Notes
A great experience! I'm very happy with this - as much for the experience as for the actual run itself. Tiffany & I searched Lawrence routes on Map My Run & found Recon The Lake. We drove part of it yesterday & I was game to give it a try.
This a.m. was warmer than I'm used to, but that was good. Drove to Hyvee & started out. Started out heading west on Clinton (23) & then left on Crestline (?) which basically turns into 27th. Then I went straight across the trafficway & by the cute little park with the cute little pond. Now, this was all bike trail & it was awesome. Their new sidewalks & bike trails here have to be 10 feet wide. Runners, bicyclists, walkers, little kids on cute little pink bikes etc., can all share this easily. It's great. Going out, this stretch seemed someone desolate, lonely, and long, but it really wasn't as I found on the return trip. At the "end" of this stretch I went straight across 900 & I should have turned right, but no matter - it dead ended abruptly, but then it was a grassy trail straight up. I figured, "why not?" So up I went. I was rewarded with an incredible view of Clinton Lake (man made, but very nice & quite large). Enjoyed the view for a moment & headed back down. This time I turned on 900 & followed till 1415. This leads to Clinton St. Park. Shortly after getting on 1415 I saw THE HILL. Holy smokes! I was starting to feel like I was doing HOA. So, upsy daisy! It was slow, but really fine . . . it didn't stress me or bother me. Made it to the St. Park Entrance & was greeted by 3 older people in the little booth that told me if I had so much energy to run their hills they would have to give me a sticker. Enjoyed a moment of banter w/ them. The man told me I had 2 miles with some decent hills b/4 I would get to the end of 1415 & to the Lake. So, off I went. He was right! It was fine though & at the end there was a boat dock & open bathrooms! What a treat! There I was at 8.5 though . . . and thinking it seemed like a long way to get here & I still had to get back - w/ the hills. I wasn't feeling too bad though so turned around and headed back up. Again, I took the hills slowly & they gave me no trouble. I was actually glad for them. When I got to the gate shack the folks gave me hearty waves and goodbyes & I headed out of the park. By the time I got back to the bike trail there were quite a few runners, bikes, etc. out. Everyone was very, very friendly. I was impressed. The trip back didn't seem half as long as the trip out. All the folks here were wearing KU shirts though . . . so headed on back to Hyvee & did a few loops around the parking lot to get my 16.
This course was given as 14.5 I think, but I added on a bit with my detour (wrong turn that turned out good) & then down by the dock, so it worked out well for 16. I had wanted 16, but wasn't sure I could pull it off & figured I might just get 12 - 14 so I'm extra happy I got the 16. Still, it's not easy - my legs get so tired, but it wasn't that bad I guess. When left to my own devices, and given a few huge hills, I pull out a 944 pace. Sure, I wish I was faster, but hey, this is still within guidelines for a long run, and it's what works for me - it's what feels good & it's what I'm enjoying so I think I'm gonna go with it!
Back at Tiffany & Charlie's, Tiffany served me a peeled, deyolked hardboiled egg, datebar & milk! Yum & what good service. That should tide me over till lunch!
I'm really looking forward to running Lawrence again - so many options around here.