An important mantra in Golf is to "take what the course gives you." That means don't make a easy hole hard by trying to do too much. Today, may be the easiest day of running on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, and I birdied it.
Day 3 Run
The day started in ridiculous fog but ended in partly cloudy skies. The BRPWeather.Com forecast for Montebello to James River was spot on. Wow are those guys good! I'm pretty sure I saw the ghost of Stanley Abbott in the thick fog. And absolutely no birds were flying in the fog--I guess only the bats are equipped for IFR conditions.
Today went much better than Day 2. I worked hard to loosen up my tight quad/IT band yesterday afternoon and it paid off today. I started very easy today, protecting the legs for a 10-mile downhill at the end. Having to walk much of that would have been very discouraging. Good news--I cruised through the downhill with very little pain. The last 6 miles averaged a 7:52 min/mile pace; not that I was trying to run fast. I was just trying to run with the least effort with good form, gravity did the rest. Here are the details on today's run... https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1175231014
Overall, I felt surprisingly good at the end of today's run. A good sports massage this afternoon in Lexington should help with the quad/IT Band greatly for several days.
Photos and Video
Once the fog broke, we were able to take and post lots of photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. To see them, browse to brpweather.com, then on the map, zoom into the north end of of the Parkway from Hwy 60 to just north of the James River. Remember, you can upload your own photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!
We also took several videos. Hope you enjoy. I'll let them tell the story...
A few photos from the day... Again, there's many more on BRPWeather.com.
Cooking for Friends on the Appalachian TrailBluff Mountain TunnelBRP Maintenance Crews
Location Information
Again today we are being taken care of nicely by the Lexington Historic District Hampton Inn. They certainly live up to their motto, "Where History Meets Hospitality." We liked dinner at Lexington's Southern Inn so much yesterday, we went back again tonight. And ditto the repeat visit to Sweet Things for homemade ice cream.
Parkway Notes
Today's route included my first tunnel, a couple dozen overlooks, intersections with the Appalachian Trail, and a good visit with maintenance guys on their lunch break. I want to reiterate for Superintendent Mark Woods that this photo was at noon, and they were REALLY on their lunch break! The last several miles were a peaceful descent along Otter Creek.
Next...
Day 4 will be one of, if not, THE hardest day of the event. I'll climb from 648 ft to 3947 ft in elevation in 13 miles. The day's route goes from the lowest point on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway to the highest Blue Ridge Parkway elevation in Virginia. It will be a long day at the office. Here are the details... http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/336837749 The route is from Milepost 60 to Milepost 80--it's going to take a while.
5 Comments on “RWR Day 3 – Birdied the Easiest Hole”
Your TEXAS kin are rooting for you! Our legs moan just thinking about it. Good luck on all your days.
Your TEXAS kin are rooting for you! Our legs moan just thinking about it. Good luck on all your days.
And I love my Texas kin. This would be much easier in the panhandle, except for the Palo Duro Canyons.
Enjoyed the pictures
The fog reminds me of Blowing Rock
Hey, Ray! You are a serious runner! We’ll keep up with you and enjoy the beauty while you do all the work.
Hope you have had a good afternoon — resting and getting ready for Day 5 on the road!