Because Once Just Wasn't Enough - Old Rag

 

I just recently did a post about Old Rag, so I won't go into much detail....other than it really has become my numero uno hike in the local area....!!  I just love it there....awesome trail with some awesome scrambling!!   

The leaves are just starting to change....I would give it another couple of weeks before things really start to take off!!

 

The weather couldn't have been any better....Amazing views of the valley below. 

Kira and I had fun messing around with the new panorama feature on the iPhone! It only took us about 10 shots to get it right!!

 

And perhaps my most favorite part of the day -- FOOD!  Kira had not been to Griffin's since she returned from Africa, so of course we filled our belly's with burgers after our trot!  

Reston to Great Falls -- Its so amazing to be getting out again!

So, Kira left for Kenya, and I started my internship program, and it felt like my life had changed forever!!  There has not been a lot time for all the things I enjoy most in life.  Additionally, the summer heat and humidity of DC didn't help with motivation!  But now, Kira is back, at least for a little while, and I have completed my internship, so there is more time!  This trail is so impressive to me!!  It can be difficult to find the trail-head in Reston, but once you do you can travel through the rolling trails for the 13 miles before hitting Great Falls.  Of course my favorite part of the day is eating!!!

Here's the data of the day!!  Enjoy!

Just Another Run in the Hood!

I have not blogged much about living on The Hill and that should really change ('The Hill" is local slang for saying you live in the area known as Capitol Hill).  The other day I was out on my usual run and decided to take some photos and thought it was worthy enough to blog about.....!

  My run is basically a square - over one bridge, turn right run straight,turn right over second bridge, turn right run straight, and you are back where you started.  The shot above was taken from the other side of the river.  Pretty good shot of the Navy Yards and the big ship that is housed there.

They have built up the water front area, and did an amazing job!  The turtles are digging it too!

This was an unusual scene that I just happened to run across, and of course had to stop and check it out!  Interesting music was playing while these girls splashed around in the water.  Later to find out they were acting out a local love story.  I didn't stick around to the end, but was impressed with how many people turned out to watch.

And of course, the men in uniform that are practicing for the Friday Night Parade....which certainly will be a future blog post all of its own!!! 

 There you go!  Highlights of my local in-town run!!!!

Difficult Run - The Last Weekend Before the 50!

I'm behind on my blog posts, so at this time I can congratulate Kira on her HUGE accomplishment of completing the Bull Run 50 miler !!  Congratulations Kira, you did it!!  And in fine style!!  Also, a huge thank you to everyone who went to cheer her on.....50's are not easy, and it is soo nice to have someone there....even if its for a brief second.  I will forever wish we could have done it together, but that just leaves room for more crazy adventures in the future!

So, Difficult Run!  Its this little mini green space of pleasure that spans for miles and miles and miles....with rolling hills, dirt trails, huge trees, and surprisingly few people that will take you all the way from Reston to Great Falls.  (12 miles in one direction).

Our day began in Reston with the goal to run to Great Falls and back.  The biggest issue is there are not a lot of directions out there, and with a lot of spur trails, its pretty easy to get a little lost.....The best advice I can give is when you cross the road at the highway, actually cross the highway and turn right.  At the end of the road the trail will pick up again and that is the trail you need to be on to make it to Great Falls.

Another amazing day...temps are still warming up, but what an amazing fall....and once again, another HUGE congratulations to Kira!!  YOU DID IT!

Mount Marshall

Each run now takes us one step closer to the day of the 50 mile Bull Run race.  Unfortunately, at this time I also know that due to a work conflict, I'm not going to be able to to do the race....It makes me sad. Yet, I also know, that for me, its just about getting outside and the friendship you make a long the way.

Mount Marshall.  Still one of my favorites in the Shenandoah's.  Its cool to go back and repeat something you have done -- shows you progress, tells you if your stronger, and just makes you feel comfortable as you know you can do it!  (we finished 30 minutes faster this time)

No snow this time!  And spring was certainly in the air!  Beautiful views from the top!  Of course the day was followed up by some of the best burgers in the area!!  We had to get a photo this time!

The link below will give you more info on how to get there.  You can also start inside the park, and that will cut off some of the distance!  (13 miles instead of 20.)

Thompson's Wildlife Management Area - Sky Meadows Link-Up

Another long day out!  Today we skipped the Shennandoah's and headed towards Linden, Virginia (about an hour drive from DC).  Another link-up -- Thompson's Wildlife Management Area and Sky Meadows State Park.  We ran into a man in the parking lot that said in May the flowers bloom like crazy (see photo below).  It looked like they were already starting!

Temps were warm, in the 80's, so staying hydrated was difficult.  We spent some time on the Appalachian Trail which was cool.  It was certainly a beautiful area with rolling hills.  There wasn't as much elevation gain as we have had in the Shennandoah's, so that was a very nice change!!  We did these two areas as a link-up, but either on their own would be great.  Sky Meadows, hence the name, had a huge beautiful meadow, which I had never seen before.  Also, note to self, there are a ton of wineries in the area which do tastings, and often have a place to eat.....trotting and eating and wine....life doesn't get much better!!!

And perhaps the best part of the day was a stop at this little local place in Linden, Virginia.  The Applehouse, a supply place for folks traveling up the AT, looked like amazing BBQ, and the best part of all were there apple donuts!  For more details on the run see below!  

Product Testing: Patagonia Merino 1 Silkweight T-Shirt. And Another Amazing Day Out - Hazel Mountain/Buck Hollow Link Up

Patagonia product testing day - Patagonia Merino 1 Silkweight T-Shirt

IT'S THE BEST

(I am on the right)

                PRO:  Wicks and dries better than anything I have ever used!

                           Super soft, and very lightweight

               CON:   It pilled against my hydration pack!! BUMMER!  

                           (Keep in mind we "trot" so perhaps that helped to speed the pilling process along).
                           Wish they had better color choices (not bad, but not great).

               OVERALL:  I have officially recycled all of my lightweight capilene, and have ordered all new
                                    Merino 1 in every color -- short sleeve and long sleeve.

It is always this big debate at Patagonia on fabric base-layer choices -- capilene versus wool.  Capilene is  cheaper, synthetic, and sometimes people have an odor issue with the fabric (although Patagonia has made a lot of progress with this issue over the last couple of years).  Wool is more expensive, a natural fiber, and some say it feels itchy (Patagonia wool is no longer 100% wool.  They have added a small amount of spandex into the fabric to prevent it from running).  

Rule of thumb, natural fibers do a better job???  My take is the wool keeps me warmer, but doesn't keep me dry like the capilene.  I find that my heavier wools stay pretty wet and take a longer time to dry.  Not so great for stop and go travel. Perhaps the system of choice is a wool base layer with a capilene layer on top.....A system that would keep you warm as well as pull the moisture off of you. (But you should try it out yourself, others may have varying opinions)

But now....the Merino 1 has finally entered my life!!!  When I first saw the Merino 1, I was a little hesitant (see paragraph above), but loved the way it felt and knew I needed to try it.  And I'm sooooo glad I did!!  I fell in love with the product in the first 10 minutes!!  It did an amazing job pulling sweat from my body when we were charging up hill, but as we neared the top and began heading down, within minutes the sweat seemed to have disappeared.....magic!

I am bummed about the pilling, and not sure what to do about that, as I almost always run with some sorta pack.  Regardless, I like the way the fabric works way too much to worry about the pilling!  So, enough on the Patagonia Merino 1.  Check it out for yourself and let me know your thoughts!!  And now a quick re-cap of the day out!

 

Well, the photo above says it all!  An amazing day out, as my recovery beverages (water w/Cytomax, and a Natural Light) cool in a nearby river....I leave feeling exhausted after the super-steep ups and downs.....Warmer temps threw in a new challenge....and a reminder that summer temps are not too far way.   Once again, the beautiful scenery made the two-hour drive worthy....not to mention yet another stop at The Griffin Tavern in Flint Hill, VA!   The best burgers ever!!  Kira, as always, rocked it and made the adventure that much more fun!!!  Check out the GPS map below for more info!!  

Upper Rock Creek, An Amazing Place to Explore!

I'm sure at this point, anyone following this blog must think all I do is run!  Well, lately there has been a lot of running, but I can't help but share!!  Especially this one that is in our backyard.  Above, Alison warming up for a beautiful day in Rock Creek Park!

We started at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center, so basically upper rock creek.  The run is described in one of my favorite books (a must have!) 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Washington, DC.  We did manage to get lost, but it didn't matter.  The trails truly are endless up there and a great place to explore!

 

The trails were very well maintained, rolling hills, and little traffic! A great escape no doubt!  Below is the route we did!  Enjoy!

Prince William Forest - A great thing to do on spring break!I

Victoria was on spring break, and said she was going to do something exciting everyday!  I said come run with Kira and me, and she jumped at the opportunity! I said the run would be 10ish, but as we passed the 10 mile mark, and the car was still nowhere in site, I knew I screwed up!! Oops!  Didn't matter though everyone rocked it!!
(I love the shot above!  Looks like we are up to nooo good!)

Prince William Forest is about an hour drive from DC.  With its great trail system, and rolling hills it makes for a great escape from the city.  I have never taken my road bike out there, but it  looks like there is a great loop road too!  The trot today, weather-wise, was interesting - a mix of snow, sleet, sun, and blooming daffodils (below)!! 

 

Of course I failed to mention other adventure highlights - driving the wrong way on the one-way road, the awesome lunch in Occoquan, and the the great conversation!   Thanks for the company you guys!  A great day out!  For more details see the trip report below!

The Day I Almost Ate Kira - Piney Branch to Jeremy's Run SNP

Link-Up's I love them, but you never really know what your getting yourself into until you are in the middle of it!! In short, we linked up the Piney Branch Trail (which you can access inside or outside of SNP) with Jeremy's run (access inside the park only, I think).  For actual route info, distance, etc check out the GPS data at the bottom of this post!

It was a BEAUTIFUL February spring day, and if I could have run naked I probably would have!  Just kidding, but we did take off layers within the first 10 minutes and for the first time this year I was wishing for my running skirt!

Jeremey's Run was awesome, and I would highly recommend it for a day hike!  You follow the river for miles and cross it multiple times.  The shot above was the best shot of the day!  Crossing the river slowed us down a bit, but it made the trip even more exciting! (ok, maybe its all my photographing that slows us down.....hmmmm.)

Linking the two routes/trails (24 miles-ish) made it a great day for elevation gain.  My GPS says 4,380 ft (impressive for an east coast day), but Kira needs to double check me on that one.  It was a day in which I felt like we were always going up.....When the sun began to set (photo above), and my stomach was growling, I was ready to be back at the car!!

Kira, as always, finished strong! It is always fun to come out in the dark and have a car beer nicely chilled in the river waiting for you....and cheese of course, lots of it!  Without those things, it was a possibility that I would have eaten Kira!  We stopped at a local spot for one of the best burgers I have had in awhile - the Griffin Tavern in Flint Hill, VA....highly recommend it!

If your checking out the Garmin info below, zoom and look at the split times....It must have turned on after I stopped it, but all the info you need is there!  See you on the trails!

Overall Loop and Some Product Testing - Patagonia Super Cell

Story in short.  I like gear, and I like to know how well it works.  So when my new Patagonia Super Cell arrived I had to give it a test run, literally!  This jacket is new in the Patagonia spring line and is their lightest weight (12.8 oz) hardshell Gore-tex jacket.

But, for those who are short on time, and most likely won't make it through the whole post,
here is my quick 5 star rating scores with comments:
(If I could figure out how to make a star in blogger, I would have....!)

FIT/COLOR:  5 STARS (Note: I ordered the M, then downsized to a S.  I'm 5'8, 150/155.) 

BREATHABILITY:  2 STARS (It's waterproof.)

WATERPROOFNESS:  5 STARS (It's Gore-tex.)

WHEN WOULD THIS JACKET ROCK:  I think this jacket would be a great piece for Colorado/Wyoming, etc peak bagging.  I think it would be a great piece for more mellow international trips (ie hiking Annapurna, Kilimanjaro, Inca Trail, etc).  Also, I would certainly throw it in my pack on rock climbing trips and any sort of easy trail backpacking trips.

WHEN WOULDN'T THIS JACKET ROCK:  It is certainly lightweight, and not sure how to test its durablity.  Some heavy Alaska bush wacking, I think, would tear it to shreds.  Too light for any really wet ice climbing.  And a D.C. hot humid day....well, I would rather be naked!

I learned the last time I went out to the Shendandoah's to give a shout ahead of time to make sure the road is open.....and sure enough, even on a 50 degree calm day, the road was closed!  I had done the 9.0 mile Overall Loop last year, and with great views and access outside of the park it was the pick of the day.

I left the car with the jacket on, a merino 2 crew neck, and began my "trot".  (Trotting = something between a walk and a jog.)  I warmed up pretty quickly.  The front waterproof zipper was easy to zip and with the larger plastic it was easy to use with cold fingers and gloves (see above).  The underarm zips, as usual, were a bit of a struggle.....The touch point system that lock in the cord at the waist and the hood seem to work a little better than the Patagonia Super Alpine....the waist seems to be ok, but the hood still seems to come loose with movement.  The hood never bothered me, never was floppy or blowing in the wind.  There is no hood tie down if that's that's your thing.  

By mile four, as expected, I was completely overheated and the coat came off. I don't think most people would choose to run in Gore-Tex, but what a great way to test its breathabilityt!  It packed easily in my running pack, and then it was time to bust out the Patagonia Houdini, the best jacket on EARTH!!!!! (see above).

Ok, these photos don't have anything to do with product testing I just liked them!!  Lower photo is the view from the top.

As I reached the top, temps dropped and clouds moved in.....the trail was snow packed and the unexpected  hail began.....Ok, i'll quit my bitching about the road being closed, I get it!! However, I was very happy to have the Super Cell with me!!  Water beaded, as I would have expected.  And with the cooler temps the jacket felt great.

I also was very happy when I turned the next corner and saw this!!!! (SEE BELOW!). It is still running pretty good, but I bet with cooler temps it will form up pretty quickly  Looks like there is great top access with solid trees, so it is probably even top ropeable!  Let me know when you are ready to go exploring.  I got a rack and ropes!!

In the end, I think the jacket is great and I would certainly recommend it.  The color was great and looks awesome in photos!!!  It fit me perfectly, but like I said I downsized.  I am in agreement with some others, that perhaps the inside of the jacket, on a hot day, won't feel so great against skin.  But if you are looking for something light weight and something to keep you dry, the Super Cell is  not a bad choice.  

PS. I used it the next day on my bike....once again I warmed up pretty well, but the hood fit great over my helmet!!

PSS.  Feel free to comment, disagree, or ask many questions!

Mt. Marshall Take Two, And New Lesson's Learned!

First of all, driving approximately two hours to do a "trot" is a very new concept to me...and one, yes, I have certainly struggled and fought tooth and nail with!  Ok, I know I'm not perfect!  Regardless, getting out is what keeps me going, smiling, and centered and therefore I do it!  But when you drive two hours and find the road is closed, well, its a little upsetting!!

Lesson Number One:  Call the number above before you head out Shenandoah National Park!

But luckily I choose my partners VERY wisely!  So as we talked with the ranger trying to figure out our options, Kira said lets do the run you (VLP) suggested that starts outside the park!!  My response, "What??"  Sure enough, there was a side trail that takes you right to the Mount Marshall loop trail! It worked out perfectly.  We were looking to do 20 miles, and the little extra distance pushed the loop up to 17 miles....so only a couple of miles on the road.

Lesson Number Two (Relearned):  Choose your partners wisely.

It was a beautiful run in the woods, and perhaps the most snow I had seen all season, except in Alaska of course!  There was a good three inches on the ground up high, and more coming down!  I thought boot packing only happened up north!

Lesson Number Three:  

Believe the ranger when they say there are good reasons to close the road!

Our first longer run - check, check!  Both of us finishing strong and ready for a car beer, and a massage!
Happy trotting!

Appalachian Trail: Chester Gap to Harper's Ferry

If you are reading this post, then you most likely know me well enough to know I love endurance activities!  I love long days out, I love pushing myself, and love, love, love being exhausted at the end of the day....And it makes the beer taste even better!  So, when Kira said she wanted to do a 50 I said sure!

And for some reason I never get tired of this view....keeping pace, following steps, just moving.....it some how simplifies things and lets your mind wander!

We had a BEAUTIFUL day out....cooler temps with snow flurries all day.  There was this crazy "snow/ice" build up on the trees....like little hairs or some sort of strange horfrost....delicate and beautiful.  The trail was snow packed and awesome for running.  We didn't make it the 54 miles to Harper's Ferry, but  did do an out and back.

I only hope Kira doesn't get tired of all the photos I take during our outside adventures!!  And, Kira, thanks for the motivation, conversation, and commitment!!!  More details on the trail below!