The Millenium Trail Is Fun
As some >Rockville Central readers may know, I am training to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October. I’m running in connection with the Organization for Autism Research and raising money for them. This is the first marathon I’ve run since I ran the LA Marathon back in the early 1990′s.
So, I need to get in some better shape, and I have been increasing my run mileage. This weekend for the first time, I had the opportunity to run Our Fair City’s Millenium Trail, which is a bike 10.6 mile route that essentially runs around the perimeter of Rockville. It starts at the community center being built at Fallsgrove and runs around Gude, Norbeck, Wooton Parkway, and then back to Fallsgrove. Here’s a map.
It was a hoot! I know other readers are runners, including Cindy CG, and I am sure they know all about this. But I just wanted to pass along my experience.
The trail is more of a path, really, but you are out of traffic for the whole way. It’s 10.6 miles all the way ’round. It starts at the new community center being built in Fallsgrove, and is marked in half-mile increments (the markers are in the pavement). The numbers run clockwise, but I found it most pleasant to run counterclockwise (that is, I started running into Fallsgrove proper from the community center).
The route felt safe and manageable throughout, but there are some caveats. First of all, there are three or four major intersection crossings, with traffic signals . . . you will have to wait. If oyu are going for speed, you will have to figure out a way to take down time into account. Second, the final stretch, along Gude, is just a little bit, um, industrial. Lots of cars whizzing by (not right next to you) and lots of light-industrial buildings. It was hard to keep up my motivation along that stretch. Finally, it’s important to pay attention to the signs so you don’t get off-track. Some of them are a little confusing while in the throes of exercise (I don’t know about you, but I am not always thinking clearly when I am exhausted from running).
The route has a few gentle hills that are more of a psychological barrier than anything. There is nothing too steep.
Another local blogger, Don Libes, has posted a map at MapMyRun and it is excellent.
Overall, I found myself thinking as I ran that the Trail would be a good candidate for an informal “fun run” contest sponsored by some worthy organization. (Like the Twilight Run?) It would be a neat way to feature Our Fair City.
Let me know if you are ever interested in a weekend run to build mileage. I typically do my long run on Saturdays. If a group coalesces, maybe we can do it together!
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I wonder if it was worth the tons of money it cost to build that bridge over 270. I’ve never ever seen anyone walk across it (I drive by it several times/week.) And I only know of one couple who biked across it. I live near Fallsgrove, and I can tell you, I’m never going to walk from there to Rockville central.>
Due to the current financial climate, I think if the project came up for a vote today, it wouldn’t be approved. Maybe that should be the litmus test in the future. If a project isn’t worth funding, even in bad times, then maybe the money could be better spent elsewhere.