probably scarred for life ...

I tangled with a tree branch, and picked up a nice scratch that reminds me of the Brooks logo.

Brooks should sponsor me, maybe? New Cascadias perhaps?

Appalachian Trail

It's hard to believe it took until May to get out on the Appalachian Trail for the first time in 2013 ... I got out there on the section near Boonsboro, MD this morning for a short run out to the scenic overlook that is pictured in my profile for this blog.  Here is a selfie from this morning.

I headed out early because I had a feeling it was going to get hot today.  Wrong!  It was overcast the whole time.  In fact it rained a bit.  The trail was in great shape - there is still a a fair amount of crushed leaves on the trail,  making what can be a pretty rocky trail a bit softer in places.  The climbing was tough though - I've got a lot of work to do.

2013 Adventure Run - Pimmit Run, and Potomac Heritage Trail

Yesterday was a good day for a little trail adventure run with some friends.We met up at my house at 8:30, checked our laces and headed out the door.  Our plan was to follow Pimmit Run to where it ends near the Chain Bridge, and then run along the Potomac Heritage trail to Rosslyn.  We stayed on plan pretty well.

2013 Adventure Run #1 - the plan

We've had quite a bit of rain, but the trail along Pimmit Run at the beginning was in pretty good shape.  Beginning somewhere around the Potomac School, the trail became hard to follow - it pretty much comes down to "the creek is running that direction, let's keep following it".  In running terms, it was slow going ...  Jim took this picture near where we crossed Kirby Road.  From the left that's Mark, Erik, Jim (with the camera) and me.

near Kirby Road

Once we made it to Chain Bridge, it was clear that the Potomac had quite a bit of water running down it.  The Potomac Heritage trail had some underwater segments, pushing us further up the bank into more rocks and brush than usual.  The first mile heading southeast from Chain Bridge was a pretty rugged rock crawl.  We pressed on through pretty much without incident or injuries.

Getting into Rosslyn, my Garmin indicated we covered 10+ miles, though the map indicates it was a little shorter.  I think some of the difference comes from all the zig-zagging we did on parts of the trail trying to find the best way forward at times.  In Rosslyn, we wound up taking the metro two stops up to Clarendon for a nice, late lunch at the Northside Social Club, then the metro (and a two-mile jog) back to my house.  Here is the group near the end of the adventure.

survivors

It's always a pleasant surprise to be reminded there are running adventures that can begin practically from my door-step, even though I'm inside the beltway in the country's capital city.  I'm glad the guys came out to run today!