30.1 miles. 8,186 feet of elevation. The Art Loeb ULTRAmarathon experience.

It sounds like a nice distance for a weekend backpacking trip, right? What about in a day?

That's what I decided to take on this year. The ultra experience is a bit different than a traditional race. You pick your own date and decide if you want to run unsupported (you carry everything you need for the day) or supported (2 aid stations with a drop bag, food, and water along the way). There are no cheering crowds, very few other runners (only a handful of others ran the same day as me), and no actual finish line. Sound appealing?

Well, to me, it did. There is a 24hour cutoff, which is an absolutely insane amount of time for a 50km race. I gave myself a selfimposed 15hour cutoff. I had heard from a group of 3 guys who did it unsupported last year that it took them 14 hours to do. Was my sub15hour goal too ambitious?

What did my training look like for this? Great question! I probably could've done more, but I just wanted to see if my body could do the distance. And I wanted to know if I would like it. (Spoiler: I loved the 50km distance and can definitely see myself doing more.) My training for this race looked like 2x 515 mile runs per week + 1 day of strength training + 1 day of a long bike ride + 1 day of a long (1020 miles) hike and/or run.

Postrun, I felt GREAT! I had one small blister on the back of my left heel. I honestly didn't feel it until the last 2 miles, so I just sucked it up. I opted to not change socks or look at my feet during the run, so that was my own dang fault. My knees were a little sore the following day. But in the week after, I began adding in long walks and cycling. I had planned to take 2 weeks off from running, but I ended up joining my run club's Thursday "fun run" the week after.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. I loved the distance. I feel like I learned a lot though, and there are some things I'd love to work on before I toe the line next time. But I definitely see another 50k in my future. Anything longer than that will probably remain a backpacking trip though


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Need a great shuttle for the Art Loeb or other trails in the Asheville area?
Check out Traveling Lite Shuttle And Resupply!   / travelingliteshuttleandresupply  

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Curious what the race writeup said?
Running the entire Art Loeb is no easy feat, nor is it recommended for novice runners. At roughly 50k in length with over 8,000' of climbing, running the entire trail is one of the most epic and rewarding things you'll ever do in your life. Different than a race, this guided adventure allow you to run the trail at your own pace, stopping to take in the view and relax as often as you'd like. Expect at least 10 12 hours on the trail.

The run begins at Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp outside of Waynesville where it climbs into the Shining Rock Wilderness and traverses the Great Balsam Mountains. Multiple bald summits and dramatic views line the ridge before merging onto a brief stretch of the 1,200mile long Mountains to Sea Trail. After crossing over the Blue Ridge Parkway, the trail summits Pilot Mountain before bagging peak after peak on its way to the Davidson River Campground, its southern terminus.

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