As I was looking over the registration for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail 12-Mile Challenge, I noticed this line wedged between “Camping Options” and “Be Aware”:
“Montrail will provide shoes for you to wear test!”
I’ve heard of getting a T-shirt, a water bottle or a hat at a race. But a loaner pair of shoes? Used shoes: Isn’t that a bowling thing?
Sunday, I was running the bike and bridle trail at Umstead when I came upon a sizable obstacle: a phalanx of hikers bearing backpacks spanned the width of the trail, spilling over onto the shoulders. The trail is quiet generous, a converted fire road that should be capable of handling boatloads of trail users without conflict. Provided those trail users are cognizant of other trails. Which brings us to today’s topic:
Tuesday morning I was at a Brains & Bodies workshop conducted by Advocates for Health in Action, a consortium of local public and private sector groups “shaping a community where healthful eating and physical activity are the way of life.” Brains & Bodies is a program of the Wake County PTA designed to encourage healthy habits in our schools. Healthy habits such as PTA fundraisers that eschew cookie dough sales in favor of fun runs. That kind of thing.
The race got postponed, my teammate had other plans for the rain date, I found myself without a dance partner. Or, more accurately, a partner to ride in the Men’s Duo division of Friday night’s Curse at the Crab 6-hour endurance race at Lake Crabtree.
Up for a little escape? How about a climb to the top of Clingman’s Dome?
From the beginning of December to the end of March, the road to the top of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed. Just like that, one of the most popular attractions in the country’s most popular national park is deserted. Making this the perfect time to visit.