a trip to virginia, and a new toy

I looked out my window last Friday morning and I could not believe my eyes. My neighbor was having a yard sale and her parents were hocking a sailboat. I knew I had to buy it. Now I just have to learn how to sail. It should be a fun summer at Watauga Lake.

Alenda and I took a short vacation this week. We started with a 10k run on the New River Trail. Ultramarathon badass Annette Bednosky is organizing a 50k foot race there in October. Too bad that's Russell Fork season.

Mom and Dad got us a couple of nights at a cabin on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, VA. We spent day 2 hiking and trail running on the Parkway. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Southern VA gnar.
On the way home we stopped at the Virginia Creeper Trail. We did 30k in 3 days. We are both recovering from ankle injuries, so we were happy to be back on our feet.

Alenda blew hers out running at Buffalo Mountain a couple of months ago.

I was looking through pictures I took earlier this year and found a couple I liked:

Pond Mountain as seen from Iron Mountain.
Riley Cathcart in the middle of the shit (Linville Gorge).

Dr. Seuss on Linville.

nolichucky bi-tri

On Sunday Caleb, Russell and I completed the first installment of the Johnson City Summer Series. The Series consist of the Bi-Tri, the Hell Fuck and the 40-40-40 (more about that later). This was the second annual Bi-Tri. It started with a 9 mile paddle down the Noli Gorge. The light at Quarter Mile is spectacular early in the morning.At the take out we transitioned into running gear and ran 7 miles up the AT to Indian Grave Gap. We picked up bikes left at the Gap and rode 5 miles down the mountain back to the put in.

Soon we were charging down Quarter Mile for the second time. Photo by Joe Huggins.

After our second paddle down the Noli, we got on road bikes and climbed Spivy Gap. The 30 mile ride brought us back to the put in, and our vehicles.

The only thing left was gear retrieval. We had a mountain of boats, bikes, shoes and paddles at the take out. Photo by Joe Huggins.

The 40-40-40 is going to be the most brutal of the 3 events. It starts in Hampton, TN where the AT crosses 321. I am going to run from Hampton to Damascus (40+ miles) where I will stash a road bike. Highway 91 will bring me over Holston Mountain and back to Hampton (40+ miles). The final 40 will be a cold 40 oz Steel Reserve that I will drink upon completing this punisher...if I finish.