Time: 49:18
Distance: 7 mi.
Start of a down week... ran after work with Colin. Nice to take an easier day, as I was pretty tired from a big running / little sleeping weekend. Easy loop just a bit up the Valley Trail and then back on Beach Drive. Calf feels almost back to normal and the rest of the body feels good.
Time: 95:00
Distance: 14 mi.
Map
Big day... the return of the mid-week medium-long run, the completion of the RCP Superloop, and new shoes (though for the record "buying shoes" for "full price" sucks).
RCP Superloop: connects the Western Ridge Trail and the Valley Trail making for 12 miles of trails on a 14 mile run. Most of it is pretty good except the southern section of the Valley Trail which is very technical (thus slow and prone to ankle-turning). The map provides a good idea of approximately where the trail goes, but is easily almost 2 miles short because of how much it oversimplifies.
Nike Air Max Moto+ 5
New Shoes: couldn't wait any longer, so I picked up a new pair of trainers at Fleet Feet in DC (owned by Mayor Fenty's family, incidentally). They didn't have a great selection, including no Elites, so I went with the Air Max Moto+ 5. They seem pretty good so far, but the cushioning is a little bit sloppy... I guess I'm used to a bit of a stiffer shoe. The upper fits very well, though.
Legs feel a little bit better, but it'll be a few days before they've really recovered from the dead shoes, I'm sure.
Time: 82:00
Distance: 12 mi.
Beach Drive
Headed out Piney Branch to Park Rd. and got up on the Valley Trail. Took that north (with a minor bit of exploring) to the bridge just past 42 minutes and turned on the road to head back on the more even path next to it. Nice to be on the flat, but my shoes (and legs!) are DEAD. Had to add on a little bit as the way back was much faster.
Time: 84:10
Distance: 12.5 mi.
Feeling quite a bit better this morning. Met Ben at the Klingle Bridge and headed north on the Western Ridge Trail. Crossed over the river to the Valley Trail to come back south. Could be a very nice loop if this was done a little bit higher up, though it includes the roughest section of the valley trail. Added on a bit at the end of the run up New Hampshire.
Lower legs are pretty dead from these shoes, which now have over 500 miles on them. Hopefully getting something new soon!
Time: 80:35
Distance: 11.5 mi.
Feeling groggy out the door, but felt surprisingly good in the second half... met Ben Peisch on the Klingle St. bridge and headed north to the Valley Trail. Followed the trail (which is pretty slow-going pace wise, but the steep up-and-downs keep a decent effort going) up just a bit past the park police station before turning around.
Time: 110:33
Distance: 16.5 mi.
Found a great new trail up the east side of RCP that runs straight up to Maryland. I made it almost all the way there (55:30 out) but stopped where the trail hit where Beach Drive comes into the park. Not hard to follow at all... blue blazes all along the way. Longest run in quite a while and I've been a bit tired (and dehydrated) but it was a beautiful day and I was feeling it, bigtime. Great run. Legs were pretty dead by the end, but not as bad as I thought it might be.
