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| Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga |
The past two weeks have been busy: teaching,
travel, nights away from home. In the past, these are the weeks that tend to
kill any hope for mileage. This time, however, it’s been different. I guess my
newfound motivation is real as in every city, on every trip, I have been able to
run and keep the mileage up. I’m pretty excited about that.
My mileage presently sits at 70 or mile miles
per week for 10 weeks in a row. I’m finding that to be a new norm. I’m finding
that when I’m out there, five or six miles just isn’t enough. It’s like
cheating or something. I suppose, like all things, that will pass. In the
meantime, I kind of like it.
With my travel schedule, I have been
fortunate enough to run in some cool places. No, not the Alps or Pyrennes or
even the Tetons. Just the same, some nice places. It began, sort of, with my
run on the Barr Trail in Manitou Springs a couple of weeks ago. Steep,
difficult, exhausting, but totally worth it.
Next came Gillette, Wyoming. It’s not like
there are mountain trails in Gillette or even trails for that matter. Gillette
has this area called the Fishing Lakes that sits in the middle of town and is…. just pretty, tranquil and kind of nice. It’s one of the things I look forward
to when I go there.
Chattanooga was the next destination. There was
an article in DIRT magazine (which is
kind of a subsidiary of Trail Running
Mag) about Chattanooga as a trail runner’s destination of choice, so to speak.
My own personal experience was limited to Lookout Mountain, but I have to say,
it was awesome. Some rolling singletrack, some steep, technical climbs,
everything someone trying to get ready for the Imogene Pass Run might like. I
only logged one run on those trails, but it was a blast.
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| Piedmont Park, Atlanta |
Yesterday I was in downtown Atlanta. This
morning’s 11 mile run was destined to be a city run, but lo and behold, five
blocks from my hotel was Piedmont Park. Yay. Piedmont Park is the semi-typical
city park, much like Wash Park or City Park in Denver. One key thing separated
it from my hometown parks: I’d never run there. It was a total exploration and
just a lot of fun.
Tomorrow, I will be in Omaha, Nebraska. Given
where I’m teaching and where I am staying, the options may not be as exciting.
Given the roll I’m on, however, you never know.
Run on.
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