Two weeks ago and yesterday, I continued my exploration of the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
Two weeks ago, I ran seven miles from Princeton University to Trenton and back again. There was not much to see along this stretch as the canal fades away and is replaced by the not-very-scenic Route 1. Still the peacefulness was fantastic, I saw some other runners, and of course the flatness was quite welcome. The only "hill" was the incline to get up to the fancy footbridge that crossed over Route 1.
By the time I got to my turnaround point at Mulberry Street in Trenton, I was running alongside railroad tracks and entering a pretty run-down section of our state capital.
Still, it was an excellent 14-mile run to break up my usual post-marathon short-race speed training.
Yesterday, I parked the car on Mulberry Street and started where I left off before. This section of the path actually went through the city for the first couple of miles, so I was crossing a lot of city blocks and trying to pay close attention to the signs zig-zagging me around the roads and intersections. In the third mile or so (at Willow Avenue), the path split - both sections met up again later on, so I ran one way on the "out" and take the other path on the "back".
When the city streets gave way to the actual canal again, I got that good peaceful feeling again and was able to pick up the pace while still remaining comfortable. I also started seeing more people on the trail (I was very much alone for the first few miles). When I got the the turnaround point at W. Upper Ferry Road, I was actually surprised. Had I already gone 6.5 miles?
For a fleeting moment, I considered continuing on, but I knew it was best for my "active recovery" to do just the 13.1 planned miles. Good thing - at around mile 11, my Achilles started giving me that message of a dull ache. I finished before the dull ache became full-blown pain.
And with a time of 1:32:29, I nailed a 7:02 pace. That's marathon pace - probably a lot faster than I should have gone, but a good indicator of my fitness and comfort level, and a testament to my active recovery.
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