Long Runs Are Relative

The desire to run is slowly returning.

I decided to run “long” today.  I went back and forth on how far that would mean.  An hour and a half seemed reasonable.  I settled on an 11 mile loop that didn’t have too many hills and would take me along the Potomac River on the Mount Vernon Trail (MVT).

The first few miles through North Arlington were fine.  I didn’t feel like I was working too hard and my legs weren’t too sore.

When I reached the MVT, I hit a traffic jam of walkers by Roosevelt Island.  “Where did all these people come from?  Oh yeah, this is what happens when you don’t start your run until 10:30am,” I thought.  I also remembered the solitude I enjoyed all winter.  There were runs when it seemed like I would go for miles and only encounter a few cyclist or fellow runners.  I stopped at the spot where I took a picture back in January of the trail covered in snow.  It looked very different today.  Spring has sprung!

A little bit down the road, I took a picture of the view across the river.  It’s one of my favorite spots on the trail.

After about 7 or 8 miles, I started to tire a bit.  It was good timing because I was only a few miles from home.

Coming off the MVT and arriving in Crystal City, I was pleasantly surprised to see a water fountain!

This is a game changer.  This summer, I won’t have to avoid this trail as much as I have in the past.

I ran pretty easy the rest of the way home.  Overall, I thought it was a decent long run for the week.