I Love My Backyard.
The Harbison Forest50k was held today in my backyard… literally.
I live on the edge of Harbison State Forest, the self-proclaimed largest urban green space in the Southeast. Those of you from actual Metropolitan areas may find the designation quaint. But call it whatever you want. I can roll out of bed and run miles and miles of beautiful and varied trails. I find it difficult to believe that I lived here for half a decade as a non-runner. Wasted years.
The race today was the first of the South Carolina Ultra Trail Series. It was held so close to my house, that with creative re-routing, I could have manned an aid station on my front porch.
Alas, I didn’t run.
I’ve run back-to-back marathon/ultras before, but I’ve got Boston in eight days. What if I twisted an ankle or broke a nail? So I volunteered for the race today and had a marvelous time. I cheered runners, offered help and directions and generally witnessed others’ suffering while I lollygagged in relative comfort and ease.
What will the Maniacs think of me now?
– Dean
If you ran the race, or just want to see people running in my backyard, view and download my photos at Flickr. They’re not too shabby.
April 14th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Tapering is over-rated – you could have put some more miles in the bank!
kestrou
P.S. – I ran 40 miles of HARD trails from Friday evening through until dawn Saturday morning, pacing a friend at the McNaughton 150-miler. The Race Director thoughtfully put freezing cold knee-deep stream crossings every five miles to soothe our aching achilles tendons. However, since it was 35F with freezing rain, I wouldn’t say my achilles really needed cooling down…
P.P.S. – TAPERING IS OVERRATED! *grin*
April 14th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Ah, but were the trails in your backyard? Answer me THAT.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Great pictures!! It felt like I was there, oh wait I was.
I had to laugh at Mr. Surly. He was the guy who was giving you a bunch of un-solicitated advice at Hitchcock last year.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Thanks for your comment, Dean, and good luck too next week. I like your blog, will keep and eye on it for the post-race report.
April 15th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Dean, great photos!
Thanks for being there and cheering us up!
Enjoy your Boston race!
April 15th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Teo, you can visit my backyard anytime!
See you in May!
– Dean