Several months ago my dad signed us up for the Rock2Rock 10k, a race that we could do together and just say we finished. Neither of us are in top shape right now, but we figured, “What the heck… let’s just do it!”

After reading the course description on the race page–>

This is a technical and demanding course.

A good estimate is to double your usual 10k time from a flat fast course.

You will not be able to run the entire course.

–>I knew I had to do this race…. just for the challenge.

It definately was a challenge. The double track run up was steep, but fun. I like running uphill.

Then you hit super-steep single track, where you reach-out-and-touch-the-ground-in-front-of-you because it’s so steep. It was sweet! Running quickly turned to walking/hiking once you hit this section, and then hiking switched to scaling up rocks and pulling yourself up by trees.

The view at the summit was amazing. I stopped and took in the view while I drank a small cup of water. This was the halfway point, and the only aid station. The guy at the aid station said, “There’s girls passing you”… to which I replied, “I don’t care, I want to take a look at this view!!” I mean, it was startling to see the town in the valley below. You could see all around you, and you were enveloped in the beautiful green mountains (thanks to all the rain) and blue sky. It was perfect. If women passed me in the minute I took to enjoy that view… so. be. it.

My Dad, enjoying the view at the summit

All smiles after summitting the Rock

Well, after the summit, I wasn’t expecting the downhill to be as crazy as it was. I really don’t know why I wasn’t expecting just as steep of a downhill on the opposite side… I’d like to think of that as my natural tendency to be naive about things… but jeez, that was straight DOWNHILL>>>

I was grabbing on to the rhododendron bushes that stuck out on the trail for dear life on the way down. I could see scuff marks in the dirt from the runners before me that just slid their way down it. The trail was so tight and twisty that sliding down meant you slammed into a tree (or two, at LEAST!).

There were downed trees you had to jump over. There were huge rocks you had to kind of jump down. And there were plenty of men that passed me on this section of trail. When did I become such a wuss?

Once it opened up to the double track again (still downhill), there were huge, loose rocks everywhere so you couldn’t get really good footing. And there were more downed trees (like waist high) to jump over.

Then there was a section that was complete red mud, and a small stream crossing. My dad, of course, loved this part (he wished the whole course would have been deep red mud, he loves that!). I guess I can see where I get some of my crazy tendencies.

Finally, the slope of the downhill wasn’t so dramatic that you felt like you could run again normally… for about a 1/2 mile until the finish.

I was passed by SO many people on the downhill… they were absolutely FLYING! I couldn’t believe how out-of-control they looked. Their arms were flailing everywhere and it looked like they would wipe out at any second. I was cautious because I didn’t want to fall on the sharp rocks, and my hip/knee are finally getting better from lingering injuries and the truck accident that I had a year and a half ago. (I’m doing a lot of hot yoga to help heal all of this, and amazingly it’s doing the trick.)

At any rate, I was happy to hit the finish line… and then (the tri-geek that I am) run straight into the lake and swim around a little bit to loosen my legs up and cool off.

We went to eat in Black Mountain after the race. What a cool little town! I haven’t spent any time in Black Mountain, just drove past it on the interstate on the way to Asheville. We had great pizza and nice views of the mountains all evening.

A fun way to spend a Friday evening… my dad and I are already planning on going back to race again next year!