From the Glenmont Metro Station, Georgia Ave. north to the Matthew Henson Trail, to the Rock Creek Trail, to Cedar Ln. to Rockville Pike, to Commerce La. to the Bethesda Metro Station. I had intended to ride my bike today but with heavy rain predicted at 100% chance, morning and evening along with winds, I thought it better to take my chances running. Like last Saturday that had a 0% chance of rain and it rained the forecasters were wrong. It didn't rain all day until it was time to start running and even then it didn't rain much. It took me until 6:30pm to get underway. Like Monday, I ran with my wallet, keys and other essentials in my hands because I forgot to bring a belt--the items were wrapped in plastic and I had to keep switching hands every couple of miles. Though the net effect was neutral, most of the run was downhill--climbs came at the end.
Leaving the station there were gentle slopes getting to a valley and the trailhead. The new
Matthew Henson Trail is in a very narrow Maryland state park and like most other county parks in the area, it follows a stream valley. It was a nice enough mostly paved trail with a few small rises, tree cover along most of it, and a few nice boulders just off trail. It follows Turkey Branch which empties into Rock Creek. A portion is so narrow that it's right along a residential road. It went under Connecticut Ave. but I had to cross Viers Mill Rd. near the end. I was weak from the beginning. The humidity was at 100% but fortunately temperatures were only in the low 80s F. I ran easy to conserve strength and my right leg hurt a little for a few miles. Once in the Rock Creek valley, the rain had stopped. I also stopped at all water fountains and at a few road intersections for traffic. I wasn't looking forward to climbing out of the valley but it wasn't bad at all. Sunlight started breaking through and I could feel my sweat finally cooling me--the humidity was lifting. Changing the music in my head to
I Can See for Miles by The Who (it was a concious choice to change the music but an unconcious selection--I thought it was another Who song until I got past the intro) may have gotten me going better too. A guy coming the opposite direction on Cedar Ln. turned my way on Rockville Pike and I paced behind him, gaining. He was probably headed to near where I used to live since he turned off on Rosedale Ave. This was probably the slowest 10 miles on this kind of terrain that I can remember ever doing but it was good for me mentally.