This weekend we'll be at the Georgia Marathon, but since we can't set up the Deep-Shoe Diver until the first day of the expo we had today - and tomorrow - off!
Waking up a little later than usual, I still managed to fit in a solid run around the College Park neighborhood of Atlanta before meeting the team for breakfast to discuss the day's plans:
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| Obligatory ATL Selfie' |
Stumbled across another cemetery...
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| Third cemetery I've managed to run through... |
After breakfast we decided to check out Stone Mountain Park about 30 miles away and do some exploring of our own. This was originally my idea, but even though Zach and Shannon had spent some time in Atlanta before they had never been to Stone Mountain so I was glad we'd be experiencing something new together!
Stone Mountain - located in Stone Mountain Park - is one of the single largest granite rocks in the world standing around 1600ft in elevation! A trail leads to the top of the mountain and a gondola is also available for ascents and descents. The park also has a pretty extensive trail system available for hiking and running! REALLY excited about that last part!
Once we arrived we immediately began the ascent the up:
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| Zach & Shannon heading up! |
Spied some of the most artistic graffiti carving in the world...
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| A simple Charlie was here wouldn't suffice... |
And clambered to the top after about 15 minutes!
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| Atlanta as far as you can see. |
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| Even had a snack stand at the top... |
After reaching the top, I lost track of Zach and Shannon (it was a pretty spacious summit...) and decided to do some exploring of my own!
The peak itself is circumnavigated by 5 miles of trail and having spied a trail head during our ascent I decided to run the descent down and log some miles until Zach or Shannon turned up! It didn't disappoint:
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| Mmm...soft-pack dirt... |
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| Ravenna 6 - my new favorite bread and butter trainer. |
All together I logged about 4 miles on that beautiful,
beautiful, tree-lined soft-pack dirt before meeting back up with the team.
Before we left Stone Mountain however we had to see one more thing.... Stone Mountain is home to the world's largest bas-relief - a MASSIVE sculpture carved into the side of the mountain depicting Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Regardless of your opinion on the political-correctness of a sculpture paying homage to the Confederacy, you should check it out if your ever in the area. The picture really doesn't do it justice. The relief is actually so big that during construction the workers would gather inside the horses' mouths to avoid the rain! On a historical side note* the relief was started by the guy who would later go on to carve Mount Rushmore, but a disagreement with the benefactors led to his departure from the project.
Overall, today was AMAZING! Stone Mountain Park was BEAUTIFUL and I loved the trails and the ascent to the top. It was also great to get out and explore the greater Atlanta area with the team! Those who
sweat together stay together :) And despite all the running and hiking my legs aren't
entirely dead. DoubleTree cookies greeted us upon our return:
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| I love cookies nom nom nom... |
Stevie from Seattle is expected to land tomorrow night and we couldn't be more excited to hangout and grab dinner once she all gets situated!
#RunHappy
Update* My legs are dead.
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