A Passion for Running

I headed out to Millcreek Ravine with Nick again today where we ran about 8k on the dirt and gravel trails. It was a perfect day weather-wise for running, and the variation of terrain was totally pleasurable.

We clipped along pretty good and it felt great. There’s just something about cruising through the trees (when you’re not running your noggin into them) and feeling the trail that beats the heck out of an asphalt path isn’t there? We made our way ’round a loop with Nick promising a “treat” along the way. Minutes later we were going past Millcreek Pool (Bikini Central) where I suddenly felt compelled to take a walk break. Hey! I’m aloud to do that after what I wrote about yesterday!

We got to the second Peace Mile marker where I secretly began timing our way back to the first one carefully making sure we didn’t speed up. I was pleasantly surprised to learn we’d been running an 8:15 minute-mile pace. Not bad.

Another good day!

Got a rare treat today. I got to run with my “sis” Corinne. It was the better part of a year ago when Corinne changed her hours effectively ending our lunchtime runs together.

But she’s got more running-friendly hours for the summer so I have her back for a couple of months. Yay!

We did the usual 7km route with me doing the last half in my bare feet. My feet were tender today and I was a bit worried because I was nursing a drying out blister on the ball of my left foot. I’m so happy because that old skin didn’t even tear which means my barefoot pose method form must be improving!

At the end of the run, we climbed the 225 step Hotel McDonald staircase. Man, was that ever hot on the feet! It was 26C/79F out there but those wooden stairs felt way hotter on my feet! Youch! I did those stairs as fast as I could lemmee tell ya!

Anyway, it was a lovely albeit hot run and it was great to have my Sis along for company.

I should not have joked about running into a lamp post. Karma has a way of getting even (I think that’s sorta the point!) and I ran into a tree today. Yes, you read right. I ran into a tree.

It was hot so I decided to duck into nicely shaded dirt trails. Seemed like a good idea at the time until I overestimated the height of a series of branches going across the trail and did not duck enough. I hit it pretty hard! Not hard enough to knock me on my ass but I do distinctly recall seeing little tweety birds floating over me.

Good thing I was wearing my impervious Canada running hat or I’d have quite a nasty scratch/bump!

Today was a hot, humid and grueling 6km run. Here’s to tomorrow!