Returning to my Old Routine

Someday I am going be brave enough to attempt one of my runs in the opposite direction than I normally go, but I don't foresee that day being any time soon. Even my short runs during the week are always the same direction. I really am a creature of habit.

I finally returned to one of the runs that had become a personal favorite of mine last year. Its a basic loop that follows one of the country roads between Tacoma and Puyallup, and is typically very quiet other than a few angry dogs (fortunately all behind fences. There are a few spots where several MINUTES can go by before I see a car, and that is truly blissful.

...

Yeah, I really need to start leaving the city for a few of my longer runs, but I don't like having to drive back home when I'm all sweaty. Still, the temptation to head over near Enumclaw and do some back roads there, or even some trails up near Greenwater, is getting hard to resist. Perhaps in a few weekends from now.

Not this coming weekend however, as I bit the bullet and signed up to do the Sound to Narrows. That's only a 12k race, but it should be excitement enough to fill my Saturday. I really would prefer to be doing a race that doesn't number its participants in the thousands, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to be sociable to the running community once in a while. Of course, if I wanted to be less of a recluse when it comes to fellow runners, I could always pony up and join the Interurban Runners Club or the Tacoma Runners, but I'm just not sure I'm ready for that yet. Maybe in a year or two.

I also had a chance to go scout out Fleet Feet today. I was very impressed with the variety of goods they offered (probably because they bill themselves as a "sports" store rather than a running store), but was still saddened by the small selection of different brands. Still, clerks were helpful, and they have a 10% return program (spend $150, get $15 back), which is definitely a big incentive. Saw a couple potentials replacements for my current running shoe, which I'll probably do after the Sound to Narrows. Still gotta check out those two locations I mentioned earlier first though. So much to do.

Alright, that's all I've got going on at the moment. A little more training this week, and then the race!

New Twist Run
New Twist Map