View Benchmark double-up solo:
I needed some miles, so I hit VB via Ann's for a double. It was pretty hot, but I was feeling good when I started. After about a mile I got a stitch in my side that lasted until mile two and that slowed me some. I carried one handheld bottle, so I had to stop for water at the connector trailhead every time I passed. There is now a fence barrier that is in place at the Connector trailhead to keep people from taking the short cut to the VB trailhead. I jumped over it. I felt decent on the first summit and hit the top in 47 minutes. I only saw one dude on a bike and nobody else the rest of the way. I felt really good all the way down, but it was getting pretty hot. Back at the car I drank some Powerade, took some salt and had a gel and wiped all of the salt off of my face. It was a nice break. The first RT was 7.87 miles.
Summit #2
I felt pretty good all the way up again, but the heat was getting to me, so I slowed some. I also had to stop on my way up the connector trail to stretch out my left hammy that was getting tight, but overall I was feeling good. Up to the summit in 52 minutes. Slow, but I did take a few breaks on the way up, so not terrible.
On the way down I stopped to fill water and there were 4 bikers there that were surprised that I was able to get water out. This is the second time in the last week I have had to show people how to get water out of that fountain. It requires you to push the button for about 10 seconds before anything comes out. I took another gel and chatted with them for a few minutes and then ran it into the finish. My legs got heavy the last mile and I was glad I was done because it was really getting hot. Overall it was a fun day out there and I only saw a few people in 3 hours on the trail. | 