JSM

Good luck at Hogpen today. I ran in the Piglet 5K last year. Thought about trying Hogpen, but I have to work. I've ridden my bike (or at least tried to ride) up Hogpen gap a couple of times. You've got your work cut out for ya today!

Congratulations everyone on finishing Hogpen. That race is a piece of work!

The conditions were excellent, I thought. What a great race!

I also ran Brasstown last month and I'm slowly discovering that I like running up mountains. Anybody have any recommendations on similar races within a 2 hours (or so) drive of Atlanta?

I'm considering Thrill in the Hills and Twisted Ankle half marathons.

Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

JSM,

I look forward to that race report, which, I hope, will include the incredibly gorgeous frozen waterfalls.

Thrill in the Hills is probably next for me. I'm still looking for more hill/mountain races to fill my 07 race schedule.

Wow...we've got some rough weather out there today...I'm not looking forward to this 18 mile run in just a little while.

And tomorrow morning...at 7am (according to weather.com) it is going to be 18 w/ a wind chill of 10!

Hope you guys are staying warm!

quote:<HR>Originally posted by PSO392:
Hey All,

I will be visiting Atlanta in a couple of weeks. Will be staying at a hotel on Akers Mill Rd, near Cobb Pkwy, and the intersection of US Hwy 75 and and US Hwy 285. I would like to find a track to do speekwork one day, I need to do some 5 - 6 milers, and I need to do a 14 to 18 miler while there. Any suggestions on good running places close by? Are there any good off-road trails? What about good, long roads with decent shoulders? I hate dodging cars during my long runs. If anyone has Gmap-Pedometer routes saved, please post! Thanks.

John<HR>

You'll be very close to the Cochran Shoals/Sope Creek trails, which will be good for the 5-6 milers.

http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/sopecreek.htm[/URL" target="_blank">
http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/maps.htm[/URL" target="_blank"> (Click on Cochran Shoals)

I don't know of a nearby track, but could ask the hotel about high schools nearby.

I found this blurb: "Akers Mill Trail
This multi-use trail along Akers Mill Rd. will begin at Cumberland Blvd. The trail will link to the Rottenwood Creek Trail, Silver Comet Cumberland Connector and the Kennesaw Mountain to Chattahoochee River Trail. This trail will connect to the new Cobb Energy Centre for the Performing Arts, Cobb Galleria Complex and Cumberland Mall."

I'm not sure if this trail is built yet tho - but the Silver Comet Trail would be a great place for the longer runs (it's mostly asphalt and concrete).

http://silvercomet.tripod.com/[/URL" target="_blank">

Hey John,

If you're staying at a hotel close to I75/I285, then you're pretty close to the trail head to the Silver Comet Trail. Leave your hotel onto I285, heading southwest, like you're going to I20. Get off about four miles up at exit 15 and turn right onto South Cobb. Drive another two miles and turn left on Cooper Lake Rd. It's the next light after the East-West Connector. After maybe a mile or so you'll see a sign for the trail head. Turn left on Mavell Rd and it's a quarter of a mile or so to the parking lot.

The Silver Comet is a great place to run your long runs. I ran 14 miles there yesterday. Distances are marked on the trail, and I'm guessing it's longer than you'll want to run.

Also, if you can't find a good trail to run on, there is a dirt trail that runs along beside the paved trail, too, but I think you'll have to go up about 5 miles or so to another trail entrance to pick it up. It doesn't follow the entire Silver Comet.

http://This message has been edited by JDJ (edited Jan-29-2007).

John,

I just ran 18 miles at Cochran Shoals this weekend and it's where I like do to all of my long runs (I've gone as far as 24 before) and it's a great surface, forgiving on the legs and there are 3 water fountains on this 5k loop down low, so if you stay around that area, you usually within a mile or so from water. There are other options in that area, such as columns drive or the bike trails, which I take advantage of all of those, and while there isn't any water on those, your never more than 2 miles or so away from water at any point on those.

Josh