I began this morning's run intending to get in six miles, but it quickly became apparent that I wasn't going to be able to sustain a pace that would enable me to finish in time to get to the office when I needed to. Still, I began running at a pace that was on the fast side for me. It was, I think, a bit too fast, because, while my heart rate wasn't that high, it didn't take long for me to feel that my legs were working harder than I would have liked early in the run. I also made the mistake--at least, I think was a mistake--of running too fast at the beginning. Since I was running the stretch of Forbidden Drive from Valley Green to Lincoln Drive, this was especially problematic: the first 3/4 mile or so is uphill. (Fortunately, much of the next mile-and-a-half is downhill.)
Still, I focused on moderating my pace so that I could continue to feel comfortable running. As I approached the 2.5-mile point, I passed the entrance to one of the trails that takes one off Forbidden Drive and into the surrounding woods. A friend had once conveyed to me her enthusiasm for the trails, so I decided to see for myself and to give this one, the Yellow Trail, a try.
I began with an arduous but exhilarating two-minute run up the trail. The run became easier as I arrived on the higher ground, but I was also well aware of the need to keep my eyes on the trail. Still, the surfaces, which alternated between muddy soil and rocky soil, didn't pose a problem for me. (I know that my internal shock absorption system must have loved the mud.) More surprising to me, though, was that, although my heart rate was higher and I was running continuously for longer than usual, I didn't feel as if I were working that hard.
Unfortunately, after about a mile on the trail, it was clear to me that I wasn't getting back to my starting point as soon as I should have been, so, facing a fork in the trail, I took the path that returned me to Forbidden Drive. Still, I left the trail with a new-found interest in pursuing the trails around the Wissahickon.
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