Archive for: Georgia

Time To Catch Up

Posted by Jim on November 29, 2011

Okay, I’ve been gone for more than a week because of the holidays.  Family was in town and we had a great Thanksgiving.  So, let me catch you up on how the training is going:

Monday, Nov. 21 – I ran four miles on the most beautiful trail in this region.  I ran the Sitton’s Gulch trail from the bottom of Lookout Mountain (near Trenton, GA) to Hemlock Falls in Cloudland Canyon State Park.  This run is a climb up of over 600 feet in two miles before turning around and heading back down hill.  The trail follows Daniel Creek as it cascades over huge boulders and through a forest of hemlock and other beautiful trees.  This is a run (or hike) that everyone should do when in this area.  And be sure to bring a camera.  You will want to share the experience with your friends.

Tuesday, Nov. 22 – Today it was a 4.3 mile run at the local park on the crushed rock path.  The run was just over 55 minutes, and although rain was forecast, there was hardly a drop during the run.  It was a very pleasant 68 degrees.

Turkey Time – I took off Wednesday and Thursday to spend time with family and enjoy a wonderful meal.  And I was thrilled to see that I only put on 1.25 pounds.  I was careful not to over-indulge, but the potatoes, turkey, dressing and pie still added a little extra baggage.

Friday, Nov. 25 – This was my longest trail run to date.  I ran six miles (3 loops) on the Back Country Trail at the Cloudland Canyon State Park.  Despite the slightly damp trail and leaves hiding rocks and roots, I managed to not twist an ankle or take a fall.  Well, that is, until I finished my run and decided to make a quick dash to join my family who was hiking part of the trail.  Yep, I turned a corner and my left foot rolled to the side.  It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t walk on it, but I knew it would mean a few days off of my training.

So here I am today, Tuesday, November 29.  I’ve let my ankle rest for 96 hours, and it feels pretty good.  I’m going to run today, but it won’t be on a trail or crushed rock.  I don’t want to risk reinjuring the foot again.  So I will either run the asphalt trail at the church (probably in the cold rain) or stay dry on the treadmill in the garage.  The treadmill is looking pretty good right now.  There is snow up on Lookout Mountain and it’s only 38 degrees here in the valley.  But I need to get back to running as I have a race coming up in just a couple weeks.

Categories Diet, Trail Runs and Hikes, Training
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Cross-Training Underground

Posted by Jim on November 14, 2011

Me climbing in the caveYesterday I did a bit of cross-training with the G3 Outfitters at Cloudland Canyon State Park. We put on helmets, knee pads, gloves and lights and headed into Sitton’s Cave in Trenton, Georgia. Amy and Christine, our guides for the two-hour excursion briefed us on a few safety issues and prepared us for what we would experience in the cave. Then we plunged into the darkness, down a rocky decline at the main cave entrance.

The temperature in Sitton’s Cave remains a constant 58 degrees. It was rather pleasant until I had to wade through calf-high chilly water leading us through much of the cavern. I guess I shouldn’t complain given that there are times the water is chest high (and not recommended for exploration).

A bat hanging out in Sitton's CaveOur guides knew the cave well and made sure to point out the amazing formations and wildlife throughout the cave. We saw bats, cave crickets, and even a salamander on our journey. The bats were no bigger than a mouse but, contrary to what I had believed, are not related. We even got to watch as a cluster of bats awoke and headed out to hunt for food as the evening approached.

Taking a break in Sitton's CaveOnce we were well into the cave, maybe a little more than 1/2 a mile in, we stopped for a break. All together we turned off our headlamps and sat in quiet darkness. The only sound was the occasional drip…drip of water from deeper within the cave. It was an awesome experience. It had been years since I was in a non-commercialized cave and the tranquility was something else.

The G3 guides had taken care of everything to ensure this trip was memorable and amazing. They provided all the gear and provided an educational experience. Amy and Christine have a wealth of knowledge and a great sense of humor. I would highly recommend this trip (or the longer, 4-hour version) to anyone visiting around Chattanooga or northwest Georgia. You can find them at GeorgiaGirlGuides.com.

Categories A Little Off Topic
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Running with Deer

Posted by Jim on November 3, 2011

My wet glasses

This was my view for the nearly all of my 7.2 mile run today.  There was a light rain all afternoon, and yet I was still looking forward to my run.  I enjoy running in the rain as long as it’s not a down pour or too cold.  It was a pleasant 60F today.

I ran a loop through the Chickamauga Battlefield here in northwestern Georgia.  A major civil war battle was fought here, but now it is a beautiful park with nearly as many monuments as deer.  Speaking of deer, I saw nearly two dozen during my run.  I even took photos during one of my walking breaks and after I finished.  The photo below was taken after my run.

Chickamauga Battlefield deerSo far this is my favorite place to run.  There was little traffic for most of the route; just trees, deer and quiet.  I ran a really slow 14 minute a mile pace.  About 2 mile of the run was on the side of the road, which always slows me down some.  But I really don’t want to run hard during these long runs.  I kept between 60-75% of my heart rate reserve, which for me is 131-149 BPM.  To learn about heart rate reserve, Karvonen formula and heart rate zone training, check out this article from Purdue University.

Now the best thing about a long run day, I can eat a scrumptious meal and have no guilt.  When I got home from my run Shelley had made a veggie stir fry with vegan Tender Bits.  Yum!

Categories Training
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My Race Schedule

Posted by Jim on November 2, 2011

Okay, I hate calling them races because that implies that I’m trying to beat someone else.  Nope, I’m just gonna run these as training runs and to see how well I’m progressing.

So, the idea is to run increasingly long races leading up to the Marathon on April 28, 2012.  I’ve scheduled one speed workout or race every other week during my training starting with the 5K race next weekend.  I don’t want to do a lot of speed workouts as finishing is my real goal, but the variety will be good for me.  Here are the races I’m planning to run:

PurpleStride Chattanooga 5K, November 12, 2011

Lookout Mountain 10K Trail Run, December 17, 2011 (Not the 50 miler!)

Berry 1/2 Marathon, February 18, 2012

Nashville Country Music Marathon, April 28, 2012

I signed up for the 5K run last night.  The 10K will be the first race I’ve run on a trail since high school cross country.  It is the reason I’ve started planning a few trail runs over the next several weeks.  I’d like to run a 10 Miler somewhere in January, but I’ve not found one anywhere close to me yet.  I’ll keep looking.  In the meantime, I’ve got a short run today before my 7-mile long run tomorrow.

Categories Races
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