Up in Them There Woods

"In Randolph County, Virginia, is a tract of country containing from seven to nine hundred square miles, entirely uninhabited, and so savage and inaccessible that it has rarely been penetrated even by the most adventurous. The settlers on its borders speak of it with a sort of dread, and regard it as an ill-omened region, filled with bears, panthers, impassable laurel-brakes, and dangerous precipices. Stories are told of hunters having ventured too far, becoming entangled, and perishing in its intricate labyrinths. The desire of daring the unknown dangers of this mysterious region, stimulated a party of gentlemen . . . to undertake it in June, 1851. They did actually penetrate the country as far as the Falls of the Blackwater, and returned with marvelous accounts of its savage grandeur, and the quantities of game and fish to be found there." - From a 19th Century account of Dolly Sods.

The epic story of the Dolly Sods Camp Trek to come soon...

Retreat

I returned to running on Wednesday just as I planned. I woke up jet lagged at 3:30am and went about the Fox Den unpacking and doing odds and ends until the sun came up some 3 hours later. I donned some pants to keep the injured area warm and shuffled 7 miles. It felt so good to get back out on the streets...like a nicotine addict just back from a deserted island taking a long drag. I tried to stick mostly to trails and refrained from "opening up the valve" near the end of my run and instead kep the pace easy.

On Thursday morning, again after waking up too early, I drove to the Cabin John and ran a new trail I recently discovered. Antler-less deer bounded ahead and left a thick musky scent of scat and urine which cut through the frigid morning air like a hot knife on butter. I got in another 7 miles and felt just fine.

I had contemplated racing the Cardinal 5k on Saturday. It was a stupid decision given my current state of fitness and the fact I'm borderline injury, but I wanted to give myself a shot of racing juice since I was scheduled to run the Veteran's Day 10k a week later. On Friday I ran the race course (just 2 miles from the Fox Den) but felt exhausted, beaten up and frankly demoralized. My left leg had lingering affects of who knows while jet-lagged finally began to overpower me. I lumbered through work and then promptly passed out at 8:30 and slept for 10+ hours. I naturally decided to nix the race, and running altogether on Saturday.

I am hopeful that I'll feel better tomorrow but fear as if I'll pull out of the Veteran's Day 10k as well. I'll continue to retreat until I get healthy so that I go into USATFXC fresh...or at least fresher than I am now.

I shall retreat until I advance.

Trip Recap

While in Germany I ran only once. The silver lining is that both of these long, laborious trips have come at times when my legs needed rest. Long work days were followed by long driving days as our crew slowly made a northern arc across the country. We started in Cologne and eventually found our way to the River Oder on the Polish border...before ending our trip in Berlin.

Things to note from the trip - I gorged on German brauts and schnitzel, lapped up bottles of bier, sipped and shot Schnapps repeatedly with locals, raided the small Polish town of Kostryzn, experienced the brutal "Russian winds" that blow from the east, walked through Check Point Charlie, under the Brandenburg Gate and got lost in the maze that is the Holocaust Memorial (see photo).

Driving across the German countryside was beautiful and it's hard to imagine how 60-70 years ago, this entire area was the epicenter of a global bloodletting. The most fascinating part of my trip was chatting with our German fixer (local who speaks fluent English that helps us get around more easily) about history, poltics and worldly things. We are about the same age and it was interesting to hear him comment on how difficult it was for his parents and grandparents post-war. Approximately 8 million Germans (civilians included) died during the war and the entire country was ravaged both on the west by allied carpet bombing and on the east by a vengeful mauling Russian bear. Growing up in a post-war world, without adequate food and water, rapant disease with little money must have been brutal. All war is hell.

The Comeback

Training begins in earnest, albeit slowly and smartly, on the morrow.

No more travel, just dark, cold morning runs until the March.

I'm in it for the long haul and I'm in it to win it.

Blown to Atoms

Sticking true to my plan, I did not run on Monday or Tuesday, but I’ll write of my encounters nonetheless...

I wandered down the streets of Cologne searching for nothing in particular. Eventually I got thirsty and desired a German bier. I opened the door to a small pub on a corner and saw no one else inside save the German bartender. I exchanged small talk but he neither spoke English nor I German. I ordered two beers and tried to strike up a conversation…to no avail. Eventually someone else entered the bar. I envisoned chatting about German culture, but instead the man went, ironically, over to a computer/machine in the corner and played solitaire. I sighed, muttered danke shoen, polished off my beers and wandered back to my hotel room. I would have a long week ahead of me…

Timo, our German fixer and a native of Cologne, explained to me how the only building left in Cologne after the war was the dome of the cathedral. The rest of the city was blown to atoms when the allies carpet bombed the entire area in 1945. Looking around I would never have known, but its clear that after spending just a little of time here, that this place was devastated during the war. While reading the International Herald Tribune this morning I learned that German troops are deployed (Afghanistan) for the first time since the Second World War...something that is extremely anti-German culture/society.

A Wasted Week

The injuries won't leave me alone. My left leg seems to be testing me over and over again. After taking two days off, I ran a couple of meager 30 minute runs on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, as I noted in the post below, I seemed to be fine, but on Saturday the pain seemed to come and go as I ran down a new addition to the Cabin John Trail. Will the pain subside if I run more? Should I end it early? What to do, what to do...I decided to nix the run after 30 minutes then proceeded to curse silently along the creek. What to do...

I leave for Germany tonight and I'll take the next few days off in order to kill the injury. My goal is to be back up, injury free, by next Monday.

Stretching it Out

I took two days off and today ran a bit over 30 minutes. The Achilles feels better, but not great. As usual, all the pains creep out after a few days off. I hate it and I felt awkward pacing the streets around NIH. I saw the Beastman, Dirk, ride by on his bike. We briefly exchanged pleasantries, then went our separate ways. I thought about my training plan for the remainder of 2009, but then remembered what Karl told me last week - "you just got to get healthy first".

The next week is a perfect opportunity for just that.

Rest Today, Fight Tomorrow

Pulled Up

The Achilles/shin on my left leg seems to be inflamed. It warmed up after 45 minutes yesterday, but this morning it never felt good. I bagged the run after 2 miles and dragged my way back to Grosvenor netting only 4 for the day.

I'm taking Wednesday off...maybe Thursday too.

These half-injuries are quite annoying, but if there is ever a good time to be injured, it is now. I leave for Deutchland on Sunday evening and will be gone for about a week. Running overseas, as always, will be difficult, but perhaps this rest will stamp out my injury.

The End of the Rain

I met at the GRC for a cold, sloppy 9 miles on Saturday morning. We splashed our way down the Towpath before grinding up Ernst Hill. I felt terrible and just wanted to get back inside. After 4 rainy days with temps between 39-45 I had had enough. My legs were tired and my mind was sleepy.

On Sunday I met a handful of souls at The Line for the cliche Zoo Loop. It felt as if we were moving in the early stages, but I think I was just tired. Eventually I woke up but my legs felt achy the entire time. I turned on the gears and coasted the last 4-5 miles from Ross Drive back to Maryland. By the end of the run, my legs felt as if they had run a marathon. I am not sure why, but I took a damn cold ice bath on balcony after the run and I felt money on Monday morning. By the time I ran (7) on Monday evening, my legs felt better albeit a nagging Achilles pain which I'm closely monitoring.

76 miles last week.

A Nice Wet Loop

I ran a bit further than expected last night in a cold, dark rain. Aside from minor Achilles pain, I felt strong. I ducked out of work just a little bit early to take advantage of the daylight (if one can call it daylight - DC resembled London for the most part yesterday). I ran down from work to the Towpath and up the Glover Archibald Trail and back down through Zoo Hill, before ending up where I stared at the corner or M Street & Rock Creek Parkway. Then I shuffle jogged back to work for a much deserved and needed hot shower. 12 for the day...80+ over the last 7 days.

Rained On

After dogging an easy 4 this morning with Karl, I met Mr. Dusen, Dix Mercer and Jake at B-CC in the evening. Dickson wanted to do Yasso 800s (8x800m w/400 rest) so we did just that. My stomach felt bubbly all afternoon and I fear that there has been air/gas in my heart/shoulder since Rockville Twilighter - more on this later...

Splits - 2:27, 2:23, 2:24, 2:23, 2:24, 2:19, 2:25, 2:30 (almost didn't run last one due to stomach).

We were fortunate to snake the stadium lights for the first two 800s, but then the lights went out and all was dark...and cold...and wet. The rain came down hard and we all felt beat. 15 for the day.

Rock Creek at Night

As I meandered down a new trail on the eastern side of Rock Creek I began to feel a tad uncomfortable. There seemed to be a number of guys wandering aimlessly about. Some seemed as if they had nowhere to go. I was running down a dog walking path, which bordered some playing fields, hoping it would throw me out to the paved bike path on the opposite side of the creek. Instead I ran into some dude giving some other dude a hand job. I awkwardly shouted out "whoops, sorry" then bombed back in the other direction. In my 15 years of running it was the second time I'd ever seen a sex act in a park (the first was of the heterosexual kind in Cabin John of all places). I quickly washed the site from my mind and proceeded to the National Zoo. I heard some huffing and puffing behind me and turned to see an older man with glasses and poor form walking me down. I wasn't running fast (6:40s) but it was fast enough for a Tuesday evening, the day before a workout. After holding him off without really trying, the guy flew past me just before the zoo. Sonofabitch. I did not want to hammer today. In 15 years of running I'd never been passed by some random dude on a run. I had already seen gay hand jobs tonight and I'd be damned if I got dropped by someone 20 years my senior. I stalked my prey and smiled when he began the climb up Zoo hill. I got cocky and whispered to myself, I've got you now. I crept up alongside my new friend then opened my stride up and blasted cockily up Zoo Hill. I would have given up my season to beat this guy up to the top of the hill. Either I have a competitive disorder or I am lame. Likely the latter. When I got back to the city streets i played "Green Light" and followed green traffic lights aimlessly through the city. I got in 8.

The LONG Weekend

I had some great running this weekend and ran more than I expected to. On Saturday I met the GRC for 11 miles. We ran down to Chain Bridge and came back along the Virginia side of the Potomac. Again, too much concrete/asphalt, but it was a good run. Later in the day I drove to the Shenandoah (see blog post below) to try my hand in climbing waterfalls.

On Sunday I went to the Agriculture History Farm Park in Derwood to see old running buddy Rob Magin. Rob was the race marshall and started the 5k. He is one of the first running guys I met when I moved to Bethesda some 7 years ago. He'd rock me on the track each Wednesday and we'd go back and forth in races. Additionally, he is a former UMBC Retriever and ran for the "dawgs" about 10 years before I did. Rob is no longer running races. He is suffering from a grade 3 brain tumor and fighting the battle of his life. Rob is a tough dude and right now he is at mile 22 in a marathon. It hurts. It hurts like hell, but he'll get through it. He is a fighter. Pray for him.

At the end of the race, I went out exploring the farm park with Double C and the great Dan Lawson. Dan ran a remarkable 2:21 at the Columbia Marathon on a 24 degree day when he was 38 years old. He rarely ran more than 90 mpw but would run 20 milers at 5:40 pace. He did ALL of his running solo. I peppered Dan with questions before looping back to the parking lot. Double C and I then proceeded to explore a new trail which brought us along silent creeks, thick mucky shores, horse farm fields and wooded orchards. A Red Fox bounded ahead of us and white tailed deer galloped gracefully through the brush. The greenway stubbornly blazed through the backyards of MoCo McManshions teasing land owners while pleasing runners like me. I got in 16.

On Monday I met exploring rival Petey Towpath at The Line. We had a good, hard run over the trails of Rock Creek. I got in 11 before heading out to climb Sugarloaf Mountain in upper Montgomery County. Great views from the top of the 1200ft hill. While the sun dipped over the horizon I sipped bourbon in a leather bound flask. I watched a giant flock of Canadian Geese flood a recently mowed cornfield. They pecked and preened as they marched slowly across the grounds. Soon the sun was gone and the long three day weekend was over.

Legends of the Fall?

Double C, Snow and I bombed our way into the heart of the Shenandoah National Park on Saturday in search of tranquility and/or adventure...we found both. We marvelled at the "autumn Americana" in the small mountain towns leading up to the park which included "leaf activities" while wearing flannel. Double C had researched a short hike known as Overall Run. The trail carved its way into the Shenandoah valley and past "one of the largest continuous waterfalls in Virginia". The falls was pretty dry but the views were some of the best I've seen in the park. I was surprised to not find a trail to the bottom of the falls, so this fox went exploring. I found a small valley and negotiated my way deep into the hole. The granite was loose all around me and I prayed against a rock slide. Eventually, after carefully choosing my steps, I got to the bottom...and eventually I was joined by my colleagues. Getting back up proved far more adventurous. CC found a tough but doable place to ascend, hand over hand, up to the top of the overlook. The Peruvian climbed like a wildcat and I did my best to follow. There was definitely one section of the climb where I questioned WHY I had decided to make the climb, but I slowly slithered my way up and over the rocks and got back to safety. I sighed then frowned at my peed pants.

While looking for a bar to hang our hats and wet our whistles we stumbled upon The Red Fox Tavern in downtown Middleburg. The establishment was a bit too fancy for three dirty hikers, so we lurched our way down the road in search of a grittier pub. During the walk, we noticed that EVERYTHING in the town had red fox in its name or at least had red fox insignias; Red Fox Inn, Red Fox Fine Art etc. taxidermed red foxes stared blankly at me from behind store glass windows while red fox stuffed animals donning riding garb smiled at me from toy shops. At first I was happy, but then I got disturbed when I noticed that "hunt" seemed to be twined with "fox" everywhere I looked...whether in the form of horses, black riding caps, whips, rifles or hound dogs. I gulped then proceeded into the Red Horse Tavern. Most of the restaurant was filled with jockeys and horse riders. They explained how Middleburg was "the fox hunting capital of the country". I gulped and swallowed hard. We continued to talk to our new friends while drinking cool Guinness and eating hot food. Then we smiled, tipped our hats figuratively to the local gentry and proceeded back to the hubbub of Washington.





More on Middleburg: After the turn of the century, Middleburg began welcoming a new wave of visitors that descended on the town for foxhunting and steeplechasing. The charming village soon earned a reputation as the "Nation's Horse and Hunt Capital," attracting prominent visitors from across the United States.
Serving as a host community for more than 250 years, it is no surprise that Middleburg has developed such a high concentration of fine inns, shops and restaurants.

First Track Workout in Years

...well actually weeks, but it felt like years. I met PMurph and Karl at B-CC and we agreed on something short and quick; 400, 400, 400, 600, 600, 400, 400, 400 (200 rest). I felt incredibly awkward running 400s and upon reflection I think it's the fastest turn-over I've done in months. I hit the times I wanted to, but near the end of the workout my leg muscles had some spasms. When we finished our cooldown, my sugars had dropped. I bonked, but then chugged some Gatorade and all was fine. I need to watch/manage this as best I can. I also need to get used to running these workouts in the dark.

68, 67, 65, 1:46, 1:46, 67, 66, 64

I'm meeting Karl at freakin dawn tomorrow to knock out the day's run.

I am at 70 over the past 7 days...so I'm on my way back to normalcy.

Running Too Hard

I have been running too hard as of late. Part of the reason is because I am fresh and lack mileage under my legs. But I also get caught up with the hustle and bustle of downtown and tend to pick the pace up when running through the city streets. On Wednesday I ran around Hains Point, but still ran too hard. I ran as much as I could along the grassy footpath that runs along the road to stay out of the "asphalt jungle". The wind was brutal and it came at me at an 11:00-angle while running opposite Reagan Airport. It battered me, but I smiled while remembering how Matias soberly explained one day that the wind on Hains Point (especially in the winter) toughens you up; it makes a man out of you. My smile faded to a frown when I saw jubilant Lindsey Jerdonek giggle past me on her Huffy. I dipped my head and picked the up the pace cursing the wind as I ran. The sun soon set but the night was far from quiet.

Too Much Concrete

Running downtown has its issues: mainly too much concrete. The long downhills can hammer your legs to pieces. The asphalt streets are only a little bit better (not has hard), but quite dangerous especially at dusk during the rush. Yesterday I met Jake Marren and together we ran up along the Canal and through the Glover-Archibald Trail until we couldn't see the ground anymore. We exited and came back through Glover Park and back north on Wisconsin. I then dipped down Macomb and got my way back to Connecticut. My stride opened up and I negotiated my way around folks eating their evening meals in outdoor seating areas. From the Zoo back to my office there is about 2 miles worth of downhill - most, it not all, of this is on the concrete. I'll have to monitor my running routes to ensure I'm not beating my body up too much. 10 miles.

An Hour through the Asphalt Jungle

From my office, I can get anywhere in the "downtown" area of the city within 15 minutes of running time. Additionally, Rock Creek cuts diagonal-like right through the city and allows me to create great loops. Last evening I explored the trails up near the Naval Observatory...but found NOTHING of any interest. I went back to my maps and will try today to find some trails that connect Dumbarton Oaks to White Haven to Glover Archibald. On my way back from exploring a side trail off of Oak Hill Cemetery, I nearly flipped over backwards after striking a root with my foot. My entire body lunged forward, but my back somehow stayed straight. My right palm slammed the ground, but other than that I remained up right. The next couple of strides felt brutal, but the pain quickly melted into the body.

I am trying to get in 70 this week and keep the miles between 75-85 for the remainder of the year. No surges. No upticks. Only maintentance mileage and weekly workouts. It's time to get some training under the legs again.

Weekend

I met the GRC for an easy hour on Saturday. We had a good size group and ran somewhat of a boring run up the towpath and back down the CCT on the other side of the Canal. Some of the guys had Army the next day do it was good to take it simple and easy.

On Sunday I went to Patapsco with Karl, Towpath and Beta Jake. Beta Jake has logged countless miles here before, but the other two had never stepped foot in the park. I tried to give them a grand sweeping tour by running a large 14 mile loop. Patapsco is filled with hills so avoiding them is usually not in the cards. I love Patapsco and get in a great rhythm flying up and down on the skinny mountain bike paths before opening up the stride on asphalt bike paths and gravel roads. You definitely work various parts of your body throughout the park. We were meant to run further, but the unpredictable terrain wore us all down and we called it quits after 1:40. It was my longest run in well over a month. My right leg has felt a little tight (as if it needs to be stretched) but it felt better on Sunday than it did on Saturday.

I'll run after work today and see how dark the streets of downtown DC and the footpaths of Rock Creek Park are after 6pm.

I did some fun things this weekend - like wandering through a micro-brew festival and playing at an apple orchard/pumpkin patch.