Where I ran today

I've been running to work lately, and most of the time, running home also.  It's great to be getting out there regularly again, and I'm really enjoying it.

My route is always the same.  I run in the alley between two residential streets, where people's garages are, and where they put your garbage and recycling cans.  It works well if your streets are laid out in staid grid fashion, as they are in my neighbourhood.

I like the alley because there are no cars, I don't have to dodge pedestrians on the sidewalk, and I usually have the alley to myself.  I have a few checkpoints along the way, and I often time myself on the way to work, giving myself split times so I can see when and where I lost or gained time.  It is a great way to measure my progress, and I record it all.

When I started, I was going all out, and my time was just under 30 minutes.  My best happened last week, when I ran 26:13. It wasn't an all-out pace, but a relaxed yet hard effort.  So I've shaved almost four minutes off my time, which is excellent, and I think I could do even better.

Instead of running on my regular route last Friday, I ran along the ocean for a section of my run.  It's not the most direct route, but it's a pleasant diversion if I'm not in a rush to get home.  It's slow going because the rocks are the size of baseballs, so footing is never secure.  It's also the intertidal zone, so the rocks can be slippery.

I run to work with a backpack.  It's got my shirt and pants for the day, and essentials like my phone, keys, and wallet.  It'll usually have my lunch in there too, but I've been bad at making a lunch lately.

I'd like to take pictures of my runs more often, but unless I'm running to or from work, I don't bring anything with me.  Maybe I'll sacrifice and bring my camera or phone along, but I'd have to figure out a way to do that without bring along a bulky bag.

Here's Friday's trip home from work.  The route is much more hilly, and is about two kilometers longer than my standard.  Since I live so close to the ocean (about 16 blocks) I need to make a point of actually going there more often.  I bet sometimes a month goes by without me seeing it.

That's my run!  Now it's off to bed.