0.93 mile in 10:00 (10:46/mi)
0.83 mile in 10:00 (12:03/mi)
0.75 mile in 10:00 (13:20/mi)
0.98 mile in 10:00 (10:12/mi)
Okay, so today I took my camera and ran along the Noland Trail that adjoins the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia. It is a winding, hilly trail that follows the banks of Lake Maury through a gorgeous mix of forest plants including dogwood, pine, elm, maple, magnolia and the fascinating little may apple. The squirrels and ducks along the trail are obviously accustomed to human activity as they rarely did more than get out the trail when they saw me coming.
Anyway, my strategy was to run as hard as I could for 10 minutes before stopping to snap a picture or two and walk a bit. The hills here are not the gradual slopes of the road but the up and down calf-killers you find on scenic trails. To add to the degree of difficulty, the people maintaining the trail used timbers across the trail to prevent erosion. Good idea unless you are trying to run along the trail and constantly having to adjust your stride to step on or over the timber. A newbie like me finds that quite a challenge. The last 10 minute segment was along The Meadow Trail which is mostly flat and I gave it all I had left.
Felt good and with the moisture hanging in the air between rain showers I sweat enough to get the bottom of the ring within about 4 inches of my belly button. The tough downhill stretches still get me though as the soreness in my groin returned. Maybe I am not striding right when going downhill?
Location: Newport News, Virginia
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