A breakthrough running week...

This has been a GREAT running week for me and I have been rewarded with a breakthrough of sorts. My weekly mileage topped 26, the highest I have logged in a while. The stats include a 9-miler, two 5-milers and a couple of shorter runs. I spent a lot of time thinking about what has been holding me back in running, mostly I have focused on self doubt. As a result, I learned a few things about myself:

1. Sprinkling in a few very low mileage weeks does not mean I have to start anew, I will run stronger and faster the next week.

2. If I run faster, I will not collapse. My lungs will burn, but my legs are up to it.

3. I really like running rolling hills (when did this happen?)!

4. I struggle with big hills (still working on this one).

5. I can run further than I think I can, if I just believe in myself.

This morning, after an easy run, John started throwing the term "us" around in conversation about his bicycle ride. My squatty little legs were tired so I ignored him. Undeterred, he started with the questions: what time would I like to go, should he put my bicycle on the car, if I did ride where would I ride, those sorts of questions. I thought I was being noncommittal but I must have nodded or given some yes indication cause the next think I know, my tires are pumped up and my bike was on the car.

Old Walland Road in Blount County was our destination, a flat to rolling 18-mile out and back road that is a favorite among locals for bicycling and running. We saw a lot of people doing both. The plan was to bicycle out as far as I thought I could ride back, then turn around and head back to the car.

Sunny, warmish weather with slightly gusty winds made for great riding. I got out further than expected and struggled a bit getting back (there is a lesson in that) but I had a great time and still averaged 14.5-mph. As soon as we got back to the parking lot, John put my bike on the car, grabbed his bicycle again and headed out on the road for the rest of his ride...another 17-miles of backcountry roads home. After the ride, I ran for a short distance to see if I still could. I was a bit wobbly at first, I did and it was great!

Below are a few pics of the ride.

Foothills in Blount County

John checking the computer on his bike

John (looks good in helmet), Beverly (looks like bowl on head :-)

The Little River along Old Walland Road

Look under the arrow, big earth moving equipment...this cannot be a good thing in these fields

John taking off for the last 17-miles of his ride

John would get home on his bicycle not long after I got home in the car

A nice fall weekend...

For the first morning in many weeks, I woke to a fogless sky. No gray, damp blanket hanging low, obscuring all signs of life in the neighborhood. I know the "red sky in the morning" thing but I really think this will be a good day.

Monday morning sunrise from our driveway

Another busy weekend for us. On Saturday, we took our annual trip to Carver's Apple Barn in Cosby, TN. We are late this year, we usually go in October in time to catch the lower elevation color display in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although we talked about going throughout October, we just never got out the door. Finally, a couple of weeks past peak color, we found a spot on our calendar. So, mid-afternoon, after John participated in the West Bicycle Poker Ride, we headed out the door.

These days we go to the Apple Barn strictly for the sights and smells of fall, but nine years ago, when we made our first trip, we would buy 1/2 bushel bags of several different apples. We always had big plans to bake pies, freeze slices and dehydrate for camping, but never got around to doing all of that stuff and ended up tossing out the last of the apples as they spoiled. In recent years, we have reduced our purchase to a small bag or so. Instead, we use the opportunity to enjoy the leaves and spend several hours of uninterrupted time together.

This year, since we were leaving late in the afternoon, we decided save time by taking I-40 and the Foothills Parkway to Cosby. Due to a rock slide on I-40 at the TN-NC state line, thru traffic is routed off the interstate at Newport, TN. Since we were going only a few exits past Newport, we pretty much had the road to ourselves. Nice!
A view of the Smoky Mountains from the Foothills Parkway. Fall colors are mostly gone.

A palette of apples carried in via loader

Bushel baskets full of Corral, a new sweet, tart and firm apple

We purchased a small bag of Corrals and a small bag of Carousels (similar to the Corral). Both are new this year or at least new to us. Several of our old favorites, including the JonaGold and Pippins tasted mushy. Not sure what determines the taste and texture of apples but it definitely varies year to year.

John surveying the apple choices

Oh...the choices of jams, jellies, relishes, chow chow and other goodies are unbelievable. After walking around and around the barn, we finally selected a jar of Smoky Mountain honey and one of orange marmalade too! Yum, yum!

Sunday afternoon was clear and sunny and John was restless to get back on the bike. He mumbled something about wishing he had a riding partner, then glared at me. I am sure I must have squirmed in my chair and replied something about needing motivation, a destination of sorts. He suggested several different locations but I was thinking about earlier, when we went out out for coffee and drove past the Sunsphere. Hmmm, the Sunsphere, I have always wanted to go to the observation deck and look out over the city. Ding, ding, ding....DESTINATION!!

The Sunsphere has been a Knoxville landmark since the 1982 World's Fair (that's 27 years for anyone counting). During the World's Fair, I worked as a buyer for a regional department, located across the street from the fairgrounds. We often watched the activities from our windows and our group, a number of young, upcoming retail types, went to the World's Fair Flamingo Lounge every Friday night. But somehow, I never got around to getting on the elevator and going up in the Sunsphere.

After the World's Fair closed and several restaurant attempts failed, the Sphere closed for years. Recently, the city found the money to fix it up and opened the observation deck for tourists. Here was my perfect opportunity to explore!

View from the observation deck

Looking south, Church Street United Methodist Church is in the foreground, behind it, Henley Street Bridge (one of two bridges I often use to run across the river)

An unexpected visitor in the Sphere, most likely wishing he could get out
The Tennessee River and a corner of the University of Tennessee. The view is a little hazy cause the windows are REALLY dirty!

Looking up from the base of the Sunsphere

The Sunsphere and World's Fair Park reflected in a pool

Heron sitting motionless, intent on finding his dinner (Tennessee River)

John waiting patiently while I take picture from the South Knoxville Bridge

After the Sunsphere, we rode our bikes onto the University campus and down to the waterfront. We followed the greenway for a while, then finally crossed the South Knoxville Bridge and headed home. All in all, it was a fine fall weekend.

Spence field on a Sunday afternoon...

Yesterday we went in search of the last of the 2009 fall colors with friends Will Skelton and Kim Robinette. The hike had started as a backpack, possibly in the Big South Fork or Cherokee National Forest. We set the weekend, tried to get friends Bill Adams and Silke Hecht to join us (they had other plans) and just never firmed anything up.

As the designated weekend drew near, the backpack idea fell away in favor of a fall colors day hike. Kim was interested in hiking long and all of us were concerned about the legendary Smoky Mtn leaf peeper traffic. Somehow Will came up with the idea of Spence Field for a destination, something about 10.4-miles out and back and a lot of elevation (2800' elevation gain) for best possible chance for colors. We resisted but finally agreed knowing that the hike could get ugly. Our longest hike year to date is only 6.2-miles, I have recently run longer than that!

We left Knoxville at 8:00 AM with plans to meet Will and Kim at the trail head. The drive was mostly uneventful although we got caught behind the last of the Knoxville Track Club Mill House Classic 15k racers and behind a number of bicyclists who were grabbing the chance to put in some miles on a cool, dry fall day. Even with slow downs we arrived at the trail head (Cades Cove Picnic Area) about the same time as Will and Kim.

After getting our boots on and adjusting our trekking poles, we were off. Our route took us up Anthony Creek Trail, then right on Bote Mtn Trail to the AT. At first the uphill was gradual but the higher we climbed, the steeper the trail.

Hike route as mapped by my Forerunner 305

Will crossing Anthony Creek via a log bridge. Water levels were unusually high due to recent rain!

John hiking under blue skies and sunlight. Most of the leaves are brown at this elevation.

Fall yellows... most of the reds are gone

Beverly navigating a log bridge. Poor balance results in shaky water crossings

John and Beverly at lunch

We stopped for lunch around 11:30 AM at the junction of Anthony Creek and Bote Mtn Trails. We had been hiking under alternating sun and clouds. Elevation gain to this point was about 1,600' spread over 3.5-miles. The more difficult part of the hike was still in front of us, 1.7-miles and 1,200'.

Will and Kim lunching

Cloud cover on Bote Mtn Trail

Hiking in the Smokies involves hiking through a series of micro-climates. The lower elevations are of course, warmer. The higher the climb, the cooler the temperature. Clouds, rain, snow, sun and just about anything else goes at different elevations. Yesterday, at some point on Bote Mtn Trail, we entered a section of trail buried in thick, low hanging clouds. Trees dripped with moisture and the sun was mostly blocked. Even though our cores were heated up from the climb, our hands, ears and faces were cold.

Beverly hiking through a rhodoendron grove near the junction of the AT

John on the AT near Spence Field

John on the AT, Spence Field Shelter is in sight

The section of the AT running through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches 67 miles. Since tent camping is not "officially" sanctioned on the AT in the Smokies, The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club is responsible for building and maintaining shelters and privies within the park boundries. Spence Field Shelter is one such shelter. It sleeps 12 hikers on 2 double decker bunks.

Bear warning at the shelter

Unfortunately, bear activity has forced closure of several shelters and numerous campsites in the Smokies. We did not see any bears on this trip.

John and Beverly standing in front of the shelter fireplace

The thermal blanket to the right of the photo covers the front of the shelter to keep out the elements. It does not keep out the bears nor the little mice that plague all shelters.


Will sitting on the lower sleeping bunk reading the shelter journal

Due to the end of Daylight Savings Time, the trees were casting long shadows by the time we returned to the trail head. We were not in danger of hiking out in darkness but were glad to be out by 5:00 PM. Our total hiking time (including stops and exploring) was around 7 hours. According to my Forerunner 305, we hiked 12.04 miles (includes milling around on top) and gained over 5,000' in elevation, about 2,200' more than anticipated. I attribute the additional elevation to satellite connections or slight changes in trail elevation not measured by the straight line method. Calories burned during the hike 1,100. Calories consumed at Gondolier Italian Restaurant in Maryville, probably 2,200.

(Additional photos will be posted on Picasa in the next few days) http://picasaweb.google.com/johnandbeverly74

Neighborhood fall colors run...

It's 7:30 PM on Halloween night and I am still holding out hope for a treat or treater, just one. We live on top of a REALLY big hill, add a UT football game and rainy, misty evening to the mix and we have NO trick or treaters. Boo! John is going to be stuck with a jumbo bag of Reeses' Peanut Butter cups. He is so unhappy, peanut butter cups are his fav and he is worried about wearing them around his waist!

Yesterday I went on my first annual Neighborhood Colors Run. After a solid week of longish runs, this one was short, only 3.5-miles, and I stopped some 20 times in the first 1.5-miles for photos. Even blanketed in thick, gray fog, the peak colors were quite nice. Since I was running at harder than usual effort, the photo breaks were welcome. Here are a few pics, the rest will be put in a Picasa album shortly...

This tall, stately tree is one of my favorites although most of its leaves are on the street

Red, red Dogwood

Some type of Japanese Maple

Nice!

Another Dogwood

Along the boulevard

After circling the neighborhood a few times, I headed out along the waterfront where the fog was really thick. The distant shore line and its reflection on the river is barely visible. The dot in the middle of the photo is a red shipping buoy. All was quiet on the waterfront.

South Knoxville Bridge and reflection in the river

In the evening, John and I went on a date. We are not big steak eaters but both had a craving so we headed south to Ye Old Steakhouse, the oldest and best in Knoxville. We hadn't really thought through our choice and found the restaurant overrun with UT biggie bigs, assorted press and media folks, and big parties of UT AND South Carolina fans. We were early enough to be quickly seated at an okay table but for the cost of dinner, we would have preferred a different one. Oh well, the steaks are the same no matter where you sit and they are delicious!

After dinner we were off to Market Square for the Roane State Community College performance of Dracula.

Us on Market Square waiting for the show. John has googley eyes in this photo :-)

Before the show, we were treated to an impromptu performance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" by a Halloween costumed group on the mall. It was a lot of fun to watch.

This is the cast of Dracula watching the dancers


The actors handed out bags filled with a small amount of Halloween candy as patrons entered the theater area
Lots of people on Market Square Mall were dressed in costume, including the guy on the left of the photo who sat in front of us. This was our first year celebrating Halloween on the Square, the play was great and we really had a lot of fun!

Update from the homefront, I stopped to watch some UT-USC football on TV, it's now 9:29 PM and still no treat or treaters. Oh well, Happy Halloween ya'll!

A fine birthday celebration...

Today has been cool and dreary, the type of weather I would expect in the Northwest. Even through the raindrops, brightly colored sugar maples and dogwoods look stunning! Stepped out on the porch early to take a run but the rain was pouring down. I can run in the ran if it starts when I am out but I couldn't seem to get off the top step this morning, rain and 57 degrees sent me back inside.

Last night we had a fine celebration for my dad's 86th birthday. John, Mike, Leslie, Carol, Daddy, Mother and I got together at Shannondale Healthcare Center to eat carryout Red Lobster and stuff ourselves with moist, delicious cupcakes from The Cupcakery. We had great conversation and some good laughs. Unfortunately my mother has become so deaf she misses everything that is not spoken directly into her personal amplifier.

This celebration was on top of a ton of birthday cards and notes that have been dropped at my dad's door and in his mailbox by his retirement community. He had a grand birthday! No pictures, I did not have my camera to capture the event. Seems I have left my camera home a lot recently but I may try to capture the "essence" of the birthday later this week with my dad in his birthday "ears."

Another month gone by...

Fall arrived a couple of days ago, I think it will depart as fast. Bright reds and yellows dress the neighborhood trees, at least those that did not drop their leaves early. Those that did left a leafy mess over much of our front yard, a visible reminder that I need to get out with a rake. Crisp air has transformed my morning runs. My pace is a little faster, breathing less labored and 5-6 miles no longer feels like an effort. In what has been a very complicated year, the simple things in life are good right now.

In the garden, fall is also visible. Butterfly Weed pods have opened and the seeds are waiting to be carried off by the wind.

We have planted intensely colored pansies in the front porch pots and each day we discover more and more blooms.

Thursday night John, Lee and I went to see the sold out showing of Race Across the Sky, a documentary of sorts about the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. The theater was filled with bicycle jockeys of all ages and the pre-show atmosphere seemed to snap with testosterone as discussions about local races and results ensued. The flick served up a crowd pleasing dose of average guys "digging deep against adversity" stories but the star was the ultimate bike jockey, Lance Armstrong, without who the story of this 15 year old race may never have been told.

The story line pitted Dave, a mountain biker and 6 time winner of the Leadville 100, against Lance, the world's greatest bicycle road racer. Only three weeks off the 2009 Tour de France, audience idol Lance Armstrong was racing in the Leadville 100 for the 2nd time in his impressive bicycling career. His first effort in 2008 resulted in a 2nd place finish and he was out for blood (well, at least for 1st). Riding on a flat rear tire for the last 7 miles of this 100 mile race, Lance finished 1st in an all time course record of 6 hrs, 28 mins, finishing some 28 minutes in front of Dave Wiens, the past 6 time winner of the Leadville 100. The crowd loved it...'nuff said!

Finally, I am turning off the comment feature of this blog. Though I mostly received no comments, it seemed to hamper my desire to write and I have recently missed capturing some of the simple day to day moments. Smithposts started out as a journal of things I see and do. I really don't want to miss documenting those memories!