Trail running in Rock Creek Park is my preferred way to train. I’m extremely lucky to have an amazing trail system about a mile from my door right in the middle of Washington, DC.
These pictures are from the northern end of Rock Creek Park on a loop that crosses the DC-Maryland border. If they don’t get you motivated to run trails instead of the roads then I’m not sure what will!
I enter the park after about 9 minutes of road running just south of the Maryland state line. The entrance is on the right of this picture and it’s a slight downhill, just enough to pick up some speed and stretch out the legs.
After entering the park and turning right, the trail levels off. This is a great shot of what most of the trails look like in Rock Creek – wide, mostly good footing, with plenty of vegetation flanking the trail.
This area is typically flooded but it’s been dry in the DC area for the last month. I hope the tadpoles make it!
After a severe lightning storm last summer, a lot of trees toppled because of high winds. The overturned root system on this tree is about ten feet high.
Most of my running in Rock Creek is done along the river itself. Here’s a great shot from the trail at about the 2 mile mark of this run.
With all the storms last summer, parts of the trail are being constantly eroded away by the river. After a tree fell into the creek, this part of the trail runs just next to the water. Its days are limited before runners will need to find an alternate route.
Just before the halfway mark I cross this bridge and go over Rock Creek. Beach Drive (the main road that goes through the park) is on the other side of the bridge.
Now in Maryland! The paved trail is also part of the Candy Cane City 5k I won in this area in the fall of 2010.
About two miles from home I cross another foot bridge – here’s the view looking out on the river. After a storm I’ve seen the river rise about 8 feet!
While most of the trails are wide, they narrow in a few short sections and the vegetation closes in on you as you run through. This is probably the narrowest section; still very runnable!
Good thing I ran the steeplechase in college.
The most treacherous stretch of trail runs very close to the river and drops off sharply into the water. With the plants pushing you toward the creek, quick feet are a must when navigating this part of the trail. I’ve never come close to falling, but luckily if I did the water is only about a foot deep here.
Can you believe that all these pictures were taken in only 2.5 miles of trail running? This easy loop is part of my easy 5 miler that I typically run on Fridays before my long run.
If you’re ever in the DC area then let me know and I’ll tell you some of the best areas in Rock Creek Park to run. The trails are beautiful, mostly non-technical, and there are a lot of flat section for trail newbies. If you crave hills, there are plenty of those as well!
I hope I’ve motivated you to get off the roads and hit the trails! I think since I just finished Relentless Forward Progress (ultramarathon book) I am especially excited about trail running, which is an integral part to most ultras. Enjoying the woods is one of the primary reasons I prefer trails to roads. It’s more tranquil, peaceful, and fun!
Where are your preferred trails? Do you like hilly technical trails or well-groomed paths?
