Pinhoti Trail Adventure Run

Just the bare-bones details for now, been working to re-arrange logistics and get second crew squared. It's past midnight and I've got to kick these boys out the door in a few more hours!

Start Location: I-20 Overpass on AL-281
Start Mile Marker: 101.0
Start Time: 0558 CDT

Major Waypoints (Rob):
US-78/FS500 (106.2mi), 0710 CDT
Pine Glen (119.8mi), 1130 CDT
Coleman Lake (127.7mi), 1305 CDT
Burns TH, County Rd 55 (136.1mi), 1510 CDT
N. Dugger Mtn/FS500 (144.9mi), 1744 CDT

End Location: CR-70/Maxwell Gap
End Mile Marker: 155.0
End Time: 2035 CDT
Elapsed Time: 62hr, 35min

Rob and Eric have now split up for the time-being with Rob pressing forward for a total of 54mi today, finishing the last 3-4 miles under headlamp; looking strong and smiling. Eric suffered blister/pain issues in the morning, but managed to regain some rhythm in the afternoon and get to the Burns TH on CR-55 (136.1) as the last light faded; truly a gutsy, sheer will day to keep moving.

Tough section of trail coming tomorrow for both: trust me, I've run every inch of it! Check back all week: same Bat Time, same Bat Channel....



Josh Kennedy
Crew Chief
bamapinhotiteam@gmail.com

Today was the most difficult thing I have ever done in running.  I started off the day with 100 miles in two days with Rob and had another 48+ miles planned going on 10 hours rest.  The very first steps I took in the morning were painful and by mile 8 I was down to pure walking.  The pain in my right forefoot was so intense that I could not put any pressure on it.  I altered my gate and that gave me a horrific blister on my right outer heal.  Luckily I had David Riddle, Kathy Yougren, Blake Thompson and Sarah Bowden there to keep me going.  I walked with pacers for 6-8 more miles before going it solo with crew support.  I had some resurgence in the late afternoon when I was able to medicate enough to take the edge off, but that faded toward the end.  All day long my mind was strong, I stayed hydrated, properly fueled and mostly sharp as I gutted out 37 of the planned 48 miles.  It was through shear will and crew support that I made it.

Our crew chief Josh Kennedy worked on my feet tonight after icing.  As of right now, I can not apply any pressure on them while standing.  But this is too important for me to give up, despite being several hours behind Rob.  Eric Fritz and I will start out on Dugger Mountain in the morning and see how my feet respond. 

The PTAR FKT team pulled out of Heflin, AL this morning and resumed the trek northward from the I-20 overpass on AL-281. After experiencing huge downpours overnight, the rain has 'settled down' to just steady, and will taper off thru midday. Rob and Eric hit the trail in the rain just after 6am, and fortunately are still enjoying the services of celebrity guest pacer Dave Riddle through the morning's crummy weather.

Blake Thompson, Kathy Youngren, and Sarah Tei are all here as a second crew vehicle for the day, and my 10yr old boy , Matthew, is still enjoying the adventure with us. All will return to Huntsville this evening, and Eric Fritz is coming down to take over 2d crew duties around midday. Eric himself is looking forward to watching others for a day or two after putting in an outstanding 6:07 finish at the Stolling Jim over the weekend.

Josh Kennedy
Crew Chief
Bamapinhtoiteam@gmail.com

Start Location: Porter's Gap, AL-77
Start Mile Marker: 52.4
Start Time: 0557 CDT

Major Waypoints:
Chandler Springs (55.7mi), 0648 CDT
Clairmont Gap (61.2mi), 0822 CDT
Adams Gap (67.8mi), 1020 CDT
Cheaha SP, AL-281 (79.1mi), 1420 CDT
Cleburne County Rd 24 (91.5mi), 17231 CDT
US-431 (96.7mi), 1852 CDT

End Location: AL-281/I-20 Overpass
End Mile Marker: 101.0
End Time: 2008 CDT

Elapsed Time: 28hr, 08min

Tough weather and tough trails = overall brutal. Warm, muggy, and windy all day as a major storm system came up from SSW but never rained the PTAR FKT Team (thus, no cooling effect). Today's route included the first half of the Mount Cheaha 50K course, then up and through the Cheaha Wilderness area, including the Talladega Mtn ridge.

Joining the team early in the day for pacing duties was 2x Pinhoti 100 finisher, John Nevels. In the afternoon they were joined by celebrity guest pacer, David Riddle (among other races, winner of the 2009 Rocket City Marathon and the 2010 Mountain Mist 50k). The guys had to finish off today's mileage under headlamps, an early example of sticking to the plan!

Check back all week: same Bat Time, same Bat Channel!

Josh Kennedy
Crew Chief
bamapinhotiteam@gmail.com