Sunday, August 13, 2006

I Love Sunday Runs

What can I say? It's wonderful to be out before it gets too hot, and say good morning to everyone on the paths. I love being in the morning sun, then in the shade of the forest, then back out in the sun again. Lots and lots of runners and walkers, and bladers and cyclists.

I went a little longer this morning, taking Nony's Awful Little Hill to the Centre Street Bridge and across the river that way. That adds almost a kilometre each way from my usual route down The Path Under The Stairs and across Prince's Island. Then along the promenade past Eau Claire, and the south side of the river, all the way to Edworthy Park.

At the point where the path crosses the railroad track, about halfway between Crowchild and Edworthy, the path west of there is very rough for blading. It actually seems to put a lot of drag on your skates, and you notice it a lot because the path goes over a bit of a hill. Gravity gives you speed, but the rough pavement wants to drag your legs out from under you.

So about fifty metres after crossing the tracks, a young couple were racing down the hill toward the tracks, he moving considerably faster (being a guy) and obviously not totally aware of the right angle turn he was about to have to make just around the bushes. There was an alarming sound of a crash, followed by some pretty nasty language, followed by the lady's giggles, followed by even nastier language. One critically injured pride, I think (and guys, we've all been there...)

There was no other excitement for the rest of the run. At the C-Train bridge, I crossed back to the promenade, and foot traffic had picked up, what with Afrikadey on the left (on Prince's Island) and Taste of Calgary on the right (in front of the Y). Hmmmm...I think I know were to go for lunch.

Back across the Centre Street bridge and up Nony's Awful Little Hill, and I was back home in no time.

Today's run:
Distance: 17.30 km. Time: 1:38:54. Average speed: 10.5 kph.
Rest distance: 1.13 km. Rest time: 10:00
Total distance: 18.43 km. Total time: 1:48:54

Weather: Sunny and 16C to start, and up to 20C at the end.

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