Asheville Blue Ridge Runner: Morris Broadband DuPont 1/2 Marathon, April 21, 2012

All photos courtesy of Chuck Hill Photography Hendersonville, NC

unless otherwise noted

For the second time since the end of March we found ourselves at DuPont State Forest. This time for the Morris Broadband DuPont 1/2 Marathon...

DuPont State Forest has quite a variety to offer runners with regards to trail type, footing, terrain and technicality. This race was a non-technical course starting at the Old Guion Farm in DuPont State Forest and had us literally running from one side of the state forest to the other in a basic out and back fashion, traversing dirt and gravel service roads, an old aircraft landing strip, and looping around two lakes, Fawn Lake and Lake Julia. The course is peppered with grades steep enough that had many middle of the pack runners walking. There were 146 finishers on what turned out to be a perfect day for a run. This is a well organized event with plenty of parking, on time start and clearly marked course. Our thanks to the volunteers who provided excellent support and encouraging words along the course and at the well stocked aid stations.

Bart had a solid run and was very happy with his finish place of 14th overall. I have to say I was so happy to have my training going so well that I was actually able to catch up to Dennis Duffy near the end of the race until I found out that Dennis set a PR for his slowest 1/2 marathon time ever due to tight hamstrings and decided to take the day as an easy training run, bummer... Okay, It still was a fun day! Dennis, by the way, has the best blog in the region for keeping up to date on future events and results of races in the western North Carolina area. Even before we moved to Asheville we were avid readers of www.carolinarunner.com. Check it out.