Saturday Roots Run & Next Up

East Main Street with Circle Street to right. (5/23/20)

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 59°F (Real Feel 59°F), Wind NNE @ 1 mph, 94% Humidity at 7:30 a.m.

Time/Pace: 1:33.04, 9:21 min/mile

Route: North on North Winton Rd, west on Empire Blvd., South on Culver Rd, west on East Main St., south on Union St., East on Goodman.

Me (You) in relation to other Males
51-54 participating in One NY run
after 10 days.

Having recently completed the Virtual Mind the Ducks run, I have signed up for two more "virtual" runs before (fingers-crossed) a fall half-marathon that was rescheduled from April. While, personally, it remains an awkward feeling to "earn" swag for simply running, while not really placing, these virtual races are helpful in maintaining goals and motivation. The most recent "race" I've registered for is a virtual run across New York State called One NY. There are two options: a 1000k (6 miles a day) or 500k (3 miles a day) to be run between May 15 and August 31. I elected to sign-up for the 500k option figuring that even if something (work, health, family) were to go awry, I could at the very least walk the 3 miles daily with my dog, an activity we complete most days anyway.

This morning's run brought my total for the week to 27.5 miles and reinforces the challenges of transitioning to warmer, more humid weather. I have traditionally been an early morning runner, but am making an effort to run later in the morning when the sun is more prevalent. This requires me to be more diligent in hydrating earlier in my runs and insuring that I bring enough water for the entire distance. Once again, the COVID-19 quarantine signals fairly quiet streets, though traffic is increasing. Despite the lack of direct sun, it was a very nice morning for a "roots run" through old East-side neighborhoods.

East Avenue with Wegmans to left; location of first "real"
job at 16 years old. (5/23/30)

North Winton Road; St. James was my parish and elementary
school from grades 5 to 8. (5/23/20)

Empire Boulevard; The Boulevard Restaurant was frequented
with parents as a kid and wife and friends as adult. Now gone
is a corner Seven Eleven where we would go to
buy comic books. (5/23/20)

Culver Road just past Merchants fork; used to go to bowling
league Saturday mornings at lanes just out of view to left.
Breakfast at James Browns always a treat. (5/23/20)

East Main Street at Culver Road. (5/23/20)

Bicycle path along Union Street. (5/23/20)

Trees are done blooming but still a beautiful start to my
"finishing chute." (5/23/20)

Fragrant Harvard Street lilacs offer boost of energy
coming down final half mile. (5/23/20)

I was glad it was humid as it is necessary to anticipate that being the norm during the upcoming summer months. Legs felt heavy but passing by so many old (and current) haunts lightened the load. Great to get out for a beautiful Saturday morning run.