 |
| We ran into lots of Godiva folks in the parking lot |
We are supposed to be tapering for the Detroit Marathon next Sunday, so we decided to do an "easy" run yesterday. We had not been on Loblolly trail in a very long time, so we drove up the Harrison entrance at Umstead. I brought my camera to stop and take pictures, and make a relaxing run out of it.
So here is a photo tour of about 4 miles of the Loblolly trail.
 |
A group of shirtless vagrants camped out in the park. So young, what a shame.
They are are so skinny they must be starving. |
 |
Bob Nelson. Race director of the Umstead Marathon, best race anywhere.
Also the mad creator of our Blue Ridge Relay team. |
 |
| Start of Loblolly trail in Umstead. |
 |
And we are off! Trail starts off very smoth and easy.
You cross a paved road in about a quarter mile. |
 |
| The first big bridge |
 |
| One of the many streams that wind through Umstead |
 |
| Loblolly is marked with blue square blazes |
 |
| Another big bridge |
 |
| Loblolly has lots of roots. Watch your step |
 |
I used to think these were mile markers, but they are only .75 miles apart.
Maybe they are supposed to be kilometer markers? |
 |
| Crossing Reedy Creek B&B trail |
 |
| Beautiful little pond hidden in the woods |
 |
| Turtles warming themselves in the pnd |
 |
| One of the few rocky sections |
 |
| Shannon cruising the downhill. |
 |
| You are here |
 |
| Next we cross South Turkey Creek |
 |
| The #3 marker, about 2.5 miles out. |
 |
| Here we leave Umstead and Loblolly continues on the Raleigh trail system |
 |
| Turn right |
 |
This locked, barbed wire gate might seem to be the end, but it's not.
Just hop over it |
 |
| Or squeeze around it |
 |
| Notice the left turn sign. Shannon did not. |
 |
Here is a small lake and some wide open fields.
It is our little secret spot to bring the dogs so they can swim and run around.
Don't tell anyone |
 |
| Another fence with barbed wire. |
 |
| Just climb under |
 |
| You will see a wide variety of fake wildlife |
 |
| Climbing the steps to Reedy Creek Road |
 |
When you get to the road turn right down the green way.
There is no sign. Then make a left across the road |
 |
| And into Shank Forest, at about 3.5 miles |
We did not make it to the end of Loblolly, which reportedly is 6 miles and ends somewhere near the RBC center.
Here we got hungry, thirsty and tired and turned around and went home. Maybe someday I'll make it the whole way.
This was less than 8 miles and took over an hour and a half, about 12 min miles. It felt excruciatingly hard. Not a good sign for the marathon.
or a GREAT sign for the marathon, using your own theories... Looks like a great adventure today!!
ReplyDeleteAh . . . a very good ohmen before a marathon!
ReplyDeleteI loved virtually running along with you on this route! I want to run there or some trail. It' looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteIt looks very pretty but hard, other than the barbed wire, its nothing like Detroit. You guys will breeze through this marathon.
ReplyDeleteI ran it today, all twelve miles. I started at RBC instead of Umstead and it took me a while to find the actual trail through Schenck. I added an extra 2.3 miles roaming around lost. I rested for a while once I got to the parking lot in Umstead. It was much easier to find the trail on the way back to RBC. The biggest problem is that a lot of it is poorly marked and it was blazed right on the edge of a creek that has moved and eaten part of the original path. Probably a mile of it was not runnable because the mud was too slick. There were also some places where the water line on the trees in the floodplain was at my shoulder. I think I'll stick to Umstead for a while because the trails are maintained much better.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon! Glad to know I was not the only one having trouble finding the trail. Yes, Sycamore and Company Mill are much easier to follow.
ReplyDelete