Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Twinbrook Run: Back at it!

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? Skipping October 2019 through March 2020 is all on me. But then, you know, COVID. When, just like everyone else, I figured that the best way to catch COVID would be to ride Metro, I decided to table Project Crow during quarantine. I started back commuting on Metro this month, so it seemed like the right time to get back on the rails for fun too.

I did this run July 11 and then forgot that I actually have to write it up. Sorry. My long runs these days are about 5 miles so I chose my station based on distance from my neighborhood. I was limited in my options. 

Twinbrook Station is on the Red Line in Rockville. It opened in 1984 and has an outdoor platform. 

Photo of concrete opening to the Twinbrook Station
It's not really that exciting of a station.

It is near a bunch of new eateries that have sprung up in the past couple of years and you can easily walk from it to all kinds of places on Rockville Pike. 

There are two exits to and from the station and both feature parking and bus service. So many options! 

Photo of a Metro platform with an arched roof and a train idling.
The platform

There isn't a lot to say about this particular station, so on to the run! I was very excited about this run because there were some trails on the way home from this station that I hadn't run on since I'd been injured and I sorely missed them. 

Map of my run, described in the text below.
I love running one-way routes.

I ran down Rockville Pike, hung a left on Randolph, and continued until I was able to join Rock Creek Trail. It was only about 10am, but the humidity was at, like, 62 percent, so it was pretty hot.

Selfie of me in front of a green sign for Rock Creek Trail.
As evidenced by my sweatiness and redness.

I was so happy to run on those trails. Also, there are parks with water fountains along the way, which is really nice for a hot day. I stayed on that path all the way to Knowles Avenue, then I turned left and started running up it. Then I did some walking. Then I tried to run more. Then I walked. Then I shuffled. 

Elevation graph of my run. Most of it is downhill, with a steep section on the first half. There is a steep uphill in the last 20% or so.
You can see Knowles as that last hill there. Otherwise the elevation was kind to me.

That's about it. Eventually I arrived at my neighborhood, triumphant, happy, and tired! I'm so excited to finally be back to it and I'm looking forward to exploring more stations!


STATS:


Metro station: Twinbrook
Line: Red Line
Distance: 4.91 miles
Time: 56:00
Pace: 11:24 min mile
Crow sightings: *sniff* none *sniff*
Interesting tidbit: There is but one escalator from the station entrance to the train platform. It is usually going up. You have to use stairs (or an elevator) to go the other way.