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| UPDATE - June 7, 2004 My Superior Hiking Trail run was over before it started. After ~34 miles of running, a rock jumped out and grabbed my foot, twisting it back and pulling my right achilles tendon pretty badly. I limped slowly on for another 6 miles or so before deciding not to delay the inevitable, and decided to stop running on the SHT after 40 miles. Surprisingly, I wasn't really disappointed about stopping. I had three main reasons for doing this run. In order, they were: 1. To spend some quality time out on a beautiful trail enjoying the sights and sounds; 2. To get in a great training run; and 3. To see if I could set the standard for running the length of the Superior Hiking Trail. I easily accomplished the first two reasons for running. I had a lot of fun running on the wild and beautiful Superior Hiking Trail with my good friend Steve Schuder and I got in a great 40 mile training run. If I had kept going, I would have jeapordized my second reason for running the SHT and screwed up a great training run by inuring myself too badly to keep training after the SHT run. I truly did accomplish most of what I set out to do (my first two reasons for running the SHT), and I had a very fun weekend with my family and friends. Will I do it again? Probably, but not any time soon. I will definitely wait until the trail is entirely completed. As I write this, the Superior Hiking Trail Association is breaking ground on a new 6 mile segment of trail on the west side of Duluth. Eventually, the trail will run from about the Wisconsin border by Jay Cooke State Park, through Duluth and then from Duluth to Two Harbors - which is the current southerly terminus of the trail. Once this is completed, the trail will be around 300 miles long. Hopefully this can be done in another 5-7 years. So, I'll wait until then to take another shot at the Superior Hiking Trail. Eventually, the true standard for the SHT will have to be for the fully completed trail. I'll wait until its done, and in the meantime, take my time enjoying the trail, getting to know it better, and help build the new sections. I know some others who will be running the SHT later in the year. I wish them all the best of luck and hope they have a great time out on the trail. The SHT is a great trail along a great lake - it's tough not to enjoy it. I've also posted some pictures from Friday's run and a short entry into the diary page. Check them out if you like. Andy Holak Duluth, MN |
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