8.2 miles
franklin loop + extra
52 degrees/wind: 21 mph with gusts up to 32 mph
8.2 miles without stopping. This is the most I’ve run without stopping since before my knee injury in June of 2017. It felt good. I was originally planning just to run the Franklin loop but I was feeling good and decided to keep going. Running an extra 3 miles is a big mental victory for me. I rarely can get myself to run extra. And I didn’t mind the wind. I used to hate the wind, now I love it. Strange. The only time it was really bad was on the lake street bridge heading back to Minneapolis. I was running straight into it. A couple of times I was worried I would be blown across the path.
What else do I remember? 10+ Things I Noticed
- the gray sky, how it made the green glow softly
- saw a roller skier (west side of river) and a rollerblader (east side)
- the runner passing me from behind, his long stride looked relaxed but slightly strange
- the clicking of a gear being changed on a bike
- Minneapolis parks people out repainting the walking/biking signs on the path
- hearing one of their vehicles rapidly approaching from behind, then watching it speed by beside me
- flashes of yellow and orange almost hidden in the green trees
- the blue gray Mississippi
- my left shoulder aching every so often
- feeling warm, then cooling off because of the wind
- noticing the metal steps on the st. paul side that Scott, Rosie and I walked up last weekend when we checked out Meeker Lock and Dam
- running above, trying to look down below to see where the dog park path is
- the beautiful view of the river and the tree line on the path just past the lake street bridge
- the orange vest of a gardener digging up dirt by the side of the road
- feeling strong and not bothered by how strong the wind was
- turning onto the river road path and falling in behind a runner in shorts and a gray sweatshirt. Not sure how fast she was running, but it was faster than me