Recovery to Humboldt Park

Not a lot of time to run today as there's projects to check off for Easter weekend. So I got out early, headed down to the park, and ran the perimeter in the grass. It seems that a lot of runners do this because a fairly well-developed cow path has formed beside the sidewalks.

5 miles then back for a brunch buffet at Alligators!

Back In The City

Well it was back on pavement again today as I ran a tour of the places my kids have lived in Chicago. I included a good stretch along the lakeshore and cut through the Lincoln Park Zoo again, too. I'll add photos after the weekend.

Able to run most of it but didn't want to overdo it on the concrete either so took some hiking breaks. Besides, either the long drive in the car or a strange bed left my back complaining a bit when getting out of bed this AM.

Looking Downtown from Division

My daughter helped get this restaurant off Dearborn started, originally called Ballo

Heading up the lake shore from Navy Pier

looking back from near Castaways

At least 10 miles today.

Travel Day - For Whom the Bell Tolls

Meetings all day then on the road for Easter weekend.  Chalk it up as a recovery?

0 miles I expect.

But at least I can think about how cool it was to run the trails yesterday, lined with Bluebells as a guide!

Foxy Lady

Beautiful on the trails today, even with a steady breeze.  But for some reason it seemed as if I were under attack. First a shadow overhead caused me to duck but it was only a Great Blue Heron blocking out the sun.  Then it seemed as if a gang of wild turkeys were racing me, as they trotted away ahead of me, then ran in from another angle further up the trail...pretty neat to see how fast they were but I doubt if they ran as far as I did!  Then when crossing the prairie I was startled by a Fox Snake that was sunning itself.

It was stretched out until I came back for this photo.

With the potential of holiday travel interrupting my weekend schedule, and to see if I could do it, I tried for a longer run today with very little hiking.  Pleased that some sections felt great and I could open up without knee pain.

15 miles in the AM. 3 miles PM

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Designed to be an easy day yet today as I'm still feeling some effects of Sunday's run.  Clouds had rolled in and it was a bit breezy but again, nicer in the woods.  Pleased to see three Trumpeter Swans fly overhead and fighting the wind.

photo courtesy of The Trumpeter Swan Society

The forest floor continues to surprise me as the Mayapples are already emerging and leafing out!  It still seems that spring is progressing about 1 month early...morel mushrooms are probably going to show up in a week or so.

Did a combination of running and hiking for an 11 mile AM and a 3 mile PM.

Party In the Forest

I came across a campfire ring today that was totally disrespectful of the woods.  Garbage and cans were strewn everywhere and no attempt had been made to clean anything up.  I didn't even want to take a before and after photo as I picked it all up...four grocery bags for trash and four more of recycle cans!

I finally got to rolling on the trails and was pleased to feel OK running even after yesterday's long run.  Some interesting sightings today...a Cooper's Hawk with a rodent in its clutches as it flew past me, across the path, and into the woods.  Then the forest floor was coming alive with a carpet of False Rue Anemone.

Then a bit later, some additional construction by mountain bikers to help get across the abandoned railroad tracks.

A good outing...10 miles in the AM and another recovery hike in the PM.

Venti

I've had the intent to get in a 20 mile run before now in my build towards the Black Hills 50.  I did claim a 20 mile day last week but that was due to the additional recovery outing later that evening.  Today I was finally able to put together a time slot and an effort that snagged me my 20!  Although I was certainly tiring by the end, I was pleased with the effort and the fact that it was a majority of running with only a few hiking segments.

It was foggy and a bit chilly when I started at dawn but rather comfortable within a couple hours and the sun was beginning to burn through the fog before my finish.  The heart rate monitor would simply not function properly so I removed the new battery from the receiver and tossed the rest of the damn thing in the trash. 

I'm planning a short recovery hike yet later tonight.

20 in the AM and 3 in the PM for a 76 mile week.