The Test

I put myself through a little test while on vacation. My goal was to run/workout everyday we were gone. Not an easy task as I discovered, not any easier than getting out when at home. Our vacation as most vacations are was filled with wave upon wave of food, drink and activity.
First stop (2 days) Mount Pleasant, South Carolina where we visited a friend from collage and her family. By night we played catch up, went out to eat and had cocktails. By day, non stop tours of the area, Fort Sumter, the air craft carrier USS Yorktown and a fantastic Vietnam War exhibit at Point Pleasant Park. We didn't scratch the surface of what's to do in the area but would love to get back and try. I was up at the crack of dawn and ran both days. The weather was hot, very hot and an early start was prudent. I enjoyed exploring the neighborhoods, trails and flat roads of the area. Lizards skittered about in front of me as ran. On one occasion a beautiful golden eagle screeched at me as I ran along a deserted golf course as if it was cheering me on. It made me think of my Dad, and put a smile on my face. Slipping into the pool upon my return each morning was glorious.

Chasing Shadows

Stop two (3 days), we met family in St. Augustine, Florida. I was excited to visit St. Augustine, it is the oldest in America and home of the fountain of youth. Florida in July is hot and I felt like I was part of an experiment determining the effects of heat and dehydration on the human body. I ran and ran early along with dozens of others. The neighborhoods, streets and beaches of the area where a thrill to explore, classic old homes and modern wonders. Sun rise provided stunning combinations of purples, orange, pinks and grays with majestic cloud formations like those surrounding planet Bespin and Lando Calrissians, Cloud City in Star Wars. Streets umbrellaed by moss strung trees kept the direct sun at bay. I developed the habit of following the shade of the trees along the road as if my life depended on it. We toured, ate and drank as if it was possible to fit everything St. Augustine had to offer into our stay and soaked up as much sun SPF50 lotion would allow at the beach or by the pool.
Our final destination, Orlando, Florida and DISNEY! Our itinerary was chalk full of five fun packed days at Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Getting in my run on this leg of the journey was going to be a challenge. Walking around four different parks, rides, waiting in line, back across the park another ride, dinner then fireworks was a work out itself. And it was hot, when the doors of the hotel open the heat hits you as if you are walking into a convection oven, you start sweating as you cross the threshhold. It was amazing how consuming the heat was that early in the morning and sweat rolled off me throughout my run as if I had just steeped out of the shower. Reentry into the hotel was just as polarizing, like walking directly into the sub artic from the desert, chills. Fortunetly our hotel featured a state of the art fitness center rivialing any New York Sports Club and with the company of my daughter I avoided the oven for a few days of our visit. Disney has thought of everything however and along with maps of their parks they have running trails mapped out and my desire to explore outweighed the discomfort of the heat. 

Boardwalk Sun Rise

Back in North Carolina it has been 70 degrees, cooler over night. In fact it was a little chilly on my run this morning and wish I had put on a different shirt. Quite a change from last weeks runs on the surface of the sun, I'll take it. I passed The Test, whats next?

SCAR~DNF

• I did NOT finish my SCAR (Smokies Challenge Adventure Run) attempt in May.
• I am NOT happy about it.
• I WILL make another attempt and finish.
• I have avoided writing about it but have continued to think about it so here are some take away's.

Failures:
1) Poor Planning
Traditionally I am up and out early but for this attempt I chose to start in the evening. My theory was that it would be more convenient for my wife who had been tasked to get me to the start and from the finish of my escapade. The late start was foolish. I started at the southern boundary of the park at 1900 after a full day of activity, which included vehicle shuttling and travel. I am typically in bed at 2100 so seven hours into this adventure I was already stumbling along the AT in the dark like a zombie chasing the bobbing light of my head lamp down the trail.
2) Check Your Gear
The first section of  trail climbs 4.5 miles in 1700', up steep switchbacks to Birch Spring Gap. I felt fresh and was moving along pretty well. However, the 3rd pull from the tube of my hydration pack reveled a big problem, "it was empty". I had filled it with Tailwind before leaving the house and throwing my pack into the back of the car for the drive to the trail head. The 70oz bladder had emptied itself in the car before I had taken my first step. I had two additional 24oz water bottles with me and according to the millage card I had put together, had multiple locations to obtain water along the way. I would be ok.
3) Where is the water
I traveled nearly 20 miles before finally securing water. Which would not have been a big deal if my bladder had not bled its contents all over the back of my wife's car. I did not locate water in the couple locations referenced having it and others (Shelters) where full of sleeping hikers and I did not feel it was appropriate to be rooting around their campsites in the dark in search of water although in hindsight I probably should have. When I did finally find water I sat in the dark getting my fill for an eternity.
4) Bugs
Yay Bugs! At one point during my preparation I had considered taking bug repellent but for some reason never did more than that. I may have come to the conclusion that bugs would not be an issue in May or it simply slipped my mind as I considered other logistics. Either way I dealt with bugs and it was a nuisance until it finally cooled down enough for them disappear. Admittedly this was not a Maine black fly kind of nuisance but enough to make me wish I had repellent. In reality I was just feeling sorry for my self, thirsty and tired.

Successes:
1) Resupply vehicle
 My wife had recommended shuttling a vehicle to Newfound Gap (the only road crossing of the AT in the park) prior to my departure so I would have access to resupply or in the event I bailed I could get home without any trouble. This was the best decision of the entire trip as you all know I bailed and was able to sleep in the car for awhile before heading home with my tail between my legs and without having to interrupt the families day. *Thank you to my wife  (Shelle) who over the years has supported countles of my adventures from Colorado to Alaska and along the AT from Georga To Maine.
2) 40+ miles covered
I covered 40 miles and despite the water issue and the start time did pretty damn well really.