Running (Trail) 1:09:57 [3] ** 8.6 mi (8:08 / mi)
slept:5.5 weight:166.5lbs
From the parking lot on the south side of Rte. 29, up the Northwest Branch Trail to the Wheaton Regional Park Nature Center and back. I ran up on the west side not feeling so good starting out. Trail conditions were good and dry; unlike most of the time. It almost seemed like someone had cleared out the trail but some of it was due to drought. There was lots of light hitting the ground and the many cliffs and boulders were much more visible. I think it was in the upper 80's F. By the time I got to the turnaround, I was tired and slow. I drank a lot of water and picked-up a copy of a trail map that they had before heading back. I crossed to the east side using the bridge and the blazed trail. I'd been on the trail long ago when exploring the valley but hadn't used it much since it wasn't well maintained. It was better now and blazed but had some areas of overgrown grasses w/seeds, fallen trees and erosion. Reading along with the map and the wiggly trail gave me something to think about besides being tired. It'd be fun to set a Pink course here one day. I was surprised 3 times by owners walking dogs w/o leashes--One couple had 3 labs, a second woman had 2 dogs including a shepard and the fourths person said she was embarrased about not having a leash for hers.
