To be epic or not to be epic, that is the question

When I came across the website for the Thursday Evening Epic Runs the first thing I thought was, "I'm doing that!!" But the second thing I thought, "Are these really epic runs?" I mean, that is a bold statement, "Epic." It is a word that I do not use lightly. So, I began to make a mental list of ways for a run to be "epic." This list included,
1. Be stalked by a grizzly, that then leads to a chase. After becoming cornered, I am forced to a grappling fight to the death, where I reluctantly, but honorably finish the bear.
2. Fall into a steep canyon, where I manage to break my fall by the rushing, ice cold river where I am then thrown off a waterfall. I save myself from being crushed on the rocks below by catching an over-hanging branch with one arm. While my wet hands nearly slip, I manage to throw myself to land.
3. After a fellow runner falls from a cliff, I perform emergency first aid, innate skills that I never knew I possessed, but the intense situation spontaneously developed.
4. Aliens.
(funny how most of my situations entailed me becoming a supernatural hero...no, I'm not narcissistic at all!).

Well, let's start with the description of the group:

The Epic Concept

The Thursday Evening Epic events are non-competitive, adventurous training runs HELD YEAR ROUND on and off trails in southcentral Alaska. Generally these events are of 2 to 4 hours duration. Participants are expected to be capable of surviving the difficult conditions present, which often include, but are not limited to, rugged terrain, nearly impenetrable vegetation, severe weather, uncertain routes.... Participants and leaders MUST BE SELF SUFFICIENT. If adversity happens, participants and leaders MUST BE COMMITTED TO SELF RESCUE.

Hmm, not a bad start for an epic run. But concepts can be very different from reality. What will the run actually be like? Here is the description of the run:

On Bird Flew

We will start on the Bird Ridge Trail but will quickly diverge on hobbit paths leading to the McHugh Falls environs. From there our route will proceed to a steep, prickly, rock scramble up to Bird Ridge. The route finishes via the Bird Ridge Trail. This is one of the classics in the Epic route lexicon.

OK, enough prelude, onto the actual run. As the description outlines, we began on the trail, but quickly cut off. This "hobbit path" consisted of what appeared to possibly be a game path at one time, but has since totally overgrown. Or, maybe hobbits are 2foot tall creatures, in which case, it was still overgrown. Soon we ran past what appeared to be fresh bear scat right in the middle of the "path." That's when I knew this would be interesting. We made our way over to a spot overlooking the falls down in a steep ravine (two of the runners went down to the pool and reported about 10 massive silvers (a type of salmon) hanging out, unable to make it up the falls, aka bear buffet). It was now time for up. Heading up to the ridge the path was very clear, go up. We started on soccer ball size rubble, this became thick wild roses (which are much more pretty when you don't have to run through them), then more rock rubble, then 3rd class rock climbing, then jungle-gymes of alder, then repeat. Finally, after over 2.5hrs, we broke above tree-line, then a relatively short, steep scramble to the ridge. The views were incredible!! The amazing part was that what took over 2.5 hrs to get up, took a mere 1/2 hr of constant, steep, thigh burning, knee crushing, pounding down the ridge line.

OK, OK, was it an epic run?!? Well, it wasn't much of a "run." We jogged through the valley in the beggining, ducking under branches and climbing through downed logs. But, once we started heading up, it was more of a fast hike. It was so steep and the rock so loose that travel was not fast. The downhill, well that was running (and my thighs are "loving" that today!). Ok, so it was a "run." Now for the major question. We were definitely in bear country, but no bears sited. I would say there was no trail, just a matter of knowing a direction and getting there as fast as you can. The uphill was, well steep. It was definitely an adventure finding the least ridiculous route up. It was awazing to turn around and everything think, "WOW!" Finally, the view from the ridge line was fantastic. I'm not going to split straws here. My life was never in danger, but I have never been on a "run" like that, so yea, I'd say it was epic. Can't wait until next Thursday's run!

Thursday Evening Epic Runs