Today was my scheduled Long-Slow Run of the week. When I say slow, it's not like I'm plodding along like an old lady in an antique shop, but a little less intense than my Wacky Hill Climb on Friday. Seeing as how I didn't really know any other routes off-hand, I guess I'll head to the Nature Park again. This time though, I'll add an extra lap around the park to to tag on another 7K.
Heading out, I take a slightly different route to avoid the wrath of Lancaster and Duke Streets, heading further West to take Dufferin Row and Lancaster Avenue. Fundy Heights wasn't a problem, and the hill down to the park was well, downhill. Getting into the park, I notice there aren't many cars parked in the lot, as it's still relatively early and I guess most folk around here are the church-goin/Sunday relaxin-type. I see a few squirrels bouncing around like acorn-crackheads, but other than that, it's a quiet morning at the park.
Lap #1 around the park was easy-peasy. I've done this before. Without a watch, I have no idea how fast I'm going, but my trusty MP3 player keeps my legs moving at a steady groove. Today it's all about Chromeo. Awww yeah! A friend of mine made me a mix of all different songs, sped up, or slowed down to one tempo, keeping the kick drum going steady the whole time for 90 minutes. Strangely, the track ended as I finished finished the second lap. That's 20K in 90 minutes. A little faster than Wednesday, but factor in Extreme Hill aka Sand Cove Road, and it's a rough stretch home.
The last time I was in Saint John, I tried to do a similar run, but I couldn't make it home and had to walk up that hill, taking breaks along the way. Not today, friendo. I dig in, lift my knees and make that hill a thing of the past. The long, steady climb didn't hurt at all, and I can tell I've come a long way physically since last summer. Fundy Heights levels out and I'm able to slow my breathing down a bit. Nothing feels better than a rest period after a big climb (well maybe one or two things), but I know I still have a downhill to burn. Here we go! It feels pretty good to sprint at the end of a long run, and I almost feel like I could run another 10K or so. That's good to know, because in just a few short weeks, I'll be running a marathon in Victoria! 27K was a breeze today, and took me just under 2 hours. That's not race pace, but it's not bad.
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