trail run Archives - GetGoing NC!

This weekend: Hot with fun

JoeMiller — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 15:51:58 +0000

Expand your horizons by watching top surfers at the coast or rise to new heights — by running to the top of Crowder’s Mountain or cycling 100 miles in the mountains and gaining 9,600 feet in the process.

Coast

Action is often the result of inspiration. Look at all the people who got into cycling because of Lance Armstrong’s success, albeit ill-begotten, in the Tour de France. Or the number of folks who flood the local state park on that first fall-like weekend of September. Or the spike in fly fishing after “A River Runs Through It.” Sometimes, watching leads to doing.

Thus, our recommendation for this weekend’s O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest at Wrightsville Beach. It’s an especially good option if you’ve never surfed but are intrigued by the notion. Show up, watch top amateurs and professionals, get inspired, take a lesson (offered through local surf shops and the Wrightsville Beach Parks & Rec. And if you are a surfer, a rare opportunity to compete.

Logistics: Friday-Sunday, July 12-14, Wrightsville Beach. Free to spectate. More info here, or call 910.256.3821

Weekend forecast: Highs in the low 80s, 40 percent to 60 percent chance of rain.

The view from atop Crowder's Mountain (photo courtesy N.C. Division of State Parks).

Piedmont

Some people scoff at the notion of hiking to the top of Crowder’s Mountain (not you, of course, others). But run to the summit!?

That’s the gist of Saturday’s Hot Top 10K, part of the Mountain Goat Trail Race Series. The Hot Top starts at the Linwood entrance to Crowder’s Mountain State Park and peaks out atop the park’s 1,625-foot namesake summit, which rises 800 feet above the surrounding countryside. There’s some singletrack, some doubletrack and 336 stairs.

Logistics: Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m. $45 by July 11. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 81, 30 percent chance of rain.

The start of the Hot Doggett Challenge.

Mountains

Not a runner, but also interested in a hot event? How about Saturday’s Hot Doggett Challenge, one of the high country’s stellar century rides. The Hot Doggett starts at Mars Hill College and takes in scenic Madison County.

Interested, but not interested in a full 100 miles of mountain scenery and the 9,600 feet of cumulative climbing? Then check out the Devil’s Fork Metric, which offers options of 68 (a still sizable climb of 6,500 feet), 50 and 25 miles. If you’ve done the ride before and don’t like repeating the same course, then you should still consider the Hot Doggett: heavy rains of late have washed out portions of the traditional course, necessitating some rerouting.

Logistics: Saturday, July 13, 7:30 a.m. for the Hot Doggett, 8 a.m, for the Devil’s Fork. $45 by Thursday, July 13, $50 race day. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 79, 30 percent chance of rain.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Calendar includes three weekly events for each of its seven markets: Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Search by market.

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *

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This weekend: Raft, gaze, run

JoeMiller — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:31:59 +0000

Make a mini raft (then ride the real thing), beat the heat with a nighttime search for Saturn, race on mountain trails. That’s what tops our list of thrills this weekend in North Carolina.

Coast

All spring, my stepson and his buddies spent their weekends building a raft — a raft they planned to ride for 35 miles on the Cape Fear River. Having paddled the Cape Fear I was a tad skeptical, what with the seemingly non-raft-friendly Class I-II drops along the way. But these guys being bright and well versed in the engineering arts, I kept my thoughts to myself: They’ll be fine. And after their three-day trip this past weekend, they were.

Their expedition piqued my interest in rafts. That’s no doubt part of the reason this week’s recommendation for the coast is the Rafting Near/On the Lake program Saturday at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park in Seven Springs. First, you’ll make miniature rafts for competition in the Raingutter Regatta. Then, time permitting, you’ll set sail on the park’s pond on a raft made of recycled material. Sounds like a great way to spend part of a day.

Logistics: Saturday, June 9, 8 a.m., Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Seven Springs. More info by dialing 919.778.6234.

Friday forecast: High of 88 with overcast skies and a 70 percent chance of rain.

Saturn. Photo courtesy NASA

Piedmont

The forecast for Saturday calls for our first 90+ weather of the season — with the wetness factor boosting the heat index to 95! And there’s a 60 percent chance of rain during the day. How does that translate to still having adventure fun? By having it at night. Say, at the Wonders of the Night Sky program at the Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center in Four Oaks (near Smithfield). Saturn will be the focus of the evening, a focus provided by amateur astronomers who will bring their telescopes and are only too glad to let you take an extended peek. A great spot to view the night sky since there’s far less light pollution this far from the urban, glowing Triangle.

Logistics: Saturday, June 8, 9 p.m. Free, no pre-registration. More info here.

Saturday night forecast: Low of 72, partly cloudy.

Photo courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound

Mountains

We’ve got a fondness for trail races, especially those in the mountains. This week, that fondness brings us to Warren Wilson College for the latest installment of the RiverBound Race Series. Both the 5K and 15K runs will be on the Warren Wilson trails. This is the second of three RiverBound races in the mountains; three others take place in the Charlotte area.

Logistics: Saturday, June 8, 8 a.m., Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. $30 in advance, $35 race day for the 5K, $45/$50 for the 15K. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 77, 50 percent chance of rain.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

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This weekend: We’ve got the runs

JoeMiller — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:29:54 +0000

Lace up and head out this weekend.

It’s a big weekend in North Carolina for runs, especially those of the trail variety.

Coast

One thing runners love about trail races is that natural surface trails are easier on the body, especially everything from the waist down. One thing runners aren’t always crazy about: the races tend to be in hilly areas where the prospects of a PR are slim. That’s not an issue with Saturday’s Roanoke Canal Half Marathon & 8K, with follows the historic, flat and natural surface Roanoke Canal Trail. Promises event organizer the Tar River Running Company: “It is honestly a course that is waiting for you to set a PR.” Also recommending the race is the great scenery, both natural and human: the trail takes in the Roanoke River and several lakes, crosses an aqueduct dating to the 1800s, and passes the remains of an old power generation plant. Lots of distractions.

Logistics: Saturday, March 8; the half marathon begins at 8 a.m., the 8K at 8:30 a.m. $65 for the half, $35 for the 8K, registration ends TODAY! More info: 252.443.4566, tarriverrunningco@gmail.com

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 59.

Piedmont

The Charlotte version of the River Bound Race Series (there’s also an Asheville series) begins Saturday with a 5K and 8K at Renaissance Park. The four-race series is put on by North Carolina Outward Bound; other venues and dates in the series are Fisher Farm Park (5K, 10K), May 18; U.S. National Whitewater Center (5K, 15K), July 20; Anne Spring Close Greenway (5K and half marathon), Sept. 21.

Logistics: Saturday, March 9, 8 a.m.; $30 for the 5K, $35 for the 8K, tack on another $5 on race day. Register here. More info: Luiz Leonetti 704.239.2121, lleonetti@ncobs.org, and here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 64.

Mountains

Rounding out the weekend running schedule is Saturday’s Healthy Parks, Healthy You 5K Fun Run at the Buncombe County Sports Park in Asheville. This is a mellow event — it’s not even timed. Mellow pricing, too.

Logistics: Saturday, March 9, 8:30 a.m., Healthy Parks, Healthy You 5K Fun Run: March 9, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Circle, Asheville. $12 for adults, $7 ages 4-15. More info: Jay Nelson at 828.250.4269 or jay.nelson@buncombecounty.org or by going here.

Weekend forecast: Clear, high of 61.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: We’ve got the runs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Back into the backyard wild

JoeMiller — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:15:07 +0000

A couple days ago the topic around the dinner table turned to trail running. “I’m thinking about making a running trail in the back 40,” I said, referring to the strip of wild, bottomland forest wedged between our neighborhood and I-40.
“You said that two years ago,” Kate said.
I quietly hrrumped, then vowed to vindicate myself. Turns out she was wrong: I hadn’t said I was going to build such a trail two years ago. It was three.
I was reminded when I ran across a post I’d written over winter break 2009, about the joys of exploring your own backyard. The account was about our travels through this unlikely jungle in the heart of Cary. And I had indeed vowed to return with rake and mattock to clear a path. Rereading the piece I was inspired anew: that backyard journey remains one of my favorites in several years. I thought it might inspire you as well, so I’m rerunning it today.
Meanwhile, I’ll search the tool shed for my trail-clearing implements. I have a path to make.
* * *
North Carolina, the 9th biggest state in the country with 9.2 million residents, is unusual because even if you live in one of its urban centers — Charlotte, the Triad, the Triangle, Asheville, Wilmington — there’s likely a wooded area within walking distance. Maybe not a national forest or a state park, but at least a corridor of wild that for any number of reasons has eluded development. For instance, we live in the heart of Cary (we call it Historic Cary because the houses date all the way back to the 1970s) between two malls (Cary Town Centre and Crossroads Plaza), yet we can walk out the end of our cul-de-sac along a storm drainage easement and within minutes be at the headwaters of Walnut Creek. This proximity to the wild comes in handy when you have a houseful of kids on winter break. “C’mon everyone, gear up!” I yelled early last Thursday afternoon. “We’re going exploring.”

Concrete storm drain access or child's canvas?

As Richard Louv notes in 2008’s “Last Child in the Woods,” a look at how our children are becoming increasingly detached from the outside world and the ramifications of this “nature deficit disorder,” kids, especially younger ones, instinctively would rather be outside than indoors fiddling with a joystick. It’s been my experience that whenever I issue the call to head out, the kids are quick to deploy. And so it was Thursday. This comes naturally in our house. I write about the outdoors, the kids are natural-born explorers. I know this isn’t the case in every household, however, so here’s a quick how-to on exploring your neighborhood wilderness. What to wear First, what not to wear: Anything you got for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus. Rather, wear whatever you — and more importantly the kids — don’t mind getting trashed. It’ll likely be wet out there. And muddy. Tree limbs are likely to poke holes through your sweater, briars may rip at your pant legs (oh yeah, be sure to wear long pants). And be sure to dress for the weather, taking layers for those moments when you may be standing around studying a particularly fascinating — to your 8-year-old, at least — mud hole.

A gorgeous beech cove bumps up to the back of our development.

What to take Take a daypack with the following: drinks (juice boxes or water bottles), snacks (the fun fades quickly once they start running low on fuel), a small first-aid kit (even just some Band-Aids, Neosporin and some wet wipes tossed into a Ziplock bag), the aforementioned layers (sweatshirt, hoodie, etc.), gloves, hat, camera, compass and a cell phone in case the trip goes awry. Those are mandatory. In addition, consider a field guide (birding, local flora, animal tracks), binoculars, a journal and colored pencils and a sketch pad.

Oh, deer!

Ground rules Before heading out, establish the ground rules for your expedition. These vary from expedition to expedition, but a good overall rule for any trip into the wild with kids: Never lose eyesight with others in the group. That’ll keep people from getting lost and from getting into trouble without help immediately available. Also: Enforce the No Whine Zone rule. Ardent couch potatoes may be prone to kvetching at first, but that likely will face when they discover their first computer laptop in the woods (this happened to us once; in fact, we found two). Let the kids have fun Uber alles, let the kids be kids and don’t get in the way of their fun. They’re going to get dirty, accept that from the get-go. Don’t freak if Johnny sinks into mud a foot deep (unless it looks like he’s going to keep on sinking) or if Suzy walks through the creek rather than taking the dryer rock bridge option. (Though regarding the latter, let the kids know that on a cold day you’ll be heading back early if they get excessively wet; hypothermia is no fun.) Let the kids climb trees (unless poison ivy is snaking up the trunk), let them climb on rocks. A few scrapes and bruises are signs of a successful trip into the wild. Let them explore. A kid’s imagination can go wild outdoors, especially if such an outing is a rarity.

Almost had to call in backup for extraction from this mud hole.

Use that camera Take pictures of the kids at play, for two reasons. We like to do a computer slide show that evening, our way of reliving a great day. More importantly, the next time you propose a neighborhood expedition and the kids balk, you’ll have evidence to the contrary. “Oh, yeah,” they’ll be forced to acknowledge, “I guess we did have fun, didn’t we.” Plan on an early bedtime For you and the kids. And plan on being pestered into taking a hike in the hood the next time the kids have a day off from school. For previous suggestions on what to do with the kids on winter break, go here and here.
Excerpt

The post Back into the backyard wild appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend: It’s spring!!!

JoeMiller — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:45:24 +0000

Get to know a new place on foot, get to know the season that started Tuesday.

Coast

When I was in high school I had a part-time job on the old Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. I took the job, in part, so I could get inside the inner sanctum of a military installation just to see what it was like. It wasn’t as exciting as I expected; In fact, the only significant difference between it and the outside world was that it was a whole lot cleaner. Still, it was cool being allowed in this land forbidden to mere civilians.

That’s part of the motivation to run this Saturday’s MCAS Cherry Point 13th Annual Half Marathon. The race is open to the public, is flat (another incentive) and “will take runners through a combination of residential neighborhoods as well as many scenic routes aboard MCAS Cherry Point.” If you’ve ever driven past the gate at Cherry Point and wondered what goes on inside, here’s your chance. And maybe it won’t be all that exciting. But at least it’s flat.

Logistics: Check-in is from 6-7 a.m., race starts at 7:30 a.m. $50 for non-military. More info, call Berna Crosby at 252.466.2208 or visit here.

Weekend forecast: High of 79, partly cloudy.

Piedmont

Trout lily — an early sign of spring.

Oh, yeah, it’s spring! (It commenced at 1:14 a.m. Tuesday, in case you missed it.) Among the enticing spring programs this first weekend of the season is Saturday’s Signs of Spring Family Hike at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. “Who’s singing in the vernal pools?” asks the Garden, presumably through a human interpreter. “What’s blooming up from beneath the fallen leaves? Celebrate the Spring Equinox exploring the gardens and trails for signs that the natural world is waking from its winter slumber.” A great place to welcome spring.

Logistics: The program is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. $15 per family ($10 if you belong to the Botanical Garden); “parents/caregivers must remain with their child at all times.” More info by calling 919.962.0522 or visiting here.

Weekend forecast: High of 75, 70 percent chance of rain.

DuPont State Forest's Triple Falls

Mountains

DuPont State Forest in the Brevard area has close to 100 miles of trail; knowing where to go can be a challenge. That’s one of the advantages to Saturday’s DuPont 12K Trail Run, which starts and ends at Guion Farm on Sky Valley Road, and follows what promises to be a scenic and challenging 7.4-mile route. Race begins at 10 a.m.

Logistics: Entry fee is $30, online here or in person at the sponsoring Jus Running in Asheville. Race begins at 10 a.m.

Weekend forecast: High of 68 with fog early and a 20 percent chance of rain.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

* * *

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: It’s spring!!! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.