Running: 6 Sep 2010 - Labor Day Holding Pattern

Well, I was looking for a change of scenery this morning.  It was Labor Day and I was off.  So before heading out, I jumped on RunningAHEAD and mapped out a new course.  This one, I decided would go north of town...toward the airport.  Looking at the map, it looked to be in the neighborhood of 4 miles or so.  It was more the "or so."

I headed from the house out to 4th Avenue and then shot west on Mills to 8th Ave.  From here, I took 8th all the way out of town.  The run out of town was very nice.  Gravel is so nice to run on sometimes.  It was a comfortable 74 degrees and the wind pushed me northward.  That was a nice help...for a while.  As I headed north, the elevation dropped and I entered the bottom of a valley.  This was at about 1.5 miles.  I glanced up and true to the rule of ups and downs, I had a hill ahead of me.  So I "downshifted" and began my climb.  As I crested the hill, the Winterset Municipal airport came along side me to the east.  I made a right turn on 195th Street and began my run eastward. 

Here we go again with the things that go through my head as I run.  Running past the airport reminded me of all the fun we used to have when we used to "go watch the blue lights" (a.k.a. parking or making out) at the Des Moines airport.  Unfortunately, Winterset Municipal is a small airport that at night has a single rotating green and white light marking its location...so no "watching the blue lights" here.  I suppose one could watch the green and white though...OK, on I went.

Once I reached Hwy 169, it was time to head back into town.  Remember that nice wind that pushed me northward out of town?  Well, it was not so nice once I turned back south.    The wind was a persistent 10-15 miles per hour and gusty up to about 25 - 30.  Urg!  The only nice part of the run back into town was the wide gravel shoulders.  If you check the elevation changes for the run back home, that might add to my poor attempt at sympathy.

Anyway, the run today was 4.94 miles (I'll call it 5 because I can) and took me 41:18 (8:22 pace).  Not too bad considering the headwind (and the couple times I walked).  Not a bad Labor Day.

myk