Saw this posted recently and decided to give it a try. I've run the GW/Pulaski trails a few times, but never the whole orange loop at once.
Wasn't feeling great this morning. I think yesterday's trail work caused a groin strain, and the knee that I banged up over the summer was all swollen. Probably shouldn't have run at all, but it was nice weather so I wanted to do something.
The trail is about as technical as you'll find anywhere. The roots and rock gardens everywhere make it hard to get a good rhythm going.
Maintained a steady pace through the first couple of miles before the knee started hurting and then had to ease up quite a bit. Only one major navigation mistake. Missed a turn and had to double back to find it. Basically chalking this up as a recon mission. Now that I have the course down, I'll have to come back another time and get after it when the body is not as beat up.
Fun route, but just a little too technical for me. I bet the real rock-hoppers can get this done in under an hour.