Running (Trail) 49:00 [3] 5.48 mi (8:57 / mi)
slept:7.5 weight:177.5lbs
Washington, D.C.: From the intersection of Nebraska Ave. NW and Oregon Ave. NW, into Rock Creek Park, following mostly the Western Ridge Trail to Blagden Rd. then onto the Theodore Roosevelt Trail to the Valley Trail to Beach Dr. via the Rolling Meadow Bridge, to Nebraska Ave. NW via the paved trail along Bingham Dr. NW. This is a very hill route. The Western Ridge Trail goes up and down a lot before dropping a good bit to the valley at Bladgen Rd. There were many rutted sections where the trail was covered with wet leaves. The section of the not necessarily properly named Valley Trail that I ran heading back is a good candidate for the toughest trail in the park. It never climbs very far out of the valley but continually goes up and down steeply. Fortunately, there were fewer wet leaves covering it but there were plenty of tree roots and rocks sticking out. In years past, I was able to keep pace with slower runners below (on the smooth, straight, but gradually climbing Beach Dr.) but not today. Since it was about 52F when I started, I ran in shorts and a long sleeve shirt.