Light, 34-mile week to leisurely take in the leaves on local trails–primarily in Biscuit Run, which borders my neighborhood.  Today’s second trip to BR included a 4.5-mile bike ride/hike with Henry, on which I had to carry his bike over only the most technical of spots.

Stashed a thermos of water at Rockfish Gap and then drove south on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Humpback Rocks parking area. Rather than head up the popular/crowded route to the rocks, I took the Old Howardsville Turnpike trail. This allowed me to quickly hit the Appalachian Trail north, make a brief stop at the Glass Hollow Overlook (the views aren’t quite as big as those at Humpback, but I had the place all to myself), and then finish the almost eight-mile run to Rockfish Gap to re-fill water bottles. Roughly the same route back, except that I took the blue-blazed Albright Loop Trail shortly after passing the Paul C. Wolf Shelter. There’s a bit of old plane wreckage just off the Albright trail. 16 miles total.

Crewed for Wesley in the Arkansas Traveller 100, which he won with a time of 15 hours, 59 minutes (third fastest time in the 24-year history of the race, and 22 minutes off the course record).  I met him at five aid stations along the course (miles 16.1, 31.9, 48, 67.9, and 83.9; our Dad was at the last three), and we had him re-fueled and out of each station in less than two minutes, sometimes much less.  At the last crew station (mile 83.9), I paced Wesley through the dark to the finish line.  Really fun running through the pitch-black Ouachita National Forest with nothing but headlamps.  My only concern was keeping up with Wesley during the last 16.1 miles; he ran mile 100 (mile 16 for me) in just under seven minutes.