Charlottesville’s Rivanna Trail and the importance of an established FKT

Circling Charlottesville is the Rivanna Trail (RT), a mostly rustic, sequence of single track trail linkages meandering around the City through public space and land easements.  In addition to carving through actual woods, hillsides and City parks, the RT cuts across and under roads, through streams and sometimes skirting backyards along the borders of residential neighborhoods while in the process totaling 19.55 miles.  There are various spurs off the trail- adding optional bonus miles- but one thing remains constant: the loop itself.

The RT in green.

One can download a much cleaner, more detailed PDF map of the RT here.

When I am on the RT or view a map of the trail I do not simply see dirt beneath my feet or a green plotted line compassing a digitized City landscape.  I see a golden halo.  A crown jewel.  I see a City resource that is far from reaching its potential yet, in its current form, a treasure worth celebrating.  What better way to come to know a community or experience surrounding nature than on foot?  In Charlottesville, one can do both on passage of the RT.

To my knowledge there is no established Fastest Known Time (FKT) speed record for the RT.  I find this odd considering the fact that Charlottesville has something of a reputation for being a runner's town.  The time is nigh for this to change.  The following is my argument for why an established FKT is a good thing for the RT and for the Charlottesville running community at large.

On the RT Foundation website one can read that in part its basic mission is to “provide trail enjoyment opportunities for citizens of all abilities.”  Though the RT Foundation’s website does not specifically spell it out one can infer that the members of the RT Foundation, its volunteers, etc., work very hard as individuals and in collaboration to create awareness for the trail.  Awareness encourages use, which promotes volunteerism, which provides sustainability, and on and on.  I am of the opinion that simply by using the gifts we trail runners’ have- running and sometimes running fast- we can create awareness for a cause.  True indeed, running the RT for an FKT is an exercise in self-enjoyment but to do so in an inspiring or popular manner might create energy, a buzz even, within the running community and one that might draw positive awareness to the RT itself.

I have decided that since I cannot find record of a RT FKT I will set about the business of constructing one.   I don’t know when I will do it but hopefully it will be on a dry weekend some time before winter's end.  Once I do it I will make a public statement on this blog and my reward will be me actually making a donation to the RT Foundation.  Also, once the FKT is set I will challenge other area runners- mostly, just peeps I know- to best it (which probably won’t be that hard!).  My reward to the first person who beats it will be a pizza and pitcher of beer dinner at a local joint of their choosing, plus another donation to the RT Foundation in their name.  Then, if another person comes along and beats their record perhaps that individual might be so generous as to pay the reward forward.  The basic premise is simple and at this point this is all just in my head but who knows... Perhaps it might grow wheels and have something of positive spiraling affect on friendly, local competition, as well as help to create awareness and meager donations for the RT.

So what the hell, this weekend you can find me out on the RT scouting turns and what not in the hopes of one day establishing an FKT for all runners to then challenge.

Lastly, a few housecleaning items:

1. UTMB.  What else can I say other than I am thrilled to be in.  My registration is set, accommodations are booked and I'm ready to soak up some French summertime mountain culture and experience international ultra mountain running competition to its fullest this August in Chamonix.

2. Literally, this is a housecleaning action item.  Take my shoes.  Please.  I have a brand new pair of Scott eRides, size 12 that are badass but unfortunately not for me.  I ran once in them for 10 miles on trails and realized that the heal lifts up a bit too much for my liking.  On a positive note, the shoes are light, offer good traction and I still have the box they came in.  : )  Be the first to email me your name and address and I will snail mail them to you, free of charge.  In fairness, the shoes were free for me (I won them recently during a raffle at Andy's Unbreakable movie thingy) and I would feel most comfortable if a deserving trail runner (one living under a family budget or one with not so much extra cash lying around) takes them on.  Picture below.

Scott eRides, size 12.