Cradle to Grave 5k Trail Race. Cradle of Forestry in America

Okay so this is a little late and being posted after the race, but anywho, we thought you would enjoy the pictures.  Bart felt fantastic the morning of the race and opted to run the 30k.  (He had the best race that he's run in the past 3 years, so I'm looking forward to his race report in the near future. hint, hint, Bart) I hung out with Shadow and ran the 5k course with him about 20 minutes after all the runners started.

So we actually went out the Wednesday prior to the race to check out the 5k course because from reading the course description, we thought there will be so many things to see that it would be fun to visit ahead of time, so we could really take in the sights of the wonderful history of the area.

The Cradle of Forestry in America is a 6,500 acre Historic Site within the Pisgah National Forest, set aside by Congress to commemorate the beginning of forestry conservation in the United States. For more on it's history click here.

Here's a brief course description and lots of pictures for those who will be running the race so fast that the surrounding areas of your periphery are just a blur and for those who are unable to make it out for the race.

The race will take place on the paved trails within the boundaries of the Cradle of Forestry. We will pass an antique logging train, the original trout hatchery, and by the historical buildings along the Biltmore Campus Trail....

 Starting at the Discovery Center, the entire trail is mainly asphalt...

Old logging train...

According to the course description, we will be running on the path along the side and around the back of the train...

Train depot will be on our left...

 The trail continues under the tracks...

What's left of the Mountain Farmstead. This is difficult to see from the trail.  The area wasn't well suited to farming and the only remains are apple trees...

To build forest roads, they used these machines pulled by horses.  By 1905, they had improved and built 80 miles of roads and 198 miles of trails.

This is what most of the trails we will be running on look like...

Biltmore Forest School founded September 1, 1898...

Here's where you would tie your horse while you are in school. Stay put little horsey :-) 

Oh, good old fashioned one room school house...

There are benches all along the course if you get tired and need a rest...

Trail leading down to the tunnel...

Tunnel...

If you only remember one thing, remember this, Always run toward the light...

Ranger's Dwelling constructed in 1882...

Commissary. Back in the day, you could stop here for lunch or...

pick up some Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills for Constipation and Biliousness...

Moving right along, if this was an adventure race, we would be doing our tomahawk throwing at this point...

Rock House Creek Lodge...

Nice workmanship...

Schenck's Office.  Dr. Carl A. Schenck was a German forester who spent 14 years focusing all of his forestry skills on restoring the woodlands into the flourishing forest it once was...

Oh hell no, pre ipad days...

That's pretty much about it! Awesome course, lots to see, and lots of shade. After the race from 11:30- to 4:00, there will be lunch, beverages and live music provided at the Cradle's amphitheater. Fuzzy fisher will be there too to wish us a great day!...