Great Outdoor Blog

Stop by and check out the new Vibram FiveFingers, NOW in ALL of our shops!

barefooting (bare•foot•n) n. 1. The exhilarating joy of going barefoot without leaving yourself exposed; 2. any activity requiring unconventional footwear offering the protection of a thin, flexible Vibram skin; 3. an intelligent way to deepen your connection with your natural surroundings.

M’s & W’s FiveFingers Sprint: Hook and loop closures along the heel and instep provide a comfortable secure fit. A thin, abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric fits low on the foot—for comfort and quick drying. A flexible, non-marking TC1 performance rubber sole is razor siped to enhance grip over a variety of terrain.

SPRINT IS BEST FOR: Light Trekking, Bouldering, Pose Method Running, ChiRunning, Fitness Training, Yoga, Pilates, Sailing, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Surfing, Windsurfing, Flats Fishing, Travel

$80

The 4th Annual Krispy Kreme Challenge was held this past Saturday to raise money for NC Children’s Hospital. Over 3000 runners gathered at the NCSU Belltower to take the challenge:

1) Run 2 miles from the NC State Belltower to the Krispy Kreme on Peace Street

2) Eat 1 dozen donuts

3) Run 2 miles back to the Belltower

4) Do all this in under one hour

» Read Joe Miller’s account from the News & Observer

CHARLOTTE SHOP 7-8pm

Led by Doug Gray. Imagine mountain biking, trail running, climbing, or paddling wth 2-4 friends through any terrain, any climate, anywhere in the world… Come learn some skills and review an outline that will help you be well prepared for any local event.

Also, check out the 4 hour or 7 hour adventure race at the US National Whitewater Center on Sat, Oct 13 http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1469423 or the Uwarrie Gold Nugget on Saturday, Oct 6 http://www.gobushwhack.com

See you on the trails…

PICS are up (more soon) on FLICKR

UPDATE 9.6.07 : Chuck interviewed for Joe Miller’s BLOG

The last time I ran at 3am was the night before my wedding. And that run was not by choice. This time I actually volunteered…and my wife of 20+ years is cheering me on. I’ll be with a team of veteran “night runners” as we embark on the Blue Ridge Relay, one of the longest running relay races in the United States. The course takes a windy mountainous route thru the Blue Ridge as it makes the 208-mile journey from Grayson Highlands, VA to Asheville, NC. www.blueridgerelay.com

PHOTO: Leg 12 - About 45 miles into the 208 mile Blue Ridge Relay (huff, huff) just north of Blowing Rock on the BR Parkway

I scouted “Leg 12″ this past weekend. The course description labels it: “Very Hard”. It is. Yet not nearly what my friend, teammate and our team Captain Jim has assigned to himself in “Leg 32″ - “Mountain Goat Hard”. Endurance runs have a way of bringing out the best. Jim is among them. And as “Hood to Coast” veteran Tara Ruotolo says, “It takes a certain kind of person who wants to run through the night, and after 30 hours together you know who you can be lifelong friends with.” I look forward to both the miles and the memories.

The challenge and fun of single track trail runs takes on a new dimension with the GoLite Trail Fly and Sun Dragon. Protection and superb traction are the dimensions that shine above all. The shoe’s outsole adapts to rugged terrain using “trail-claws” that improve stability and performance. I found the “grip-stick” claws excellent For hill climbs up wet terrain. The trail-claw footbed works well to provide great displacement over uneven terrain and improves confidence for downhill plunges over mid-sized scree (golfball to baseball size). The mesh upper has been very comfortable on these hot days. Great addition to the trail.

• Trail Fly : $110
• Sun Dragon : $95

CHAD’S REVIEW: Originally a mountaineering boot and rock climbing shoe company, La Sportiva has been stepping up to the plate with it’s mountain running division over the past few years. The latest installment, The Fireblade, is no exception.

When I first received my pair you can’t help but notice the color. Bright orange. (You Longhorn and UT fans are in for a treat!) Once on, the Fireblades feel super light (12.1oz) and fit a narrow to medium width foot very well. The mesh sides let your feet breath on those hot and humid days, while the stretchy mesh tongue guard does a great job of keeping dirt and trail debris out.

The only thing I found about these shoes that I didn’t like was the insole. I switched mine out for my Superfeet and didn’t have any problems afterward.

Hands down this is one of the lightest and most comfortable trail running shoes I have run in. Come by one of our shops and give’em a try, you won’t be disappointed.

$90

CHUCK’S REVIEW: The FIREBLADE is a terrific trail running shoe. I began running in La Sportiva on March 12 at this year’s Umstead Trail Marathon. Last time I wore a pair of La Sportiva I was climbing in the Tetons. What these folks learned from technical climbing shoes has been applied with precision to their trail running collection.

I literally opened the box on Friday and ran the 26.2 the next day. Not exactly what I’d normally recommend but in this specific case, the La Sportiva shoes were so comfortable, it worked out. Race day was very comfortable on both Umstead’s single track and bridal trails. The midsole construction of the FIREBLADE will remind you of your favorite road shoes. The well constructed footbed is thin, compared to other trail runners, but I found the protection more than adequate. I prefer a minimalist, low to the ground shoe and yet my 45+ muscle/joints do have expectations. La Sportiva met those expectations. Particularly the sticky rubber outsole that saved me from several face plants as I scrambled up thru the switchbacks on the Sycamore section. Reminded me as to why I picked La Sportiva when climbing in the Tetons.

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let everyone know that Great Outdoor Provision Co. is expanding its Trail running selection.

All of our stores carry great trail runners, but our Cameron Village, Greenville, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston Salem stores have been working extra hard to offer you shoes not available in all of our stores. We want to be your Trail Running Headquarters!

Here are some of the brands you can find at the above stores:

• Montrail
• Go Lite
• Inov8
• Salomon
• Vasque
• The North Face
• Coming This May….La Sportiva!!

Come check us out and let us know what you think!

See you on the trail!

Chad (Footwear Buyer)

Daniel has completed 3 pieces devoted to the E50 race in Greensboro with Dean Karnazes. Chuck, Ryan & Scott hit the trail with the GOPC camera…

This first section deals with prerace goings on…

(more…)

1.7.07 UPDATE: Videos are now up

» Follow his Journey!

Dean Karnazes set out on his journey to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. This “test of human fortitude” began in St. Louis, Missouri and concluded in New York’s Central Park on November 5th when Dean clocked in a 3 hour marathon to wrap up this amazing feat. On October 31st, three of us from GOPC ran with Dean as he completed #45 on the Triple Lakes Trail in Greensboro, NC.