Onward, Christian Hill Soldiers!

Tuesday night, that means it's time for the Middlesex Community College running club to take to the streets of Lowell, this time with a twist.

Prior to the run, I just had one question to ask everyone: 

We gathered at the college, all smiles.  The smiles wouldn't last. 

Starting out early, it's a scenic postcard run across the Cox Bridge on Bridge Street.

But everyone who knows Lowell knows where that bridge leads - Centralville.  And to the right side of Centralville lurks Christian Hill, arguably the largest hill in the city of Lowell.

So let's run up it, shall we?

Atop Third Street, we had the roads all to ourselves.  Nobody had any kind words for me at the top of this climb.  Happy to have uber runner Gina Spaziani among our number tonight.  She eats hills for breakfast.  Or does something similarly menacing.

But hey, the apex provides a hell of a view of Pawtucketville off in the distance! 

Leave it to Donna to find the energy to still give a fist-pump after the arduous climb.  But Christian Hill is a piece of cake for this outdoorswoman who climbs Mount Chocorua and Tuckerman's Ravine just for a fun afternoon out

Heading down Christian Street toward 10th Street, the MCC runners provide an inspirational profile in the bucolic neighborhood 

And finally, at the bottom of Christian Street.  Remember everyone, what goes up, must come down.

A grounds-eye view doesn't do justice to this hill.  Let's just say it was a good thing we were running DOWN this one, and not up! 

Another terrific outing by the raucous runners.  Where will we end up next week?  (For my sake, it better be a lot flatter.)