Playing hooky!

Well not really. The goal this summer is to get some trail runs in mid-week. I run best early morning and it is light very early now in the morning. I have a willing friend so we went off very early to get in a longer mid-week run. She then drops me off at work on the way home and i can shower in the new gym at work. I am a little late to work but that works just fine for summer and I clear it with my coworkers (it is also easier for me to be a little late than to leave early).

This mid-week trail break is like a mini-vacation and super fun. Trails today? Yes and no! We were finalizing the next stair run which also loops through trails in Interurban Park, Volunteer Park and the Arboretum. I'd wanted to add on a new little loop (to add miles) and we did find a closed stairway! Surprise!

E McGraw St Stairs at 19th Ave E - one big step!

Wildlife

This is outside my building at my work in Downtown Seattle. There are some very nice larger trees that line the street.  The crows were making a racket as I was waiting for a bus to take me to the Pike Street Market on my lunch hour to buy some veggies for dinner.  Such a racket that went on and on as I was in a lull between buses. 

The very small dark spot in the upper left quarter of the tree is a raccoon!  I saw it pop it's head up and seemed to peer around sleepily as in a "what is that racket?" It then tucked it's head back down and went back to sleep. 

Track companions

Back to the track this morning. I was surprised to find another female runner using the track when I got there. She was doing longer repeats at a slower pace though. The only other track mates were busy with other tasks.

Running Shoe Obsession

No, not me! It's my cat! Kez spends a lot of time licking the laces on my running shoes lately.  He goes for any shoe but prefers the pictured Nike shoes which right now are my main go-to easy run shoe.  He doesn't chew on them but carefully snags one with a claw and licks.  What an odd duck.

Keswick: I see no problem here.