chasing the lighthouse

Easter weekend, group isn't running together, and our schedule called for 29k.  I was on MapMyRun last night trying to map out a route.

First I started with a residential route, which included some major roads.  Gave that a second thought, as it would end up being mostly sidewalk, and likely dodging a lot of cars.  So I started again, this time taking me onto a path not yet taken close to my new house, and down another trail system.  Part of this trail is known to me, but most isn't.  I sometimes get a little weary in a wooded, unfamiliar trail system... by myself.

So, I checked the weather one more time, thought back to a few weeks ago taking a walk along the boardwalk for the first time, seeing all the runners and cyclists -- perfect!  I had all day Saturday to myself, Terron has a birthday party Sunday afternoon, so it was decided.  I'd drive down to the lakeshore and run my 29k on Saturday rather than Sunday, without worrying about too many cars getting in my way, or vice versa.

Knowing that it's better to try new things during a training run rather than in a race, I wanted to try running with my Camelback. It was a beautiful day, wasn't going to be wearing a jacket, so no pockets, and wanted to bring my phone and a small camera with me.  I also wanted to try eating something more than a gel, something solid, so I brought along a Clif bar.  Wearing tights and a long-sleeve shirt doesn't make carrying all this additional stuff very easy, and my fuel belt probably would have been around my knees with all the weight. Knowing I'd be sorta going back and forth along the boardwalk and beachfront paths, I knew it would be easy enough to return to my car if it was driving me crazy; left my fuel belt in there just in case.

Other than the sound of the water swishing around, and having to take it off every time I wanted something from one of the pockets, I didn't mind it. I certainly had enough water to last me the entire run and then some.

Not really having a planned route, I decided just to go wherever my legs took me.  I was determined to make the drive worth it, and hit my planned mileage.

 

I bounced back and forth between the wooden boardwalk and the paved trail.  Eventually I ended up on a familiar gravel trail, same route as Midsummer Night's Run.  I remember there being a lighthouse at the end of the pier, so I set out to reach it.

Circled the lighthouse, headed back. I tried taking other pictures of the Toronto skyline, but the reflection of the sun on the water make all my pictures overexposed.  :(  By the time I got to the beaches area, and where my car was, I had about 4 more miles to cover, so I headed back down the boardwalk for 2 miles and back to cover the distance.  18.27 miles/29.4km completed, and a little bit of redness on my forehead! Who would have thought I'd need sunscreen in Canada, in April, when we had snow on Monday! 

Running along the water today felt pretty surreal. I wish I'd thought of going down there sooner for a run -- but I'll be going back down for sure!  Here's a rough idea of my run... 

Knowing that I could do 29km on my own today was a huge confidence booster for me for my upcoming *gulp* marathon.  Friday, my marathon was a month away!  Today, it's less than a month away! Holy Crap!!!

Anyway, not sure how I'm still awake after today's long run and all the fresh air, so I'm going to bed, and will take the rare opportunity to sleep in on a Sunday morning! Happy Easter to all of you :)

**update** looks like I made a good decision heading to the beaches yesterday and not this morning.  There's an Easter Parade down there!