Location: Umstead – Location: Bridge To Nowhere 
Time: 6:30 a.m.
Distance: Approx. 10 miles
Weather: Low 30s
Pace will be determined after total calorie intake is assessed
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Recap -
An awesome full moon over Crabtree Lake guided us to BTN. Opening the door and stepping out to sub-freezing weather woke you the rest of the way up if you hadn’t had your java eye-opener.
The Mikes were back, Belkymd, Litl’bit, Tommy, Just John, Squeeky, Social Secretary, and Sandbagger. The Mikes and Just John turned parted company and the rest of us marched along aiming for about 10.
Squeeky took us to the Pit of Despair (Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket???!?). We marched up and down Turkey Creek which a few of us will have to hit in both directions for the Umstead Trail Marathon – a sobering thought every time we pondered it.
Squeeky is the best trail guide for Umstead and gave us two choices for the return. Cemetery Hill or Company Trail singletrack. Secretly he was hoping Company Trail, so he bolted down it first without waiting when we hit the fork. Belkymd was on his tail while Tommy and the Social Secretary discussed latkes and other NY cuisine.
After huffing and puffing Grayln (sp?) Trail, we motored back for 2 smooth miles to round out a 12 mile run.
I was smart and got everyone to pose pre-run.
Started the bone thaw at Starbucks to put a bit of color back into the skin.
Great run!
8 responses so far ↓
1 litl' bit // Nov 22, 2007 at 5:53 pm
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
2 MitDog // Nov 22, 2007 at 9:55 pm
I look forward to running, and I mean I REALLY look forward to running. I have eaten everything in sight today, so I must atone for my sins! Umstead sounds great; though I hear they have taken away all the parking as of last week. I suppose that’s why the location is TBD, eh? The parking thing stinks. We need to write in! See you and we can plan our strategy. Runners, unite!
3 terp // Nov 22, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I won’t be able to run on Saturday. I have out of town guests at the house and we’re going to the MD/NC State game (with some early morning pre-game tailgating with KarenG8tor and her Maryland relatives). Go Terps.
I inadvertently ran 10+ miles in Umstead this morning. I planned on just doing the Sycamore Trail (approx. 7 miles), but basically got lost. Thank goodness I saw a park ranger who sent me in the right direction (with a map).
MitDog is correct. Not sure about the other unofficial entrances, but I planned to park at the Graylyn Rd. entrance this morning and was greeted by “No Parking” signs on both sides. It was 7:30 a.m., so I drove to the main Umstead Park entrance off of Glenwood and parked at the entrance to the Sycamore Trail. The park doesn’t officially open until 8 a.m., so I guess I was a scofflaw to start running at 7:45.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I look foward to seeing you next weekend.
4 Squeeky // Nov 22, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Litl’ Bit and I parked at Bridge to Nowhere today and had no problem. Why don’t we meet there this weekend until we figure out this parking mess.
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I am in a food coma.
5 Belkymd // Nov 22, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Count me in for Saturday. The Graylyn parking fiasco stinks! Last Sunday I parked at BTN and didn’t have a problem either. I ran from the BTN to Graylyn and then picked up the second half of Sycamore logging right around 9.75 miles. Sycamore trail was beautiful. I am in agreement with Squeeky about meeting at the BTN. Looking forward to running off some turkey. See you guys soon!
6 John // Nov 23, 2007 at 2:14 pm
BTN sounds like a great plan! I really need a run after missing a marathon, being sick and eating far too much this weekend! See you all in the AM.
7 rap master sass // Nov 23, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Y’all have fun! I’ll be winging my way back from Oklahoma (state motto: whatever the weather is in North Carolina, it’s worse here).Tonight, we’ll be cheering on my brother-in-law’s mighty Glenpool Warriors in the state semi-finals against Broken Bow. See you next week.
8 litl' bit // Nov 24, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Thanks everyone for waiting on me this morning. It was a great run… through the brook and over the rocks to Starbucks we must go. I hope the rest of your weekend is as nice.