9/10/11 Caesar Creek (Cub initiation)

Wolf Cub earns his spiked collar and she-wolf's strong start . . .

Good turnout Saturday (7 + 1 local) offering mix of speeds and berating.  Expectations were high as the she-wolf released one of her cubs on the group.  He didn't disappoint.

After some good smack talk, we challenged RJ to start the run with the infamous 15lb backpack.  I should have known we were in trouble as he seemed content/resolved to carry it the entire first leg (2.5mi).  We started at a moderate pace.  He soon was pushing the front of the pack.  About 1.5mi into the run, I tried to break away but he wouldn't let up . . . although he became much less chatty.  We got to the Lodge in about 21min (respectable sub 9min pace considering the hills, roots, rocks and backpack).  Over the next few minutes the rest of the pack arrived one by one.  Just in time for the Ranger test (2min push ups).

My hopes that 2.5mi beneath the backpack would offer an equalizer were almost realized.  The two of us went first (sans backpack) and set a high bar: RJ (23 yrs) 107 vs Mull (37 yrs) 105.   Next went Safi (33 yrs) 79/80~with some gas.  Noble (38) hit 76, but almost flat-lined, followed by Burgio (47) 57 and Malloy (47) 50.  I'm sure Malloy will find an online calculator to show his age & weight qualify for a 2x adjustment.

We headed back along the same path where it was Malloy's turn to challenge RJ (sans backpack).  The two of them stayed together in the lead, and while RJ likely took it easy on the old man, we think we at least gave RJ a respectable challenge.  Burgio (the iron wolf) brought up 3rd, providing encouragement and a welcomed draft for Mull who carried the backpack this leg.  She-wolf demonstrated a strong and consistent performance finishing all smiles in the middle of the pack.  Short-distance Safi was also impressive tacking today's 5mi to Thr 5mi, following his long Holiday absences.  We were very glad to see no search party was required to retrieve Noble as he finished revived following his post push-up dizzy spell - remember, we don't settle for 'running only' adventures.

Speaking of adventures, Burgio, Malloy and Mull stayed on to explore the Gorge and add a few more miles.  We parked at the gorge lot and ran up the dam for some serious incline work.  Well, maybe not 'ran' . . Malloy had a better description - 'old man shuffle'.  After running down without breaking our necks, we ran the 1 mile gorge trail where we nearly chased down a baby deer.  I became worried when Malloy started recounting the plot of American Werewolf in London.

Finally, we drank everyone else's beer that didn't stay over, while also hiking the downstream trails.  The good thing about beer post run is that it works quicker.  Hence, we all felt confident to try a precarious creek crossing and monkey vine (u gotta see the pics attached).

Push up stop

Up the dam

Up Up

Now down

Precarious crossing

Tight trails beyond the gorge

Note the cooler

Well played, kicking off big tree to the right