Finally a run outside

Today I had an 8 mile run on the schedule. The race is in a week, so I didnt want to push the run, but wanted to get out and explore. Every Sunday the main street through the city is closed to bike and pedestrian traffic only. And with sunny skies and 18 degree C weather (not sure what that is, but I think it is about 65), it was a perfect day for an outside run.

I thought there would just be a few people out, but the street was crowded. Not so packed that I couldnt move, but just the right amount of packed.

The pace was still slower than I would like, but I am still getting used to the altitude. The legs feel fine, I just get out of breath faster. I did finish the 8 miles I was supposed to run though. For those of you that warned me not to run outside because of the smog here, I can definitely say that the air quality here is much better than I experienced in Hawaii. Here are two comparison photos. One taken in Hawaii yesterday with all the VOG and one taken in Mexico this AM. Right now I would much rather be in Mexico.
Hawaii - you can barely make out Diamond Head

Mexico City - you can clearly see the cloud in the sky

Here was my run through the lens of my camera. I started out right outside of my hotel at the angel statue.

I then ran to the statue of the Diana

Then I continued on Paseo de la Reforma until I got to Chapultepec Park where I continued through various trails until I hit my mileage to go back home. The park itself is less than a mile from my hotel I think so I just ran about 6 miles around the park seeing the different sites.
Here are some people running along Reforma where the street isnt closed off. I would not be brave enough to do this as cars are going 60km/h and have to move around these people

Here is the east entrance to the park and the Monumento a los Ninos Heroes.

Here is Chapultepec Castle. They have tours where you can walk inside the castle, but since I was doing a run I decided to wait for another day to do this tour.

And finally here is the recycling bin where I threw my water bottle away.
I hate that I have been going through so many water bottles here, but right now that is my only option. I cant drink the tap water and I dont have anywhere to boil my water, so as long as I am in a hotel, i am going to have to drink the bottles. At least the recycling situation here is way better than it is in the US.

So outside run #1 down. I might venture to do another tomorrow morning assuming that I can get up in time.