I wrote the following for the Charlotte Observer, where it appeared on March 23, and in Raleigh’s The News & Observer, where it ran March 30.
For the first 37 years of her life, becoming a die-hard runner wasn’t on Carol Gore’s bucket list.
Category Archives: Running
Play nice on the trail this weekend
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:
With exercise, is enough ever enough?
Jeff in Portland, Ore., writes: “Arrgghh . . . And just when I thought my 3 to 4 times per week of hitting the gym was an extraordinary feat. The recommendations from this study seem to support a growing consensus among researchers that ‘more is better’ when it comes to exercise.”
House Creek Greenway construction to begin in April
Raleigh will break ground in April on one of its most anticipated stretches of greenway: the 3-mile House Creek Greenway. Runners, bikers, distance walkers and other greenway enthusiasts have been especially interested in the greenway because it will link the 11 miles of completed Crabtree Creek Greenway to the east with about 14 miles of greenway running from Meredith College, over I-440 to the N.C. Museum of Art, then along Reedy Creek Road into Umstead State Park and into Cary. Some quick cyphering reveals the House Creek link will create a 28-mile network of greenway.* And that’s only taking into account greenway already open.
Try an indoor tri
Jill Malley knows more about competition than she thinks. “You’re doing great,” she said over my shoulder as I pedaled hamsterlike on the stationary bike. Then, leaning in, she added confidentially, “You’ve gone farther than anyone I’ve seen so far.” Nothing like a well-timed stroke to keep a guy from dialing back the stationary bike just when he thinks he’s had all he can take of going nowhere fast.