Here is my puppy, Sheldon, after a bath.

I had an awesome ride on Sunday with Deb in the Wilson’s Creek Gorge. It’s been back to work and the real world once Monday rolled around… wish it was the weekend again already so I could be spending the day on the trail!

I have never seen so many people in Wilson’s Creek Gorge as I did on Sunday. There were tons of cars and people swimming in different sections of the river. It was funny with all the “traffic.” I was getting frustrated on our drive in and out of the Gorge, because I am not used to cars actually being around… we’re usually the only cars in there.

Persimmon ridge is a great trail off of Pineola Rd in the Gorge. Sunday was only the third time I had done the Persimmon trail, and it was actually the first time I enjoyed the trail… the first two times I did this trail was during some horrible weather. The first time on Persimmon was during the winter and it was snowing at the top of the climb… the second time was during the spring and it was raining, but it sure felt like it was snowing when we made it up to the top (at least, that’s what Tanya says…).

After the long gravel climb up Pineola, you descend a ways on gravel roads to the trail head. The single track is tight, somewhat twisty, and has a lot of roots and rocks. There isn’t a lot of steep climbing, which is nice. The singletrack links in to a doubletrack creekbed climb with tons of loose rocks, and if it’s been raining a lot (like it has lately) then the trail looks like a creek instead of a trail.

There are some great views of Grandfather mountain off the doubletrack. I need to take a camera with me so I can get some snap shots. Next time!

After the doubletrack, you hook into the lower section of Greentown trail… lots of technical downhill (rocks, gullys, drop-offs) and some river crossings (thigh to waist high if there’s lots of rain). This is where Deb leaves me behind, but I still have a great time on the downhill!

Joe took the doggies for a hike at Mortimer Campground while Deb and I rode… they were nice and tired when we got back.

Some hikers saw me and Deb on the last section of Greentown and one of them yelled to me, “You guys must have some strong legs!!!”

I just thought, “kid you have no idea…”

After the Rock2Rock 10k Friday night, I did a road bike ride with my friend, Deb, and a group of dudes from Hickory. They were a fun group to ride with- very laid back, and a lot of the guys were mtn bikers too, so I felt completely at home. In fact, a handful of them had raced the Burn 24 hour just the last weekend… which was cool because then I got to hear some stories about the racing at Burn.

We rode from Valle Crucis to Mountain City, TN, then to Damascus, VA back through Mountain City, TN and then up 421 back into Valle Crucis.

It was one of the longest road rides I’ve done in a looong time… 85 miles or so. I’m thinking my burn out with the road bike is finally sub-siding… which is a good thing.

Deb and I got in the creek afterwards to soak our legs. That felt good! It took me a while to get in. Deb just plops in the cold water like it’s nothing!!!

Then we went to eat at Black Cat Burrito, and dropped by Stick Boy Bakery for some take-home goodies.

A mountain bike ride in Wilson’s Creek is on tap today… Can’t wait.

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!

New updates are coming to alishalion.com…

Look for a new sponsor announcement and schedule update in the next week.

In the meantime, good luck to Jeremiah in the upcoming Edgar Soto Classic this weekend!!! He is racing in the junior category to earn a spot on the US National Team. Go get ‘em!

As I was out running this morning from my parents’ house, two ladies were outside their houses directly across the street from one another. Running by, I overheard one lady give an open invitation to her neighbor, “I’m having supper at 6:00, if you wanna come over…”

I didn’t get to hear the rest of the conversation, but it brought back a lot of nostalgia for me… being that it’s Thanksgiving Day, and that I’m back “home” in Drexel, North Carolina, running a route through a neighborhood that I used to run at least 4 to 5 times a week.

It made me think about when I lived here. How hearing those kinds of conversations were normal… simple southern hospitality.

When I started thinking about the past, it’s really interesting to relate my past to who I am now… and also to see how it’s shaped who I am now.

10 years ago: Thanksgiving 1998
I was fresh off of winning my first state championship in cross country at East Burke High School. Thanksgiving Day I ran 3 miles easy in the morning from my house to downtown Drexel with my dogs Symba (my little brown dog) and Max (my brother’s lab). I was getting ready to run Footlocker, the big cross country race that would qualify me for high school cross country nationals in Orlando. Symba was a year and a half old. He ran with me all the time, even when I ran 60 miles a week. My relatives all came to my parents’ house to eat Thanksgiving dinner. We ate around 11am, and then sat around and talked the rest of the day. I was full of anticipation to run Footlocker that weekend, and my relatives all asked about how much I ran and stuff. I was not married, obviously, since I was still in high school. I hadn’t even met Joe yet.

4 years ago: Thanksgiving 2004
I was a newly-wed. Joe and I had been married for just about a month, and I was finished with my first season on the US pro-road cycling circuit. I was set to race with the Ford-Basis women’s professional cycling team for the next season, and Joe had just started his first job at Infineon. I had no responsibilities except for to ride my bike and “keep house.” I was very focused on being the “perfect wife.” I loved house-making, and anything to do with being a domesticated goddess of the home. We had Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle’s house in Fuquay-Varina, just down the road from our the first house we owned together in Holly Springs. I woke up really early that morning (at like 5:30am) to be out on the road bike by at least 6:00am so I could cover 3 to 4 hours before we needed to go over to my relatives’ for Thanksgiving. It was really cold, and I rode alone. I wasn’t running any at all, only riding. Symba was with us at our house in Holy Springs, although since I wasn’t running anymore he didn’t run very much either, but he still loved being outside.

Present day: Thanksgiving 2008
I went for a 10 mile run by myself from my parents’ house. I covered a lot of the same grounds I used to cover running with my dad when I was in high school training for cross country and track. We went over to have Thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s house, where we met up with several other families that I grew up with. Joe and I have been married for 4 years now, and he is in Florida visiting his grandparents. I no longer focus completely on being a home-maker. I like the balance of working, training, and being a wife. I teach at Athens Drive High School, and I am coaching a cross country runner who is getting ready to run the same Footlocker race I was going to run 10 years ago this weekend. I’m still biking… but now it’s all about the mountain bike, not the road bike. I’m running again, but Symba no longer runs with me. He’s 11 now, and a little too old to run. I now have another dog, Sheldon, who looks very much like Symba and has a ton of energy.

It’s interesting to see how I’ve come full circle, how I’ve ended up where I am now… and it makes me wonder where I’ll be in 10 more years. Really though… things have changed over the years, but are still very much the same.

A short list of some things I’m thankful for this year:

1. My parents- both of them are in good health and have always provided the support and love I need to succeed.
2. My brother, Greg- he used to just drive me crazy, but now he’s really matured and we actually think a lot alike.
3. My husband, Joe (of course!)- he loves me, no matter what. And I him. What else can I say?
4. My friends- you all know who you are, and I appreciate you more than you know!
5. My health- I’m so thankful that I’m healthy, no injuries or diseases… and I’m able to live life to the fullest every day.
6. The mountains- I feel at home anytime I’m in the woods. It’s peaceful and solitary. Being in the mountains is part of what makes me happy I’m alive.

I’m normally not so sentimental, but ’tis the season, right?? I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, and take time to remember what you’re thankful for.

Finally it’s time to write a brief recap of the Shenandoah 100 that I completed over Labor Day weekend. Wow, I can’t believe it was that long ago! I’ve been really busy at school, but things are going so well and I am really enjoying my new position as the Beahvior Support Teacher (BST).

All I can say about the Shenandoah 100 is that is was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve never finished a ride/race and felt sore and tender to the touch EVERYWHERE. My arms, shoulders, neck, legs, fingers, toes, butt, core… you NAME it and it hurt. No lie.

My hands started to give out on me the last several miles of the ride. They would cramp up anytime I applied the brakes. I just thought to myself, “dear LORD, please just let me brake so I can survive this single track downhill… I’ll be finished soon, hands JUST WORK please!!!”

Yeah, it’s pretty bad when you start talking to your hands during a race.

And I was also thinking about the Seinfeld sketch where he talks about scubadiving and sings the song, “Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die… There’s a fish, there’s a rock, who cares! Don’t Die, don’t die, don’t die!!!” Yeah, all the rocks and descending had me thinking “don’t die”… HA!

The course was awesome though. I loved all the climbing and the singletrack was challenging. It was cool to crawl up those singletrack climbs and pass people walking. Just to be able to ride that stuff was an accomplishment for me.

There was a 20 mile gravel road climb at about mile 60 or so. This section does in most riders. Mentally it’s hard to keep pushing up this long climb, and there’s no singletrack to make it more interesting or anything like that. I love gravel road climbs. I don’t know why. I just keep looking ahead, keep pushing, and I can stay extremely focused. Which is odd. Oh well… who ever said that I was normal??

I started passing a lot of people on this climb, and one guy that I passed stayed with me for the majority of the climb. He ended up introducing himself to me at the top, and thanking me for helping him up the climb. I just told him that he did all the work himself, and he definitely helped keep me going too!! So it was nice to have a person to “help” me get to the top.

After finishing that climb, my legs were completely trashed. We still had 20 miles or so left to ride though! That was when everything started shutting down, and any little rise really hurt.

However, the cool thing was that I could still crawl up the steep climbs when everyone else was walking. I think that this endurance mountain bike thing could be my style, we’ll see. I plan on doing more next year. I think for whatever reason my body is designed to tolerate long endurance challenges and it takes punishment really well. I suppose I’m lucky?? HAHAHAHAHAAHA… oh jeez!

What have I gotten myself in to? Now I’m already looking at the NUE (National Ultra Endurace) Series and looking at what 100’s I can do next year.

Not to mention the Xterra’s and other mountain bike races I want to do. Agh, I’m going to be busy!

For now, I’ve got a couple more endurance mountain bike races I’m going to do and some cyclocross races. Fall is definitely here, and I’m loving it!!! This is my favorite time of the year…. cross country, mountain biking, cyclocross… can it get any better?