Notes on Today's Run: Cool New Trail!

Today's run was awesome.

Not in the "ooh that felt great, my legs were strong and I owned it" way (because, well, my legs felt like crap), but in the "it's great to be out running with a buddy and oooh there's a cool trail I've never found before" way.

I ran with Jeremy from the Runner's Shop today. He's heading into his taper, and I was tired from already doing three 17k runs this week, so we decided to take it easy.

Apparently 5 mins/km (8 mins/mile) is "easy" again. I guess I should find that comforting.

Highlight of the run: We found a wonderful dirt trail that wasn't on the map (i.e. Google Maps).

After dropping down what I think is the steepest slope I've ever run down (we gave up and walked it after a bit), we found an awesome trail that ducks, dives and weaves its way alongside the river into Sunnybrook Park.

It wasn't a fast trail - there were way too many trees to jump over and duck under - but I didn't care. A little mud and a couple of river crossings meant I felt like a little boy again... so cool! I'm definitely working it into some future routes.

Unfortunately there was a nasty hill to climb once we came off the trail but whatever, you can't have it all your own way.

Turns out, despite plotting out a 15k run, by the time you take into account running from home to where I met J & back, this was my longest run since re-starting running.

Combined with three other long runs, that's 67km this week - a 35% increase in mileage over last week - whoops! I'm going to tone it down a bit next week.

I'm aiming to work my way to being able to sustain a consistent 70km/week until I start training for Boston in December, so I'm in no rush to push the mileage. Easy does it.

On the plus side, still no pain in the leg! Good times.

To celebrate, here's a funky pic from Awenda Provincial Park, where I did two runs the other week. It's a shoe tree - cool!