I hadn’t yet run on this dandy little trail but today I discovered my new favorite route along the Midland Valley Trail. I started at the #2 light post and wound my way up and crossed at 25th Street, 21st Street, again at Cincinnati to enter Maple Park, and then at 15th Street. There is a trail closure currently just north of 15th Street but I wanted to see why. Shortly thereafter on the hill the trail asphalt is out and in need of repair. I continued on and crossed the BA on Peoria and then 13th Street to enter Tracy Park. After crossing 11th Street I continued north up to Central Park and made an almost complete counterclockwise loop before picking the trail back up all the way to 3rd Street. It is here that I couldn’t find the trail anymore and I was to my halfway goal time so I headed back and completed the entire route in reverse.

I was digging the weather and started really pumping up the hills and holding a very strong pace. I never really felt fatigued and was having a great run. It was very encouraging that things were going so much better compared to my last few really hot runs. After turning in a negative split, I actually think I felt like I finished with more in the gas tank than when I started. It was a good run.

Along my route I saw a bunny, a male cardinal (who was waiting on the same branch on my way back) a female cardinal, lots of robins, and a number of other birds out enjoying the recent rainwater that had collected on the ground. The trail had some standing water in spots but nothing that I couldn’t manage. It was fun splashing through the puddles and I didn’t mind since I wasn’t planning more than 6 miles.

What a great route! I look forward to more of it again soon.