This was a great run! I was excited to run today because I was going to add a new aspect to my route today - where 3 miles (4-7) of the route were run on new roads (to me) up, over, and through Griffith Park; returning along familiar paths.

I was a bit anxious because the weather reports had said it would be cool and rainy today, but the rain cleared out after the morning, and hasn't been back, and it's quite nice in the sun; but knowing I was going to be gone for 2 hours or so, I didn't know what to expect. So, I put on a long sleeve tech shirt, and my Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier convertible jacket, and stuffed some gloves in the pockets in case it started to rain.

Well... it was warmer than I expected, and in less than 2 miles I had decided to take the sleeves off the jacket (this is one of the great things I love about this jacket, being able to convert it to a vest on the run, and it has the perfect pocket to store the sleeves on the lower back). The gloves in front were very compact, and very light, but their weight was the perfect counter balance to the sleeves in the back, so the vest worked perfectly, keeping my core warm, while allowing me to cool off on my arms and to be seen well by cars (the jacket/vest is in the Screaming Yellow color). :-)

Then I got to the point where I turned right instead of left on my route and headed up Griffith Park Drive into the heart of the park. Within the first mile on this road there is quite a hill... which is what I had expected, but didn't know how steep it was going to be... well... I took it all in stride without too much trouble. That was the steepest part of the run, with much of the next too miles being downhill. Then I got back down to the Ranger Station, got some water, and headed back home along Crystal Springs and Riverside Drive.

It felt great out there today. I'm really pleased with my effort - great pace, great avg HR, great adventure!