Use this topic for posts that will collect community stars for the Black Diamond Trail course. You can also ask questions or make comments about this course.
Here’s how it works.
Click the “Post Using This Template” button below to create a new post with a Story heading and boilerplate text.
Replace the boilerplate text with your report for one or both sections. The Story header is key for distinguishing between posts and replies—don’t change it.
Your post must be on the same calendar day as your run as entered in the leaderboard.
Story
To pick up a community star, replace this text with a write-up of what your run was like, a photo you took on the run, a link to your Strava track, or something similar. Don’t delete the Story heading above.
I started at the new parking area and ran halfway down and turned around. Though I seriously considered running all the way down, but then I would have to walk all the way back and I just didn’t have the time for that.
It was a spectacular morning to be out on the BD with the sun shining, the side waterfalls and streams roaring, and the leaves just starting to come out on the trees. Lucky for me it was such a nice day as I ran the BD twice, all the way up and all the way back, with a Taughannock Rim and Falls course in the middle. It was on the chilly side so not that many others out this morning.
Fellow dad Tim and I took our kids for a ride up and down the Black Diamond Trail today. The crushed gravel must be very relaxing because both kids napped for the most of the run. We capped it off with a visit to the Children’s Garden.
That was my 5th stroller course of the Challenge and also the longest stroller run that I’ve ever done.
nothing like a 2 mile warmup to an 8 mile run particularly when it is a time of day I’m normally eating dinner - and after a weekend spent mostly behind the wheel of a car. But I was determined to get the challenge of this course behind me, so I doggedly set out - and that was about the only dog I saw this time…anyhow, didn’t see a single TCAT bus on the way out, so no free ride to the start. And once at the start it was up, up, up..it was with grim humor that I snapped the end of the telephone poles lining the trail as the last two marked a portal that seemed to say “Abandon all hope..” but really were only saying “only 6.25 more miles to go!”…not sure there was much difference but I chugged on. It was a nice evening to try this - not too hot, not too windy, and no bugs - but I was surprised at the relatively few others on the trail…occasionally there would be a runner, or walker, or biker coming the other way, but I often had the trail to myself. And oddly enough, not a single dog was out…can’t recall that ever happening before. But there were plenty of critters, particularly in the last third, where lots of bunnies and chipmunks scampered by - and one lone deer balefully staring at me plainly thinking “WHY are YOU out here?” Well - the flox were in full bloom … anyhow, I was running out of gas the last couple of miles, suffering from the hubris of running to the start, but was able to run from quarter-mile post to quarter-mile post..though I never did find mile 0. I just decided the fountain at the restroom at the parking lot sufficed, though for a cooldown I walked down the path to the South Rim trail just to confirm mile 0 wasn’t there…
I ran Gorges with right shin splints. This was not the issue. The real problem was the quick onset of nausea (which I really need to figure out the cause of, which is kind of hard since it doesn’t happen at all during long runs but happened at the Skunk half as well. would appreciate any ideas). Still a good time, though I mainly remember trying to keep a smile on my face through the process of dry heaving.
Eight miles was on the training schedule, so I used the idea of crashing this morning’s group run after party at the Dawson’s as motivation to get up early and get this done. Lots of shade, and lots of chipmunks, red and gray squirrels, and a doe with her fawn.
I like the BDT because it combines the level feel of a road with the views of a trail. It’s getting muggy! Saw a few FLRCers out. Overshot the distance somehow despite turning around at exactly 4.1. Guess my watch just wanted me to get a little extra in.
I did all my chores yesterday and wanted an easy to navigate course long enough to enjoy a 90 minute podcast. Black Diamond Trail ticked all the boxes, and like @raenb0 said, it’s fun to see other FLRC folks out!
but then I would have to walk all the way back and I just didn’t have the time for that.
