The Long Run

I resisted the urge to sleep in this morning and managed to get up just after 7:00.  I went downstairs and planned out my route the best I could.   There is a canal that exits out the northern edge of the city.  I had heard it had a nice path to run on, so that was my route.  I got a little bit lost heading thru the city but soon found my way.  The path started in an industrial area but soon gave way to the countryside.  My original goal was for 7 miles because I was still slightly sore from the race.  However, the first 2 miles were kind of slow and I wanted to see more of the path.  I ran until it was 4.5 miles out then turned around.  The sun was out but the air was perfect for running.  Made my way back ok.  I had brought my phone and 5 euros just in case I got lost but ended up being fine.  

Average pace: 8:37

I hope to run this route again.  The canal goes on for quite some distance so it would be perfect for a really long run. 

We were at an amusement park yesterday called Walibi, pretty much there from open until closing at 7:00.  So, by the time we got home, at dinner; got the kids to bed and decompressed with the adults, the next thing I knew it was around 12:00, and a few glasses of libations.   Some of which were to celebrate my brother-in-law's new position at work.   I managed to still wake up reasonably early (about 7:30), get ready, warm up, and finally start my run about 8:30.

I ran up the Leuven canal again but did not get lost on my way there this time so I was able to cover more actual canal distance.   The morning had been threatening rain since the start of the run which actually made for very nice running weather until at actually did start to rain, at about the turn around point.   Today there were several people out fishing along the banks of the canal and I saw new sights since I made it farther.  At one point it looked like the path ended but instead detoured onto a dirt road to go around a big Cargill grain elevator.

Some place around 8 and a half miles, yesterday's long day began to catch up with me, not really slowing me down but making me wish the run was closer to being over.   Eventually I made it back to town and walked through the train station as it was pretty busy with people.  I  came out the other side and then picked it up for the final half mile home.

Average pace: 8:05

Wanted to do at least 5 or 6 miles this morning.  We were heading out to Kortrijk on the train at 9:00 so I had to get up a little bit earlier which was good for me.  I got out of the house just before 7:00 and decided to run to the Provincial park and then do a couple loops around the lake there.  I had not run there before but looked at the map and was given directions also.  Unfortunately I took a wrong turn after running too far on the bike path and ended up going through the cemetery.  The odd thing was that it took me a while to realize that I was in a cemetery because it looked very different than any that I had seen before.

Anyway I ended up on a busy road heading toward the countryside which I stayed on until just past 3 miles then I turned around and headed home.

Average pace: 8:14

We spent the day sight seeing in Kortrijk where there had been a big battle over 700 years ago which gave birth to Flemish nationalism.   It was also a very nice city to walk around in with old churches, parks, and lots of shops and restaurants.

By the end of the day the top of my right foot was hurting me - I did my run in my old running shoes which may not have been a great idea.  I'm going to take tomorrow off from running so I'll be ok for Saturday. 

Jenny and I ran together this morning.  We woke up about 6:30 and left the house just after 7:00, heading over towards the canal.   The sun came out briefly and for a short time it felt like it was going to get hot but then the sun ducked back behind some clouds.   We were doing a pretty decent pace and when we got to 4 miles I asked Jenny if she wanted to do a total of 9 and she said ok.

The run back wasn't quite as nice as we were both starting to have some GI issues so we went a little bit slower and ended up taking a few walking breaks but not too many.

I don't get to run with Jenny very often so this was a nice change.