A New Meaning To Running Errands!

Since relocating to Asheville, we have been able to simplify our lives and incorporate running into more aspects of our daily activities.  One way that we are able to do this is by literally "running errands"!

Fresh Basil Pesto! Pre or Post Run Meal

Do you love basil?  Do you love garlic? Then you're gonna love this! Fresh Basil Pesto adds a powerful flavorful punch to any pre or post run meal!  Serve with pasta, over baked potatoes, or spread over toasted baguette slices and you won't want to stop eating it.

"Search for the Carolina Mountain Goat" at South Mountain State Park

We had a chance to explore South Mountains State Park near Connelly-Springs, NC. We ran a trail race put together by www.goruntrails.com. This event was the first of a five race winter series called "Search for the Carolina Mountain Goat".  This very challenging, double track, "17k" course (actual distance was slightly over 20k)  runs deep into the forest with demanding elevation gains and downhills.  The race was capped at 75 runners and 52 completed the course.  Ya gotta be in good shape for this one!

Our favorite running gloves/mittens, Saucony Ulti-Mitt

Look! On my hands!  It's a glove... It's a mitten... We call them glittens!  Actually it's Saucony Ulti-Mitt Running Convertible Gloves.  The name says it all, the Ulti-Mitt converts from glove to mitt while protecting you from the cold.  These are by far our favorite cold weather hand gear. So much thought went into the Ulti-Mitt.  They're amazing and we love them!

Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST)

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a simple footpath stretching almost 1,000 miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey's Ridge on the Outer Banks.

The trail is an official part of the state parks system but segments of it are managed by different agencies and local governments.  Local communities help connect the trail through links to greenways and urban trails.  Land trusts help acquire land.  The trail is open for hiking across the state.  About 500 miles of dedicated trail-roughly half the planned length-has been completed to date.  A series of connectors on bicycle routes and back roads knit together finished sections to span the state.  The blaze designating the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a white dot, about three inches in diameter.

Our favorite MST run from home

We would like to share with you pictures of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail that we most frequently run.  It's our favorite portion of the trail and is less than 1/2 mile from our home.  This section runs from Hendersonville Road to the French Broad River, 5.4 miles each way.  You can reach this portion of the trail from the Blue Ridge Parkway, mile marker 389 or at  the French Broad River bridge.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.  For more information on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, visit www.ncmst.org

Carsonite trail markers found along the trail.