5.7 miles
the ford loop
70 degrees/15 mph wind with 22 mph gusts
For some reason, I’m liking the wind this month. Who knew? Last year, I hated running when it was really windy. I avoided it, if I could. But this September, two of my best runs have been when it was 15+ mph wind. The only time the wind was really bad was on the Lake Street bridge, a mile into my run. I had to hold onto my visor so it wouldn’t blow off into the river.
What are some memorable things about my run?
- the windy bridge
- the moments when I ran in the sun and wasn’t sheltered by the shade
- peering down at the trees in the ravine as I ran up the river road path towards Summit. So pretty and mysterious and inviting. Looking at a map the other day, I discovered that this place has a name: Shadow Falls Park. I must hike there before the winter!
- feeling okay as I ran up the hill right before Summit, imagining how I’ll feel when I run it in less than a month at the TC 10 mile race.
- listening to my feet striking the paved path with a thud, then crunching on the dirt
- watching the relaxed, strong stride of a runner as she passed me, finally passing another runner who was running on the dirt path
- speeding up to pass a group of 6 or 7 runners
- checking out the trees–no color yet–while running across the Ford bridge
- noticing 3 police cars passing me on the river road, not all at once, but within 5 minutes of each other
- feeling hot and flushed
I wasn’t listening to music. Even so, I don’t remember many distinctive sounds. No roller skiers. Only a few bikers. Some walkers with dogs or backpacks. Several runners. No unusual whooshing wind sounds or barks. I do remember noticing, as I started, how intense (and intent) the cars seemed to be as they rushed up the road. No rowers or quick snatches of conversation overhead as I passed walkers. One brief song blasting from a radio on a bike. No water sounds. Some water sparkle on the bridge as the sun created a path of light across the river. A few bright orange leaves hidden in the trees just above the Lake St/Marshall bridge.