Where's My Runventure?

This week has been a bad one for breathing.  The smoke has been freaking insane up here in Alberta from those wildfires in Washington.   I questioned after Friday left me wheezing whether running on Saturday would be such a great plan.  But then I woke up on Saturday to seeing specks of actual sky and clouds...I couldn't taste the smoke in the air anymore.

Things were looking up.  The Air Quality Statement was still up on the Weather Network

But I decided to try it anyway.   14.5K is tough to do in Langdon and even tougher to do on a treadmill.  My plan was to run around Glenmore Reservoir since thats normally what I do at this point in my training plan...and I hadn't run there in two years.  I missed it.

So I got myself ready and scribbled a note to hubby so they'd know where to look for my body...

and to the city I went.

It was a gorgeous morning.  The sky was blue instead of grey, though the smoke still hung low over the water.  I had come prepared with my inhaler and took a couple of precautionary puffs before I headed out.

I had a couple of goals heading out.  1) To run more than I walked...maintain a steady pace even if it was slower than a slug.  2) To finish the 14.5k in 2:30.  

The lower path looked irresistable to me...so I headed that way.  I love to run close to the water whenever I can.  There were a few walkers on the path but ridiculously few runners.  I think the smoke potential had alot of people delaying their long runs.

I made a quick pitstop at the sailing club and made a new friend who was eating a pinecone that was bigger than he was.

and then I carried on my way.   Honestly - things were pretty uneventful but I was doing well.  I was running far more than walking and, while I was slower than shit, I was still moving forward. It was starting warm up out there so I was happy to enter the shade at the entrance to Weaselhead.

Oh - new signs to read!  I am so excited about the Greenway.

More sun dappled path.

Yep - the bomb warning signs are still there. Cracks me up everytime.

Now someone is just taunting me.

Down the big hill.

And into the flats.  All was calm round these parts.

Obligatory 1/3 done selfie

I heard the clatter of a woodpecker and there he was...he refused to pose for me.

And so I carried on.  The path was so quiet that I really found myself wishing I had music.  I don't usually wish for my earbuds but things would have been much more exciting with dancing.  

The path was strewn with fallen leaves.  Signs that fall is almost here.

At the blue bridge a canoeist (canoer?) sailed by across the glass like water.  I think she was having more fun than me.   I wasn't having a bad run.  I was just really bored.   This is the kind of run you need a friend on...

I promised myself I could walk up the 37th street hill.

Then it was on to the Canoe club for another pitstop.  Things I saw along the way.

I didn't try to jump aboard the S.S. Moyie.  Signs it was a good run.

After a quick pitstop at the club - I padded on.  My ass was starting to feel like lead dragging me down.  Like I was trying with all my effort to keep going but couldn't gain momentum.  I decided to cut down a back alley once I was back in residential to cut off a bit of distance.

Yep - that was my biggest adventure of the whole run.

and then it hit me.  My ass was dragging because I was not nutritioning properly.   Stupid me.  I was supposed to take a gel an hour earlier....mmmm cawfeee.  This one is much better than the old espresso one was.

Dum dee dum.  My energy picked up a bit after this and I ran past the hospital and down into Eagle Ridge.

hmm...that wasn't there last time I ran.  Guess two years is plenty of time to build a mansion.

As I passed Heritage park, I hit the 14.5k mark.  Somehow my 14.5k route was now a kilometre longer than I remembered.  This run was about to come in closer to 16k...

But I did the whole loop in 2:33 so well within my goal of 14.5k in 2:30.  Something to be proud of, even if it wasn't the most exhilarating run.  And I ran far more than I walked which is progress.

I ended up with 6 little blisters on my feet, though.  I'll spare you the pictures.  They didn't hurt.  I won't be whining.  Ha.

Another long run in the books.  But I need more adventure.  #alltherunventuresplease