A Grey Sunday

Or should I say a gray Sunday? Is it grey or gray? Is this one of those Canadian/American spelling things?

It's actually a very nice day this morning, even if it's grey and threatening to rain. Even if it's not drizzling, it looks like it should be. But not too cool. I did wear the running gloves I got in the swag bag from my last marathon.

The GPS grabbed a satellite right off, and I started running as soon as I stepped across the manhole cover a block down the street - my starting line. All they way to Cresent Road and the bluff, my knees were a little complainy. But I was soon oblivious to them.

I did notice them on the steep part of Nony's Awful Little Hill going down to the Centre Street bridge. That was the last I noticed of them until I got home and had to climb the stairs after showering.

Crossing the bridge I could see a lot of runners below on the trail along the river. I think it was the Gorilla Run. Over the bridge and down onto th promenade, and past Sein Lok Park and the new condos being built where the old Greyhound bus barns used to be.

It wasn't exactly quiet on the trails this morning, but it traffic was sparse. It seemed like even the running groups weren't out, although I think they were probably out earlier.

The trail was damp, like it had rained. I imagine there was some rain overnight, and at times it felt like there was a little bit of a misting happening. The Lawrey Conservation area trails were good, a little bit of ice here and there from the snowfalls we got last week.

The trail below Spruce Cliff was different. In places it was quite treacherous, and after watching the woman who had just passed me nearly wipe out, we both tiptoed along the pile of leaves against the chain link fence separating the path from the railroad tracks.

After the first couple of rolling hills, and into the flatter part, where it's more sheltered, the ice got thicker, but less slippery. The trail wound as it does along the bottom of the cliff under the Douglas fir. And then I was out of the trees, off the ice and traipsing through the picnic area at Edworthy, where a hundred or so, mostly women were dressed for running and carrying bags and bags of bras, many pink. I have no info on what this was about, although there was a sandwich board out in the middle of the picnic area that probably explained it.

On the far side, after a quick bathroom stop, it was more quiet running. At times there was traffic that seemed like a typical Sunday, and at times it seemed like I was the only one out there.

I couldn't decide if I was running fast or typical. I didn't feel used up like I do when I'm pushing hard and my pace is near 5:10/km, which is what I usually feel near the end of the run. But I felt slow at times. The GPS said I was merely being consistent, running about 5:40 more or less all through the entire run.

At The Stairs, I had some bounce on the steps, and instead of running up the two flights to the landing that I could get on The Path Under The Stairs, I kept climbing. I managed to run all the way up, though was puffing hard at the top.

And then I ran the length of the bluff to 4th Street and then homeward.

Distance: 16.49 Time: 1:35:15
Average speed: 5:46 min/km. (10.07 kph)
Rest distance: 1.03 km. Rest time: 10:00.
Total distance: 17.51 km. Total time: 1:45:15.

Shoes: New Balance 769.
Today's earworm: L n K - wonderful music.

Weather: Starting in fog, and ending in light drizzle, but that was at the airport. 4C all through.