Hiking 4:11:03 [3] 13.0 mi (19:19 / mi) +1400ft 17:31 / mi
shoes: MPMW15:w
Patuxent
This was the 2nd of 3 three hikes I am doing in preparation for the 25K Green Monster Trail Challenge in October.
I hiked the same route today as I did back in April when I was preparing for the HVTC. The route was exactly as I remembered it being. There were more spider webs and fewer buzzing insects that there were in the April. I'm not sure which I prefer. Most of the webs and insects were encountered in the first three miles of hike which took place in the southern most portion of the park.
I stretched for about 15 minutes before I stepped off. I think that helped.
I was feeling a very slight amount of pain in my left thigh which I had also been feeling earlier in the week when bicycling and walking.
There was an orienteering meet today but Lake Accotink is not my favorite park and I really needed to get in a hike this weekend. The climb at Patuxent is only about a third of what it will be at the GMTC but it still helps to get in the habit of walking a similar distance if only to remind myself of what it feels like.