No, I haven't gotten lazy. I am not writing about the obvious trail around Lake Accotink. To be honest, I had been unhappy with that part of the trail system lately. There are too many parts that are runner- unfriendly due to the size and type of gravel being used. I have been coming away with very tender feet after long runs through there. I was ready to never go there again. But I was introduced to the power line and mountain-bike trails on the Wakefield side and had observed similar trails on the Accotink side and decided to go for it again. I went out of my way to avoid the tried-and-true trail as much as possible. After trying the mountain bike trails once before, I kept getting redirected to the main trail, apparently by the choices I made. I wasn't overly optimistic, but I was desperate for a new trail (both to experience and to write about).

Persistence pays dividends. Having already explored the Wakefield side, I decided to drive to the Accotink side. The trails are on either side of Braddock Road. After parking near the Danbury Forest pool and entering the trail from the familiar "road stretch" of the main trail, instead of going left, I went right on the main trail. At the point where the trail becomes

a road, there are power line trails to either side. I chose the right trail, and had to cross three streams to end, eventually, onto Braddock Road. Along the way, I noticed a way to crisscross the established trail (by the steps)

and behind the townhouses to access it without fording the creeks. Out and back only took about twelve minutes. So, I tried the other side . . . even shorter. But I did notice a trail in the woods, so I followed it. It turned out to be part of an extensive mountain biking network!

There were at least four different colored trails (blue, yellow, pink and green) and some unmarked paths. Unlike the first time I ventured back in there, I was able to run another 55 minutes while only occasionally making contact with the main trail. I found that following the railroad tracks kept me on the longest stretch. On the return leg, I explored some of the side branches. There were a few places where the trails actually crossed the tracks, and I could see more trails on the other side, but I wasn't comfortable crossing them. The ground was so much softer than the main trail, it's a shame other people don't afford themselves of this wonderful option.

I encountered a few people walking and some on mountain bikes. I always gave the bikes the right of way. There are some pretty technical climbs and most of the trail is single-track, so for courtesy and to foster a willingness to share, it was my pleasure to move over. The riders seemed pleasantly surprised that I did so. To me, that speaks poorly of other trail users. My request, then, is that, if you do take my advice and try out this wonderland, don't ruin it for the rest of us by being rude or possessive of the space. I believe it was designed primarily for biking, and is maintained by local mountain bike clubs and racing organizations.

If you want to make it a long, meandering run day, you can start here and then take the main trail under Braddock Road to the Wakefield side, past the community center and onto the power lines and mountain bike courses that crisscross and climb significantly in places. Or, of course, you can start at the community center (which is open early almost every day) and go first one way, and then the other. Some friends of mine have also extended the main trail by exploring a section that veers off from around the dam and marina area.

If you want to access the bike trails from the marina, you will want to cross the dam. When you begin the steep climb on the pavement, look to your left, and you'll see the even steeper wooded trails. The easiest place to access these is from the point where they cross (from the left) at the new railings on the right hand side after the hill. Distance is truly irrelevant here, as the terrain provides enough challenge. One word of caution, though. Be sure to exit them and return to the relatively tame main trail before you get too tired. There are several tricky places that, if you tripped, could have nasty consequences (single-track with significant drop-offs).

Overall Rating: "3" Muddy Shoes. The pluses: facilities at the marina or Wakefield Community Center, incredibly soft and challenging trails, and the potential length of the run if you combine both sides of Braddock Road. The downside (for some): the challenging and somewhat dangerous sections, and the fact that it is multi-use . . . primarily a mountain bike course. If we are courteous, it is a wonderful resource that can be enjoyed by all. There are mountain bike races held there several times a year, so be sure to check on that before you wander into the path of a Kamikaze cyclist!