10k for 9/1

COVID-19, “The Rona Era”

68 degrees for a 10k a.m. humpday run. It’s just humpday but it’s September 1st. The first run of the month. I’m not sure where this year has gone but we are in month 9 out of 12. New day, new month, and new writing and running goals, I say. To start things off, I decided to run along the Charles and see the ducklings. It has been a while since I’ve run in downtown Boston and in the Public Gardens and Boston Commons.

I parked at North Park along the Charles River, across the street from the Museum of Science. After I parked and I started to stretch, I saw a big ass racoon around one of the trash cans. I know those things have rabies and might attack. The raccoon saw me and ran in the opposite direction, thank goodness.

My route for this morning was taking a left turn towards the museum of science, then turning right to run on the Boston side of the Esplanade, then a left at one of the bridges that is over Storrow drive, that leads to the Back Bay neighborhood. When in Back bay, I made a left which lead me to the public gardens. When I ran to the ducklings, I was disappointed. I thought they would be in fall or back to school attire. No such thing happened. I continued to run through the public gardens and then to Boston Commons. I ran up a mini incline that lead to the Charles Gould Shaw Memorial and then followed the path down to Tremont street.

This morning, there were so many people out running and walking to work at 6 a.m. What I took notice of as well, were all the homeless people that were out. Mostly men but homeless folks sleeping, talking ,sitting, gathering along the commons. Such a contrast. Here I am, someone who choice to get out and run and be outside, with my $100 plus shoes, cell phone, and running gear. Meanwhile, these men, maybe had no home to leave. Where they sleeping outside all night long. Did they get kicked out of a shelter? So many questions. Always a good moment of self and societal reflection.

While running, I did see a black woman walking, who smiled and gave me the thumbs up as I ran past her wearing my Black Girls Run hat. I saw two other African-american folks during the hour that I was out running.

From the commons, I went through a part of Chinatown then made my way towards downtown crossing. I haven’t been there in a while either. I saw Macy’s and realized I haven’t been in a Macy’s or a department store in over 15 months. I ran passed the shops in downtown crossing before I ran into Government Center.

From there I ran by Mass general and Liberty Hotel before running on the foot bridge which put me back on the Esplanade.

I don’t know if there is yoga on the Esplanade but I saw four ladies with their yoga mats heading on the foot bridge to cross the esplanade as well. This lead me back towards the Museum of Science and North Point where I parked my car.

The down side of this, my map my run, tracker didn’t fully work. It has my summary duration : 1:11:02 but it didn’t track my average pace or average pace at each mile. Ugh. I know I started around an 11min mile, at another mile point was running a 10 something. Either hear nor there. I got a 10k in today. I’m good.