February 3, 2007
Thermal Belt Rail Trail Ultra

I looked at the thermometer-20 degrees, ouch! I was in no rush to hit the trail. Greenbrier will be a flat rail trail so I figured I should get in some time on the flat. The plan was either to run it once and ride it once or to run it twice. Since I didn't sign up for Uwharrie on time, I was hoping to get in my own ultra this day.

The drive to Rutherford County passed a number of clearcuts along the road. Many mountains had been stripped completely of their precious trees. Rutherford also boasts the highest unemployment rate in WNC, and the greatest number of meth lab busts in the state.

I arrived after 10:00, which was fine considering the chilly weather. A hawk greeted me as I got out of the car. I started in an urban section where the trail ran between two motor roads. Only a quarter mile in, I passed a homeless hangout consisting of two cinder blocks and a clear plastic lean-to. The trail ran through a sparsely populated neighborhood for a bit and then through an industrial sector. This area used to be replete with furniture and textile mills but most have been shut down and many have been demolished. Some mill towns have become ghost towns.

Further along, the trail finally got rural. I scared up a pair of vultures and would do so again on the repeat voyage. Yes, the suspense is over. I ran it twice. The views opened up a bit and distant mountains made their presence known. I had read that many pines had fallen across the trail. I saw only one and it obscured only half of the trail.

Since it ran near to many homes, I expected dogs to run out on the trail after me. I wasn't disappointed, they barked and growled but none came very close to me. I hit the turn around, which I thought was four miles but it took a full hour. How could it take an hour to go four, flat miles? It wasn't entirely flat but had very modest elevation changes. The supposed halfway point was actually 5 1/2 miles from that end, not 4.

The trail stopped at a sawmill. Apparently, they still use the rail line to the north, which is a shame because the scenery is far more compelling. It follows a stream and passes many hills and mountains. I snacked and headed back south. The same dogs had something to say to me again.
The return was otherwise uneventful and I reached the car at two hours.

South of the car, the winds actually picked up. There were more trees in the rural section to block the wind. The trail followed the road for a while and then veered off a bit along a wooded area. Garbage was strewn all around and several camps were apparent. Trails led into the woods every fifty yards or so. I named this the "Homeless Forest".

Beyond the Homeless Forest, An enormous, vacant mill filled my line of site. I wondered just how many people resided in the forest. I approached downtown Spindale and soon the rail trail became a grand boulevard. It again passed between two roads and was lined with trees on either side. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Barley's Taproom had just opened. I would park in Spindale the next time in order to take advantage.

The boulevard stopped when the tracks appeared. The section open is eight miles in length. I would try to cover the entire length four times. During the next trip through the forest, I saw a man walk from McDonald's across the trail and disappear into the wooded abyss. He vanished into the brush. McDonald's is 15 yards off the trail.

I got back to the car again and decided I was ready for 16 more miles. I jogged about two more miles and I couldn't continue jogging any further without walking a bit. I made it 18 miles without doing any walking at all, which was a new record for me. I hadn't run into any nonhomeless people until I came upon a typical couple walking their goats. I hadn't yet seen anyone walking their dog, riding a bike or running, but I ran into a couple walking their goats. They were being trained as pack goats and would be able to carry 60 pounds eventually.

On this return, I actually saw a runner. He was working harder than I was but I resigned myself to a much slower pace than the first round. The next time through the forest I didn't see anyone. This surprised me since it wasn't that long until darkness.

I had made it 32 miles. I wasn't sure I could do it this day because I'd been ramping up my mileage lately, and had spent two hours each of the previous two days lifting weights, including deep squats and leg extensions the day before. My quads had been hurting for hours, but I wanted to run tired and sore to prepare for the really long runs I have planned over the next several months.

Raging Bull