Run 028 - Mid-city Between Grand and Central

February 28, 2023

The 28th run on the 28th of the month.  It was a Tuesday so it was the regular run with Jerry at 2:30pm and he’s happy to accommodate me and go on these new routes.  Today I ordered up a 7-miler and kept it mostly north/south through the mid-city area.  Here’s the planning map:

While it looks straight there are some hills involved.  It was pretty laid back and the only sketchy part were the numerous times we crossed Broadwater Ave., a very busy street and we were not always at controlled intersections.  Here’s some views along the way:

And the stats:

Run 027 - Between Poly and Colton

February 27, 2023

Today I ran the route that I aborted a bit over two weeks ago when I fell 3 blocks into it.  It’s a short run, about 3 miles and, this time, no dog.

The weather was perfect, about 40 degrees out, no wind, and sunny skies.  Here’s my planned route:

There really wasn’t much to get excited about on this route as it is all quiet residential.  However, there are some people who don’t shovel and with the snow turning to ice, the street is safer than a side walk.

Here’s where I fell 2 weeks ago.

That about it.  Here’s a couple more pictures and the stats for today’s run.

                                                

Run 026 - Lewis and Broadwater

February 25, 2023

After a 2-week break, I am back to running.  You see, 2 weeks ago yesterday, I went out to do a 3-mile run with Bart the Dog.  We were just 3 blocks from home and 3 blocks into the run when he turned and went across my path and stopped.  I unavoidably stepped on his leash which pulled him even closer to me and I went over him, landing on the sidewalk on my left side.  It was the left side of my left thigh that struck the ground and, in the pocket of my shorts on that side I had my Minolta 16p camera which dug into my leg.  I rolled onto my back and knew I was in trouble.  I tried to get up under my own power but couldn’t.  A man and woman in a truck stopped and helped me to my feet and also offered me a ride home.  I thanked them but figured I could “walk it off” and maybe even complete the run so I declined the ride.

I walked along Colton Ave. to the next corner and turned up Sunnyview.  I took one step toward running and knew that wasn’t going to happen so I hobbled back to home where I laid down with an ice pack on my leg and Bart the Dog alongside me.  He knew I was hurting.

It was 4-5 days before I could sort of walk again.  Bending my left knee was tough as that stretched the tissues in my thigh but I did it anyway to keep things from tightening up too bad.  By the 8th day, a Saturday, I was feeling lots better and did a 5-1/2 mile walk with the Rim Runners.  The next Tuesday I did a run with Jerry but due to the weather, a big storm coming in, we only went out for 3 miles.  In the meantime, I hit the pool at the gym and that felt fine.

I have a big bruise on my thigh just below the hip where I struck the ground.  It’s about 3x5 inches.  What’s really interesting is on the inside of the thigh, just above the knee, I have a larger bruise, at least 4x6 inches.  Then, a few days ago, I noticed another one, about 3x4 inches behind my left knee.  I guess I really did some damage.

Oh, on the upside, the camera sustained no damage.

That brings me today.  I headed down to the Y for the usual Saturday morning run and there were 5 walkers and me.  Yes, I was the only runner.  I hadn’t made a route map but knew a course I’d been saving for just such an occasion.  I headed west to Division and then onto Lewis Ave.  I kept things simple and ran Lewis to 24th Street West, which is 24 blocks which is 3 miles.  I headed south on 24th to Broadwater and took that 24 blocks east to Division where I turned north and back to the Y.  6.85 miles.  My pace was slow, partially because I’m being easy on the leg and partially due to the accumulated snow and ice.

About the snow….the law here says that residents/owners of properties are supposed to have the snow cleared off the sidewalks in front of their property 24 hours after the end of the storm.  It’s been over 48 hours and only about half of the sidewalks are cleared.  Along Broadwater it was really bad and there were long stretches where I could tell if there was a sidewalk or not but know there is.  I’d run in the street when I could but Broadwater is a busy 4-lane street so I’d have to hop back into the snow quite frequently.

I felt pretty good the whole way but was ready to be done at the 6-mile mark.  Here are the stats and some photos:

This is what the side walks should look like.  Some people have it figured out.

Then there are those who don’t.

Then there are those who don’t and leave obstructions too.

These people after this place are right across from a school and couldn’t be bothered.

Running in the street is an option but it’s packed snow and slippery.

More photos from along the route.

A stretch of no shoveling.

Run 025 - West of Pioneer Park

February 8, 2023

It’s another Wednesday night run with the Rim Runners and it’s a small turnout.  Well, it’s dark and very windy so I guess some people are more the fair-weather types.  It was John, Marlena, Shelley and I to do the route I laid out.  It was pretty simple: run west, go south a block, run east, repeat.  These were all residential streets so little traffic but those runs heading west were against a very strong headwind.  Here’s my planning map:

I did take one photo along the way:

And here are the stats:

Run 024 - North and South streets in MidTown

February 7, 2023

It was another Tuesday run with Jerry and I came up with a new route that compliments last weeks west and east runs.  This time it’s north and south streets through the same area.

We saw some cool things along the way like these three vintage motorcycles.

On the corner of 5th and Broadwater a woman was playing fetch with her dog.  This is right on a really busy intersect but the dog was focused on the ball alone.

A few blocks later, at 6th Street and St. Johns, I had sort of a close call.  We were crossing St. Johns and a car had stopped in our path and rather than go around the front of it which would have put us in traffic, we, I, headed around the back.  A car that was trying to cross 6th made a mad dash across, not looking at us and and and I hadn’t looked around the back of that stopped car I’d have run right in front of him.  Maybe I should start wearing a body cam.  Hmmm, I have a dash cam and maybe I can do a holder….

Anyway, on we went, up north and down south.  We saw this cool building on the corner of Custer and 7th.

And this on 8th just south of Grand.

It’s always nice to get paid for running.

We headed east on Montana and I grabbed this shot looking west.

And this one looking east.

We turned on 2nd and I saw this building:

Here a closer look at the door:

Here’s a nice house for sale at Clark and 2nd.  I think it’s for $1.2 million.

It was a very pleasant run.  Good conversation, nice weather, and new streets.  Here are the stats: