Running (Street & Trail) 2:08:18 [3] 13.7 mi (9:22 / mi) +217m 8:56 / mi
From the stone arch bridge at MacArthur Blvd. (near Wilson Blvd.) to the C&O Canal Towpath, to the Angler's Inn parking lot through Great Falls Park, to Falls Rd., to River Rd., to Seven Locks Rd., to MacArthur Blvd and to the stone arch bridge. It was getting late in the day so I took Peggy's advice again and ran from the stone bridge. This way I was not going to get locked-in from my usual starting area at Carderock, on versions of this loop. I felt not so great starting off but with the temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70's F, I got it into gear. My left toe felt better using my road shoes but sometimes I felt the injury from my long run 6 days earlier. For the initial 5 miles, I focused on my running form. I slows on the small climbs at the canal locks but moved well on the long flat stretches. After a restroom break at the Angler's Inn parking area, I moved much slower. The hill is steep and the footing not so great in places but I was just tiring too. At the top, the route was more rolling and I wasn't able to hold my pace. It took some good mental stamina along running on the trails along Falls Rd. and River Rd. It was truly dark by the time I got off River Rd. The hills on Seven Locks were really slowing me down. The last stretch on MacArthur Blvd., was better and it's always fun running across the stone bridge where I finished, knowing that it was once the world's longest stone arch.
