The Shut-In Trail Run – It Is Not About The Numbers
Shiloh Mielke, winner of this and last year's Shut-In, with his family
I am not a runner.
I have only done one 10K in my life so my first race and my last race have the distinction of being my personal best. I chose to spend all my time on my bike.
But if you go to the “Y” everyday, you can’t help but be around runners who are going out, coming back, or talking shop in the locker room. The conversation always turns to “the time” and a palpable acknowledgement whether it be a grunt or a nod of the head offered in some approving way.
My wife and I were innocent onlookers several years ago as the famous Shut-In Trail Run was being completed on the Parkway near Mt. Pisgah, one first Saturday in November. Our reaction was then as it is now is “man, this is way cool.”
Last year was the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s first sponsorship of this race and I found it novel that the onlookers (families, friends, wannabees, and usetabees) drove from one overlook to the next to cheer for their favorites.
The culmination comes 17 grueling miles later at the top, scoreboard running but with contestants somewhat indifferent to “their time.”
Gordon Grant, a Shut-In veteran and friend of mine who ran again this year, pointed out to me the evening before, “Houck, this race is about who you do it with.”
He was right, for the people he was talking about were not only other runners but the throng of people at the finish line who cheered with as much volume and enthusism for last place as they did for first place.
The Shut-In Trail Run is for sure a shared journey.
