Alternate Route

I run for many reasons, but one of the foremost is that I hate to let a beautiful day go to waste. Today was just such a day: temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s, low humidity, partly sunny skies. I began my run at an unusual time for me, half-past noon, but the weather was mild enough I had nothing to worry about from the midday sun.

For a change, I decided today to run the loop that runs along the Schuylkill River from Falls Bridge to the Art Museum and back. In order to get in ten miles, I also added the trail that follows the river into Center City Philadelphia. I've only run this route once before. The surface, most of which is asphalt, is harder than what I usually run on Forbidden Drive.

Unfortunately, and perhaps due to the hard surfaces, I had to run through various pains throughout. In the first three miles, my shins bothered me (which almost never happens to me). While that pain eventually dissipated, the sole of my left foot began to bother me. The pain always mild, but I've come to regard these little aches as early warning systems alerting me to a possible injury.

It was nevertheless exciting to run along the portion of the river that borders Center City.  I ran as far as Market Street before turning back. Then, after I passed the Art Museum, I came upon the crowds gathered for a regatta. I enjoyed the festive atmosphere that surrounded the event, but the crowds did slow me down somewhat.

A short time after finishing the run, I noticed that my legs were aching. Perhaps the hard surface was too much for me today. At any rate, I'll return to Forbidden Drive for a while before trying the Schuylkill loop again.