Beating the Blizzard

I thought about getting out yesterday, since it was so warm out. Really a gorgeous day. But I'm trying to get back into the Sunday morning runs, and I was determined to do a distance run this morning.

So what's a little blowing snow and dangerous windchills? Actually, it wasn't all that bad. Running heats you up enough that even with the wind, you can stay pretty warm. I just wore my usual winter running clothes, and added the scratchiest scarf I could find, the kind where the loose nylon fibres stick to your lip balm. Bleah.

I got back into the run-walk rhythm, and headed toward Edworthy. The wind wasn't too bad until I got to 37th Street. From there the path turns a little northward, and the condos back away from it, so it's pretty open. Only the occasional naked cottonwood breaks the openness.

At the Edworthy bridge, I thought about crossing and running the south side, but instead I just trotted around Angel's snack bar and headed back toward downtown. By that time, the wind had swung more northward, and had strengthened, too. Mostly I was good, but that side of my nose was uncomfortably cold.

Back at Crowchild, I crossed to the south, just to say I did. Not much cover over there, either, and the wind was biting. I ran the promenade, crossed at Prince's Island, and up The Path Under The Stairs.

It was pretty uneventful, really. The biggest thing was that my knees were perfect. Even after all that, everything felt great.

Today's run:
Distance: 16.02 km. Time: 1:33:03. Average speed: 10.3 kph. (5:50 min/km)
Rest distance: 1.01 km. Rest time: 10:00.
Total distance: 17.03 km. Total time: 1:43:03.

Shoes: New Balance 1061.

Weather: Light snow, winds north at 40 kph gusting to 60 kph and -15C at the start; winds north at 50 kph and -18C at the end.

A Long Day

Which demands a long run. So, I went for the 10 km loop. Nothing too special about it. It was dark, but not really cold. Lots of traffic, since all the Running Room groups were out. Felt good though.

Distance: 10.09 km. Time: 56:54. Average speed: 10.6 kph (5:40 min/km).

Shoes: New Balance 1061.

Weather: Clear and -2C.

Another Dark Run

It feels like it'll never be light again. It was a good run, and fun as far as it goes, but there's an unfriendliness in the community of runners lately. Maybe it's the cold, or maybe it's the darkness, but no one makes eye contact. If they do, they look away before you can wave or say hi.

Maybe it's just the mid-January grumpiness that settles over this country every year. Whatever it is, it's a little disheartening. And all the more reason for me to get back to working in the downtown, so I can run in the noon-time light.

Two groups were busy tonight on the bluff. One group was running up The Path Under The Stairs sideways, the other was running up The Stairs sideways. Crabby in action as well as disposition?

One nice moment - just as I was passing the CBC building, I noticed the river of red lights rising out of the downtown and up Bow Trail. Kinda pretty.

Distance: 10.20 km. Time: 57:13. Average speed: 10.7 kph (5:37 min/km).

Shoes: New Balance 1061.

Weather: Cloudy and -3C.

Snowy Run

Wonderful morning, with heavy snow coming down and covering everything. I love running in that stuff, it's so quiet and fun. It also slows you down because it's loose and rolls from under foot. And makes everything quite beautiful.

I went for the 10 km to Crowchild and back. I didn't get a lock on the GPS when I started, so my distance is off, especially since I went a little farther on the return, following the bluff a couple of blocks past where I usually turn north, and having to back track a little to get home.

Lovely run, and a magical morning.

Distance: 9.43 km. Time: 1:04:03. Average speed: 8.8 kph (6:49 min/km).

Shoes: New Balance 1061.

Weather: Light snow and -9C.

Let There Be Light

Just a little, so I don't have to run in the dark.

I've missed a run here. I was out last Saturday afternoon, and never got around to writing up the run. Details below.

And tonight was really needed. I've been tied up with stuff lately, and tonight was the first night in awhile that I could get out there. I likely won't get out again until the weekend at least.

Last Saturday:
Distance: 7.00 km. Time: 36:55. Average speed: 11.4 kph (5:16 min/km).

Tonight:
Distance: 7.41 km. Time: 41:43. Average speed: 10.7 kph (5:37 min/km).

Shoes: New Balance 1061.

Weather: Cloudy and 0C.

Just Gotta Get To It

Man, this lethargy is getting a little frustrating. I've got no energy or real urge to get out and run. I almost have to force myself to get my running gear on and get out the door. And on top of all that, I seem to be experiencing a calorie surplus, judging by the snugness of certain items from my closet.

Already dark by the time I got out. In a couple of weeks, there should be some relief from that, but right now it's a downer. It always seems to me that sunset begins to come later much earlier than sunrise gets earlier. (I had to read that twice...)

Perhaps it from all the frustrations I've been getting hammered by lately, but I ran pretty hard. I'm looking at my time and it's pretty good.

Just the 14th Street loop, so nothing special, especially in the dark. But one novel event - a homeless person suggested that it was a long way to Toronto.

Distance: 7.22 km. Time: 36:33. Average speed: 11.8 kph (5:06 min/km).

Shoes: New Balance 1061.

Weather: Clear and -3C.

Pretty Springy Out for January

Gorgeous day, and I've been out in it, off and on. By mid afternoon, I was ready for a run. I wore the lined tights, but just a couple of t-shirts. Even the wind wasn't really cold.

I headed down to the river and ran west, the usual way. The ice on the river is pretty spectacular looking, all broken and heaved up and jumbled. Not far past Prince's Island to the west, there is hardly any open water. I decided for a 10 km run.

The westward leg was nothing exciting, just the usual plodding along the path to Crowchild. But with the river so high, even under that ice, the way back on the south side was more interesting.

There is a place near the Pumphouse Theatre where the path dips low, and was under water back a couple of years ago when we had all the flooding. Well, the water has risen above that level again, and while it has backed off, there's a nice thick layer of ice on the path at that point.

Even under the 14th Street and 10th Street bridges on the south side, the water is up close to the edge of the path. And everywhere the ice is photogenically beautiful. Lots of photographers out working with the setting sun. I imagine there'll be a few gorgeous images from that.

Distance: 9.88 km. Time: 57:03. Average speed: 10.4 kph (5:46 min/km).

Shoes: New Balance 1061.

Weather: Cloudy and 4C.

Happy New Year

Finally got out for a run. It's been much too long, and this calorie-laden season hasn't been kind. Clothes seem to be shrinking.

I tried something different tonight. I headed east as I got to the river, and then at the Bridgeland train station, I crossed Memorial and headed north up 9th Street, through Bridgeland. Once I got to 5th Avenue, I turned west, until I had to jog back to 4th Avenue.

At 6th Street I started north up the hill to a long stairway up the bluff. It comes out at a cul-de-sac beside a copper roofed church, Catholic, I think. Then up to 8th Avenue, which took me past my first home in this part of town, to Centre Street, and then Cresent Heights Park, where I turned north toward my usual end point.

This gave me a slightly longer run that the 14th Street loop, and I got to get into some different parts of town, too.


Distance: 7.84 km. Time: 45:22. Average speed: 10.4 kph (5:46 min/km).

Shoes: New Balance 1061.

Weather: Cloudy and -10C.