OVERALL RUN FALLS - HIKE

The hike toward Overall Run Falls starts at the Traces Trail in Matthews Arm Campground (where we were camping) so our drive to the trail was extremely short. In fact, we were hiking the trail within 5 minutes of leaving camp!

Unlike the constant and immediate up, up, up of the Old Rag hike, Overall Run Falls was flat for the first few miles and then went down, down, down. About an hour, maybe an hour and a half, in to the hike, we passed a trail marker that said Overall Run Falls was .4 miles away. We walked, saw a puny “waterfall” coming off the cliffs across a small valley from the trail, I took a picture and then kept going, looking for the “real” waterfall. Slowly down the mountain we went, both of us thinking that for all this down, hiking back up was going to be rough and this waterfall better be worth it. However, the trail just kept going. Each step down the mountain was a tough step up the mountain we’d have to make on the way back. About 30 minutes after passing the trail marker (and much further than .4 miles), we finally decided that that scrawny waterfall we had passed was probably THE waterfall and exhausted, we headed back up the mountain.

As we passed by the waterfall on our way up, out of breath and Mike struggling because of “cement legs” we couldn’t help but be disappointed – it must be better in the spring after the snow melts I told myself. Mike didn’t even stop to glance at it as he trudged past.

To make a slow story short, we eventually made it back to the car and Mike definitely perked up after we climbed back up the mountain and made it back to flat land over the last couple miles.

Hike – close to 7.5 miles, round trip (should have been 6.5 miles)

I Love Fall

I know Fall technically started last week but the weather didn't get the notice until today.

Last week, I was still coming home from my morning runs and thinking how deceptively humid it was outside. I would read 65 degrees on the thermometer but once I started running I would realize that little needle had no concept of humidity.

This morning I headed out into a chill, 50 degrees and wonderfully crisp. Somehow the chill in the air made the morning seem brighter and clearer even thought the sun was still an hour and a half from rising.

I couldn't help but have a good run. I headed out for my hilly route and attacked each hill. Sometimes the attacks were focused efforts - eyes on the top, arms pumping back and forth like pistons, legs pounding up the hill relentlessly. Other times, I would relax in to hill, strong and tough but still gliding effortlessly. I would get to the top of the hill and breeze over it, sometimes not even realizing it was over. Still, other hills I attacked ferociously, just digging in with maxing effort, eating it up and spitting it out raw!

It felt good. It was over too quickly. I wanted more but still felt satisfied.

Mmmm - I love Fall.