Notes
Overall, this was a really good long run. I parked a few miles east of my apartment along the Prairie Path so that I could enjoy some different stretches of the path. The goal for this run was to just keep it relaxed and to go for at least 2 hours. I thought I might bump it up to 2:10, but didn't have plans for any more. For a route I just headed east through Elmhurst. Turned off the path just east of 83 and looped around York HS just for fun. Got back on the path and continued to head east until I got to Hillside. Turned back around at that point. At one intersection there was a Misericordia volunteer dressed in a bright rainbow sweater and singing "be a blessing" over and over and over to the tune of "Frere Jacques." I really appreciated her enthusiasm, but I could tell her intersection partner was a bit annoyed. Pretty funny. As I headed through Elmhurst I saw a sign for a bike route that would take me to "City Centre and Wilder Park." Sounded nice, so I took it. Wilder Park was at least a mile away. Was it worth it? OH YES! Turns out Elmhurst is the home to the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art! How did I not know that this gem (pun intended) existed so close to home?!? Date night! Anyway...circled around the park, cut through Elmhurst College's campus......and that's where things got sticky. Apparently I got turned around. So as I left the College, I didn't really know where to go. I ran about a block and got to St Charles Rd. For some reason I thought I was SOUTH of St Charles Rd, so I turned left (thinking it was west). Nope. Took it for a little bit (still thinking I am going west) and then turned left (thinking I'm going South, but actually North). I kept on thinking I was about to hit the prairie path....then I saw a low flying plane going the same directcion I was. Crap. I was heading North East. Hitting North Ave (rt 64) a minute later confirmed my worries. so at an 1:40 I turned around, having no clue how far away I was. At least I was oriented and knew which way South and West were. I eventually got back to the path. At that point I took my only mile split of the whole run 6:40 on the dot. That was encouraging because I thought I was actually going pretty slow. Took the Great Western Trail back to my car and called it a day.