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| Episode Six - The Running Trail |
I had a lot of fun with this episode called The Running Trail. The
Black Mountain Marathon and The Mount Mitchell Challenge represent one of the most scenic
and challenging races in the United States. It turned out to be quite challenging for me as
well, as I had 5 different cameras running at the same time along the course. I also logged
5 separate days of camera work covering over 400 miles to capture the needed footage for
this show.
It proved to be even more challenging when I had to turn 8 hours of raw tape into a 28
minute segment for TV. Many minutes of great and often funny moments had to fall on the
editing floor as I strived to pick out a few seconds here and there to produce a quality
show.
Both races started in the town of Black Mountain, NC at 7 AM. Close to 300 runners were all
too anxious to get started on what they thought was going to be a very cold, icy approach to
the upper elevations. Two days before the race, the temperature at Mt. Mitchell was in the
lower 20's with 85 mph gusts, and the day before the race, the temperature had warmed to the
30's with 30-50 mph winds.
All racers are required to end the race with what they started with. Whether it be added
clothing or ice crampons, if they took it with them, they had to return with it. So, with
that in mind, it seemed to be more of a guessing gamble as to what to take with them. I
believe this added to the anxious start of the race.
Both races follow the first 14 miles on the same trails. Leaving town on 3 miles of paved
roads in Black Mountain and Montreat, the course entered the wooded, rocky slopes. Gradually
the Montreat Trail system guided the pack to the historic Mount Mitchell Toll Road.
The old road bed was used in the 20's and 30's as the only access for automobiles to the
highest pointeast of the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell. This road followed for the most
part an old logging railroad bed. It goes through a private bear hunting preserve and is riddled in
rocks making the first 3000 feet of elevation gain that much harder. |
The toll road empties into the Blue Ridge Parkway near Black Mountain Gap where the Black
Mountain Marathon turns around and the 40 mile Mount Mitchell Challenge race continues to
climb another 1500 feet to the summit of Mount Mitchell before turning around.
Here one enters into a climate similar to that of Eastern Canada. Many species of plants and
animals were left here to survive after the receding glaciers of the last Ice Age. It is
also here that conditions of the race can really be a true challenge. During the past 10
years of this race, participants have had to trudge through waist deep snows and ice covered
trails.
This year was different. The temperatures were quite pleasant and there was no snow or ice
to speak of making the fastest race ever. Will Harlan, five-time champion, posted a winning
time of 5:54, breaking the existing record. I was able to interview Will and four other top
three racers for the show.
I hope that you have had the chance to view this episode on URTV. Copies of this show are
available through Black Dome Mountain Sports in Asheville, NC at the following link:
http://www.blackdome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=126 |
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