run, run, run

Saint John, New Brunswick 6:00 am

For my first run in Canada I was kind of hoping for some scenery. I just picked out some roads on a map and ran. As far as scenery goes, I chose poorly. Mostly strip malls and fast food joints. Then I thought I was getting out in the country a bit and turned on Grandview Road. I crested a hill and got the grandest view of an oil refinery. I'll have to ask the locals about a better route for tomorrow.

Saint John, NB 6:00 am

I got lost again. I mapped out a course to a big park in town and took a few wrong turns getting there, but I finally found it. But once I was there I didn't know which entrance I had come in at and where I was going. There were a few signs with a park map on them, but they were completely unreadable and after a few miles I ended up right back where I started. So I worked my way back to where the hotel was and ran a loop around the downtown area. Lots of hills today.

Saint John, NB 5:00 pm

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/47317493

I planned on doing my fourth and final TOU long run after work on Friday, but there is a hurricane on its way, so I went out tonight. Weather was nice, but I made a couple of tragic errors in judgement that I think are contributing to the way I feel right now.

I mapped out a course on Google that turned out to be pretty good, but hilly. I only saw the roads on a map, didn't know anything about what was on them. I didn't bring any water with me. There was a drug store between miles 2 and 3, but I didn't stop because I was sure there would be something down a little further. There wasn't. So I ran out to this islandish thing called the Irving Nature Park (JD Irving pretty much owns this Province, including the paper I'm working at). It took about 6 miles to get there and it was about 3 miles around it, so I took two laps before heading back. So, except for a gel I choked down at mile 9, I didn't have anything to drink until mile 17 or so.

My second mistake was deciding to get clever and do some trail running on the island. The whole course was hilly, but the trails were especially so, with some parts needing stairs to go up and down. I only ran on the trails for a couple of miles, but it took a lot out of me.

But I survived and jumped in the hotel pool afterward. That really helps get the aching out of the legs.

Now I'm just hoping that Earl will change directions a bit and not make me stranded here on Saturday morning. I've got to get home in time to watch my Cougars put a beat down on the Huskies.

Saint John, NB 6:15 pm

After my long run yesterday, I planned on a short, easy run tonight. Then I mapped out a course along the Bay of Fundy (you can't say Bay of Fundy without Fun!) that ended up being medium length. Then when I got out there I was feeling good and decided to push it for the last few miles. Felt great by the end of the run and now I'm ready to leave this place -- as long as Hurricane Earl doesn't screw up my flight plans.