8.2.15: August running means getting up early in the morning, searching for some shade, and getting in miles before the heat gets to be too much. On this particular day I had a 12-mile run on tap, so I headed over to Carderock, an area along the Potomac just outside the Capital Beltway. From here I ran northwest along the C&O Canal Towpath Trail, passing by Great Falls. I also had a close encounter with a couple of deer alongside the trail who were out eating breakfast and totally unfazed by my presence. This is one of the best parts of running along the towpath…not a run goes by where there isn’t at least one animal encounter! That always makes for a fun start to the day.