September 23, 2006
Dupont Waterfall Run

A beautiful, sunny day greeted us at the Hooker Falls parking lot.
There were no scantily clad overly made up ladies of the evening
selling wares of the flesh despite the name. Due to race organizer
Adam's inopportune absence, only four runners participated.
The low turnout didn't dampen our spirits but I'd like to see 20
runners next time. We split into teams of two, which was a wise
decision as the run became as much an adventure race as it was a
run. The distance appeared to be 22 miles but they were a long 22
miles. The course was tougher than the Dupont Marathon.

Carl and Sam went ahead of Rob and myself up the paved road. We all
missed the first turn. We looked at it but it was unmarked so we
went past. Rob and I backtracked and concluded that the trail was
correct so we took it. We came back to the point were we turned
around and proceeded across the road. The trails were somewhat
rocky at this point but mostly runnable with the exception of a few
short, steep climbs.

Dupont is full of sand. It has more sand than some beaches.
Fortunately, the sand is gentle on the feet until it gets deeper and
then it tends to suck you doen and you work a bit harder to keep
going. Corn Mill Shoals trail is a nice wide trail until it
seemingly deadends at a stream. I looked around for a way to cross
without getting wet and figured there was no way around it. Rob and
I crossed at a shallow point but the current and the slick rock just
about sent me on my ass. Once you get your feet wet you don't mind
doing it again.

The trail continued on beautiful single track which I'd never
experienced since I'd always wussed out on the stream crossing. The
climbing had begun. The first waterfall was soon to come. Bridal
Veil Falls drops over a large slab of granite. The water was
plentiful and the most I'd seen at this waterfall. We didn't get in
and swim this time.

The run took us past Lake Julia, bluer than the sky above and
inviting for any and all watersports. The trail crossed a bridge
and we entered an extremely lush section and then started ascending.
My shortcoming is running long inclines. I slowed Rob down a bit
but he didn't seem to mind. He knew the value of traveling slowly,
having completed the Leadville 100 in August.

The climbing continued until we hit a dirt road. It was about two
miles to the next trail. We came upon an unnamed trailhead and were
tempted to take it. Looking at the contours of the map it seemed to
be in the wrong spot so we continued on, hoping we wouldn't regret
turning. We made the right choice and turned down an extremely
rocky trail. We moved with haste and dexterity about the myriad
rocks. It seemed like a dry riverbed and a good warmup for
Pitchell.


Another stream crossing led us to Wintergreen Falls where we heard
voices in the distance. I figured it was some kids playing in the
falls but it was the other team of runners, Carl and Sam. Carl was
under the falls which were impaling his body with great force. I
slid into the pool and had my breath taken away. The crisp, clear
water was refreshing but quite cool. I got partway under the falls
for the photo op then struggled to exit the pool on the slippery
rock.

The falls would now come more quickly. It took 16 miles to get to
the second one but in 6 more we'd have visited them all. We all
swam at Grassy Branch as well. Again the rock proved a challenge to
traverse in and out of the pool. Beyond the covered bride lay High
Falls. The water was stronger here and Carl climbed up a bit and
slid back down.

We climbed up a steep trail and headed for Triple Falls. A steep
trail brought us between levels. It was on to Hooker Falls and the
finish. After a quick jaunt on the Galax trail, we passed through
the parking lot and went on to Hooker falls. We finished back at
the lot. The traverse took 5:50 to complete, well beyond our
estimates of 4:00-4:30.

This is a highly recommended run but don't underestimate the
difficulty of terrain and the adventurous aspect as well. Some
trails are a bit confusing but this just adds to the experience.

Raging Bull

September 17, 2006
Bridge to Bridge Incredible Challenge "100 Miles of Pure Hill"

The last big bicycling challenge of the year is the Bridge to Bridge Incredible Challenge. This ride seems to challenge me more than any other ride throughout the season. It doesn't climb as much as some other rides but most of the climbing is very difficult. There are bunny hills in the first half but the second half is a completely different ride. As for the finish, there is nothing like it.

800 cyclists lined up at the starting point. We were off just after the crack of dawn. The potential for multiple rider crashes is highest in the beginning of a mass start. There is little room for error with so many bodies so close together.

The peloton left downtown Lenoir on its journey toward Grandfather Mountain. I usually stay back and let the main pack go ahead to avoid accidents but decided to stay with the main group this time. Two miles in, we traveled along a five lane road with gentle hills. I could actually see the front of the group. The peloton moves much like a living, breathing organism as it undulates over the crests and troughs of the byway. It's akin to a school of fish and when there is danger it reacts much like the fish as well. Repeated chants of "slowing" fill the air as riders hammer down their brakes as the road narrows or a rider goes down. This was a new experience for me and I have the confidence and ability to avoid other riders but I'm still not so sure everyone has the ability to avoid running into me.

I tried to stay with my friend Bridgette but she was simply too fast for me. However, it did make me ride much faster out of the gate and I kept up a 20 mile/hour pace past the 50 mile marker. I rode with a couple of other friends briefly; Caroline, an ultra distance cyclist and Derel, both of whom trained with me over the winter at Asheville Velosports. Derel really impressed me, even passing me on an upslope. He had lost a sizable amount of weight since winter and gained an incredible amount of strength. Kudos to Lesli at Velosports for working with him all year.

The first half of the ride is fairly easy. The real ride is in the 2nd half. With construction on the Parkway, however, some more difficult riding was replaced with basic terrain riding. This placed the big climb at 59 miles instead of at 52 miles. The fastest I'd ever ridden a 100k was 4 hours flat. I reached the 100k point at 3:15, setting a new personal best.

The climb up route 181 goes on and on ad infinitum. A rest stop is at the bottom and top with two more during the climb. It dulls your senses over 13 grueling miles, with just a few brief recovery spots. I knew I'd be passed by dozens of riders on this section and I was right. The climb was very slow but I felt much better than I did last year.

The Parkway section provides relief from the enduring effort of 181. We did more descending than climbing. After catching a brief glimpse of our destination, we approached the technological marvel called Linn Cove Viaduct. Since Grandfather Mountain is a sensitive ecological area, the road was elevated around the mountain. Prefab sections were lowered into place, fitting perfectly and treading lightly on the terrain. The unobstructed views were absolutely sensational!! Often the views are hazy but not on this day.

Beyond the viaduct lies the longest and fastest downhill of the ride. The only problem is that it crosses several bridges which have uneven joints. I opted for slowing a bit and then jumping the joints. Mountain biking experience definitely came into play.

Route 221 usually has a wonderful downhill but that was part of the section that was rerouted. Also rerouted were the two toughest climbs on the Parkway. I didn't miss them much. 221 snakes around below the Parkway, passing waterfalls and ducking overhanging boulders. It leads to the entrance of Grandfather Mountain Park. On 221, at about mile 91, something didn't feel right in my back tire. It was rapidly losing air. Fortunately, the rest stop was within sight. I'm not terribly astute at changing tubes so it took me 20 minutes. I was having the ride of my life so the flat was unfortunate but I could still atone for it.

In 2004, I took 48 minutes and 12 breaks in the last two miles. In 2005, I improved to 30 minutes with four stops. This year, I wanted to stop just twice. Mind you, these two miles are like no other road miles and they come after 100 miles of primarily climbing. The grades reach past 20%. I started up slowly, gearing down to easy gear early on. One woman passed me but I caught her after a couple of switchbacks. After the one mile to go point, virtually every switchback had one to four riders resting up to gain the strength to make it to the next switchback. I just kept pedaling, refusing to stop unless absolutely necessary.

It became unnecessary to stop. I made it past the point where I thought I was certain to stop and eyed the top of the climb. Many riders had given up and walked their bikes up the hill. I passed them all without stopping. The final grade was the toughest but at least you know there is no further to go. I pedaled up behind a box truck used for transporting bicycles. However, another box truck was coming down leaving about 18 inches of space between the two. Of course this was just before the grade hit 20% and there was no way to stop and start again at that point. The two trucks stopped and the drivers conversed briefly. I let out a %*&#@ and they passed just in time so that I didn't have to stop pedaling.

I could hear the cheers of the spectators at the top. The finish line is very spectator friendly and the onlookers are treated to all sorts of attempts to summit by riders. Some just make it, some push hard at the end, some walk. Emotions run the gamut and breath is in short supply. I blew past the truck and two riders in front of it and made it all the way without stopping. It took 23 minutes to go two miles without stopping, averaging less than 5 miles an hour but that mattered little to me.

I didn't make my overall goal of 7 1/2 hours but that also mattered very little. Minus the flat tire, it took 7:36. Last year's time was 8:02. Next year I'll go for 7:00.

The ride finishes a good distance from the start and a chartered bus is available for the return trip. I used it the last two years but this year would be different. I would ride back to Lenoir.

The descent on 181 was unbelievably enjoyable. It made all the suffering worthwhile. The little hills below the mountain felt a bit larger on the return trip. I took my time but still made it back in 2 1/2 hours. Riders who took the bus were arriving at the parking lot as I pulled in. My legs still felt fresh after 147 miles so I went for a brief jog.

Raging Bull

September 2, 2006
Waterrock Knob

I'd ridden many 100 mile rides and even a 121 and 135 miler. So why not go for a 150 miler? And to keep it challenging, doing the entire ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway sounded like a suitable endeavor.

I'd just bought a new LED headlight and was itching to try it out on the tunnels. LED's may have a long burn time but they do not throw off much light. I could barely tell it was even on. I get a strange sensation while riding through a tunnel with almost no light. It feels like I'm floating above the road. Down doesn't quite feel straight down so maintaining balance can be a bit of an issue.

The climb up to Pisgah gets easier each time but still requires a bit of fortitude. Upon exiting the final tunnel of the climb, I felt relieved. I would have a level section followed by a downhill ahead of me. The downhill wouldn't last long and I was soon climbing again but it wasn't constant like the 3,000 foot climb to Pisgah. Looking Glass Rock was obscured by clouds. The usually scenic vista was awash in white. The waterfall by Graveyard Fields was roaring and could be heard long before it could be seen.

The climbing continued past Devil's Courthouse. A series of ups and downs led me into the clouds and a fine mist. The closer I got to Watterock Knob, the greater the precipitation became. The temperature dropped as well so I simply turned around at Waterrock, the highest point on the Parkway, and proceeded downhill. Visibility was only about 100 feet anyway.

The ride back down went much more quickly. I almost stayed with the motorcyclists. The raindrops began to sting at about 30 miles an hour but soon I exited the clouds and it became a comfortable, sunny day. From just above Graveyard Fields I began a four mile descent with ample amounts of speed. A bit more climbing and a screaming downhill awaits. The tunnels pass by in a blur on the way down. Lights aren't even necessary. After the tunnels, an even steeper downhill leads you to the French Broad river.

The section between the river and the Folk Art Center is my normal stomping ground. I cruised through it to complete a 100 mile ride. Now I had to decide whether or not to continue up toward Mitchell or just ride back to the river a couple of times. I used good judgment and wussed out on the Mitchell section. I didn't have enough in my legs to do the 13 mile climb to Craggy and then on to Mitchell. I'll do the Waterrock/Mitchell ride next year when I have more daylight.

The ride to the river and back twice was difficult enough. I was still four miles short of my goal so I did a short out and back and had my first 150 miler. It took 10 1/2 hours but I felt alright afterward, just a bit tired. I had just completed a 107 miler, a 101 miler and a 150 miler over the course of 15 days.

Raging Bull

August 27, 2006
Hilly Hellacious Hundred

Perfect weather for a perfect ride greeted us at the beginning of the Hilly Hellacious Hundred. This is a ride where I really like to push myself. It's extremely challenging and relentless with climbing. All you get is a brief warmup period and then you're hit with one of the most challenging climbs around--Bearwallow Mountain.

The climb starts out with a moderate climb, slowly increasing in grade and then you get hit with a beyond category climb. It peaked at around 18% and at the top had a sustained 12%. Some riders simply gave up trying to pedal and opted for the walking option. Others stood up and used all the weight they could to plow through it. I just kept spinning in easy gear and made it much more easily than last year. I actually had a burst of energy at the top of the steep grade and did a moderate sprint. The hill continued for more than I remembered it so I was regretting the mini sprint.

Descents used to scare the piss out of me. I just started using the aero position. On a 200 pound rider, the aero position means an extreme amount of speed. I don't use it unless it's during a relatively straight stretch. For the first time ever, I was stymied on a downhill because the other riders were riding too cautiously. I guess I've overcome my fear and become a bit of a speed demon at last. Barreling down a mountainside at 40 miles an hour now seems natural.

Apple country is a bit flatter with small rolling hills and one fairly long climb. I always remember the two toughest climbs of any ride but the others tend to fade into the back of my mind. The hill wasn't steep but carried on for about two miles. They take your picture at the top. They never take it on the flats. That just wouldn't be prudent.

The descent to Bat Cave-Chimney Rock-Lake Lure is fast as well but has a couple of hairpin turns. I still take it easy on these. Route 64 winds gently so I passed many riders on this section. The 100k turns left and the 100 miler turns right at Bat Cave. Yes, there really is a bat cave. It just recently opened to the public but only on select days. It's the largest granite fissure cave in North America.

Lake Lure has been named one of the top five lakes in America. Summer tends to be a bit hazy in the mountains but the views were unobstructed as it was a clear day. Rocky cliffs jut up around Lake Lure, setting up a backdrop that rivals the lakes of Italy and Switzerland. It's tempting to stop and soak up the views for an extended period of time.

After crossing the dam, I had the unusual situation of being slowed down by an automobile. Cyclists rarely pass cars on the open road but many of us were forced to pass. The driver obviously had no experience driving curvy mountain roads and was being overly cautious.

My mind was now concerned with the long climb up to route 9. There were some other climbs between myself and the big one but I was fixated on that one. The heat started kicking in at around 85 degrees. The sun was beating down and that always takes its toll on me. The moderate climbs leading up to the big one were taking their toll as well.

The big climb was upon me. I dropped to granny gear and plugged away. At least a dozen riders passed on the lower section. Fatigue had set in. I struggled until the entrance of the gated community. The slope became less demanding and then I started to improve on speed. A couple of level sections allowed recovery time and the last half mile actually seemed pretty easy. I passed several riders in that stretch and did not see them for the rest of the ride.

The coming miles were to be solitary ones. Some of the steepest climbs were saved for the end of the ride. Steep rolling hills were omnipresent. Unfortunately, momentum was not enough to propel me half way up those hills.

The heat and constant climbing wore me down but I still made it through, setting a personal best. My goal was 7 hours and a came in at 7:05, 25 minutes better than the last two years. The Hilly Hellacious only climbs 8,000 feet but is actually more difficult than the Blue Ridge Brutal, which climbs over 12,000 feet.

Raging Bull