Exploring the American Wilderness and Other Adventures

Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Why would I not sign up for a 10k trail run after a few months of no running and not very much trail anything? I cannot think of a single reason why not. Some might say it is type 2 fun, but type 2 fun means it is kind of miserable during the activity and the joy comes from the feelings that follow it. But I feel the joy throughout the thing and then increased joy following it. Perhaps my type 1 and type 2 fun are simply the same. I am not sure Barbarian Scientist combines his type 1 and type 2 fun, but he loves me so much that he was willing to join me on this adventure knowing I needed something to help me feel like me.

EX2 Adventures

Between Google and social media channels, we found a few race companies around here that seem to put on successful events and aim to do good in the world. The soonest race I found was the Blue Crab Bolt at Seneca Creek 5k/10k. It is a trail running series for the summer, and this was the first one for the season. “Join us at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County, MD for a great trail running adventure and the kick-off of the 14th Blue Crab Bolt Trail Running Series!  Seneca Creek offers a wonderful natural getaway that is just a stones throw from the city. Lake views, scenic streams, and miles of singletrack hiking trails greet each visitor. These beautiful race courses string together some of the best trails in the park offering the Blue Crab Bolt competitor a fun and challenging run in the woods.” Who would say no to that description? Well, I suppose maybe a lot of people, but not me. The organization says, “Everything we do is built on a foundation of ethics and honesty, and we believe that doing the right thing matters. We also believe in conscious capitalism where successful businesses lead with passion, purpose, and conviction. We strive to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and make our corner of the world a better place. We do this primarily by creating excellent experiences…events that provide an opportunity for personal challenge and growth and an environment for establishing a nurturing community. We also do this through our charity partner program.” EX2’s charity partners are organizations that work toward providing solutions for homelessness, food scarcity, and historical and environmental preservation. More reasons to say yes to adventure.

Blue Crab Bolt at Seneca Creek

This race was incredible. It was the most thoughtfully executed race I have participated in, and I have been in many. Parking was well organized, Packet pickup was smooth. The vendors had plenty of space for their tents and exhibits. The race began exactly on time and the trails were clearly marked. It was 100 degrees that day, the humidity was very high as always, and the pre-race speech included things like, “This is only a trail race. You are more important that the race. Your fellow racers are more important than the race. Take care of yourselves and one another out there.” Aid stations with water and Gatorade were approximately every mile and a half, making it so no one needed to carry anything extra they did not want.

Seneca Creek State Park

This park is gorgeous. The main draw is Clopper Lake, with the Lake Shore Trail that goes around the lake being the main attraction. It is Hike 25 in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles – Washington DC, and is described as: “A 6,300-acre, state-owned recreation area that offers facilities for boating and fishing as well as trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Clopper Lake was created for recreational use and flood control by damming Long Draught Creek, a tributary of Seneca Creek, in 1975. It is stocked with largemouth bass, tiger muskie, channel catfish, sunfish, bluegill, and pumpkinseed sunfish. The name Clopper has a rich history in the area, dating back to the 1800s, when Francis C. Clopper purchased more than 540 acres and an existing mill on Seneca Creek…More than 50 miles of trails are open for hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling in Seneca Creek State Park. The park also offers boat rentals, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, hunting, picnicking, playgrounds,, a 27-hole disc gold course, and cross-country skiing.”

The race route took us through the forest and around the lake. It was beautiful. The further away we got from the lake, the less people there were. And we were very slow, so also, the further away we got from the start, the further away we got from other participants. We knew we would be slow, though – our goal was to get out there and enjoy one another and the time, not to win the race or our age categories or anything. And we were successful.

Amongst the other things about how this race company put on the race, perhaps the most thoughtful thing that matters in those moments are their steps towards inclusivity. We knew we did not need to even try to be fast because the race company honors those that are called the back of the pack. We walked a lot, but there were participants who walked the entire thing. Where other race companies would put a time limit on racers and sweep you up if you were too slow, or even allow you to complete the entire thing but have the finish line broken down by the time you got there, this race company does not. The awards are given a little later than other race companies do it so that there are as many people as possible cheering on the back-of-the-packers coming through the finish. Additionally, the last thing they do is randomly gift a $100 bill. You cannot win it if you are not present, which also increases the chances of people hanging out later.

It was a beautiful day in a beautiful place with beautiful people. I needed it. Type 1 and type 2 fun or whatever anyone wants to call it, it was the most fun for me and the first thing I did afterwards was sign up for another. Perhaps this next one we will have run a little bit beforehand to prepare. Maybe not.