There goes the neighbourhood...and there it goes again...and again

Yesterday was my first run since the Sun Run. I did a steady 5K in about 32 minutes, including some long, gradual inclines. It felt good to get back out there, and it was especially gratifying after my yoga class the previous day.

It was pretty windy out, so I wound my way up and down the streets around the neighbourhood, which are pretty well sheltered by the trees. It was actually fun to check out all the brightly painted heritage houses and get a good feel for the history of Mount Pleasant. I've only lived in the area for three months, but I've already formed a deep attachment to it.

I never thought when I moved into the city from the suburbs that I'd ever feel as safe running around the neighbourhood, particularly at night. I had vastly underestimated the number of hipster cyclists and dog-walking couples populating the streets at any given time.

I also wasn't sure I'd be able to find routes as running friendly as the dyke trails in Richmond. And though most of my running is now done on the pavement, I'm more keen to explore. Plus, the Seawall is so close and so scenic that it's become a reward to be able to run it each Sunday.

Speaking of rewards, I bought a few new running goodies this week:

A kelly green Fool-u-lemon yoga tank yesterday from J76, for my runners' yoga class. Sort of like this one, except fake.


A big thing of Body Glide so my so-called no-chafe sports bra doesn't create any more permanent indentations on my shoulders.

A Helium Fuel Belt, though I'm not yet sure about it. I find water/gel-carrying mechanisms to be such a finicky thing, in that you never really know whether the physics are going to work in your favour until you're out there with the full bottles on your sweaty back. I'll swing by MEC and get a bottle of apple-cinnamon Carb-BOOM! tomorrow, and we shall see how it goes this Sunday.