Category: Tennessee

Posted on

Dirty South Half Marathon Trail Race Report Dec 2024

I ran the Dirty South Half Marathon trail race on Sunday, Dec 8 at Meade’s Quarry in Knoxville; the final race in the 2024 Trail Running Series. The race is located south of Ijams Nature Center, which I ended up having to park in since I arrived so close to the start time. Last year I ran the 10K and admired runners who stayed straight and ran 13.1 miles on that cold morning. I wanted to do the half so today is my day. 

In June I finished the Motus Half which has a similar course but Dirty South is longer and more elevation gain. 

Race Day Morning:

I woke up not feeling great about racing today. I thought about not going; which is par for the course for almost every race. I had to cheer myself on by saying I love trail running in winter AND I needed trail miles.  I have to do this as Step 2 of my Do Hard Things year. Step 1 was completed by finishing the Philadelphia Marathon. Step 3 is Beast of the East marathon. 

But today just 13 plus miles on runnable trails, is what I’m thinking. 

I got my gear ready and started driving to Meade’s Quarry. 

The Race:

The Dirty South race course is touted as “a mix of rocky, technical singletrack and buffed out, flowing mountain bike trail”; and that is exactly right. I love this course because it’s so runnable and flowy. It’s rocky and rooty, and just perfect. I always forget about the first mile, which has a steep, hikable trail and a significant hill climb. Then it evens out to flowy mountain bike terrain.

Just before the first aid station I met Kara and started running with her. She is an ultra runner too and it was great to talk to someone. 

During the run at this point I hit a snag in a root. My left foot was caught but miraculously snapped the root and I didn’t fall. My left foot hurt for a minute, I stopped then walked it out. I didn’t think of it again. 

My first mistake during this run was made at the first aid station. I didn’t fill up my bladder to the top and I didn’t drink any Tailwind. I wanted to keep going since I was feeling good. I realized, too, that usually I bring one booby bottle with Tailwind and I didn’t today. It just wasn’t on my mind in the morning. I did bring enough food this time, gels and bars; sometimes I don’t bring enough. I learned from a runner that the next aid station was around mile 10. I ran out of water at mile 8. I hate it when I make rookie mistakes like this. Then, the situation got worse – there was no aid station at 10. I felt a bit delusional at times and would go a while not sure I was on course. The trail didn’t look the same from the spring (It was a different course, different organizers). At one point I had to yell ahead to Kara just to see if I was on course and she was so awesome to run back to me to make me feel better (Thank you Kara if you read this). 

Once I realized that maybe there wasn’t a second aid station, I just settled in and tried not to panic. I walked a lot and just concentrated on getting to the finish. At mile 12 the aid station appeared. I drank a bunch of Tailwind and filled my bladder to the top. I was spent. I lost a lot of energy worrying and just felt dehydrated. Then, at mile 13.1 I wasn’t at the finish. I walked and run and finally at mile 13.97 I crossed the finish line. Yahoo! 

Post Race:

The Good: I finished
The Bad: My left foot is a swollen mess from the root and it hurts to walk on it. 

As with any running injury I question everything about running. This injury could’ve been much worse if the root didn’t release my foot. I start to think I’m too ambitious in my running goals. I’m too old. I’m too fat. I’m not strong enough. I’m not going to trail run anymore. I’m going to play my life safe. No more risks. 

But luckily, the nurse practitioner at urgent care says it’s not broken. I might be able to run Saturday if the swelling subsides – and BOOM – everything is okay in the world. 

In 2024 I did many of the races in the Treadin’ Trodden Trails race series. I will sign up again in 2025.

Race Website: https://ktc.org/events/dirty-south-trail-races/
Distance: 13.97 miles.
Elevation Gain: 2,753 ft
Time: 3 hrs, 14 mins
What I ate: Pre-race: 3 eggs and veggie scramble, During race: 2 GU gels, 1 Honey Stinger waffle
What I drank: one cup of tailwind endurance at 2nd aid station, 1.5 L water
What I wore: Salomon hydration vest, winter running tights, green ¼ zip long sleeve, blue Mountain Hardwear jacket, beanie
What I saw: I heard a lot of birds and squirrels in the forest. No wildlife encounters. 

Rate this trail run: 10/10

Posted on

Heading into November and Being Thankful

Two years ago I quit my job and took the month of November off. It was my first November in Tennessee and I had no idea what I was doing. Four months prior I packed up my house, dogs and bikes and moved to Tennessee from New Hampshire. My only mantra was “I can do hard things.” Moving to a new state and starting a new job were all very hard things.

But let’s talk about November in Tennessee. It is glorious. It was a great month to regroup and see the world.

November in Tennessee is beautiful and quiet; like the world is chilling out for a bit and getting ready for something big to happen. With all the time in the world, I hiked in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and got to know the trails around Gatlinburg. I walked everywhere around my apartment in Gatlinburg. I slowed down and tried to notice everything. I started back on my running training plan and started listening to podcasts. 

I wrote blog posts and read books. Here are some of my blog posts from 2022:

I signed up for races.
I wrote about my favorite month.
I trained.

But the biggest thing I started doing in November, and I still do now, is walking shelter dogs at the Sevier County Humane Society. I remember not being able to apply online so I drove over to Gnatty Branch and walked in. They had me fill out the application and then said, Do you want to start today? I had nothing else to do so I said yes. And I started walking dogs the week before Thanksgiving. I instantly loved walking all the dogs and being committed to walking them on weekends and holidays ever since. 

This is Candy. She is available for adoption at the Sevier County Humane Society.

The time off from working was much needed although I was a bit stressed out from not having a weekly paycheck. However, everything worked out in the end and I found a great job. As I celebrate two years in my new job heading into November, I’m so thankful for my job and my dogs and my family and my health and for the people at the humane society doing such great work.

November is a time to be thankful and take action; to make life great. That is what my mantra is this month, and to continue to do hard things. 

Posted on

Big Creek Great Smoky Mountains in July

I have been wanting to do this hike for a long time. I wanted to see about the swimming hole and to hike on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. But really, I just love the name: Big Creek. A big name and a famous swimming hole. 

The trail was a perfect option the day after a big trail run. It was a gradual ascent and felt like a leisurely hike up the creek; despite Strava saying it was a 919 foot descent for 3.5 miles

The swarming bugs and spider webs were in full force this morning. Ugh. We saw lots of horse poop and eventually two horses. 

We stopped at Midnight Hole and saw fish in the water. Can you see it in the photo below, between the two rocks?

We saw Mouse Creek Falls cascading into Big Creek.

We crossed one bridge and chatted with a couple from Michigan who were heading up for an overnight backpacking trip. They told us the Backcountry Campsite 37 was closed due to bear activity, which I didn’t know about. Once I got home I verified this on the park’s website, and yes, it is indeed closed. 

I need to be checking this page before hiking. 

I also need to buy a Garmin InReach.

I’ve been thinking about getting one for a few months now and it’s time to invest. I plan to spend a lot of time on trails this year, and every year for that matter. It’s time. 

Since this was my first time on Big Creek trail I didn’t know that the creek is usually much higher. Melani, who I frequently hike with said that the water is very low. It’s very dry in Sevier County; we need rain. The forecast is calling for clouds and thunderstorms this week. Here’s hoping it’s just rains.

It was a good day to be on the trail.

Distance: 7 miles.
Time: 2 hrs, 37 mins
What I ate: peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
What I drank: .5 L water
What I wore: Salomon hydration vest, CW-X compression shorts, Motus race top, Pistol Ultra baseball hat
What I saw: fish in the water (trout maybe), 2 horses, a few butterflies, 6 trail runners, 15 hikers going to the water hole.

Posted on

Race Review: Haw Ridge Trail Run, Oak Ridge TN

The race starts and finishes at the Haw Ridge Life Development Center on Old Edgemoor Drive in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 

I loved, and was tortured by, the first two miles of steep uphill. Then after the last steep climb on tippy toes, it was a steep, downhill treacherous hike to get to the meandering, up and down fun single track trail for the remainder of the course.  

After the initial climb and descent the trail ran down to a lake and skirted it for many miles. I wanted to jump in it because it was so hot and needed to cool off, but erred on the side of caution. The trees kept us a little cool; the benefits of trail running in the summer. 

There was a train in the distance hooting its horn; I love trains. All the runners were in good spirits and I think they enjoyed the trail as much as I did. The single track was so well maintained and since it hasn’t rained in weeks, the course was in perfect condition filled with many rocks and roots. 

The race description said 8 miles. It was 8.7. I’m not complaining, now that I’m writing this, because it was a GREAT course. At the 8 mile mark my brain wanted to see the finish line, but it was another 10 minutes away. 

It was nice to get out of Sevier County for a few hours and explore the woods in Tennessee. 

I signed up for this race series so I could get to know trails outside of where I live. The Treadin’ Trodden Trails race series is top notch. So far I’ve run trails at IC King which is similar to Haw Ridge in that it is for mountain biking, too. 

I’m looking forward to the next race in the series, The Trail That Can’t Be Concord. All the website says is that it will be at The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club (AMBC) at this address: 11813 S Northshore Drive. I can’t wait to run this new-to-me trail. 

Click this link to view information on this area from a mountain bike perspective. I need to get back here with my bike. 

Race Website: https://runsignup.com/hawridgetrailrace 
Distance: 8.7 miles.
Time: 1 hr, 58 mins
What I ate: Pre-race: English muffin, half peanut butter and jelly sandwich. During race: one GU gel, 6 Skratch Labs Sport Energy Chews (towards the end and they helped)
What I drank: two bottles tailwind endurance fuel, 1 L water
What I wore: Salomon hydration vest, CW-X compression shorts, Little Rock marathon race top, Pistol Ultra baseball hat
What I saw: no wildlife, 250 people entered the race

Rate this trail run: 10/10

Posted on

Ramsey Cascade Hike, July

Today’s hike on Ramsey Cascade trail in Greenbriar was steamy on this Saturday in July. All the giant tulip poplar trees and ferns and wildflowers created a temperate rainforest. I’m was dripping sweat. Fortunately, there were several stream crossings and places where I could splash cool-ish water on my face and dip my hat into the water to cool off. 

The hike was as tough as always, even as I get into better shape, it’s still a killer climb: rocks, roots and ladders.  

As I climbed higher and surrounded by leafy green trees, I had to stop in my tracks to listen. A bird sings, loudly, and the Ramsey Prong of the Little Pigeon River roars. I’m not sure what the bird was but what a beautiful song to listen to in this moment. Watch here. 

I continue on with only four people coming down ahead of me. We all got early starts. 

I approached the falls and it was as spectacular as always. This was my fifth time hiking Ramsey Cascade. This time I walked through the water and got as close as I ever have to the falls and filmed it. The cool air from the water felt so good. Watch here. 

I waved to the two hikers eating sandwiches on the big rock; we were all so happy to be in this place. 

I turned around and headed down the trail.

Michael Frome wrote in his popular book, Strangers in High Places, about Ramsey Cascade and Arthur Stupka who back in the 50s and 60s led the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smokies, “We all hike … for different reasons. Some take to the trails for solitude … others look for natural beauty, finding their wonder in the trees, wildflowers, and wild animals. The scientists hike in order to study and advance the knowledge of the human race about the planet on which it lives. Others want to match their muscles and stamina against the long trails to the highlands. It does not make much difference really, why we hike, or tramp, or walk as long as the trails and the expansive natural environment are there so we can do these things. ” (326) 

I’m in the later category, I always have been. 

As I get closer to my car I notice Swallowtail butterflies lining the trail. They form bunches and then fly off together as I pass. I see more in the parking lot and the road back to Route 321. I don’t know that they are Swallowtails until I get home and Google it. 

It was a good day to be on the trails. 

Stats:

Distance: 8 miles.
Time: 3 hrs, 5 mins
What I ate: half peanut butter and jelly sandwich, one granola bar, a few handfuls GORP
What I drank: a bottle tailwind endurance fuel, 1 L water
What I wore: Salomon hydration vest, CW-X compression shorts, Little Rock marathon race top, L100 baseball hat
What I saw: Swallowtail butterflies, not many people, majestic 90 ft waterfall

Rate this hike: 10/10