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| 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.
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A group of shirtless vagrants camped out in the park. So young, what a shame.
They are are so skinny they must be starving. |
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Bob Nelson. Race director of the Umstead Marathon, best race anywhere.
Also the mad creator of our Blue Ridge Relay team. |
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| Start of Loblolly trail in Umstead. |
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And we are off! Trail starts off very smoth and easy.
You cross a paved road in about a quarter mile. |
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| The first big bridge |
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| One of the many streams that wind through Umstead |
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| Loblolly is marked with blue square blazes |
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| Another big bridge |
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| Loblolly has lots of roots. Watch your step |
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I used to think these were mile markers, but they are only .75 miles apart.
Maybe they are supposed to be kilometer markers? |
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| Crossing Reedy Creek B&B trail |
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| Beautiful little pond hidden in the woods |
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| Turtles warming themselves in the pnd |
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| One of the few rocky sections |
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| Shannon cruising the downhill. |
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| You are here |
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| Next we cross South Turkey Creek |
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| The #3 marker, about 2.5 miles out. |
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| Here we leave Umstead and Loblolly continues on the Raleigh trail system |
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| Turn right |
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This locked, barbed wire gate might seem to be the end, but it's not.
Just hop over it |
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| Or squeeze around it |
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| Notice the left turn sign. Shannon did not. |
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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 |
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| Another fence with barbed wire. |
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| Just climb under |
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| You will see a wide variety of fake wildlife |
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| Climbing the steps to Reedy Creek Road |
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When you get to the road turn right down the green way.
There is no sign. Then make a left across the road |
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| 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.
