find the terrain showing a little more variety: a large pasture, huge rock formations, the West Holston River. Soon after I cross a particularly grand trestle I find the aid station, just before the 13.5 turnaround. Heading back to the staging area fatigue begins setting in, exacerbated by the cold. I have to focus on keeping moving so as not to become a Homo sapiensicle.

Snowfall lets up a bit. The trail begins showing a few patches of slush and some mud. Nearing m17 a herd of cows brunch in the pasture. They also create a Region of Code Red Toxic Bovine Air. I watch my step. I reach the staging area and set out a second time on the west end. I find more slush, more mud, more packed snow on the trestles.

By my second turnaround on this segment, most snow has melted. Temps hang in the mid-30's. I don't get to stop at the staging area; I have to repeat the first .6 mile, turn around once more, and finally I get to cross the finish line.

I record my worst clock time since Wyoming and Colorado

and

I enjoyed this day immensely, far more than most.

Genuinely nice people, a refreshing low-key event, beauty of a course, slush and all.
One of the few I may repeat.

AK | AL | AR | AZ | CA | CO | CT | DC | DE | FL | GA | HI | IA ID | IL | IN | KS | KY | LA | MA | MD | ME | MI | MN | MO | MS MT | NC | ND | NE | NH | NJ | NM | NV | NY | OH | OK | OR | PA RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VA | VT | WA | WI | WV | WY    Please sign my Dreambook 50&DC Guestbook. And read others' comments. 50 & DC Starting Line | Events Completed | Biography | Finish Line

Chuck's 50 & DC Marathons Starting Line UCSC/ACSC  |  YIA  |  AHS Class of 1974   Camp Wiregrass | Coral Gables Congregational Church Concerts  |  Is There Anybody Out There?  |  Presidential Election 2004 www.chuckbryant.com all images and text © chuck bryant unless otherwise noted