Thursday afternoon 6/20/2013
Battle Creek Regional Park loop
5.42 mi / 8.7 km total
4.6 mi / 7.4 km run
90 F / 32 C - hot and humid!
I had business in eastern St. Paul again, so instead of the usual run I do there around nearby Lake Phalen, I decided to drive a bit further east to a nice regional park built around a creek that drains into the Mississippi and cuts through some limestone bluffs. First I ran on the park’s rolling paths up on top of the bluffs for a mile or so, then descended down the outside of the park on a couple of big streets. The first street had a bike path on the side, but on the second one I was running on the shoulder. Luckily there wasn’t too much traffic on it. Once I got to the lower park entrance, I stopped to stretch a bit and walk around, read an historical marker, and then ran up through the middle of the park along the creek, ascending back up to the top of the bluff. The two-mile ascent was very picturesque, with lots of little water falls. It was pretty hot though, so when I got back up to the plateau, I cut out the last section of my planned run and walked the last half mile or so back to the car. I was knackered. Still, managed a decent aerobic pace on the ascent, and 10:23 mm overall.
It’s always fun to explore new routes. I’ll have to do this one again next time I’m in the area.
Battle Creek Regional Park loop
5.42 mi / 8.7 km total
4.6 mi / 7.4 km run
90 F / 32 C - hot and humid!
I had business in eastern St. Paul again, so instead of the usual run I do there around nearby Lake Phalen, I decided to drive a bit further east to a nice regional park built around a creek that drains into the Mississippi and cuts through some limestone bluffs. First I ran on the park’s rolling paths up on top of the bluffs for a mile or so, then descended down the outside of the park on a couple of big streets. The first street had a bike path on the side, but on the second one I was running on the shoulder. Luckily there wasn’t too much traffic on it. Once I got to the lower park entrance, I stopped to stretch a bit and walk around, read an historical marker, and then ran up through the middle of the park along the creek, ascending back up to the top of the bluff. The two-mile ascent was very picturesque, with lots of little water falls. It was pretty hot though, so when I got back up to the plateau, I cut out the last section of my planned run and walked the last half mile or so back to the car. I was knackered. Still, managed a decent aerobic pace on the ascent, and 10:23 mm overall.
It’s always fun to explore new routes. I’ll have to do this one again next time I’m in the area.
Yah, I got a little of that yesterday too. Gotta love the extra stimulation and variety that barefooting brings!there is some sole conditioning to be done for this hot pavement stuff. the soles of my feet are tingly all over