Let's Get a Geographical Ratio...

... of where everybody is. You don't ever have to post again after this, if you don't want to. I'm just curious about what kinda contingent we're dealing with.

So fess up. I live in Northern California and could throw a rock and hit a ranger in the Tahoe National Forest. Not that I would. I happen to like rangers. I'm just sayin' I could if I were so inclined.

Southern Utah.
17 miles from zions national park.
150 miles from the north rim of the grand canyon
1250 miles from arlington texas where my son lives and goes to school.

lorilie

<Sigh> How wonderful! Except for that last one :-(

I think we should have an FE in Utah next year, and let you show us around. I have only driven through that state, so it's on my list of where to stop and smell the roses.

To funny, I was thinking of going your way for a visit.

You are welcome here whenever you want. I would love to show you around.



Lorilie

Really?!! That would be absolutely fabulous to have you here. Anytime, Lorilie. Anytime!

Bay Area, California, about 30 minutes south of San Francisco. Not sure what I could hit with a rock from here, but I wouldn't want to try.

I will have my people call your people, maybe we can set somthing up for next summer.


Lorilie

DC metro area, approx. an hour's drive from the Appalachian Trail and a three hours' drive from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, Shendandoah National Park, and the George Washington National Forest.

Marcel, good luck at Firetrails! I'll be there with my three young'uns, and will look for you to cheer you on :-)

Redrocks.. most excellent! I will let my people know ;-)

MD.. I knew less than nothing about the Appalachian Trail, but recently read a book by Bill Bryson about it (A Walk in the Woods), and have had my interest piqued. Do you run on it regularly?

Thanks, CougarSnack. Where will you guys be hanging out tomorrow?

I try to get out to the AT about once a month or so. This is the best time of the year with the foliage and cooler weather. Technically, trail running on the AT isn't really allowed, so I either have to "sneak" in some running or just hike at a brisk pace. There are some other beautiful, slightly more accessible state parks and trails a little closer to me that I enjoy running. What I wouldn't give to live out west though...

MD, I grew up in Burtonsville, just north of Silver Spring. Also lived a bit in Falls Church. We don't get the foliage out here in Cali. And the grass ISN'T greener. It's actually brown most of the year.

I live in Northern California. Kinda south of Sacramento.

Marcel--good luck tomorrow. Any tips on how folks'd recognize your fine self? Any distinguishing characteristics? An extra limb? Run with a helmet on?

Northern California, about 15 minutes from Auburn.

I decided to ignore my rock throwing practice, and instead concentrate on rock avoidance. There are lots o rocks coming from up near CougarSnacks neck of the woods, and I don't want to get hit. She can still peg a possum at 40 paces before you could bat an eye, so my avoidance efforts are probably wasted.

She isn't just accurate; she's got a cannon of an arm, apparently. I still have a lump on my head and I'm...what, about 50 miles to the south? I know it was her too.

If I throw a rock, I hit another fine example of tract housing. I can't hurl anything up to Folsom, let alone Auburn. That's all uphill.

LIA, no extra limbs, unfortunately. I was thinking of wearing a red wig to stand out, but then figured that the bib # 81 would be distinctive enough. OwenChase is #82, I believe. Thanks for the wishes.

Oh, that's right. I forgot you'd provided your bib # elsewhere. I'll be yapping encouragement at you at some point during the race, I 'spect. Good luck.

I'm about 30 minutes west of Salt Lake City, 45 - 60 minutes west of the Wasatch Mountains -- and wishing I was about 5 minutes east of the Wasatch. Though I can't complain; there are some beautiful hill and mountain runs around here within 10-30 minutes or so which have been great.

Are you serious? I've heard of not allowing ATVs, maybe mountain bikes, maybe horses ... but never runners. I don't understand the logic there.

By the way, CougarSnack, nice avatar! It's perfect. Where did you end up finding it?

We (the kids and I) will be at all the aid stations, Marcel. I'd say I'll be the one with the bagpipes, but they get so heavy after awhile that it messes with my rock-throwing arm. I'll just have to settle for being the one in clothes.

Street clothes, that is ;-)

II'm 40 years old, you know.

I just saw the "running not really allowed" line, and am shaking my head. After reading that book, some of the AT rules did leave me a little baffled (liking camping allowed only in the communal shelters), but this one is completely ridiculous. What if someone was a really fast hiker, hiking faster than I can run? Is there a speed limit, or does one of my feet have to be on the ground at all times? I don't understand the logic either, and am curious as to how they go about policing the matter.

I would be tempted to get out there and run, just to make them chase me >:-)

You must be texting from your phone again. What a newb...

Oh wait, I see the REST of the remark. Is today your birthday? Or are you just mentioning that because you are nearing your heart attack years, and are warning me to keep my comments G-rated?

Ha! Thanks. I'm gonna get soooo busted one of these days for not paying for the stuff I pilfer off the net.

I wanted to put a thought bubble on the cat, something along the lines of "needs more salt"... but I don't have LIA's photo shop savvy.

BCR, I have a question. Why don't the avatars attach to every post? It seems like they just attach to the first one in a thread.

Running is permissible on the AT. No races--other than JFK-- can be held on the trail. And as far as camping, you can pitch a tent anywhere more than a quarter mile away from a road.

I was just sayin' is all. You know, because it's a free country and I can say any old thing what pops into my head.

I'm 40 years old, you know.

BeardOBees.. if you are who I think you are, can you explain this fascination of yours with facial bees? It makes me laugh, even though I don't know the story behind it.

And thanks for clearing that up. Obviously the author just wanted to gripe about things, with fact not necessarily a requirement. I guess I'll have to find another way to stick it to The Man.

Didn't you hear? I'm wanting to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days while donning a beard of bees.

Okay, so I had a small hunch who you might be, beebearder, but now I don't know.

Ha! I think your hunch is still right, LIA. I have a hard time keeping the bro's straight, but I think this is the one that recently acquired a new tat?

Either that, or it's Dean's lesser-known bro, Honeycomb.

It's the NY brother and not the Ballmer brother? That's what I was thinking. Oh, oh! Shhhh, I think he might have heard us.

I couldn't remember which one had the Buzzly Adams avatar, but isn't MDultrarunner his bro?

I think MDultrarunner is not his bro. I've never heard someone from Baldeemore refer to themselves as from the DC area. The cities are close geographically, but Baldeemore is its own thing, you know?

Could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

I thought maybe he might be generalizing for us po', ignorant Calee-foh-nee-ya folk.

You mean there's more than one ultrarunner in Maryland then? >:-)

My brother. Hey, I wonder if MDultrarunner is my brother?

I guess it would depend on how heavy he is.

He ain't heavy. He's my brother.

Is he really???!

He's 15-20 lbs. lighter than me, as it happens. The road is long...

you old fart!! lightinaugust


[/QUOTE]I'm 40 years old, you know.[/QUOTE]

I've been spending the evening charting Joe Christmas' run, and he was in fact an ultrarunner. Grimm was quite a pacer. Unfortunately, Hightower couldn't work the aid station to save his life.

I'll look like Qeequeg by sometime late tomorrow. Or at least a little bity part of myself.

And it ain't the Calee-foh-nee-ya folk that's dumb, it's us from West Virginia. That is, the bros living in Baldeemore and New York.

Heck yeah it's long. Especially after a long trail run...


Ha! bOb, am curious which bitty part you're referring to? What comes to mind sounds awful painful >:-) Unless you pretend it's accupuncture, in which case it will still hurt like hell, but your headache will be gone?

Wow! I missed out on a lot over the weekend!

I guess I haven't been breaking the law by running on the AT after all! The first time I went out to run the trail, I was near the JFK section of the trail and got stopped by a hiker going the other way. He gave me a dirty look and told me that running on the AT was not allowed. I, like many others, I'm sure, was a little baffled but took his word for it. Who was I, being new to the area, to say otherwise? Still, though, I wouldn't let him completely deter me from running. I just made sure to slow down to a brisk hike whenever I encountered others on the trail. Now I'm armed with the proper information, and the next time I see aforementioned hiker, I will be sure to pick up a rock and...

Oh, lightninaugust, I know exactly where Burtonsville is! I live near Columbia--a city equidistant from both the B'more and Capital beltways--though I prefer to associate myself with the city encircled by the latter. I've driven by Burtonsville more times than I can count!

MDultrarunner, when I was a kid, Columbia Mall was the only mall in the area. I spent a lot of time in that area, went to a lot of concerts at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Broke a few bones and teeth at one of the ice rinks there, playing hockey (badly).

Based on current trends, the Mall in Columbia still appears to be the place to hang out for kids in the area. What's more, the large number of restaurants and movie theater have contributed to ridiculously large crowds at any time of the day, any day of the week. The only other mall around now is Arundel Mills just south of BWI airport.

Merriweather is still a great place to see concerts; it regularly attracts well-known artists. They also put on a great "Wine in the Woods" festival and jazz fest (more my speed).

You're right - the avatars attach only to the first post someone makes in any given thread. Some other forums do it that way too. I believe it's so the pages, especially long threads, load faster ... at least that's one reason. However, I should test it and make sure, because really the images should be cached after loading the first time. I could also change the behavior based on what all of you prefer.

Mojave desert. About an hour and a half from larger cities. Lake Isabella and Bakersfield to the West. Landcaster and Victor Valley to the South. Death Valley to North East. Lone Pine and Bishop to the North. Not a bad place to be located. The PCT is about 18 miles West of us.
Great running/walking here. We are in a Valley.

Sweeeeet.

My princess preference is to have the avatar at each post, because it's easier for me to see who is posting at a glance.

Certain other forumites might want to post a completely different high-maintenance picture at every single post. But if you were to let "them" do that, I don't think it would be for long, as the guys in white coats will be confiscating his, er, I mean their computer.

I'm trying to think of something clever to say, but I'm not very bright.

Good Lordy! Lotsa activity over here since I last checked in.

On the original question: Live in Oakland; work in San Francisco. Run mostly in East Bay regional parks and sometimes Marin. Hope to get over to Mt. Diablo and Mission Peak/Ohlone Wilderness more often.

Deep in the heart of Texas - Austin. :)

Just outside of San Antonio, Texas. About as deep in the heart of Texas as you can go.

The Woodlands, TX which is just north or Houston.

Central Virginia - live just east of Charlottesville, work in Charlottesville.

southcentral Alaska, about 40 mi NE of Anchorage

I live in Northern CA. 30 miles east of Sacramento!

Wow. This is going to be some game of tug-o'-war :-)

We are SO gonna win. Here's why: On those days I actually do run anymore, I don't finish the run. I have pastries and coffee and sit on my butt and get kind of lard-like. Pretty soon, my gut's gonna make for a great anchor on a tug-o'-war team. Just park me at the end there, loop the rope around my bucket for a head, and nothing will budge me. I think I can post while I'm a sittin' back there, too.

That's pretty bold talk for a two-eyed fat man.

Wuh-huh.

"Goodbye, Reuben," she says, "the love of decency does not abide in you!"

I'm in Little Rock and I had a beer with Charles Portis just last week. At least I sat next to him in the same beer-dispensing establishment.

Orange County, Southern California. I'm close to the beach and the mountains!
~Nattie.

SW Colorado, live in Pagosa Springs(about 30 miles from the Contential Divide trail), work in Durango(south end of the Colorado trail) & 1000s of miles of trails between.
Jeff

I live in Las Vegas, NV. I'm from Southern Utah and am often found there on the weekends.

I've been a trail runner in Arizona (buckeye, white tanks, estrella, prescott, flagstaff, tucson), Massachusetts (Williamstown, seven sisters, boston), New Hampshire (nashua, mt. washington), vermont (covered bridges half marathon is fun, vermont city marathon is ok), philadelphia (HHH is good there, bryn mawr are a bunch of prissy snobs), washington DC, New York City (like prison but without the camaraderie), virginia beach (hooyah!), Ithaca, NY -- hells bells I was injured for 6 years and couldn't run there....

Finally, I happily made home in San Diego and Los Angeles.

Ran trails and mountains in Arkansas and Oklahoma and West Virginia and Tennessee and Albuquerquee and Las Vegas;

...but home is California.

Unfortunately, I've been in Russia the last 13 months, since Feb. 1, 2006.

I'm in the middle of the largest expans of steppe and forest in the world --- I'm in the middle of siberia. About 600 miles north of the intersections of Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and Russia.

And would you believe it? The trail running here sucks. It's nearly impossible, in fact, to find a trail to run.

Particularly now. Without snow shoes, you're limited to pedestrian-made trails. So I run on the railroad tracks. If you mis-step on the snow trails, you plunge to your crotch in snow.

Ok, so y'all owe me a beer for representing geographical diversity.

COORDINATES +
TOTAL DISTANCE
Tomsk, RS 84.9667, 56.5000
Los Angeles, US -118.2430, 34.0522
Miles: 6029.47
Kilometers: 9703.22

Wow - Russia. Yeah, you win the prize for the most exotic location. Good luck with your trail running. Hopefully you can return to the States soon. I guess we take our trail system for granted here.

I live in Sacramento, CA.

Kaloli Point,Big Island of Hawaii.
About 10 miles south of Hilo
20 miles north of Madame Pele

Spend a lot of time running on lava.Ocean on my right Jungle on my left.
I live on the tallest mountain in the world Mauna Kea and love to run up at Volcano National Park.

Sounds awesome HILO. That'd be cool to run in the mountains but also with ocean views.

Hey...guys...speaking of...Geography of runners..I just read a really interesting article on running cities in the U.S. on www.traxee.com ( a women's running site)...how funny...wouldn't that be cool, to not only connect groups online, but be able to jump into groups when traveling on vacation or for business!

~Dolly

Yes, that would be cool -- and I think the Internet will really help with those connections as time goes on. Especially in the relatively tight ultrarunning/trail running community, people meet in races all the time that previously had only conversed in a forum. There's a "Groups" area of this site (among others) where people can add their running groups, so in theory it should be easy to connect with members of the group/club when travelling to another city.

Tokyo Japan. About 30 minutes from the Okutama and Okumusashi mountains. Tokyo has much better trail running than most people imagine, though since 80% of this country is mountainous, run uphill or stay in the city!