Langus Riverfront trail - Trail update

My last run on that trail I saw two runners crossing the bridge back from the lake and heading west.  I followed them, turning left instead of turning around.  There is a loop that goes between the treatment ponds.  The total distance of the loop is about 3.2 miles.

The loop goes west at the third purple pin.

The scenery consisted of PUD buildings and ponds and one can't help notice the smell ah ah but still,  Quick and easy 5k training run :)

Rien de Rien ...

I returned to the Langus trail for my first run after the Firecracker 5000 5k, to explore the south trail (remember last month I ran a trail heading north that ended about a mile out).  My target distance for tonight was about 6 miles.  The south route winds between the lake and the river across three or four pedestrian bridges, the same bridges I noticed the first time around.  The trail was wide and nicely groomed, soft in some places but never too difficult to manage.  it was exiting running this trail again, to the point that I think I should do more trails runs.  I ran past a rabbit that just stood there ...  From a technique standpoint the trail requires more attention as you have to keep an eye constantly where you step and avoid obstacles.  The softer ground requires more support so more likely than not I would need a different pair of shoes if I was to run trails regularly.  About three mile into the run i took a fork left toward the lake.  With spaces of water on either side of me, another encounter with the [wild?] ... A black cat was chilling on the side of the trail.  The cat turned its head and looked at me with its big yellows eyes, as if letting me know that he owned this territory and had allowed to cross over his bridge un-scaped ... The trail finally looped back and around 4-5 miles was heading back to the bridge.  The looped turned out to be not around the lake but rather between the south end of the lake and the river.    This was another great discovery run, a mix of runner rush with the fun and excitement of discovering this loop, even as I got lost and found my way back ...

Here is a snapshot of the final trail ...  distance 7.20 miles ...  avg pace 9:15 min/mile.

Discovery ...

Discovery of new routes is one of my favorite thing about running.  Sightseeing the route but also "feeling", "reacting" to the route, its pavement, its twists ... When I run a new route it's almost like making love to my girlfriend.   The route is unknown yet I anticipate the run as I have usually looked up the map to estimate elevation and mileage.  I plan a pace and start running along the pavement, turning with each twist like the running the back of my hand on her hip ... I follow the trail wherever it leads like following her spine along with a finger ... It talks to me and I stimulate its energy ... adjust my pace to the rhythm of the run ... And in return, the trail smiles back at me with its scenery ... 

Well this evening was no different as I headed down the Langus Riverfront trail.  There isn't much special about it.  I saw the trail head a few days ago and I figured it would be a nice change of scenery from my usual urban runs.  I looked up the area on Google maps earlier to see whether the trail head I saw would lead anywhere interesting to run.  The trail goes under the I5 overpass along the Snohomish river then starts snarling thru mashes:

I noticed a couple of small trail bridges across the marshes so I think there might be another route hidden there but no there isn't access to these bridges from the trail.  However, two miles later, I reached THIS bridge ...

I crossed the wooden span into an unknown ...  not sure what was on the other side ... I just knew there is an island of some sort in the area ... How exiting !  A sign on the other side of the bridge as the route splits northbound and southbound around what I think is Spencer Island ...

I headed northbound ... the southbound  looks like that's the loop that goes around the back area back to the Langus Riverfront Park and would be too long to run in the amount of time I had.

The northbound trail was short but  very scenic ...  Here are a couple more pictures:

This last picture is actually the end of the trail at 2.72 miles from the park !

Well the total run for 5.38 miles so a nice midrange run for the middle of the week.  I will be back here for sure and will check out the southbound fork :D

Happy Trails everyone !