So you like Strava Challenges? We have another for you! If you haven’t already, join the Sir Walter Running Strava club! You can even go to SirWalterStrava.com and it will forward you to the right place.

The Tour de Walter is now 2 legs in, and the Umstead Steeplechase is Leg #3 of 4.. This one is a little tougher than the last. Try and run it when it’s cooler out, because there’s a lot of climbing, which can be tough in the heat, just like the Pyrenees, or the Alps.

What is it? The Umstead Steeplechase combines a few well traveled trails at Umstead Park, and one that is often skipped, due to its water crossing, Cedar Ridge. This one will test your climbing, and your willingess to get wet.

Where do I park? There is a parking lot off the side of the road on Ebenezer Church Road. If you type in 4800 Ebenezer Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27612, that will get you pretty close.

There should be plenty of cars to guide you.

Where do I start? Walk through the opening trail along side the road, take a left onto the Turkey Creek Trail and get started!

You’ll see the trail opening near the No Parking signs

The Start/Finish Line between the trees. Make sure and go left off the trail to start! You’ll be running a big loop.

Where do I turn once I’ve started? This is important! Coming from the road, you’ll take a left onto the trail and head up Turkey Creek for a slow 1.5 miles or so up. Once you come to the Reedy Creek Trail junction, bear to the right. It should be pretty obvious. You’ll then go down Reedy Creek, and the home of the original Sir Walter Running Strava Challenge Downhill Mile. From the bridge at the bottom of the hill, you’ll then go up .75 miles or so then take a RIGHT on the Cedar Ridge Trail. Don’t miss this! You’ll then travel until you hit the water crossing. After that, you’ll turn right and head up Turkey Creek to the finish!

Print this if you have to

What about the Steeplechase part? At almost the end of the run, you’ll see a water crossing. There is a line of rocks to cross and stay dry, or you can go straight through the water to save time, steeplechase style! Just be careful! If there’s a big rain in Raleigh, maybe wait a day or two.

Is there a King of the Mountain segment at the end? Of course! Uncle Ebenezer starts at the end of the bridge (where you see the Sir Walter Miler sticker on the sign), and goes to the finish. It’s 250 meters or so of pure pain, because Umstead makes Champions! Top Men’s and Women’s times will get their choice of Sir Walter related shirt in the Merch Store, and bragging rights. Segment info is here (and below).

Where do I finish? Back where you started. Between the 2 trees at the break in the woods to the parking lot. We’ve etched a start/finish line in the gravel, so after you finish, maybe help etch it out for the rest of the Challengers?

Where will I see the standings? Below! Also, if you haven’t already, visit the Sir Walter Running Strava Club page (make sure and join, so that your marks count).

What do I win? Again, we will have a random drawing for 2 postrun polos next Tuesday for ANYONE that completes this Challenge before Monday, July 23 at Midnight.

Tour de Walter? This is the 3rd of a 4 segment Challenge called the Tour de Walter, in honor of the Tour de France. Everyone that competes all 4 segments will get a Tour de Walter tank top, and the Male and Female with the lowest overall times will get a pair of the Runologie x Sir Walter Miler goodr sunglasses that commemorate Sir Walter Miler 5! (now in stock at Runologie)!

Check out the Summer of Miles podcast for the latest on the Tour de Walter!

The Official Umstead Steeplechase segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/18251615

The Official “King of the Mountain” segment – Uncle Ebenezer: https://www.strava.com/segments/18251618

Mt. Greenway Recap & Cumulative Results

The random drawing winners are Justin Aday and Alicia Bader! Pump Station Hill King and Queen of the Mountain are Spencer Husen and Colleen McCarthy. Please email us to claim your prizes. Current Yellow Jerseys are Matthew Staehle and Laura Berry!

Men’s Mt. Greenway Results

Women’s Mt. Greenway Results

Men’s Cumulative

Women’s Cumulative

Have questions? Let us know: SirWalterRunning@gmail.com

So you like Strava Challenges? We have another for you! If you haven’t already, join the Sir Walter Running Strava club! You can even go to SirWalterStrava.com and it will forward you to the right place.

The Tour de Walter is off and running with the first leg in the can. Thanks to everyone that completed the Mid Pines Barn Run last week. The Overall Tour Standings are at the bottom of this page. Now, for the Mt. Greenway Challenge!

What is it? Mt. Greenway is a section of the Crabtree Creek Greenway that connects to Anderson Point Park, which lands you at about Mile 16 of the Neuse River Trail. It is an out and back that starts at Raleigh Boulevard and turns back around at Milburnie Road. The out and back is around 4.5-4.6 miles, with a big ole hill about halfway in. Apparently it’s called Pump Station Hill. You’ll know it when you see it! It’s a bruiser.

Where do I park? The easiest thing to do is put 2311 Crabtree Boulevard, Raleigh, NC 27604 into your GPS and park in the gravel lot on Crabtree Boulevard. To get to the start, look out from the parking lot towards the street and you’ll go right up to the intersection of Crabtree Boulevard and Raleigh Boulevard, which is the entrance to the greenway.

Park here, then go right

Where is the start? You will start at the yellow post on the greenway on Raleigh Boulevard. This is where Crabtree Boulevard runs into Raleigh Boulevard.

Look to the right at the light

Start at the yellow post

Is there a special King of the Mountain segment in the middle? Yes. Right after you pass Crabtree Park, you’ll go around the bend and will see a hill on your right. Pick it up at the telephone pole and put in a good 350 meter effort or so. You’ll go up, it will flatten a little, then you’ll go up again. You’ll see the final tree at the crest of the hill, where you will know you’re done. Top Men’s and Women’s times here will get their choice of Sir Walter related shirt in the Merch Store, and bragging rights. Segment info is here (and below).

Start at the Telephone Pole

When you see this, GO!

Finish at the tree at the crest of the 2nd hill, about .2 miles up

Where do I turn around? At Milburnie Road, approximately 2.25-2.3 miles in, you’ll run around the yellow post and head back to where you started.

Where do I finish:? Back where you started! Once you hit Raleigh Boulevard, you’re done. Walk back down Crabtree Boulevard to the parking lot, or…

Go eat afterwards! At the Gateway, of course. Lots of exciting things happening in that closeby shopping center, with the Gateway being the anchor. Tell Martina you ran Mt. Greenway and maybe she’ll give you an extra piece of bacon, or bread.

Where will I see the standings? Below! Also, if you haven’t already, visit the Sir Walter Running Strava Club page (make sure and join, so that your marks count).

What do I win? Again, we will have a random drawing for 2 Summer of Miles tank tops next Tuesday for ANYONE that completes this Challenge before Monday, July 16 at Midnight.

Tour de Walter? This is the 2nd of a 4 segment Challenge called the Tour de Walter, in honor of the Tour de France. Everyone that competes all 4 segments will get a Tour de Walter tank top, and the Male and Female with the lowest overall times will get a pair of the Runologie x Sir Walter Miler goodr sunglasses that commemorate Sir Walter Miler 5! (now in stock at Runologie)!

Check out the Summer of Miles podcast for the latest on the Tour de Walter!

The Official Mt. Greenway Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/18186349

The Official “King of the Mountain” Pump Station Hill Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/18186356

Mid Pines Barn Run Recap

Big thanks to everyone that completed the Mid Pines Barn Run. Certainly our biggest Strava Challenge ever! The Yellow Jerseys came out of the last day with Alan Freeman sneaking past Spencer Husen with a time of 15:07, and Laura Berry blasting the field in 16:29! Tank Top Winners were Samuel Bryan and Cheryl Boylan. These were done via Random Number Generator. Please email us and we’ll get you your tanks!

Men’s Standings after Mid Pines

Women’s Standings after Mid Pines

Have questions? Let us know: SirWalterRunning@gmail.com

So you like Strava Challenges? We have another for you! If you haven’t already, join the Sir Walter Running Strava club! You can even go to SirWalterStrava.com and it will forward you to the right place.

The 2018 Pop Up Miles Season is over and the Strava Challenge Season has just begun! We’ll announce a Strava Challenge every Tuesday (or maybe Monday night), and it will run through the following Monday at Midnight. All of these are in celebration of the 2018 Sir Walter Miler, which will be held Friday, August 3rd at Meredith College. We’ll talk about these Strava Challenges of upcoming episodes of the Summer of Miles podcast, so make sure and subscribe!

What is it? The Mid Pines Barn Run, an out and back 2.5 mile jaunt over a gravel road in the heart of farm country.

Where is it? Mid Pines Road, which connects Lake Wheeler Road and Tryon Road. To set your GPS to the start, put in 5312 Mid Pines Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603. You can park on the side of the road, and you will start (and finish) where the gravel meets the asphalt.

Where is the start (and where do I run)? Once you park (see below), you will start like the photo above and go out for about 1.25 miles. You’ll pass a few State-run, and NC State-run farms (and some livestock). The surface is crush and run; so it’s soft, but a little rocky.

Where do I turn around? After you go up a hill, you will see a few traffic signs near Lake Wheeler Road. Turn around at the 2nd sign, which is a square, not the pole with 2 signs. See below. We may throw a few Sir Walter stickets on the back (facing you as you approach).

Where do I finish:? Back where you started! Once you’ve hit the asphalt, you’ve done it! Pat yourself on the back.

When should I run? We recommend Sunset, but anytime is a good time for a run. Be careful in the heat!

Where will I see the standings? We’ll update them weekly on the Sir Walter Running Strava Club page (make sure and join, so that your marks count), as well as on the next week’s Strava Challenge page.

What do I win? We will have a random drawing for 2 Summer of Miles tank tops next Tuesday for ANYONE that completes this Challenge. before Monday, July 9 at Midnight. Also, anyone who completes this Challenge can email us for a code for a $25 postrun polo! Learn more about them below and check out the available colors and sizes in the Sir Walter Merch store.

Tour de Walter? Yes. This is the first of a 4 segment Challenge called the Tour de Walter, in honor of the Tour de France. Everyone that competes all 4 segments will get a Tour de Walter tank top, and the Male and Female with the lowest overall times will get a pair of the Runologie x Sir Walter Miler goodr sunglasses that commemorate Sir Walter Miler 5! (now in stock at Runologie)!

The Official Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/18121643

Have questions? Let us know: SirWalterRunning@gmail.com