Smith Roach Gap summit

Though this photo only shows six, I counted nine mountain ranges from here. This spot is just a few feet from the spring that's 1.5 miles from the Smith Roach Gap trail (going north on the trail).

Hightower

Some day, if I were strong enough to backpack the 1.5 miles up here, I'd like to camp here.

This pole is for backpackers camping at Hightower. You use the small pole in front to hoist your backpack up to one of the crooks in the brown pole. There the bears can't reach your pack. There's also a hut at Hightower and cooking fireplace. Unfortunately there was also evidence of humans -- cigarette butts, a couple spots of human waste and toilet paper. Considering the number of people listed in the journal at the hut, though, I'll guess 95% of the people using the camping area are respectful.

The signpost marking our way.

"Git 'er Done" Run

About a year or two ago, I came up with the term "Mind Over Matter" run. I was in a funk following a minor setback and couldn't finish three miles without a walk break. Finally I decided that problem was all in my head and I just needed to shut my mind off and do it. It worked.

My "Git 'er Done" runs are similar and came about after a very depressing run last Sunday. That was about ten weeks post-pneumonia, and I was feeling very depressed about my lack of speed. I run three miles in about 30 to 34 minutes and even at that pace it's very, very hard work. At the end of Sunday's run, which included some walk breaks, I decided it was time to accept things as they are and determine to enjoy running instead of fretting about what isn't happening. Hence the "git 'er done" run.

They're about just getting the run in, whether I feel like it or not, whatever it takes--even if it means having to walk a bit. The goal is not speed, but getting back the joy of running. I want to finish more alert than I started. I want to think while I run instead of just whining about how rotten I feel. I want to come home exhilarated, not exhausted. And I'm feeling better.

I did a 30:47 3-mile tempo run Tuesday, and I did speed work Thursday (4x200 at a 1 minute pace average) and felt good about both.

Today my goal was form -- standing tall, bending at the ankle, pumping my arms without crossing, landing midfoot. I stopped for a drink (it's 83 degrees) at the halfway point and finished at a faster pace than I began. Ending time was 32:22, but ideas were flowing and I thought about something besides whining. All is well.

2 1/2 months post pneumonia. . .

I was very discouraged with Thursday's 30 minute 5K on the road at the track meet, and even more discouraged with Sunday's 34 minute three miler on the track. But then I looked up my times from last year. My races were considerably faster -- 26:25, 26:15, 26:11. . . But my training runs weren't much faster, especially on hot days and Sunday was hot. And a friend told me it took him three months to get over pneumonia, and he was in his 40s at the time.

So my attitude is better today even though my three miler on the track was still a little over 30 minutes (30:48). I did have enough energy to pick up the pace for a short distance on 4 laps, and ran a 200 sprint after the three miles (49.9 seconds). And that's a first.

Recovery just IS a slow process and I need to be more patient.

South River Falls Trail off Skyline Drive

Ran three miles Saturday and then took a hike. Our goal was to reach the base of this waterfall, which had a lot more water flowing than it did during last year's dry season.

The base of the falls. . .
A canopy of trees on the Appalachian Trail section.

Thaddeus

Lousy photo of my daughter and her husband, but a gorgeous view of one of the falls at Watkins Glen State Park, which we visited with my upstate NY family. We hiked an hour or two in the park; it's definitely a "must see" and a place I'd like to visit again.
But mostly the trip north was about Thaddeus, whom I haven't seen since he was born in December. Now he's wanting to walk with help, crawl and scootch, sit up and eat and eat and eat. That child eats nonstop it seems, but as you can see, he's not getting too fat. So he must need it all. 

He did make it to that toy. He likes playing crawling and scootching games.

Francis Scott Key

The third burial site of Francis Scott Key, composer of The Star Spangled Banner. Keys final resting place is in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick MD. Nothing was written about the woman and two children in the statute beneath him.

A Run through History

The Battle at Antietam:

Yesterday I ran a 10K through the hills of the Antietam Battlefield, amongst statutes and memorials giving tribute and depicting the Civil War's bloodiest battle.

The Dunker Church, above, became a hospital during the Antietam battle; and it was the site of soldiers on opposing sides embracing those who, just the day before, had been their enemy. The blood of those who died or were wounded stained the pews. Years later the church burned, but was rebuilt to historic accuracy using salvagable lumber and items from the church.
Canons face each other. . .
Though this statute represents the 125th Pensylvania volunteer infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Corps, there were statutes and markers from each military branch who fought here, where the Potomac River ran red with the solders' blood. According to the statute 54 from the 125th were killed or died from their wounds, 91 were seriously wounded and 34 were slightly wounded.  As I ran from one hill to another it was easy to imagine a solder cresting a hill and meeting his death by a soldier on the other side.

More Photos from Old Rag

Second Visit to Old Rag Mountain

Taken in the "rock scramble" section, where we were the only ones over 35 who dared to enter. . . 

Sometimes a boulder; sometimes a stone;

Sometimes a high one wouldn't let me climb on;

Sometimes a chill of fear blew on my bones;

Sometimes a boulder; sometimes a stone.

(written to the tune of the song, "Sometimes a diamond, sometimes a stone.")

Thanks to a few pushes and pulls from Butch and one from a kind, fellow climber, though, I made it through the "scramble" and on to the beautiful mountain summit. Total hiking, climbing and running time = 4.5 hours.
View from the summit. . .