Cumberland Blues Course

  • 31.3 miles total
  • Open Water Swim 5.2 miles
  • Trail Run 20.8 miles
  • Road Bike 5.3 miles


I started the day at Suck Creek boat ramp. It was an awesome misty morning and super quiet on the water. Throughout my swim I got to see some deer, Peregrines, and a Blue Heron. I only saw one boat pass me by the entire swim. I pulled up to the Pot House shore line about 3 hours after I jumped in at the start. It had started to drizzle as I gathered and reorganized my gear from swim to run. I left the Pot House and headed up the Ritchie Hollow trail. This is a steep trail cutting up the side of the mountain. I stopped about half-way up the hill at a waterfall to fill up my soft flasks full of nutrition. After the pit stop, I continued up the hill and jumped on the Cumberland Trail heading Northeast. This section of the CT is pretty smooth and flowy, you can keep a solid pace for several miles. There are lots of cool overlooks to stop at and take in the view for a minute. About 11.5 miles into the run you cross Suck Creek Road, leaving Prentice Cooper and starting up Signal Mtn. Before heading up Signal I decided it was a good time to take a swim and refill nutrition in Suck Creek. Great way to take a break and recharge for the “back 9” I call it. Refreshed and fueled I make my way to Mushroom Rock. This part of the CT gets chunky and technical in spots, with a challenging climb up to the mushroom. Once on top, the trail flows all the way to Edwards Point. This is another cool overlook showcasing all the miles you’ve put in so far. From here its a technical push down into the Middle Creek Gorge. Lots of boulder hopping and hard to run much of this section. Cross the suspension bridge and stay on CT heading towards Signal Point. It was super hard to run any of this 1.4 mile segment from Middle Creek to Signal Point trailhead. Catching the last view at SP, this marks the end of the singletrack trailrunning and starts the short, roadrun portion to Mayfly Coffee Shop where my bike was parked. I grabbed the bike and blazed down Taft Hwy, onto Suck Creek Road, and finished back at the boat ramp. This course and the weather of the day was awesome! Scenic, Quiet, and challenging. Alternate finish is scrambling down Middle Creek. Its the most direct way down the mountain while staying in the woods. I’ll try for it when the creatures take a nap for the season.

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