Umstead State Park Archives - Page 3 of 3

Week 7: More More More!

Most recently updated February 25th, 2020

– – Training Week 7 began with the longest training hike yet – a combination of Umstead State Park’s Loblolly trail, the Reedy Creek Greenway, and multiple trails in the North Carolina Museum of Art Park. We even added in the short tunnel to the back gate at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation on the way!

We took a short break near the NCMA amphitheater then made our way to the I-440 pedestrian bridge – our mid-point on this 14 mile hike.

On the return, we took the long way around so we could stop and take a look at the community apiary (beehives) before we left the park.

This was a beautiful day with a great group of hikers – even so, 14 miles is a long way! Plenty of sunshine and good conversation made it go quickly, though 🙂

Community Apriary at NCMA Park — Community Apiary at NCMA Park

Due to the length of the hike, I cut back my extra pack weight to only 10lbs, and because my knees were hurting I kept it at 10lbs for this week’s Strength Building hike on the Loblolly trail and MUT in Umstead State Park.

Technically the Loblolly Trail is an out-and-back from the trailhead to the edge of the park, but I add on a portion of the Schenck Forest Loblolly and the MUT to create a 6.5mile loop.

This route is primarily natural trails with a portion of the compacted dirt multi-use trail and paved Reedy Creek trail.

The Loblolly route is not as rocky as the Company Mill Trail, and has less elevation gain, though there are a couple of long uphill climbs.

I wasn’t totally wiped out at the end of the hike, but I sure was happy to get rid of my weighted pack!!

This week’s training included these two hikes along with the usual kick-boxing a few times, short walks and a gym trip or two.

PLUS another bonus walk just for fun – because we had fresh snowfall and it was sunny outside 🙂

So, in case you’re just joining us, I’ve been spending 8 weeks training for an awesome hiking trip to New Zealand.

One of the optional activities on my NZ trip is Zorbing. Honestly, I don’t know how to train for that – maybe turn cartwheels down a steep hill?

What the heck is zorbing, you ask?

Although it’s one of the stranger sports out there, zorbing is actually pretty simple:

You climb inside a big inflated ball and roll down a hill.

The zorb rolled onto the scene in the mid-1990s in New Zealand, and hit extreme sports in 1998.

The ball has two skins, and the area between them is inflated, but the inner chamber is always open to the outside – so you have fresh air coming in all the time.

I will have the opportunity to try this, and I might. But I think I want to take a look at how steep the hill is before I commit 🙂

I’m closing in on all of the trip planning details, but still have a few things to do to get ready.

I’m also still hoping to drop a pound or two of “extra” me, with the help of my clean eating anti-asthma diet 🙂

There’s still time to get it done, but no more time to procrastinate. Focus, focus focus…..

Week 8 is coming up – the last planned training week!!

TAKEAWAY LESSON: Training towards a goal is a planned process, but you should be able to respond to unplanned events like injury or weather changes without giving up your training entirely. Just keep going – but safely, of course.

I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂 To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time! LJ

Week 6: Longer and Stronger

– – Training Week 6 started with a morning hike combining Company Mill, multi use trails and the Sal’s Branch Trail in Umstead State Park for a total of about 12 miles.

Sign for Sal's Branch Trail — Sign for Sal’s Branch Trail

The route crosses the park from the Harrison Ave entrance all the way to the Visitor’s center on the Glenwood Ave side of the park.

This week’s long hike was a few miles longer than last week, so I kept my extra pack weight at 15 lbs.

It’s a beautiful hike beside the lake to Sal’s Branch and then it’s into the woods again until you reach the Visitor’s Center at the halfway point.

We took a brief break at the Visitor’s Center, and then hiked down the other side of Sal’s Branch back to the lake for the return.

The natural trails portion of this route is rockier than the Loblolly trail, and has more elevation gain, especially on the return trip because a long stretch of the MUT is all uphill from the lakeside.

I was delighted to find that even with the extra miles, I wasn’t nearly as tired climbing the last hill on Company Mill back to the trailhead as I was in Week 5. The training must be working!!!

For this week’s Strength-Building hike, I chose another mostly multi-use trail hike because of very wet weather through the week.

I started from the Old Reedy Creek trailhead beside Lake Crabtree County Park. and walked from there over the I-40 bridge access into Umstead to the Warren Hill Cemetery and back.

I carried an extra 20lbs and total hike distance was about 6 miles – mostly uphill for the first half.

Even with extra weight and elevation gain, average speed for the hike was at 3.75 mph – which is a respectable speed even without a pack!

This week’s training included those two hikes along with the usual kick-boxing a few times, short walks and a gym trip or two. On one of the gym trips, I tried out a new machine (to me) – the rowing machine!

So, just in case you’re new around here, I’m spending the next 8 weeks training for an awesome hiking trip to New Zealand.

My NZ trip includes canoeing in the Whanganui River, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to do some rowing ahead of time.

The Whanganui River – in the heart of the heart of Whanganui National Park – winds its way from the mountains to the Tasman Sea.

The area has a unique history and Maori culture is an important part of the park.

I’m getting more excited about the trip, but worried that I may have slacked off a bit this week due to the rainy weather and an overwhelming need for coffee sorbet…..

That said, there’s still enough time to focus and get back on track before it’s time to go. Okay, then- gotta go work up a sweat somehow.

Week 7 is next, and it’s a doozy 🙂

TAKEAWAY LESSON: Don’t give up if you miss a workout or snarf too many doughnuts: every day is a new opportunity!!

I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂 To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time! LJ

Week 5: More is Better – Sometimes

Most recently updated February 14th, 2020

– – Training Week 5 started with another 8.5 mile morning hike combining the Company Mill and Sycamore trails in Umstead State Park to create a big figure-8 shaped route across the center of the park.

This route is rockier than the Loblolly trail, and has more elevation gain, especially on the return trip to the trailhead.

It’s a beautiful hike alongside the creek for a good portion, with a few bridges and step-stone crossings.

Hikers take a break at the tree carving near the Sycamore trail

For a little change of pace, I took us on the MUT for about .5 mile on the return trip.

This allowed us to take a break and also admire the wonderful trailside wood carving!

The length of the long hike this week was the same as last week, but I had 5 lbs more in the pack, and the trail had more elevation gain.

I was doing just fine until we got to the last mile or so on the return – which is all uphill! I admit, by that point the extra pack weight was kicking my butt….

My extra pack weight for Week 5 was 15lbs on the Company Mill-Sycamore route, and I upped it to 20lbs for the shorter Lake Crabtree circuit.

One of the spots that can get wet on the Crabtree Lake Trail

My Strength-Building hike, the second posted hike this week, was around the lake on paved greenways and natural trails in Lake Crabtree County Park.

Total distance was about 6 miles.

This route can get very muddy after hard rains, and sometimes they close access to the natural trails.

When that happens I come around from the other side – starting on the paved greenways – and if I’m lucky the trail won’t be too bad and the park’s access gate will be open by the time I get around to that side!

If you do this, there’s a chance you’ll need to turn around due to trail conditions and end up hiking more miles than you planned. I got lucky this time 🙂

Along with the usual kick-boxing a few times, short runs and a gym trip, this week I took advantage of the Spring-like weather to get out on my bike and ride some of the paved greenways in and around Bond Park.

FYI, just in case you’re new around here, I’m spending the next 8 weeks training for an awesome hiking trip to New Zealand.

My NZ trip itinerary includes a day of biking in the Karangahake Gorge, so I need to do a little bike training, too!

A view of the karangahake gorge bike trail

I’m not one of those all-spandex-all-the-time bikers, but I do ok 🙂

I just need to remind those muscles how to ride a few times before I go.

And as scary as biking a gorge sounds, this particular bike route is a very scenic but pretty tame rail trail for a good part of the way.

Tame is fine with me – I got my share of biking steep hills on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland a few years back!

Week 6 is coming!!!

TAKEAWAY LESSON: The weather can have a big impact on your workout plans! Always check the weather and trail conditions before you head out.

I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂 To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time! LJ

Umstead State Park: Combining Trails for Longer Hikes

Most recently updated September 30th, 2022

Working remotely doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors – in fact, it’s healthier for you to take breaks and get outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine!

Being stuck indoors by yourself – or with your kids – with no end in sight could make you nuts.

Paved trail beside Big Lake in Umstead State Park

Getting out on the trail on your own, or with 10 or fewer members of your family or friends, could help bring you back from Crazy Town.

If you’re a hiker local to Cary or Raleigh, NC, you know the nearby hiking places, and have been on the trails.

They’re beautiful, have varied terrain and are easily accessible.

Continue reading Umstead State Park: Combining Trails for Longer Hikes

Top 3 Reasons William B. Umstead State Park is my Favorite Forest

Most recently updated July 30th, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 8.5 minutes

Umstead State Park has been my go-to hiking place for at least the past ten years. I hike in the forest, or with the forest as a starting place, at least twice per week.

Sometimes I hike on my own, sometimes as a hike leader for Raleigh Recreational Hikers or I’d Rather Walk meetups.

Park History

Umstead State Park has a long history: initially a wild hardwood-forested area inhabited with bison, bobcats and elk, it later became the site for indigenous peoples homes and trade, was part of a land grant for farms in 1774.

Finally, in 1934 – through a joint effort of Federal and State agencies – 5,000 acres were purchased to create a public recreation area.

The Civilian Conservation Corp and the Works Progress Administration helped with construction, and the park was open to the public in 1937.

There are so many reasons to love this park, it’s hard to fit them all into a single post. So I’ll just start with my Top 3.

Continue reading Top 3 Reasons William B. Umstead State Park is my Favorite Forest

Simple Ways to Start Hiking – With Kids or On Your Own

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 4.3 minutes

When I first began hiking as a hobby, I was working at a fulltime tech job, was a single mom of a toddler with few babysitters available, and my closest family was 1500 miles away.

Of necessity, most of my activities (outside of work) included the company of my Mini-Me, and hiking was no exception.

Hiking at Hanging Rock State Park with Peanut!

My daughter loved the adventure, seeing new things, and being an intrepid explorer with her Mama!

We explored local parks and greenways, both on foot and on bikes and rollerblades.

Then, when she was old enough, we were able to visit a lot of State Parks, and go on longer unpaved trails with more varied terrain.

Continue reading Simple Ways to Start Hiking – With Kids or On Your Own