Assault on Bent Mountain

Sometime around 1996 when I lived in Franklin County, a buddy of mine and I drove up to Roanoke to ride our bikes up Bent Mountain with some of the Roanoke guys.  It was one of those things you were “supposed to do” if you were a cyclist.

Most our riding back then was to Ferrum via Callaway and there were some good climbs.  But nothing prepared me for that ride up Bent Mountain. Let’s just say the guys from Roanoke had to wait for me to catch up.

In 2001, I moved to the base of the mountain.  The Blue Ridge Parkway is just a third of a mile from my house.  I have ridden my bike up that mountain many times now.  Still not fast, but it was no longer intimidating, as it had been that first time; with one exception.

On many of my rides I wondered what it would be like to RUN up the mountain.  I knew it would be painful.  I theorized it was impossible.  I figured I’d never find out, because I would never try.  But now I know.

After the many jaunts described in previous Carlin Chronicles, as friend Troy and I trained for the 31-mile Bel Monte ultra marathon, the notion of running Bent Mountain on the Parkway began to gel.  In fact, after the rigorous trail running that had taken us 20 miles in the wind storm of the century, running up Bent Mountain as daunting as it previously seemed, would be a bit of a break!

Thus under cloudy skies, with the mercury at 37-degrees, we started up.  Troy carried two hand (water) bottles, and I wore a hydration pack.  We ran on the pavement going up and occasionally on the grass beside the Parkway.  Both options much easier than the rocky trails we’ve been running. 

According to Troy’s GPS, the average grade is 6 percent.  The graph accompanying this posting shows that it never lets up.  It certainly felt like it.  We averaged around 11:00 per mile going up, and unlike the trail runs, ran the whole way – no walk breaks.

After 7.4 miles we declared ourselves to be “at the top” at the “view “Poor Mountain Overlook” and turned around. 

As much fun as seven miles of downhill sounds – it wasn’t.  We had been running up hill for 1:35:09 and our legs felt every step of it.  The downhill was much easier – but the pounding took its toll on our joints and quads.  At least it was faster…  I took splits using the mile markers and it showed us running about 7:00 per mile.  Troy’s GPS said we were going even faster.

It’s a day later as I write this.  My legs hurt—mostly muscle soreness.  The knees are a little achy, and my calves and quads hurt in a way I’ve never felt before. Troy is hurting too, he says only in different places. 

I don’t know if I’ll ever run up Bent Mountain again, but today there is a sincere satisfaction in knowing at least I’ve done it once.