tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103033742010-03-31T20:57:59.604-05:00an online journal of my racing, training, and other journeys during weekendscathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-37178960105285837282010-03-31T20:56:00.002-05:002010-03-31T20:57:59.611-05:00

no, not states, but blogging places... since Blogger is doing away with their version of custom hosting i was using, I've migrated over to WordPress and everything is now at http://www.bebackonmonday.com. (no /news.) So in case you have this page bookmarked, please remark the new one as this one won't be updated anymore!

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-38918113835401545292010-03-02T16:18:00.005-05:002010-03-12T07:45:33.900-05:00

I have a history with this race.I first signed up for it in 2007. I'd heard stories, seen pictures, and wanted to get get a piece of the action. ITB soreness (and beating myself up a few weeks earlier at Mountain Mist) caused me to drop down to the marathon distance (still an accomplishment but not what I set out to do). I was back in 2008… but this time a groin pull had me out for a month prior,

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-14841261121857898412010-02-28T19:38:00.007-05:002010-03-02T22:18:08.058-05:00

I survived! Still writing the race report, but there's been so much great press about the race I thought I'd compile some here and get it up now. stay tuned...Rock/Creek Pres ReleasePhotos by Chris BrownPics by Wilderness Adventure PhotographyPost-race article from Asheville Citizen TimesPics from the Asheville Citizen TimesPics from the Blue Ridge Parkway FoundationPics from Steppe's Gap

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-15234862429921846492010-02-26T14:41:00.000-05:002010-02-26T14:42:42.443-05:00

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1292133796988&ref=mf

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-10215402921830070272010-02-25T23:05:00.000-05:002010-03-12T00:40:31.667-05:00

Sunday kicked off the 2010 Rock/Creek Trail Series, with the 2nd annual Southern 6 hosted on the beautiful Biology Trails of Southern Adventist University. The school is located in Collegedale, east of Chattanooga. Not near Lookout, Raccoon or Signal Mtns and not as far as Cherokee, but fear not: those ridges in the hills over there are something to respect!Our random weather patterns actually

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-11071710508056087712010-02-24T07:54:00.002-05:002010-02-25T23:37:26.218-05:00

Saturday I will be at the 13th running of the Mt Mitchell Challenge. Lucky 13.... yes, it will be a special year. Check out the weather report for today:A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST AS HIGH AS 60 MPH AT TIMES THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW...AND PERIODS OF NEAR-BLIZZARD

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-81469055840710095032010-02-14T22:05:00.000-05:002010-02-14T22:13:23.279-05:00

Once again I woke up to snow falling in southern Tennessee - a great day to go for a run on the mountain! It snowed on us for the entire 3 hrs. Unfort my run wasn't that great, wiping out twice. My right knee is killing me. Ice not doing much to alleviate the pain. 2 weeks to get it back in track! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-74890605910537595292010-01-31T00:00:00.005-05:002010-02-01T00:14:39.369-05:00

PART ONE: Friday: the quest to get homeThe winter storm that was supposed to just be rain for us was most definitely much more. We got dumped on. I thought I played it safe and didn't go to the Y after getting out of work early... but there were no salt or sand trucks in action yet and getting home was rough. Still had to leave my car a few houses down as it couldn't get up my hill.PART TWO:

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-1262615750032991522010-01-24T10:37:00.003-05:002010-01-24T10:45:06.743-05:00

Wendy, Yoli & I checked out the Mullen's Cove loop today. It's featured in the upcoming River Gorge race as well as Stumpjump 50k in the fall. With all the recent rain, the dampness made for treacherous rock scrambles (the Blurs had great grip and handled the task like a champ!); however, the creeks were full and waterfalls plentiful!Snoopers RockYes, that is the trail!

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-40656304899575630132010-01-16T19:12:00.002-05:002010-01-16T19:15:04.741-05:00

I'm down at Fort Mountain this weekend, volunteering at the North GA Adventure Race this weekend (see: http://www.checkpointtracker.com for live coverage). I had some time earlier to get a run on the trails inside the park. The Gahuti Trail (Cherokee for Mother Mountain) is an 8+ mile loop around the park. There were some gorgeous views, although the trail itself was hit or miss - very well

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-66392604953037158332010-01-13T12:54:00.002-05:002010-01-13T21:42:21.944-05:00

There was still plenty of white stuff on top of Signal when I joined Kathy & Natalie for a run 2 days after 'the big storm'. Some beautiful scenery, including an almost-frozen-solid waterfall!- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-36866554343373058312010-01-05T21:42:00.000-05:002010-01-05T21:42:52.190-05:00

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-72359925035965170812010-01-05T17:18:00.003-05:002010-01-05T17:22:52.640-05:00

SORBA Chattanooga is hosting this event to raise money for new trails at Raccoon that will run from the base of the mountain to the top. Whether you're a biker, runner, or other type of trail lover, come enjoy the evening ... (or make a separate donation to SORBA!) We need to raise $75k!

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-56651998355731271352009-12-26T16:08:00.001-05:002009-12-30T08:01:01.292-05:00

Sure, I know all about winter running in the south. but how do the folks up in the great white north do it? Well, I got a taste of it last week up in CT. I finally made it to Sleeping Giant State Park (about 20 min NW of New Haven). (Trail Map Here) I had checked out the trail map previously (tons of routes to choose from!) but this was my first visit to the park. We had about 10” of snow 2 days

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-78848396063014432722009-12-14T14:39:00.002-05:002009-12-29T15:24:40.734-05:00

Last weekend I made the trek down to Macon for the finale of the Georgia Dirty Duathlon Series. Originally scheduled for mid-Nov at Dauset Trails, the race had to be rescheduled due to a pesky hurricane that had blown thru the week prior. This go around was at the Children’s Industrial Home trails. (Earlier series stops were at Blankets Creek and Fort Yargo). After staying with an old adventure

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-27117868447630011492009-11-30T15:28:00.003-05:002009-12-30T08:16:54.895-05:00

The Pinhoti Trail is a huge network of trails reaching from Elijay, GA well into AL (where the Pinhoti 100 race is held each fall) - 324 miles in full! The Snake Creek Gap time trial series is also held here each winter, a 17 & 34 mile mountain bike race (I always loved the sound of this endurance event, but have always had a schedule conflict).One particularly idyllic fall afternoon, I headed

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-17585289399948362442009-09-04T13:14:00.002-05:002009-09-04T13:20:27.965-05:00

I'm headed over to Austria for a week of mountain biking, trail running, and scenic lounging. Hopefully the hotel will have internet working so I can actual update a few things on here! I'll be catching up on some writing on the plane too (until my battery dies. the lowly economy seats don't have power chargers. boooo!) Meanwhile, Rebecca and I are chilling in the Delta Sky Club, awaiting our

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-9373035017402830132009-07-15T06:34:00.005-05:002009-07-15T22:05:26.481-05:00

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. Lao TsuOK, it's just going to be 50 miles, but that single step thing still holds true. I've been working towards this event for awhile now and feel strangely ready for it. Not that I should be surprised - Matt is awesome and he knows what he's doing. Sure, I may have looked with wide eyes at the time and mileage I was putting in (my

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-1166721383132039462009-07-03T13:55:00.004-05:002009-07-03T14:10:49.151-05:00

if you want epic, look no further. this race is a beast. it starts in gorgeous banff, alberta and finishes just yonder - in antelope wells, new mexico (right on the mexico/us border). once completed, athletes will have ridden nearly 3000 miles and climbed the equivalent of almost 3 mount everests.who would want to do such a thing? actually, many people... last year, fellow southern adventure

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-21720243837150689722009-06-29T12:05:00.000-05:002009-06-29T17:09:28.618-05:00

thankfully i haven't been "doored" but have had some close calls. Dooring is when a person in a car opens a car door into or in front of a cyclist. I guess it might be more of a problem in chicago, where they actually have an awareness campaign going on. i ran across this nice poster recently when i was browsing for design inspiration...this post has been sitting in my blogger "almost ready to

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-80864253594206512972009-06-29T10:24:00.001-05:002010-01-31T00:07:36.135-05:00

unfortunately, it's still gnat season in the south. (does it ever end?)

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-29590057759448874922009-06-15T22:15:00.004-05:002009-06-16T14:13:49.169-05:00

every year, madness converges upon downtown chattanooga for 9 sweaty, loud, drunken days. i biked down a few nights to help out with Outdoor Chattanooga's Bike Valet (free bike parking right outside the gates!), sneaking in on occasion to catch some of the groups on the smaller stages (in particular, Bluetastic Fangrass, Alejandro Escovedo and Jennifer Daniels were awesome!).there is also the

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-30126031712457528932009-06-02T11:50:00.002-05:002009-06-02T11:54:53.234-05:00

(from the press release:)Locally-owned specialty outdoor retailer Rock/Creek today announces a $5,000 donation for The Boonies, the latest in a string of donations stemming from the Rock/Creek Trail Series. The Boonies will use the money to help run future events as well as secure access to single track trails. These funds came from last Saturday morning's third annual Scenic City Trail Marathon

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-61887878269789708292009-05-24T22:20:00.002-05:002009-05-25T08:46:02.880-05:00

it's going to be an incredible run!!

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10303374.post-2977948369023424732009-05-24T11:12:00.004-05:002009-05-24T22:16:22.870-05:00

Now that the countdown to Tahoe gets closer, it's time to indulge in some longer runs. Up till now, I've done a few 2.5-3 hr runs with my ankle reacting favorably. Fingers crossed it would go the distance in the marathon. A little about the race... This is the 3rd year we've held it, although it was in a different location the first year (Possum Creek Gorge segment of the Cumberland Trail -

cathihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05908955461413271265noreply@blogger.com2