The Primrose Path

Cut-leaf Evening Primrose
Originally uploaded by toadshade

No I haven't started drinking again. I did a 5 mile tempo run over Dickcissel Fields where these Cut-leaf Evening Primroses are starting to grow in abundance. Evening Primroses are so called because they usually bloom in the evening or dusk since they are pollinated by Luna Moths and other night flying insect creatures. Sometimes they come out cloudy days like today. Saw some Wild Mustards and Toadflax on the road also. They're the second wave of wildflowers that will stay around a month or so until the summer heat brings some of the more heat resistant, hardier species.

Had a decent run after a little layoff. Did 5 miles at 46:58 at 9:24 per mile.

toadshade

Spring in the Mountains

Wood Anemone
Originally uploaded by toadshade

These are from Pearson Falls road outside of Saluda, NC. I'm too cheap to pay the 2 bucks to go into the falls. Especially when the same wildflowers are growing all along the dirt road outside the falls. There's nothing like Spring in the mountains for nature enthusiasts. This Wood Anemone has a special significance to me since it was the first wildflower I ever identified and there were very few there. I found Toadshade Trillium, Large-flowered Trillium, Toothwort, Spring Beauty, Mayapple, Smooth Leaved Violet, Bellwort, Solomon's Seal, Sharp-leaved Hepatica and Bloodroot. You can all the pictures (including Toadshade) at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toadshade/sets/72157616132807068/detail/

toadshade

Spring in the Midlands - Forty Acre Rock

Pool Sprite and Stonecrop
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I made a sort of photo hike trip to one of my favorite places in the midlands which is located about 8 miles northeast of Kershaw in Lancaster County. It's about 66 miles and an easy trip to make for a unique environment that has some of the characteristics of the mountains. In Spring, the wildflowers, especially around the beaver pond are quite spectacular. There are plenty of Windflower, some Wood Anemone, Halberd-leaved Violets, Spring Beauties, False Garlic, Yellow Buckeye, Hawkweed, Indian Strawberry, Phlox, Wood Sorrel and Bloodroot. And on the rock, pictured above, are the rare Pool Sprite and the red Stonecrop. I found some Puck's Orpine on the way up which is also unique to this granite outcrop. You can see more of the Rock's flora at my Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toadshade/sets/72157615351166935/detail/

Years ago I used to hike to see how far I could go. I was training for marathons back then and the mountain walks were tough but good to strengthen the legs. I ran my best marathons back then. Later when I got with my friend Bill, who was more into the study of nature, he helped slow me down to see what I was missing and I can hardly walk 50 yards without finding something unique to nature and the world. This blog tends to meander between the two interests which are really one. I tend to ascribe to the old Tolkien saying: All who wander are not lost.

I've come to see running as a meditation and nature, my own and the natural world, as the wellspring that feeds it. My spiritual path insists on staying in the here and now. Nothing, to me, grounds you in the here and now like nature. In a couple of weeks, most of these flowers won't be here. Others will come to take their place. I will have changed too.

In the words of Heraclitus, the Pantheist philosopher, no man ever steps in the same river twice.

toadshade

Orange-crowned Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler
Originally uploaded by toadshade

This little Winter Warbler is about to take off back north. He's been a regular visitor at my feeder for the last several months. You can seldom see the orange crown but this one is very pronounced. It's been rainy for the past few days in Columbia but Spring is springing and there's excitement in the air.

toadshade

Blackberry Spring

Blackberry Blossom
Originally uploaded by toadshade

"My love, he wooed me as I lie there
With a flower in my hair and my cheeks aflush
It was a blackberry blossom from the blackberry bush."
- Blackberry Blossom, Michelle Shocked

One of my favorite songs about a maiden and her lover making love amid the blackberry brambles and blossoms; a perfect metaphor for the pain and joy of love. I always think of it when I see this flower that grows everywhere in the Spring. In late April and early May I'll be picking blackberries to snack on while I jog and in late July and early August hope to be picking them at Black Balsam Knob in Shining Rock Wilderness on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's a vine that seems to cover everything with white and makes a nice trellis for the Spring.

I had a decent 8 miler hampered a little by an upset stomach that probably originated from some left over pizza that has been sitting in my fridge for an indecent amount of time (but not as long as the okra which I'll have tonight). Still I ran it in 1:17:01 at 9:38 per mile.

toadshade

Azalea Dash

Azalea
Originally uploaded by toadshade

The signature flower of suburban South Carolina and most of the south for that matter. Saw some Phlox and plenty of Red Maple Wings. I did a 6 mile tempo run that was the reverse of the run I did yesterday. I needed to test my leg on a long uphill slope and I passed with flying colors. My time was 56:39 at 9:27 per mile. I don't think the layoff hurt much of anything since my pace is crisp, my weight is down and I feel 10 years younger than I did when I started. Will do a 10 later in the week and start working on some hikes around the midlands and mountains. Am thinking about hitting 40 Acre Rock this Sunday with hopes of even more Spring flora than I got last year. Next Friday I'm heading back to the hills and will probably hit Station Falls, Jones Gap, Cane Creek and Big Bradly Falls in Saluda.

Spring fever has hit the toad.

toadshade

The Six Mile Spring Loop

Field Pansy or Johnny Jump Up
Originally uploaded by toadshade

Ran around Sunview Lake for the first time since I got hurt. Took a picture of this Field Pansy which was growing on the edge of the woods at Sunview Lake. These are sometimes called Johnny Jump Ups because they seem to shoot up very quickly in large patches mainly in fields. If you see a blue blush in the fields when you out driving, it's probably these guys. Always a welcome sight after the cold of Winter. Saw some Common Blue Violets and Periwinkles also. This run did my heart good due to the fact that the last time I ran this run it was cold, rainy and I had an injury that dashed my hopes for the marathon. This reminded of the joy of pure running. I stopped and took a few snapshots and 'smelled the roses' or Violets in this case. My time was 57:27 at a 9:35 per mile pace.

toadshade

The Waiting Is Over

The Waiting Is Over
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I hit the road again on a wet Monday after a wet weekend. I felt great and ran a brisk tempo in 34:52 minutes at an 8:43 per mile pace. The leg felt great and I experienced no pain. My weight is still at 176 and I'm maintaining it. I think I learned a little about myself in the running layoff since it gave me a chance to get back into hiking around the Midlands and, most importantly, the mountains. My revised goals are to train for shorter races and add some mountain hikes, nature study and photography to my plate and see what happens.

toadshade

Deep Green in Late Winter - Pearson's Fall Road

Deep Green in Late Winter
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I took a few shots of the Pearson's Fall area but chose this because the green was so rich and full, and represent what this area will be become in a few days. This part of Saluda, NC, is in what they call the Thermal Belt. It's an area that has the earliest growth of trees and wildflowers in the mountains. It's around 1700 feet in elevation and you can usually find Toadshade and Large-flowered Trillium, Toothwort, Spring Beauty, Hepatica, Star Chickweed and Canada Violets growing in abundance. It was a little early for most of these flowers but we did see Toadshade, Toothwort and Spring Beauty unraveling their leaves. Will go back in a couple of weeks.

toadshade

Fog and Eternity

Fog and Eternity
Originally uploaded by toadshade

We took old 25 from Cane Creek to Saluda and ran into clouds and fog above the Greenville watershed. We took a break and a few shots of this still but pensive scene. This is why I love the mountains; elevation and clouds can put a whole new slant on things.

toadshade

Bill Studying Various Media

Bill Studying Various Media
Originally uploaded by toadshade

This is the central command headquarters where we go over the morning findings, review data, and reconnoiter for the afternoon activities. Otherwise known as the Green River Bar-B-Q in Saluda, NC, where Bill had a heaping plate of Fried Green Tomatoes and I had Collards, Potato Salad and Bar-B-Q with a ton of hot sauce.

toadshade

Eureka Moment

Eureka Moment
Originally uploaded by toadshade

This is when Bill discovered the elusive Bells on Cane Creek. It just says it all! Think Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong.

toadshade

Oconnee Bells on Cane Creek

Oconnee Bells on Cane Creek
Originally uploaded by toadshade

These are the rare Oconnee Bells that bloom around the equinox in only a few counties of SC, NC and Georgia. Bill and I have been hiking buddies for over 20 years and we always make a point of making this pilgrimage every Spring. The 14th was a little early but we decided to go in spite of the 100% chance of rain (which proved to be deadly accurate). Our mission was to find another access to the Bells (besides Devil's Fork Campground) that you didn't have to walk 15 miles on the Foothills Trail to find. It turned out to be a resounding success!! Using Bill's expert mapping and navigation skills and a road that led right to the trailhead, we discovered the elusive flower in about a quarter of a a mile on Cane Creek. It was still early and only a few were blooming but enough to take a few pictures. Also growing there were Toadshade (from whence my email namesake came) Trillium, tons of beautiful red Partridgeberries and Halberd-leaved Violets. It excited us enough for a return visit in a couple of weeks when it's, hopefully, not raining and we can really explore the area when more flora are in bloom.

toadshade

The Oreo Heiffers

The Oreo Heiffers
Originally uploaded by toadshade

On the way to the SC Escarpment, Bill and I came across a small herd of the rare Oreo Heiffers. These are an experiment designed by Animal Husbandry experts at Clemson University. They are a cross between Jersey Holsteins and Macadamia Nuts, two protein based life forms, (and one secret ingredient) to produce a meat that tastes more like chicken or pork fritters. The final taste test has yet to come but I, for one, can't wait!

toadshade

The Blooming Jessamine

Well I didn't have to run 12 miles in the rain and rupture my Soleus muscle to see this one. It was exactly 2 feet out my front door!! Fred, an excellent gardener, has this vine growing on the divider between our apartments and it has taken bloom with the warmer weather we've had for the last few days. Just thought I'd show the finished product!

toadshade

3 Rivers Greenaway

Thought I'd try out my leg on a fairly flat hike along the Congaree River on the 3 Rivers Greenaway Trail. Lots of people, dogs, bikes, joggers and walkers on this beautiful late Winter day. The high was around 80 and the wind was a little blustery at times. I walked about 2 miles and my leg felt fine. The river was up and people (mainly college kids) were playing on the rocks. The late Winter wildflowers were, of course, Vetch and Medick, along with Violets, Chickweed, Yellow Corydalis, Veronica, Dandelions and the beautiful Bloodroot (pictured above) that you always depend upon this time of the year. It's so called because a break in the plants, especially the roots, reveals a reddish sap. Was used as a dye and a herbal remedy by the Cherokees. Great day to walk and be alive. Everyone's got Spring fever!

toadshade

So Early in the Spring

Or late Winter for that matter. One of the rewards of jogging is getting to know your routes and neighborhood quite well. I passed these Yellow Jessamines on the rainy run on Saturday when I ruptured my soleus muscle. It was beginning to bloom and is one of the earliest blooming wildflowers in the state and a sure sign Spring is on the way. The 28 degrees temps for the last few nights zapped most of the open blossoms but these are just getting ready to blossom. It's the State Flower for South Carolina and all parts are extremely poisonous. So don't eat it or you'll end up doing the State Dance, the Shag, right before you wretch your guts out! In a week or so it will the brightest harbinger of Spring in the woods along with the Red Maple blossoms.

If you think this is exciting; in a few days the Cow Vetch and Black Medick will be blooming!!

toadshade

Injury Update and Different Goals

I ran 5 flat miles today in 47:13 at 9:27 per mile. The leg didn't hurt during the day but I could feel the dull pain all the way and it got worse toward the end. Much more mileage and I would be right back at the start with this injury. I feel I'm going to have to take about 10 days off for this to heal and maybe set my racing goals at a 10k in Camden at the end of April and a 12k in Orangeburg the next weekend. I really feel good physically and have lost about 8 pounds. The break won't hurt my training except for the marathon and will give me a chance to really tune up with more speed work. In the past I would have tried some way to run through this and do the marathon. But I'm not into running masochism anymore and I really don't have too much respect for runners who are. I want to be running in my 70's if I make it there, and I can't risk compounding an injury and do more serious damage just to say "I did it!" I've done 23 marathons and have nothing to prove. I like running, I like the experience of it and the peace of mind it gives me. I was into running for years before I did my first marathon. And I like the races, it's fun just to be in the crowd get caught up in the thrill of the event. All of the money goes to good causes and there's usually good food and fellowship at the end. And, more importantly, it's a good way to renew the joy of running.

Oh, and I almost forgot! I had the distinct displeasure of running into Psychodog Number 1! He was in the same yards running wild again but, this time, he barked and came out to the road but didn't go into full tilt slavering psycho mode. He must be getting used to me. It's good to know that I'm becoming more acceptable to the psychotic elements on this side of Columbia.

toadshade