More monthly media

A couple quick trail running videos to inspire...

First, "The Love of Running" by Walter Edwards:




I just wish it weren't all in black-and-white...I guess it's cool and "vintage" and all, or whatever...but I want to see what those trails look like! A huge part of the reason I love trail running is the colorful scenery!

And one more short one--"The Lightest Step" by Bengt Säll:



Nice shots of the trails--and also the shoes. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was a Salomon commercial promoting the S-Lab. By the way--check out Bengt's website. He has some pretty sick photos and such other things.

Fayetteville Trail

Distance: 3.96 miles from end to end (out-and-back = 7.92 miles)
Difficulty Rating: Strenuous

Fayetteville Trail is one of those trails with one end at the top of the rim and the other end down near the river. With one side starting at Kaymoor Top (1950 ft.) and the other dumping into Fayette Station Road (1125 ft.), the net change in elevation is about 825 feet. Steep hills and varying plant communities keep it an engaging workout, both physically and visually. Fayetteville Trail intersects New River Bridge Trail, Park Loop Trail, Timber Ridge Trail, and Long Point Trail.

Enduring, for sure!

A video of trail running inspiration for April! "Grandmothers of Endurance," by Trac 2.0 Productions features two great women trail runners, Barb Macklow and Vicki Griffiths, who are 76 and 67 years old, respectively! It's a great encouragement to me to know I still may be able to enjoy my love for running the trails well into my maturity. Thanks, Barb and Vicki! You two are great inspirations!

Kates Plateau Trail

Distance: 2 miles from the trailhead to the 3 mile loop = 7 miles (count the two mile segment as four, since you’ll be running it back from the loop)

NPS’ Difficulty Rating:  Strenuous

Not as easily accessible as trails in the Canyon Rim, Kates Plateau has a more wild and remote feel than many of the other better-travelled trails in the New River Gorge. You may find more opportunity for spotting wildlife here than on other trails. Wet and hilly, this trail begins a gradual climb over a couple miles until it reaches a 3-mile loop with some short but steep ups and downs, proving to be an exciting but challenging run for runners used to more level grounds. The trail markings and the trail itself aren’t always obvious, so be prepared with a good trail map and compass just in case you get turned around. Doing the loop twice (reverse for variety) makes for a great 10-mile course

Prelude to a New, Old Post

It's snowing! I knew we wouldn't be able to get by the way it's been going without it catching up to us. We've had the warmest March on record, I think, but, alas, I've not taken advantage. Part of not getting out to the Gorge to run was because of homework, part of that was trying to save money by not driving so much, part of that was the rest of life. Point is, though, I haven't run in the Gorge since last January--although I did run a tiny bit when I went back to Tennessee over break. Went out with some cool people, met the director of Wild Trails (a non-profit in Chattanooga dedicated to "promot[ing] the use, expansion, and protection of trails in greater Chattanooga" and also met Jennifer Pharr Davis, the record holder for fastest assisted thru hike of the Appalachian Trail! I think I even got my photo in a magazine somehow (someone told me they saw it recently, but I haven't seen it myself). Surely not because of my trail running prowess. Basically, I was at the right place at the right time. 

This afternoon's snowflakes brought my attention to the beautiful running weather I've missed, and it reminded me I still need to finish the trail review of Kates Plateau that I started last January. Wow. January. I'm way behind...but I have finished the text! Now just to get the pictures set in the right places. She's comin.