Weekend Recommendations Oct. 23-25

Your Weekend Update of what’s going
on OUTSIDE is now posted – click here !

In the mean time, here is a video from Bridge Day 2009 (Oct. 17th, last weekend) at the New River Gorge from our friends at MyScoper.com

Odyssey Trail Running Rampage – 9/19

Roanoke Outside

The Odyssey Trail Running Rampage will bring in Fall with three great trail running races, The Trail Half Marathon, the Trail Marathon, and the 40 mile Trail Ultra. All of these great races are part of the 2009 Trail Runner Trophy Series. These trail races will give athletes the opportunity to run on some of the best trails in the Southeast at a gorgeous state park nestled in the mountains of VA, Douthat State Park. On September 19, get together with family and friends this a weekend at Douthat State Park which has a lot to offer, hiking, mt.biking, paddling, fishing, and relaxing.

The race course will be a loop format which will offer challenging uphills, fast downhills and beautiful views at multiple points on the trail. Racers will run along creeks with waterfalls and through Rhododendron covered tunnels engulfing the trails. A loop will have a total elevation gain of 2400’ over 13 miles.

The 40mile Ultra will entail 3 laps; the Marathon 2 laps; and the Half Marathon 1 lap. There will be 3 fully stocked aid stations at miles 3.5, 6 and 11. They will have HEED water, flat cola, potatoes and salt, banana halves, and pretzels at each station. Ultra and Marathon runners will be able to stage supplies at the finish of the loop.

Here’s your chance to race at the Disneyland of Mountain Biking

“Douthat State Park is mountain bike Disneyland” – Kyle S. Inman

Presented by East Coasters, Rider’s Up Outfitters, Douthat State Park, Shenandoah Bicycle Company, and Aaron’s Smokehouse.

What: Middle Mountain Momma bike race
Date: September 27, 2009
Where: Douthat State Park, Clifton Forge VA
What:

• Regular Cross Country Race (XC) = 21 miles
• Beginner Race = 12 miles
• Double Cross Country (XXC) = 41 miles

Click Here for race details!

Web: www.mountainbikevirginia.com
Email: kyleinman@bikeva.com
Phone: 540.529.0462

Riders aren’t joking when they call Douthat State Park the Disneyland of mountain biking. The variety of trails are incredible – combine them with one of the nation’s best State Parks and you’ll see why.

Get Riding!

Pete

Here are some photos from last year’s race!

Win a Weekend Adventure Package for 8

Between now and the September 30 Get Outside Expo & Radical Reels Film Festival I will showcase some of the outdoor organizations you can meet at the expo as well as the prizes they have donated. To be eligible for the prizes you need to have completed the survey located on RoanokeOutside.com.

Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing has donated a weekend adventure package which includes:

• 2 nights lodging
• All meals
• 1.5 days of group adventure activities of your choice
• Activities are broken into 1/2 day periods (ex. 1/2 day canoeing, 1/2 day caving, & 1/2 day climbing)
• For up to 8 people. Additional people may be added for a fee

Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing is an outdoor adventure center located 40 minutes from Roanoke in Craig County. Originally started as a summer camp it has evolved into a year-round program. They specialize in groups (8-100+ people) but also do customized trips for couples and families. From a beginner, fully outfitted camping trip to a week-long retreat, they have you covered. All equipment is provided and no experience is needed!

Ideal for: group outings, employee appreciation, team building, weddings, reunions, school trips, retreats, conferences, day excursions, and more.

Activities offered: challenge courses, 900′ zip line, climbing wall, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, caving, rock climbing, hiking, outdoor education, camping, backpacking, and more.

Have you ever been to Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing? – Share your experience in the comment section below!

Teams Wanted – Big Lick Triathlon

The Big Lick Triathlon is September 26 at Smith Mountain Lake.

A crisp clean one-mile  swim with a sandy beach start is followed by a challenging 40K rolling bike course and a rolling 10K run all inside the park. A catered post race meal and a beautiful lake sunset cap of the evening – You will love this race!

Of course you can do this event solo, but if you’ve always wanted to do a triathlon but didn’t quite feel up to doing it by yourself, you can now do the event as a team. Don’t know any other people as brave as you, let the YMCA match you with other people looking for a team.

For more details on this event please visit the YMCA of Roanoke Valley’s Big Lick Triathlon event page

Blue Ridge Marathon on the parkway!

I apologize for the lack of posts this week – we were a little busy preparing for the announcement of the Blue Ridge Marathon on the parkway!

Those of you who know me know that I am not a runner – a biker and kayaker yes, but not a runner. I’ve pledged to definitely do the half-marathon and will make my decision on the full marathon in January. I invite you to run with me.  If you are going to run the race, or just thinking about it, share your thoughts below in the “comments” section.

Join the Blue Ridge Marathon Fan page

Continue reading to see the full press release!

Unbelievable Kayaking Videos

I’ve been thinking about partnering with some local restaurants (or other venues) to periodically show various adventure films like the ones below. It can be kayaking, biking, fishing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, etc. Leave a comment below if you think this is a good idea – include the types of films you’d want to see as well as some venue ideas!

This first video…well, it speaks for itself.  The second video is one my friends made many years ago – it features Barbours Creek, which is a beautiful Class II-III creek in Craig County.  **Update** The 3rd video was just sent to me by Luke Hopkins who owns and builds paddleboards out of his shop in Blacksburg (www.ridestride.com). This is a video he made several years ago. He wouldn’t disclose the creek due to the difficulty (if you can boat this type of water you know where it is) but it is within 30 minutes of downtown Roanoke. If you have an outdoor video you’ve made send it to me and I’ll feature it!

Get Outside!

Pete

RSN Shoots Roanoke Mountain Bike Video

Resort Sports Network (RSN) spent this past week filming a mountain bike video guide of the trails in and around Roanoke, VA. The RSN staff have traveled the world filming outdoor adventure videos and have filmed 18 mountain bike video guides – they were very impressed with the mountain bike trails in Roanoke.

When producer Brian Emerson left he sent this Twitter update:  “Roanoke, VA is an outdoor lover’s dream. Visit before everyone finds out about it”.

The video, set to air the summer of 2010, features trails at Carvins Cove, Mill Mountain, and

RMBC-Roanoke Mountain Bike Challenge Photos

Photos from the RMBC (Roanoke Mountain Bike Challenge) on July 19 at Carvins Cove. Over 100 riders made it out – and the weather was spectacular! A huge thank you to the Roanoke Cycling Organization (www.roanokecycling.org) for putting on a great race!

Vodpod videos no longer available.

The Secret is Out about Roaring Run

courtesy of Wilderness-Adventure.com

Well, Mark Taylor at the Roanoke Times has done it this time…he’s told the whole world about my all-time favorite outdoor spot in the Roanoke Region of Virginia.  Roaring Run in Botetourt County is not to be missed! You can learn more about what Botetourt County has to offer at www.visitbotetourt.com

Here is an excerpt from Mark’s article:

ORISKANY — In terms of wet rock-sliding readiness, Bert Reid had an advantage over Lynn Tyrrell.

Reid was wearing a pair of tough, cut-off jeans.

Tyrrell was in a bikini, one with a leopard print, no less.

But there was Tyrrell making her way to the top of the slick slanted rock face, planting herself and sliding — scream-free — into the chilly pool below as her impressed friends watched.

OK. She had an advantage.

“I’ve done it lots of times before,” said the 20-year-old from Roanoke. “We’ve been coming up here for years.”

Here was Roaring Run, a frigid, spring-fed creek that plunges in a series of cascading falls and slides through a steep valley in northern Botetourt County.

Shaded and deep, the valley makes for a cool getaway on a hot summer day.

“It’s better than being in Roanoke,” is how Tyrrell put it.  READ THE FULL ARTICLE!