I'm sitting at my desk right now with my legs completely scratched still from Saturday's run with the Frozen Head Ultra Camp (FHUC) Wise Owl Races just hosted. And I'm already ready to go back and hit another climb up Chimney Top with these new friends.
The Holy Land
I've been to this state park over the years, but I've never experienced it like I did this past weekend when we were able to show off some of what we love about it. Seeing it through the lens of someone else was really a new way to see the place. Stephen mentioned this in another article recently, but some folks critique Frozen Head for having lots of climbing with no payoffs and no splendid views... and I honestly think they're partly right. But that's not why I dig this place and I don't think that's why our new friends came either.
Frozen Head is like the holy land to me. I was introduced to the Barkley Marathons documentary when I was new to trail running and this place immediately earned my respect. When I first completed the Barkley Challenge Loop a few years ago, I knew I had completed the hardest challenge I had seen. I even signed up for the Barkley Fall Classic in 2025 and it remains my only DNF on the books. Returning to Frozen Head since reminds me of that race with every familiar turn we take and every tree I remember leaning on. Some of the most special moments of FHUC to me were hearing our participants talk about how the Barkley Marathons held the same inspiration to them and helping them experience these climbs and descents for the first time. I remember some saying that they'd wanted to come to Frozen Head before but would never have done this without a guide or group around them... and I'm stoked I can be that guy now and the Wise Owl crew can be that group.
The Big Run
The big run of FHUC weekend was Saturday. We rolled up to the Frozen Head visitor center and went off in a couple groups, which ultimately ended in 3 groups hitting different routes and distances. That's one really cool thing about this state park: the trails connect in so many ways, you can be somewhat custom with your distance and route. But every route has some pretty gnarly climbing and descending of sorts. The group I led completed 20 miles with 4 of us collectively, with one person having that as their longest run ever... crazy. The last 5 miles included some pretty overgrown sections, none of which we were stoked about. Following the Cumberland Trail blazes around the Ross Gap trail area took us through some rough patches, but I think we all look back on it pretty fondly. Those kinds of trails aren't much fun when you're in the moment, but as soon as you end your workout on your watch, you realize how proud you are of yourself for what you've just completed. And to do that with people who traveled from all over the Southeast US to do this crazy weekend with us, I was even more proud of us all.
The entire weekend was something to look back and smile about. The stories around the campfire. Swimming around waterfalls. Creeping around a literal den of snakes.
The end of the day: Highs and Lows
We ended each day in the sauna where each person spoke aloud their "highs and lows" from the day. This will continue to be a tradition. Most of the highs shared were about overcoming the day and meeting new friends and mine were similar. But honestly I think the Wise Owl dudes were even more grateful for these seemingly random people who signed up for this excursion of a weekend and actually showing up.
So I'll end this wondering train of thought with my highs and lows.
My high today looking back is that this new venture for Stephen and I called Wise Owl Races is really starting to feel like a community. I'm genuinely grateful people joined us and trusted us to help with some of their last big runs before some gnarly races they're training for. Thank you for trusting us and we cannot wait to see you succeed in whatever that looks like.
My low is that I'm sitting at my desk when now when I can see my running vest hanging and I'm inspired to put it back on and get after it. Not much of a low because that'll be this afternoon...
