One of the first things I did when we moved here was search for a running route. I don’t need variation or even dramatic sights. I do need something that I can vary my distance and that I can start running once I walk out my door and punch the button on my watch. I don’t want to take a bus or the metro somewhere to run. In Montreal I spent a lot of time running a very urban path even though I circled several parks. While I am not exactly running in the country here in Finland, the path along the river feels rural especially compared to crossing Rue St. Laurent at mid-day. I haven’t quite been here a full month and already I love this route and I can’t wait to see it in different seasons. The river here is similar to parks in Montreal, in that it is really the heart of the city where people go and hang out to read or socialize, and not something you visit just when friends or family are in town visiting. If I turn left at the river, I am in the city center in just two minutes. But if you turn right, you can quickly be at a spot like above that doesn’t even feel like a city. Not a day goes by that I don’t make one turn at the river or another.

I haven’t had a full time job in a year and a half. I’ve worked some contract jobs, but all at home via distance on my own schedule. In all that time running has given my days and weeks structure. Because I could work anytime, I would schedule that and everything else around my running. Running was the cornerstone of many of my days – if I run at 2, then I can do x amount of work before, and y amount after and then errands. My running route in Montreal was so ingrained in my daily life, that I even made a quilt of it!

But fall is coming and that is all about to change! I have been offered a full time job working at the University of Turku as a Research Assistant working on the same grant that Tim was hired to work on. I will be doing research and organizing and editing data. I start September 1 (tomorrow!) and the contract is for 6 months. I am really excited! A bit nervous too.

Today is the last day of August and a Monday, so you know what I did? I went for a mid-day run and it was glorious. Next up, transitioning to being an evening runner. No problem.