Centennial Trail Miles 19-14

Hmmm. This run isn't going to go as planned... Upriver Drive had been closed for weeks while they installed new pipes or something under the road. Things had been closed for a while and I needed to move on with my running so, off I went.



Milepost 18 is somewhere over on the right, next to the area where people should not be running around at. This area is close to our house and I run here all of the time, sometimes running faster, usually slower, but running around here either way, which is really what inspired me to get out and run the entire length of the trail.



Popular rock climbing area next to bike downhill course, this area is a little like a mini X Games training ground, or that's how it seems to someone who does triathlons because moving forward, and not laterally, is the only possibility for someone so uncoordinated.



Bad photo, taken as the sun was getting ready to set. I used to run mile 17-16 at race pace as part of a 5 mile run to get ready for Bloomsday. Lots of pain, lots of growth left on this stretch of trail.



Now this photo worked out better. That rope hanging from the tree on the right is used to jump into the river. I probably wouldn't swim here, its directly down river from a paper mill and Kaiser Aluminum. I could see swimming in a wetsuit, ear plugs, and nose plugs but even then it's probably not worth it.



Bill and Liam were waiting for me here, throwing rocks into the river, so I called it a day and ran the next 2 miles later on. I ended up getting really sick after this run which is why given the option, I try say yes to running, in case the option isn't available the next day.



This section of the trail is on Upriver Drive, a road that has way too much traffic given that its windy and follows the river. Drunk drivers end up in the river multiple times a year here. There are not enough bridges over the river so people end up on Upriver instead.



Here is the view you will get at the intersection with Argonne Rd.



Finally! Off the main road and headed to Maringo Drive, the trailhead we use the most. I am there most days of the week with Liam, who loves running around in the woods and in the fields there. This area feels like home to us so I enjoyed the rest of my runs on the trail on my way to the border with Idaho.

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