The Sun Sets on Tonight's Run

I didn't get home until a little later than usual, so it was also later than usual for getting out to run. About this time of year, the days are short, and the sun sets early. I noticed it was gone from the sky on the last couple of kilometres. Kind of sad somehow, summer is definitely over and soon another snow will come that won't go away the next day.

I ran to 14th Street, then back to Edmonton Trail again. There seemed to be lots of runners out, and that might be due to the time. I've found that the 5:00 to 6:00 seems to be devoid of runners, but the start to come out during the supper hour.

Today's run
Distance: 10.49 Time: 1:00:40
Average speed: 5:47 min/km. (10.06 kph)
Shoes: New Balance 769 (Yellow 1).
L n K

Squishy Shoe

Not from being wet, mind you, well yes wet, but only a little bit, and just from where my toe was bleeding. A toenail had developed an edge and was digging in a little deep.

That's how exciting the run was, pretty straight forward, run of the mill. It was about average busy as far as running traffic. There was something going on at Eau Claire, and I had to thread my way through a crowd. There were even mats down for timing chips, and several people running toward me with racing bibs pinned on. No idea what it was, but I was out of that crowd after passing the Louise Bridge.

All in all, though it was simply a gorgeous day. The snow that fell a couple of days ago was gone, and the leaves were crunchy again. Sunny and clear, not a cloud to be seen all day.

Today's run:
Distance: 16.54 Time: 1:35:51
Average speed: 5:47 min/km. (10.59 kph)
Rest distance: 1.00 km. Rest time: 10:02.
Total distance: 17.54 km. Total time: 1:45:53
Shoes: New Balance 769 (Yellow 2).
L n K

First Snow

It's gorgeous out this morning. Big fat fluffy snowflakes, coming down thick enough to obscure the downtown skyline from across the river. It's piling up on the grass, but still melting as it hits the pavement. Lots of puddles to dodge on the paths, and I wasn't entirely successful.

Not too much of a breeze either, just enough for it to take a little time to warm up running westward into it. I was the only one out there on the north side, and I saw only two others coming back toward home, near Eau Claire.

One shoe refused to stay tied. I've never had a problem before, and can only vaguely remember a couple of other times when I had to stop and re-tie a shoe. Today it was twice, even with the funky string-of-beads style of lace that New Balance uses.

Quite a change from last Sunday's run, when it was warm, and sunny, and the paths were full of runners. Two entirely different climates, two lovely, fun runs.

Sunday's run:
Distance: 17.06 Time: 1:36:24
Average speed: 5:39 min/km. (10.59 kph)
Rest distance: 0.99 km. Rest time: 10:00.
Total distance: 17.97 km. Total time: 1:46:24
Shoes: New Balance 769 (Yellow 2).
L n K
Today's Run:
Distance: 10.21 Time: 59:51
Average speed: 5:51 min/km. (10.06 kph)
Shoes: New Balance 769 (Blue).

Among the Naked Trees

It's fall, no doubt about it. More sun gets through to the ground when you run through the trees, and there's that rustly crunching sound. There's more wind too, and darn but it can be chilly in the morning.

I've changed up things so that my Tuesday run goes east and west. I've been crossing to Eau Claire and heading east to Edmonton Trail, then across to the north side where I go west to 14th Street, and back to Eau Claire again. Amazingly, it's pretty much the same distance as my loop to Crowchild and back.

Running along Riverfront Avenue, for the most part you can stay on the sidewalk, but occasionally you have to drop off the curb when the construction fence crowds you. For all the construction going on, it should look pretty good. But I don't think it'll be done until next spring.

The Friday night run was back on my usual Crowchild loop. It's still warm for running, and I'm glad I can still wear shorts. It was nice and a little less crowded. I think the usual commuters might be thinned out from people making an extra long weekend out of it.

The Path. I'm starting to look forward to getting to that. Not because it means I'm almost at the end of a run, well, I do look forward to that. But I'm having fun pushing hard on the climb. Don't know where that energy is coming from. Love the feeling when I get to the top

Tuesday's run:
Distance: 9.91 Time: 1:01:04
Average speed: 6:09 min/km. (9.74 kph)
Shoes: New Balance 769 (Yellow 1).

Friday's run:
Distance: 10.12 Time: 59:02
Average speed: 5:50 min/km. (10.29 kph)
Shoes: New Balance 769 (Blue).

Summer is Finally Here?

Actually, it's not all that summery out. The trees are now nearly naked, and the path is particularly crunchy with leaves. Still, it's reasonably warm, enough for shorts and tee shirt. And for a lot of runners too. Not crowded out there, but busy. And I had a great run. I think I'm finally past the laziness that took over last spring.

I also signed up for a motivator just now. L n K I had thought about doing the Harvest Half Marathon this year, and never got to looking into it. And now it's gone by having been run yesterday. There is one last big run of the year coming up, so I jumped into that. I run the Last Chance Half Marathon on November 14.

Today's run:
Distance: 17.04 Time: 1:38:04
Average speed: 5:45 min/km. (10.43 kph)
Rest distance: 0.94 km. Rest time: 10:00.
Total distance: 17.98 km. Total time: 1:48:04
Shoes: New Balance 769 (Yellow 2).

Indian Summer Hangs On

Another beautiful day, and just lovely for running. The trees have shed a lot of bulk today, with a stiff breeze stirring the leaf piles. I ran the usual route, down to Crowchild and back. The paths were surprisingly busy, and at times the congestion was a little close. Everyone wants to get outside before the real cold weather comes, I guess.

Tonight's run:
Distance: 10.16 Time: 57:37
Average speed: 5:40 min/km. (10.58 kph)
Shoes: New Balance 769 (Yellow 1).