Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Due to a water main break outside my building yesterday morning, I had to vacate work for the remainder of the day as of 9:30 am.  Woohoo! 

What was I to do with my free day?

It’s 4^th of July weekend and my husband and I planned to spend part of the weekend with my family back in Albany.  I planned the trip around my training – this weekend’s long run was only to be 6 miles and it was easily “skipable”.  I told my family that my weekends would be mainly devoted to hours of running, leaving little time for travel.  This weekend was the only free one on the calendar.

Now, I had this WHOLE day ahead of me and getting the 6 miler done was a reality.  I had planned on doing strength/cardio and still had it in my mind I could just do that this afternoon, but the weather was impossibly gorgeous: no clouds, all sun, slight breeze, mid 70s.  The thought of staying inside to jump around my living room while Jillian Michaels yelled at me through a TV screen just seemed… wrong. 

Even better, this time I could take my run anywhere I wanted!  Where else but along Cayuga Lake, a mere 10 minute drive from my house?  I pre-mapped my route on gmaps pedometer, drove down to Wells College where I parked my car, and set out towards Long Point State Park.

I wish I could say this run was 100% awesome – which, it was – but harder than I thought.  I might have gotten too overexcited and exerted my energy at there, or maybe it was the sneaky hills I forgot existed on Lake Road (or that seem so much smaller while driving over them in the car).  Plus, I don’t ever EVER run at 2pm in the blazing sun, on hot pavement.  Oh and I didn’t bring a water belt.  Lame!

However, the views during this run were so beautiful, so pinch-myself-beautiful that after I got back to my car and gulped my lukewarm Gatorade – full, not my ½ and ½ mix, I drove back over the route I just ran and snapped some photos.  I can’t wait to share them with you here!

This is my alma mater: Wells College, Main Lawn. Many
of my studying sessions were spent here sunbathing.

View of the lake from Route 90, about in front of
the Wells softball field. 






   

The beginning of one of the hills. 

It steeps up around the bend!

View from atop of the hill - there is a
huge slope that goes down over this crest. 
(Do I really live here?!)

Bends in the road, camps and farms alongside.



I ran just past the park at the lake - I would have taken
photos in the park but I wasn't about to
pay the fee to take a couple pictures

About 1.5-2 miles past the park is Long Point Winery.  There has been some interest among my running group to do a Renegade Winery Run (or Riesling run haha).  They haven't seen the hill that goes up to this winery though!  But, if wine is at the end, perhaps that will be worth it too?

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Enjoy the BBQs and as always, happy running!