Georgia Death Race – steep, but smooth, trails
Crossing the river
Sweet climbs!
Steep, steep mountains!
Sunset!
Amicalola Falls – the finish line!
The Virginia Happy Trails Running Club puts on a ton of Fat Ass events – runs with no entry fee, no awards, and no wimps – and the best volunteers and aid stations you’ll find anywhere. This year was all about the VHTRC for me – I ran or volunteered at as many of our events as I could. I ended up with a lot of miles, a lot of smiles, the support and love of my tribe, familiar trails to come home to, new trails to play on, new friends to share trail with and new adventures planned for 2016. Life is good.
Here’s a look back on my year of the Fat Ass! Happy, happy trails!
Redeye 50K – January 1, 2015
Gap to Gap, January 18, 2015
TWOT 100K, February 13-14, 2015
Elizabeth Furnace 50K, March 14, 2015
Bull Run Run 50 Miler – volunteer – April 11, 2015
MMT 100 – crewing and pacing – May 16-17, 2015
Holy Cowan’s Gap 50K – May 24, 2015
VHTRC Trifecta – Jeremy’s Run – July 3, 2015
VHTRC Trifecta – Browntown – July 4, 2015
VHTRC Trifecta – Sophie’s Death March – July 5, 2015
Catoctin 50K – July 11 (not technically a Fat Ass, but close enough)
Catherine’s Furnace 50K – July 25, 2015
The Ring – 71 miles – September 5-6, 2015
Women’s Half Marathon – volunteer – September 19, 2015
Grindstone 100 – pacing my love to his first 100 mile finish! YAY! – October 9-10, 2015
Hot TWOT #2, 109 miles – October 23-25, 2015
MGM 50K – December 5, 2015
Boyer’s Furnace 40 Miler – December 26, 2015
The Boyer’s Furnace Fat Ass was held on a beautiful Saturday in late December. Blue skies, sunshine and temps in the 60’s made this challenging 40 miler even more of a treat.
The view from Kennedy Peak.
Orange Trail rocks
Sunset over Fort Valley
On the last day of 2013 I was lucky enough to run a favorite mountain trail, with someone I adore, and chase sunset through the mountains. A climb up Buck Hollow to Mary’s Rock with a breathtaking sunset, a champagne toast and a fun, dark descent back to the car to a delicious picnic of ahi tuna and veggies was a spectacular way to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Here’s to a fabulous 2014 full of mountains, trails, miles, friends, laughter, adventure, love, happiness and possibility!
Sunset from Mary’s Rock
It was a fabulous fall day to run 50++ miles with 9,000+ feet of climbing in the mountains – on a very tough course. Tight cut-off times made this a bit of a race against the clock, but I had a few minutes to take some photos and finish in 11:32. It was too gorgeous not to capture some of these great memories in photos. What a fun, fun day on trail. Enjoy!
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as the sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” – John Muir
Fabulous fall colors
The mountains were glowing with autumn colors.
A beautiful sunrise on the ridge.
The Lynchburg Reservoir sparkling in the autumn sunlight.
A patchwork quilt of fall colors.
“The mountains reserve their choice gifts for those who stand upon their summits.” Sir Francis Younghusband
The reward at the top of The Loop. Worth it all…
Trail running is my passion. I love the time in the woods, being serenaded by nature and her magnificence, pushing my body as far as it can go, breathing in the joy and beauty of the trails. Over the past five months I have been lucky to find a group of like-minded, fun, funny, talented, inspirational and spirited trail runners to share many miles with. Spending the day on trail with friends was a great way to celebrate my birthday weekend. And seeing a bear just made the day complete! Running on trails is great…running with friends is fabulous.
Life is good.
on top of the world! (photo by Toni Aurilio)
spring creek
mountain sunrise
flower on the mountain
birthday smile on a beautiful mountain top – thanks to Toni for the FUN birthday hat!
A fun day in the mountains with the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club!
And the rocks begin…
One of many stream crossings
Climbing on the ridge – that resembled a stegasaurus’ back
The views from the top are always worth the work it takes to get there.
A winter day on trail from Shawl Gap to Signal Knob and back down the Tuscarora Trail. Icy, snowy, rocky fun with lots of climbing and amazing views as a reward.
The climb from Shawl Gap
Fort Valley Overlook
Wild Oak Trail
Descent on Dowells Draft
View from Reddish Knob
The bouncy bridge
Here is a slideshow of beautiful trail from the 33rd annual Laurel Highlands Ultra in Pennsylvania. This 70.5 mile trail race was challenging, rocky, gorgeous, technical, rooty, fabulous, ferny, magical, frustrating, rocky, hilly, spectacular, and FUN. I took a few photos on trail – enjoy!
Meadow trail
One of many, many, many…creek crossings
The view from the top is always worth the climb to get there.
A lovely trail run on the Massanutten Ridge Trail with @josephlandreth. Beautiful blue sky day with great views of the mountains.
To those who have struggled
with them, the mountains reveal beauties
they will not disclose to those who make no effort.
This is the reward the mountains give to effort.
And it is because they have so much to give, and give
it so lavishly to those who wrestle with them, that
those who love the mountains go back to them again
and again.
The mountains reserve their choice gifts for those who stand on their summits.
-Sir Francis Younghusband
