The Long Run: Where Do Watauga Runners Prefer to Get Their Mileage?

A view of the wooded mountains from the Mountains-To-Sea trail. The trail stretches more than 1000 miles and connects the Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks  Photo Cred: Elliott Taft

Isaac James, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

Many distance runners have somewhat of a love-hate relationship with the weekend long run. Let’s face it, waking up on Saturday after a long week of school and deciding to spend your morning running isn’t the easiest decision. Whether you love or hate it, though, there's no denying the utility of long runs in building fitness for competition, especially throughout the cross country season. Fortunately for Watauga runners, the mountains are home to numerous beautiful long run spots that could compel even the least enthusiastic of runners to step out the door and lace up their shoes. 

“My favorite place to go on a long run is the New River Trail in Fries, Virginia,” said Zeke Walker, Watauga XC captain and senior. “It’s completely flat, crushed gravel, just the nicest soft surface ever. It’s by an old railroad bed and river. It’s absolutely beautiful. I’ve had a couple of the best runs of my life there.”

There’s no denying that traveling out of town can provide you with a uniquely fun running experience in an unfamiliar place. Even still, you don't need to travel far for a great run. If you want a great place to get both your hills and your distance, you only have to go as far as Blowing Rock. 

“I would have to choose Bass Lake [as my favorite spot],” said Sean Rea, Watauga XC freshman. “If you go up to the fire tower the short way, it's about 4 miles. Then you come back down and go the longer way which is about 6 miles, so you can get 10 miles total. It’s a beautiful run with the view of the lake and Cone Manor.”

Trails like the Bass Lake to Fire Tower route are the preferred destinations for many when choosing where to have their long run. Trail running provides a unique opportunity to explore the more technical side of running. Combine that with the beautiful wooded scenery on most trails, and it’s no wonder that Watauga County’s runners flock to these sites when they need to get their mileage. 

“My favorite long run spot is the Mountains-to-Sea trail,” said Calvin Zwetsloot, Watauga XC senior. “I especially like the part that connects to Goshen Creek and goes all the way up to the Blue Ridge Parkway.” 

Although it’s nice to take the established routes, not all long runs have to necessarily follow a marked trail. It’s always nice to lose the crowds, and there’s a sense of excitement that comes with going off the beaten path and making your own improvised route to run on. 

“I like to do my long runs starting on top of Howard’s Knob,” said Holden Womack, Watauga XC senior. “I run out the road towards Snake Mountain, and I like it because there's never anything but a few cars, and you get this beautiful view towards Elk Knob.” 

Runners in Watauga are fortunate enough to have no shortage of long run spots in the area, but what makes going on these long runs so important? For competitive runners it’s all about building fitness and endurance so you can run faster, for longer. 

“Long runs are an important way to really build endurance,” said Elliott Taft, Watauga XC captain and senior. “Long runs help you get a lot of mileage to perform well and build a base for running. Long runs are also just a great way to take a breath and stay at an easy pace while you explore fun routes. They really help me enjoy running.”