Merrill’s Cove Cane Creek Half Marathon

I’ve done this run a week before the Asheville Citizen Times Half Marathon just to get my head right and my confidence up.  This is about 13.5 miles with some serious hill challenge.  I have it mapped at USATF’s America’s Running Routes website.

 

http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=78089

 

It starts at the intersection of Merrill’s Cove Road and Chestnut Mountain Ridge and travels north, uphill, for just over 1.5 miles to the intersection of Merrill’s Cove Road, Rose Hill Road and Pinners Cover Road.  It’s a slap in the face start to a run, uphill pretty much all the way.  Then you double back to Concord Road, jump over to Williams Road, head down to Mills Gap Road, double back and take Williams Road to Cane Creek, wind through a nice little neighborhood and start heading back.

 

It’s an awesome prep run that helped me do better than I expected in the Half Marathon the following week.

The Merrill’s Cove 4 Miler

My typical training run starts at home and is an out and back run with a round trip distance of about 4.1 miles.  I have mapped the route with USATF’s America’s Running Routes website:

 

http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=78086

 

This is in southeast Asheville.  There is no simple way to categorize its location.  It is northwest of Fairview, south of Reynolds and north/northeast of Skyland.  If you visit the link above you can zoom out and get a frame of reference in terms of where this is and how to get there.  Visitors who would like to run this route can find parking spots on the side of the road at the intersection of Merrill’s Cove Road and Concord Road.

 

The route is in a cove/valley known as Merrill’s Cove.  The route starts at the intersection of Merrill’s Cove Road and Chestnut Mountain Ridge.  The course goes due south along a winding and moderately hilly country road to Concord Road, where the course doubles back and follows the same route back to the start.  There is an elevation decline of about 200 feet going out (and, of course, a corresponding elevation increase of about 200 feet coming back).  Vehicle traffic is light; this is quiet country road.  There are occasional runners, cyclists, a wild turkey, a stray gunshot now and then and some loose dogs. 

 

Dowd YMCA Half Marathon and 5k – November 4, 2006 – Charlotte, NC

A half marathon and 5k as part of the Familiy Fitness Day program at the Dowd YMCA in Charlotte.  This is the YMCA right on Morehead Street just a stone’s throw from Downtown Charlotte.  The half marathon had over 900 registered runners in 2005.  The course is scenic, running through nice neighborhoods in south Charlotte with some gently rolling hills.  Lot’s of activities going on during and after the race for spectators and for runners.

For more information or to register online, go to http://www.runforyourlife.com.

Battleship North Carolina Half Marathon coming up November 12, 2006 – Wilmington, North Carolina

The North Carolina Battleship Half Marathon looks like an awesome race to me.  It’s coming up November 12, 2006 and it starts and finishes at the Battleship North Carolina right across the river from Wilmington, North Carolina.

 

The race features two bridge crossings that span the Cape Fear River and a tour of historic Wilmington.  It’s reminiscent for me because I used to drive past the Battleship North Carolina on my way to the beach when I was in the Army at Ft Bragg, North Carolina back in the 1970s.

 

There is a pre-race dinner on board the ship that features pasta, salad, bread, sweet tea and beer (carbs).  Sounds like a nice way to get ready with other runners and really get a connection with the ship.  It reminds me of eating dinner on board the Yorktown aircraft carrier in Charleston with my son many years ago (followed by a night spent sleeping in the original World War II vintage bunks on board the Yorktown with a few hundred other boy scouts).

 

For more information on the Battleship Half Marathon (and 5k) visit the website at http://www.battleshiphalfmarathon.active.com

 

 

Charlottesville Marathon and Half Marathon – Registration Now Open

I just received an e-mail announcing that the registration is now open for the 5th annual Charlottesville Marathon and Half Marathon.  It’s April 21, 2007.  I ran the half last year and enjoyed it immensely.  It’s a great, scenic course, a large and enthusiastic crowd and Charlottesville, Virginia is a great town.

I’m contemplating whether I’m going to do that race in 2007 or another one a week earlier in April — the Charlotte Racefest Half Marathon in the Southpark area of Charlotte, NC.

More info on the Charlottesville, VA race is at http://www.charlottesvillemarathon.com

More info on the Charlotte, NC Racefest is at http://www.charlotterunning.com/racefest

Springmaid Half Marathon, 10k and 5k – Fort Mill, SC – November 11, 2006

Fort Mill, South Carolina is just south of Charlotte.  I’m planning on running the half marathon in this group because it’s relatively convenient (two hours from my home in Asheville) and I have friends in Charlotte that will put me up Friday night.  We’ll have the opportunity to share a meal, have some laughs and I have a nice place to stay the night before a run (I did the same for the Dilworth Jubilee 8k back in August of this year – but that one was also in conjunction with a Steely Dan concert).

This is the 27th annual running of the Springmaid trio of races.  They’ve doing this for quite a while on Rock Hill, which seems to have quite a running contingent.  It looks like the half marathon attracted about 100 or so runners last year.  All three runs together attracted several hundred and they all start  at the same time, so it should be a nice enthusiastic pack of runners heading out on what I hope will be a pleasant November morning.

My goal for this is 1:40.  Tell us yours.

For more info, go to http://www.springmaidrace.com.  Register online at http://www.racescapes.com

Burnsville Town Square Scamper, Burnsville, North Carolina, October 28, 2006

I’m looking forward to the Burnsville Town Square Scamper on October 28, 2006.  Even if it’s not a great race, it has a catchy name.

 

But seriously, Burnsville is a nice town up in the mountains north of Asheville and October 28^th should be just around (or slightly after) the peak of fall color.  It looks like the 2005 event lured about 150 runners so it’s a nice group.

 

I’m shooting for 21:45.  Ambitious, especially because I’m not sure about the course and how hilly it is.  But, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it.  Tell us your goal.

 

For more information, visit http://www.mitchellraces.com.

 

 

Results – Bethel Half Marathon and 5k – October 14, 2006 – Bethel, North Carolina

2006 Half-Marathon Results

Place Time   Last Name First Name Sex Age City  St
       
1 1:20:27   Lewis  Chris  M 29 Asheville NC
2 1:22:14   Stapanowich Brandon  M 22 Brevard  NC
3 1:23:10   Willis Jason  M 28 Franklin NC
4 1:25:54   Howell Thomas  M 36  
5 1:28:52   Backer Bryon  M 41 Greenville SC
6 1:29:30   Mesfin Woldeyohannes M 41 Cullowhee NC
7 1:29:55   Warren Jesse  M 49 Asheville NC
8 1:30:33   Francese Brent  M 25 Waynesville NC
9 1:31:54   Perkins Dave  M 41 Asheville NC
10 1:32:28   Wardzinski Paul  M 51 Morganton NC
11 1:32:54   Jezik  Pam  F 41 Bakersville NC
12 1:34:07   Witherspoon Jackie  F 37 Brevard NC
13 1:34:49   Eubanks Reavis  M 36 Asheville NC
14 1:36:35   Crosse Lincoln  M 48  
15 1:36:40   Cox  Sammy  M 49 Asheville NC
16 1:37:22   Taylor Rick  M 59 Fletcher NC
17 1:38:03   Burke  Lawerence M 52 Asheville NC
18 1:38:17   Oliver Malcolm  M 58   TN
19 1:40:15   Petrush George  M 29 Weaverville NC
20 1:40:49   Scholl Mel  M 57 Biltmore Lake NC
21 1:40:55   Lee  Rhonda  F 40 Morganton NC
22 1:40:56   Lee  David  M 44 Morganton NC
23 1:41:45   Cook  Jason  M 36 Murphy  NC
24 1:42:19   Duffy  Dennis  M 48 Asheville NC
25 1:42:51   Jones  Preston  M 55 Marshall NC
26 1:43:01   Kowalak Jeff  M 31  
27 1:44:21   Cameron Alan  M 62 Flat Rock NC
28 1:44:40   Ostergaard Karen  F 29 Asheville NC
29 1:46:10   Burym  Patt  M 50   NC
30 1:46:16   Lane  Brandon  M 36 Morganton NC
31 1:46:29   Sutton Heath  M 35 Waynesville NC
32 1:46:36   Clemens Dave  M 44 Kingsport TN
33 1:46:44   Stover John  M 31 Waynesville NC
34 1:47:04   Smith  David  M 35 Asheville NC
35 1:47:28   Keever Tom  M 51 Black Mountain NC
36 1:47:55   Camp  Casey  M 51 Waynesville NC
37 1:48:14   Lane  Amy  F 36 Morgontan NC
38 1:48:08   Tygh  Mark  M 39 Charlotte NC
39 1:48:25   Skiles Mel  M 61 Madison  IN
40 1:48:44   Sims  Ann  F 54 Asheville NC
41 1:49:00   Mault  Cliff  M 43 Sylva  NC
42 1:49:03   Hammaker Jeff  M 35 Franklin NC
43 1:49:06   Brock  Stephen  M 36 Waynesville NC
44 1:49:11   Lawrence Sara  F 33 Raleigh  NC
45 1:49:17   Sanderson Beth  F 26 Canton  NC
46 1:50:08   Koppe  Oliver  M 39 Leiscester NC
47 1:50:39   Bolkey Lorna  F 57 Swannanoa NC
48 1:50:52   Devin  Courtney F 19 Candler  NC
49 1:50:55   Pearce Greg  M 44 Asheville NC
50 1:51:13   Jones  Terry  M 44  
51 1:51:16   Weimer Daphne  F 29 Asheville NC
52 1:51:23   Ellis  Alan  M 46 Candler  NC
53 1:51:29   Thrash Jimmie  M 50   NC
54 1:51:43   Perry  Emilie  F 26 Apex  NC
55 1:54:05   Nihart Lyn  M 37 Black Mountain NC
56 1:52:40   Morgan Roy  M 46 Hendersonville NC
57 1:53:27   Allen  Billy  M 36 Newport  TN
58 1:53:32   Dell  Ralph  M 57 Newton  NC
59 1:53:33   Perry  Dan  M 58 Canton  NC
60 1:53:36   Wood  Fred  M 66 Waynesville NC
61 1:54:03   Warstler Teresa  F 42 Asheville NC
62 1:54:54   Wardzinski Evelyn  F 51 Morganton NC
63 1:55:31   Hollifield Kimberly F 27 Morehead City NC
64 1:55:33   Hollifield Heatherly F 29  
65 1:55:37   Finley Bill  M 64 Asheville NC
66 1:56:09   Sales  Neil  M 49 Rex  GA
67 1:56:35   Strapanowich Peter  M 49 Asheville NC
68 1:57:13   Clegg  Carla  F 25 Black Mountain NC
69 1:57:25   Brock  Chris  M 39 Asheville NC
70 1:57:52   Gerber Angela  F 37  
71 1:58:17   Carraro Leslie  F 41 Black Mountain NC
72 1:58:28   Meredith Bob  M 48 Cartersville GA
73 1:58:52   Langlois John  M 49 Arden  NC
74 1:58:59   Norman Joseph  M 24 Boonville NC
75 1:59:22   Edgens Sarah  F 38 Highlands NC
76 2:00:10   Antley Lisa  F 46 Morgontan NC
77 2:00:14   Curtis Susan  F 41 Weaverville NC
78 2:00:30   Thompson Randy  M 31 Canton  NC
79 2:00:31   Beagles Tom  M 56 Waynesville NC
80 2:01:35   Eubanks Scott  M 41 Weaverville NC
81 2:02:32   May  Annisa  F 17   NC
82 2:02:33   Tranthan Jesse  M 17 Canton  NC
83 2:03:15   Heckert Paul  M 53 Cullowhee NC
84 2:04:58   Mathis Hanna  F 16 Waynesville NC
85 2:04:59   Marra&nbsp
; Christina F 23 Asheville NC
86 2:05:07   Gray  Molly  F 58 Franklin NC
87 2:05:29   Beotte Tom  M 43 Murphy  NC
88 2:05:30   Green  James  M 61 Asheville NC
89 2:05:43   Chapman Thomas  M 57 Candler  NC
90 2:05:46   Goelz  Gary  M 43  
91 2:06:21   Miller Jay  M 65 Hendersonville NC
92 2:06:39   Latta  Joy  F 52 Mills RIver NC
93 2:06:53   Williams Deborah  F 51 Cedar Mountain NC
94 2:06:54   Tucker Jessie  F 27 Asheville NC
95 2:08:12   McCulloch Melissa  F 53 Arden  NC
96 2:08:32   Nihart Constance F 39 Black Mountain NC
97 2:08:35   Poole  Nancy  F 58   NC
98 2:08:42   Less  Dale  47  
99 2:08:43   Nash  David  M 49 Asheville NC
100 2:10:21   Staub  Libby  F 44 Raleigh  NC
101 2:10:21   Gray  Dick  M 63 Franklin NC
102 2:10:31   Morgan Amanda  F 41 Hendersonville NC
103 2:10:56   Mikusa Melanie  F 46 Morganton NC
104 2:11:20   Jones  Chipper  M 56 Marshall NC
105 2:11:52   Udukter Ozelle  F 59  
106 2:12:09   Bodenheimer Allision F 35 Franklin NC
107 2:12:10   Wadewiz Gracie  F 48 Franklin NC
108 2:12:11   Sadlon Meta  F 36 Franklin NC
109 2:12:42   Blackwell Terrell  M 56 Hendersonville NC
110 2:13:08   McLaughlin Inga  F 27 Clemson  SC
111 2:13:34   Hawk  Karen  F 53 Highlands NC
112 2:14:42   Slater Roxanne  F 50 Orange Park FL
113 2:15:09   Jacobson Jennifer F 25 Waynesville NC
114 2:15:09   Worley Jennifer F 29   NC
115 2:16:24   Campbell Judy  F 57 Johnson City TN
116 2:16:32   Hicks  Janice  F 64 Bristol  VA
117 2:19:51   Hefner Diana  F 27 Hendersonville NC
118 2:20:14   Hyder  Vickie  F 48 Asheville NC
119 2:21:15   Crumpton Jen  F 26 Waynesville NC
120 2:23:34   Redmond Bill  M 60 Owens Cross. AL
121 2:25:43   Francese Jessie  F 25 Weaverville NC
122 2:26:45   Boan-Lenzo Candace  F 35 Sylva  NC
123 2:27:12   Boan-Lenzo Chris  M 36 Sylva  NC
124 2:31:33   Naimar Eric  M 51 Asheville NC
125 2:40:02   Dost  Kate  F 25 Black Mountain NC
126 2:41:16   Marshall Martha  F 61 Asheville NC

2006 5K Results

 

Place Time Last Name First Name Sex Age City   State
       
1 17:30 Weaver  Josey  M 16 Weaverville  NC
2 18:11 Trantham Jeff  M 38 Candler   NC
3 18:23 Moran  Amber  F 28 Arden   NC
4 19:27 Beadle  Michael  M 34 Canton   NC
5 20:08 Ringsven Craig  M 28 Waynesville  NC
6 21:46 Bristle  TJ  M 29 Clyde   NC
7 21:53 Thomas  Jeremy  M 42 Altamonte Springs FL
8 22:01 Wortman  Michael  M 59 Candler   NC
9 22:02 Keefe  ohn  M 67 Orlando   FL
10 22:07 Fabricius Dietrich M 55 Hendersonville  NC
11 22:27 Kastle  Ryan  M 14 Waynesville  NC
12 22:29 Miller  Ken  M 38 Asheville  NC
13 22:41 Morrison Eric  M 43 Waynesville  NC
14 23:34 Lewis  Debby  F 51 Asheville  NC
15 23:40 McDaniel Ron  M 47 Waynesville  NC
16 23:51 Tingle  Steven  M 37 Canton   NC
17 24:04 Mattfield Sandy  F 40 Asheville  NC
18 24:14 Pearce  Ethan  M 13 Asheville  NC
19 23:48 Williams Ken  M 60 Mt. Gilead   OH
20 24:58 Robinson Constance F 12 Asheville  NC
21 25:09 Gross  David  M 67 Waynesville  NC
22 25:15 Stefano  Julie  F 25 Weaverville  NC
23 25:36 Christy  Luke  M 13 Canton   NC
24 25:14 Morgan  Jackson  M 10 Hendersonville  NC
25 25:58 Thomas  Diane  F 55 Altamonte Springs FL
26 26:09 Nieckarz Peter  M 35 Slyva   NC
27 26:42 Christy  David  M 40 Canton   NC
28 26:42 Bristle  Lori  F 41 Clyde   NC
29 26:53 Pearce  Max  M 10 Asheville  NC
30 27:06 Dahm  Lewis  M 13 Asheville  NC
31 27:27 Jefferson Conky  M 62    NC
32 27:58 Tarman  Bonnie  F 32 Charlotte  NC
33 27:58 Stover  Leah  F 30 Waynesville  NC
34 28:37 Soucy  Ro  M 71 Franklin  NC
35 28:42 Gilkey  Sara  F 40 Waynesville  NC
36 28:53 Deese  Maggie  F 26 Gastonia  NC
37 28:58 Suhr  Carla  F 29 Charlotte  NC
38 29:05 Dehart  Julie  F 23 Candler   NC
39 29:07 Worley  Sarah  F 27 Asheville  NC
40 30:15 Dalman  Mari  F 12 Asheville  NC
41 30:16 Moser  Hannah  F 12 Asheville  NC
42 29:23 Ringsven Renata  F 61 Crumberlan  WS
43 30:08 Sloan  John  M 52 Canton   NC
44 30:09 Garland  Ryan  F 12 Asheville  NC
45 30:24 Rogers  Maria  F 43 Canton   NC
46 31:31 Sutton  Jerry  M 59 Candler   NC
47 31:40 Slater  Gordon  M 67 O.P.   FL
48 32:00 Williams Al  M 50 Candler   NC
49 32:20 Parks  Jim  M 69 Kennesaw  GA
50 33:05 Pressley Kathy  F 47 Canton   NC
51 34:37 Hall  Bonnie  F 28 Canton   NC
52 34:37 Godfrey  Holly  F 28 Canton   NC
53 34:59 Colquitt Kylie  F 12 Candler   NC
54 35:18 Kloos  Harry  M 68 Livingston  KY
55 36:08 Kingsbury Leslie  F 50 Candler   NC
56 43:08 Kanipe  Ashley  F 22 Asheville  NC
 

 

Bethel Half Marathon, Bethel North Carolina – October 14, 2006

Saturday, October 14, 2006 was unusually chilly.  When I left my house in Asheville the thermometer read 32 degrees F.  Driving west toward Canton on my way to Bethel, North Carolina the temperature dropped to 30 degrees and frost coated the lawns on sleepy route 110 from Canton to Bethel.

 

Registration and packet pickup for the Bethel Half Marathon and 5k occur in the gymnasium of Bethel Middle School on Sonoma road just about half a mile west of route 110.Things are lively before dawn as runners and their friends and family gather in the gym to wait in line, pay their dues and pick up their race numbers and assorted other stuff.

The freezing weather kept most indoors as long as possible, taking advantage of the warmth for pre-race stretching. I stepped outside around 8:00 for a run to loosen up and realized that it would take a few miles in this weather to genuinely loosen up. I returned to the gym and decided to wait until just before the race start to venture back outside.

I ate a banana and stretched. At about 8:20 I went out with the rest of the runners and started loitering around the half marathon starting line. The cold weather made me resort to covering my hands with a spare pair of socks to keep them warm. The 5k starting line is several hundred yards ahead of the half marathon starting line. The race managers carefully synchronize the start of both runs and at just about 8:30 we’re off.
The first two miles are common to both races and soon we’re mixed together with half marathoners catching up to 5k runners. There’s a turning point at which the 5k heads for home and the half marathon heads further out into the country south of Bethel. Leaves fall from the trees as moderate gusts of wind glide through the valley. I’m entertained by the beautiful fall colors on the mountains and the cows and goats that watch us pass. As the sun climbed the weather gets more tolerable. After about 4 miles I removed the socks that I had placed on my hands to keep them warm. I began to settle into my pace and my place amongst the runners.

The midway point of the half marathon takes us back past the starting point. We get a glimpse of the running track that is home to the finish line. We run past Bethel Middle School and I take the opportunity to drop my socks off and toss my shirt on the hood of my car. After passing the middle school we head north of Bethel and take on the most annoying part of the race that involves a few miles running up route 110 and all its Saturday morning traffic.

Once we’re done with 110 we begin to head back toward home on a much quieter road. Little traffic to deal with but it seems like this stretch is gradually uphill. It seemed that way last year and again this year. I’m not sure if it’s just because of the fatigue that afflicts me a bit after 10 or 11 miles or if it is actually an uphill stretch.

Finally we get back to the greater Bethel area, run past the middle school and head for the running track and finish line. I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and fall colors around the area and the exhilaration of the run.  Oh, yeah, and the potato soup. Outstanding!

My time was 1:42:19.

Vitamin C and Cherry Juice and Muscle Soreness

I recently read a report in a magazine about a couple of interesting studies regarding muscle soreness from training and/or from races.

Researchers found that those who took a high does of vitamin C for two weeks, then performed exercise, then continued to take the high dose of vitamin C for four more days, experienced less muscle soreness than a group taking a placebo.  The high dose of vitamin C was three grams per day.

Another study showed that cherry juice had a similar effect.  Drinking cherry juice (which is high in antioxidants) two times per day for three days before exercise and for four days after the exercise test experienced less muscle soreness than the group that did not.