Conquer \ˈkäŋ-kər\

to overcome by mental or moral power
to reach the summit of a mountain by climbing

Yesterday Barry and I ran the Conquer the Cove 25K trail race, held at Carvins Cove in Roanoke. This race is the anchor event of the Roanoke Non-Ultra Trail Series and it has it all – a challenging course, awesome volunteers with great aid stations, and a relaxing atmosphere to hang out in once you’re done conquering the cove.

The race starts early at 6:30 AM to beat the heat, which means an early wake up call. We went to bed Saturday night with alarms set for 3 AM, but actually ended up getting woken up at 2:30 AM by a BAT on the curtains in our bedroom. Yes, a bat. Oh my gosh! Barry quickly went downstairs to get a leather work glove to catch it. Naturally, it chose that moment to fly around the bedroom, which had me out of there at the speed of Usain Bolt, slamming the door behind me. Luckily it landed back on the curtains and he was able to get hold of it and get it outside. Yeesh! I am going to have nightmares. I hadn’t been sleeping that well before that (typical pre-race night’s sleep) and I definitely didn’t sleep after that.

By 4 AM we were on our way to Roanoke. We arrived a little after 5 AM with plenty of parking still available (last year I got there around 5:30 and they were almost full up). It gave us lots of time to use the restroom, get our bibs and shirts, use the restroom again, and meet JoAnne! We have run many of the same races, and I cheered for her at Blue Ridge last year when Barry ran the full. But this was the first time we got to ‘officially’ meet. All of my raving about Mountain Junkies trail races convinced her to sign up for one, and I think she had a good time. Naturally, I failed to get a picture – because I never think to take pictures with people unless someone else suggests it.

At 6:15 we had the pre-race meeting and then we lined up at the start line. A few minutes after 6:30 we were off and running!

Carvins Cove is the second largest municipally owned park in the country. It has 40 miles of trails in 12,000+ acres of property. Josh and Gina (the owners of Mountain Junkies LLC) worked for years to gain the necessary permits and permissions to hold this event here, so it’s truly a treat. The race starts and finishes at Loch Haven Lake – a private lake club. The first mile of the race takes you out of the lake club and onto a paved road for about a mile before turning onto the singletrack trails of Carvins Cove.

The trail rolls for a bit, with a few switchbacks before taking a hard right turn onto our first major climb of the day – 700 feet over 1.1 miles. The last half mile of it is really steep and it had my calves and Achilles on fire.

Luckily my feet went numb towards the top of the climb, which often signals the end of the burning. It held true this time, but we had a two mile descent, and running that with numb feet was a little tricky.

I passed aid station #1 around 3 miles and like last year kept rolling past it on the downhill, shouting a “thank you” to the volunteers on my way by. Shortly after mile 4 the numbness in my feet went away and I was able to run with less caution.

It’s a 5 mile stretch from aid station #1 to AS #2 and try as I might, I could not remember what the trail was like from last year, after the long downhill. It’s mostly gentle and rolling, but the stretch can feel a bit long. Luckily, I made a friend named Justin along this stretch and we kept each other company until rolling into AS #2 around 8 miles.

I did want to mention one thing about this stretch. There are lots of burned tree stumps through this section from fires in recent years. I kind of think of them as our spectators. Up close they just look like black tree stumps, but from far away they do really good impressions of black bears!

Aid station #2 is known as the ‘party zone’ and it is always that! The 25K course comes through at mile 8, before the next major climb up Brushy Mountain, and the marathon course comes through here both at mile 8 and again at mile 18. All of the aid stations are set up similar to an ultra – with food options from PB & J to chips to orange slices, and the volunteers are awesome.

When they caught me taking a picture of the cowbell, they said “Oh no! We haven’t given you any cowbell!” and a volunteer grabbed it and started vigorously shaking it. I looked around for the taxi I had ordered to pick me up at AS #2 and take me to the top of Brushy Mountain, but he was nowhere in sight. I guess he couldn’t find the fire road. So I had no choice but to continue on by foot up the second major climb of the day – 1,000 feet over 2.3 miles.

My old friend, Justin, had forged ahead up Brushy Mountain, and as I began my climb I made a new friend. I didn’t get her name, but she told me she was about to turn 50 and had been fighting a sinus infection all week. We had both run Blue Ridge, so we discussed that a bit, and then we talked about the climb ahead. We stuck together for about 3/4th of the way up and kept each other going. Our running/hiking schedules didn’t always match, but there were a lot of times when we would end up running or hiking together. Several times she gave me a “go girl!” or “good girl” everytime I started running again or ran by her. When she would go by me, I’d give her a thumb’s up or clap (she had earbuds on at this point and couldn’t hear me without taking them out, which is why I stuck to gestures).

This climb is a long one, and the fire road just keeps twisting and turning. But finally, I did make it to the top and cruised downhill to AS #3, just after mile 11. The volunteers were so helpful. Before I even got there they were shouting out asking what I needed. I had a cup of Gatorade, wiped the back of my neck with an ice cold wet towel (Which felt amazing! It wasn’t super hot out, but it was very humid.), and ate a few potato chips. Before I knew it they had me fed and watered and were sending me back out on the course for a punishing two mile descent.

I came into AS #3 around 2:45 or so and I really wanted to finish in under 4 hours (last year I finished in 3:41). I didn’t know if I would make it, as I still had nearly 5 miles to go, but I was going to give it a shot! From AS #3 runners head down a trail called ‘The Gauntlet’. It is a two mile descent that has your quads begging for a flat section of trail. You would think it would be a relief after the climb up Brushy Mountain, but you would be wrong. 🙂

 

From mile 12 on, I just focused on the mile I was in. There aren’t any major hills from here, but even the little ones feel like a mountain at this point. I got to see a few of the full marathon leaders go by, which was exciting (they were on mile 22-24), and then I caught up with Justin! We pretty much stuck together the rest of the way, which really helped me keep going. I definitely felt stronger during the final miles of the race this year, so I ran more at the end this year than last. Just before mile 15 we found ourselves back on the paved road where it all started earlier that morning. It’s only about a mile from here, but boy does it feel like a long way!

Barry came back to collect me, as he often does. He had a great race day and finished in 2:30! He’s such a strong runner. After all that, he still ran Justin and me in from the pavement back onto a single track trail, and finally back to Loch Haven Lake. This is one finish line that feels especially great to cross, with a high five from Josh! I finished in 3:49:01, about 7 minutes slower than last year, but I’m happy with that. It was hotter/more humid this year and my training hasn’t been spectacular.

After chilling by the fire pit area for a bit, Barry and I headed down to the beach for a dip in the lake. The cool water felt wonderful on my sore muscles – especially my calves!

You may notice that the medal around my neck is different from the one in the picture with my shoes. That’s because Barry traded medals with me. The one I got was identical to last year’s so he traded, since his was different (neither is date specific). Who says chivalry is dead…

After my dip in the lake, it was time for some food! They had the usual scrumptious Mountain Junkies post-race food spread, and on top of that they were grilling burgers. Yum! Such a great way to cap off the last race of the series.

 

And with that, the series is complete! This year was my first time doing the RNUTS series. I ran five out of the six races and had a blast (and I volunteered at the other one). I ran in single digit temperatures, shin-deep snow, ankle-deep mud, the heat and humidity, with distances ranging from 5K to 25K. Quite the well-rounded series, if you ask me. Definitely one I hope to do again in the future!

Who else raced this past weekend?
Have you ever participated in a race series before?
Have you ever had a bat in your house? Ever had one wake you up in the middle of the night, because it was IN YOUR BEDROOM??

This past weekend, my little sister and I went hiking on the Appalachian Trail while she was down visiting. I had been wanting to check out the hike from Pearisburg up to Angel’s Rest for awhile, and Memorial Day weekend seemed like the perfect time to do it. Plus we had gorgeous weather on Saturday – great for outdoor activities!

We arrived in Pearisburg a little after Noon, after taking it easy in the morning. I love driving through Pearisburg, because it’s such a cute small town. They had it all decorated for Memorial Day!

The parking area closest to the Angels Rest access point on the Appalachian Trail is very limited. I was a bit worried about this, but it didn’t end up being an issue as I was able to parallel park my car in a small spot between another car and a mud pit. 🙂 Then we were off on the trail!

The hike up to Angels Rest is a strenuous one, climbing about 1700 feet in two miles. The first half mile and last half mile were the steepest. We crossed under what I think was a power line early on. We made sure not to touch it!

After that, the trail was largely made up of switchbacks that were a bit more mild until we got to the final steep ascent. I couldn’t get over how green everything was!

As we made our way up the mountain, we passed by a ravine with spring water flowing through it. We also passed by several rockslide areas.

The final half mile had my calves burning and my heart pounding, but it was so worth it when we made it to the top. Angels Rest has an amazing overlook on the ridge of Pearis Mountain, with views to the northwest.

It was a bit crowded when we first got to the rock, but it was fun to talk to everyone. All were section/day hikers except for one guy who was thru hiking from Georgia to Maine. His trail name was ‘boomerang’ because he was from Maine, had flown down to Georgia to hike the AT, and was “boomeranging” back home. Love it! After a few minutes, everyone else moved on and we got to enjoy the view on our own for a bit.

From Angels Rest, we continued on the Appalachian Trail along the ridge of Pearis Mountain towards the Wilburn Valley overlook. It was about another 0.6 miles to this overlook.

We walked by lots of Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel in bloom. I think there was also honeysuckle, although I’d never seen it that bright orange color like that before.

The hike from Angels Rest to Wilburn Valley was mostly flat, as we were just hiking along the ridgeline. Once we made it there, we enjoyed a wonderful view of the valley below and had a water/snack break.

 

After that, it was time to head back down the mountain. The hike started out nice and easy as we made our way back to Angels Rest. From there, it turned out to be a good workout for our quads, as we made our way back down the steep sections of the trail.

We were pretty worn out by the end, but it was a great day of hiking. I’m really glad we decided to take advantage of the nice weather and go do that. We saw plenty of people on the trail, but it never felt too crowded.

The steep sections of the hike we great training for this weekend’s Conquer the Cove 25K trail race. It’s got a few steep sections that I had to hike last year and I know I’ll be hiking this year. Glad I got in some hiking practice!

Funny story: We stopped by Walmart in town before heading home. Lo and behold, we ran into Boomerang. He had picked up a resupply package that was waiting for him there, and was waiting for his ride back to the trail (he had already contacted them via phone). As we headed back to my car, an older couple that live in town showed up to pick him up and drive him back to the trail. That’s the AT way, and most of the towns that the trail crosses through are like this.

If you were hiking the AT, what would your trail name be?
Do you ever go on day hikes? How about overnight backpacking trips?

P.S. On Wednesday I came across an article that Scott Jurek is currently attempting to break the Appalachian Trail thru-hike speed record! He started on Memorial Day. I’m hoping there will be updates on his progress so that we might be able to see him when he comes through our area! Click HERE to see the article. The current record is 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes to cover the 2,168 mile trail. Scott’s goal is 42 days, which is an average of  roughly 51 miles per day.

I’m linking up again today with Deb on her Wednesday Word link up! Today’s word: Anticipation.

When I thought about the word anticipation, I immediately thought about the anticipation you feel before a race. Specifically, I thought about my very first race. I’ve mentioned it plenty of times on my blog, but I’ve never recapped it before. The main reason for that is I don’t remember much about it. But one thing I do remember is the wait before the start of the race that morning.

The anticipation and nerves because you don’t know how it’s going to be, if you’re really trained and ready, etc. I think no matter how many races I run, that feeling right before the start of a race is always there. It’s the same feeling that used to make me jump up and down right before the start of a race back in my competitive swim days. The day that feeling goes away, it’s time to find a new hobby.

Speaking of hobbies, my little sister introduced me to a new one that also involves a fair amount of anticipation. It’s called ‘geocaching’. The definition of geocaching, according to Google, is “the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object, by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website.”

In our case, we were using a smartphone app that gave us a general location (e.g. in a park) and at least one clue. We started in a park near my house, where we found four. Each one had a slip of paper in it where you could log your name and the date of your find. It was neat to see others who had found them before us!

The below, left picture was my first find – a “bison tube” that was about two inches long hidden on the back of a post. On the below, right picture you’ll see the one that was the hardest for us to find. It was a “nano” geocache, that was only about an inch in size. It was attached to the underside of an old train caboose with a magnet. There was a tiny roll of paper inside that we signed with our name and date of find, before putting the geocache back for others to find.

Part of the fun with geocaching is the anticipation of finding each hidden object. I think that expectation involved with an activity, be it a treasure hunt of sorts or running a race, adds a certain amount of excitement. It’s the suspense of the unknown that makes it fun and worthwhile!

What hobbies do you have? What sort of anticipation is involved with them?

First and foremost, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day! Today is dedicated to the many American soldiers who have loyally served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. All gave some – Some gave all.

This past weekend was a fun one (and it’s still going on, since I have the day off of work today). My little sister came down to visit, and got here on Thursday evening. I had to work a half day on Friday, and then my long weekend got started. It was a beautiful day out, so my sister and I took the dogs for a walk and then she suggested we go geocaching.

I hadn’t ever heard of geocaching before, but it’s like a big treasure hunt that you can play all over the country (and world, I think). There are probably some geocaches where you live – and if you have a smart phone there’s an app you can use to find them. You’ll be told the general area, and then be given a clue. My little sister and I found four in a park near my house and a few more in town. It was fun searching for them and satisfying to find them! There was only one we weren’t able to find.

Inside each geocache was a roll of paper where you logged your name and date of your find. It was neat to see others who had found them as well! After spending time doing that, we came home and had dinner with Barry. Then we headed out for the main purpose of my sister’s visit: to see Pitch Perfect 2. We both loved it, so if you were a fan of Pitch Perfect, go see the second one!

The majority of the day Saturday was spent hiking on the Appalachian Trail with my little sister (Barry was off of work, but was off cutting wood for the day). We hiked from Pearisburg up to Angel’s Rest and the Wilburn Valley overlook. It was a gorgeous day to be outside, and a great, but strenuous, hike. We also met a few thru hikers! More details (and pictures!) later this week.

Saturday evening, Barry, my little sister, and I all had dinner together and then broke in my new Dutch Blitz card game!

We capped off the night by watching the movie Wild. I’ve been reading the book (I’m about 3/4th of the way through), and we were inspired to watch the movie after seeing all of the AT hikers!

Yesterday we said goodbye to my little sister, as she headed back home, and then pretty much had a lazy day for the most part. I chose to stay inside most of the day (even though it was another gorgeous day) because I was pretty miserable from my allergies, due to spending so much time outside Friday and Saturday. Hay cutting time is not a great time for me. But I did get in a short run on the treadmill, give the dogs baths, and clean the camper so it’s ready for our next trip in a few weeks!

Today I have the day off of work and I’m planning to take advantage of that with a long trail run. I hope y’all have a great Memorial Day!

What are you doing for Memorial Day?
Have you ever gone geocaching?

P.S. If you are thinking about signing up for a Spartan Race, now is the time to do it! They’ve got a Memorial Day special going on now through Wednesday, May 27 for up to $40 off (depending on which race distance you sign up for). I had a blast last year, and highly recommend it if you are considering an obstacle course race!!

This past weekend Barry and I traveled to Fort Monroe for my college roommate’s wedding. The wedding was the main event, and initially I was just looking for a place nearby for us to stay. I ended up finding a campground at a really neat place called Fort Monroe, and it kind of turned our weekend into a mini vacation.

The fort is located in Hampton on the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula. It is nestled between the Chesapeake Bay and Mill Creek, and is surrounded by a moat. From our campsite, I could see both bodies of water and at most I’d say the peninsula was a half mile wide.

 

I went on two different tours during our weekend stay. The first was on Saturday morning, when I went out for a five mile run. The run itself was just so-so, but getting to see the Fort Monroe area on foot was really neat. My run started along the boardwalk, which stretches three miles along the eastern side of the peninsula.

Fort Monroe is like a little small town, with lots of remnants of its old use still around, some as old as the Civil War (like the gun battery)…

While others are more recent (like the houses and child care center)…

The base was active from 1823 to 2011. Although it’s no longer active, there are still plenty of people who live there. They keep their houses and yards in immaculate condition!

I enjoyed coastal views and tree-lined streets during my run. It was pretty hot and humid out (due to my late start), but the shade from the trees provided a nice reprieve.

I also ran by a large marina area, a grandiose hotel (now used a senior center), and a gorgeous church.

My run wrapped up back at our campground, on the Mill Creek side of the peninsula.

On Sunday morning Barry and I spent time touring the actual fort, which is the largest stone fort built in the United States. Its location has strategic importance for defense of the Chesapeake Bay, which came in to play throughout history, from the Civil War up through coastal defense during WWII. Before all that, it was the point where Captain John Smith landed in 1607.

Fort Monroe is known as “Freedom’s Fortress” because it is where enslaved men sought refuge in the early stages of the Civil War. Major General Butler, the fort’s commander, reasoned that the Fugitive Slave Act did not apply since Virginia had seceded from the United States and deemed the fugitive freedom seekers “contraband of war” that would not be returned to the Confederates. This decision forever changed the legal status of enslaved people in the US and ultimately led to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the ratification of the 13th amendment.

Nearly forty years before the Civil War, a young 24 year old Robert E. Lee, fresh from West Point graduation, arrived at Fort Monroe to oversee large engineering projects during the fort’s construction. He was married to Mary Custis Lee, the Great Granddaughter of Martha Washington. Their first son, Custis Lee, was born at the fort in 1832.

During the Civil War, former Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned at Fort Monroe. He was initially kept in a small room inside the casemate. Later, he was moved to more hospitable quarters on the fort for his health, and held for a total of two years.

By the way, a casemate is a chamber in the wall of a fort. It’s used for gun position, storage, or living quarters. The casemate at Fort Monroe was used for all three during its lifetime. Once the casemate began being used as living quarters, cannons were used from the top of the fort. A part of the casemate today is used as a museum for Fort Monroe.

As we made our way out of the fort, we walked past the oldest house inside the moat. It was built in 1819 and served as the commanding officer’s quarters.

There is a lot of history in Fort Monroe and this post is already entirely too long, so I will leave it at the tiny sliver I have shared. However, if you would like to read more, you can do so HERE.

The area where the fort is located spans so much history. From when we first arrived here, in the early 1600’s, through the Colonial Days, the Federal Period, the Civil War, and on to further development in the 20th century. From the early 20th century through post-WWII era, it was used as an artillery school and the US Army Training and Doctrine Command. The fort was decommissioned as an active Army installation on September 15, 2011, and today is an “in progress” National Park as Fort Monroe National Monument. In the coming years, more facilities and services will be added.

Have you ever taken a trip for one purpose, only to find more than you expected? This has happened for us on several of our camping trips, where the main purpose of the trip was an event or race.