Weekly Summary: Feb. 27-Mar. 4

02-27-12

Mon: 0

02-28-12

Tue: 0

02-29-12

Wed: 0

03-01-12

Thu: 0

03-02-12

Fri-PM: 8.5 mi (1:21)
The Bridge Which Must Not Be Named (1x), Franklin St. (1x), Lake St. (1x) 

Greenway (GW) to the Mississippi River, and back. After some sickness this week, I finally decided to venture forth and try the medicine of exercise. I was only planning to do 5 mi or so, but thought about the possibility of going farther to reach a couple of bridges and caved. The highlight of the run, though, was the unplanned event of racing a train. There's a 1-mile stretch of uninterrupted pavement (no road crossings) on the route out to river where I came across a dormant set of train cars, waiting for something. Turns out that something was me. Right when I came up on its rear (the train tracks parallel the pavement), it started to inch forward, gradually picking up speed. I chased it and kept pace with the last car for about 1/2-mile before running out of real estate. I estimate top speeds were around 10 mph (6-min pace). I guess the train technically edged me out for the victory, but not without a fight. Also, I guess this is probably what it feels like to be in one of those chase scenes in one of those movies where life continuing on earth depends on the main character's running speed and endurance capacities. I'll be ready.

In other news, the Sabo bridge is still out-of-commission. It looks like the bridge engineers have propped it up in certain spots for a temporary fix, but foot traffic is probably a long way off. I'm guessing they have to do some pretty thorough failure analysis testing before opening it back up. But, at least the Light Rail and highway cars are back in motion . . .

03-03-12

Sat-AM: 6 mi (1:02)
The Bridge Which Must Not Be Named (2x)

GW to the Mississippi trail. In addition to traversing across a new, unnamed bridge, another noteworthy endeavor on the day was going to check out the trail conditions along the river. Since late December/early January, I've reluctantly given in to the icy reality that covers the trails and decided just to ride out the conditions as a "pavement pounder" (or, when times are desperate, as a "treadmill treader") until spring arrives. I realize that spring won't even begin to arrive until April, at the earliest. But that exploratory voice inside my heads keeps whispering "you never know . . ." and it's never been good at the silent game. Anyways, all that to say that the trails are indeed still icy, and I finally recorded my slip of the winter. The upsides: no broken bones, and no falling off the trail.

03-04-12

Sun-PM: 3 mi (:36)
Franklin St. (1x), Lake St. (1x) 

Along the Greenway, over some bridges, with Ashley! A deep conversation from the run . . .

Ashley: We're running pretty slow, aren't we?
Me: Depends. Speed is kinda relative, unless you measure it objectively. Know what I mean?
Ashley: Yeah. I know what you mean . . .

Totals: 17.5 mi (2:59), 7 bridges