Location: Burnaby Lake, CCW
Distance: 11.67 km
Weather: Sun
Temp: 25ºC
Wind: moderate
Calories burned: 828
Average pace: 5:06/km
Total distance to date: 1290.92 km
I knew today was going to be interesting with the temperature about nine degrees (!) above normal for this time of year. Looking back to last Monday’s run and how horrible that felt, I was feeling more than a bit of trepidation. As I stepped outside the heat was immediately apparent and though, mercifully, there was a decent breeze blowing, it was not cool as it has been on the previous few runs. I girded myself and set out.
Two km in I was doing fine and opted to skip the water fountain at the Nature House. I hit the 5K mark as I was crossing the bridge near the athletic fields, which surprised me, as it indicated a better-than-average pace. Further on and in one of the stretches where there is no shelter from the sun I began to feel a lot more parched but fought to maintain my pace. Despite my mouth drying out I was still breathing comfortably. Two more times I had the urge to stop but fought through them and even experienced the proverbial runner’s high at around the 8K mark. It felt a bit surreal to have this renewed energy while at the same time being ready to kill someone for a drink of water.
In another odd turn I completed the 10K while on the second walkway on the south side of the lake, again suggesting a decent pace. I soldiered on, determined to get to 11K at the very least.
I made it to the parking lot, which is right beside the damn and stopped there. To my surprise I was informed I had run 11.67 km (best for the year) at a pace of 5:06/km (tied for second best pace ever). I was pleased as punch by this but more than that, I wanted some punch or water or anything.
Fortunately a kindly soul showed me how to get water from the spigot near the dam. Apparently I hadn’t been yoinking the level up hard enough. Once done the water gushed mightily (think if your kitchen faucet only had two settings: off or on full blast. I took a few grateful mouthfuls from it and felt immediately better. I did the same at the fountain in Hume Park while noting that the water play area had its big sprinkler running, something you would almost never see in the first half of May. Weather is weird.
My calves are a little sore after the run but not hurtfully so. I am pondering if they just had to work that much harder today, if the muscles are stretching and growing or maybe just stretching and breaking. I’ll know soon enough. For now I am happy that my stamina has improved enough that a very warm run did not slow me down. And also that so much of the trail of Burnaby Lake is in the blissful shade.
Note: I ran the Spruce and Conifer Loops today but skipped Piper Mill.
Chart (average pace is bolded if different than the last km):
| km | May 14 | May 11 | May 9 | May 7 | May 4 | May 2 | Apr 30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:51 | 4:50 | 4:55 | 4:52 | 4:42 | 4:58 | 5:02 |
| 2 | 4:55 | 4:56 | 5:03 | 4:59 | 4:50 | 5:00 | 5:11 |
| 3 | 4:59 | 4:59 | 5:06 | 5:04 | 4:54 | 5:02 | 5:13 |
| 4 | 5:02 | 5:01 | 5:08 | 5:07 | 4:55 | 5:04 | 5:13 |
| 5 | 5:03 | 5:02 | 5:08 | 5:09 | 4:56 | 5:05 | 5:13 |
| 6 | 5:05 | 5:02 | 5:10 | 5:10 | 4:57 | 5:05 | 5:12 |
| 7 | 5:06 | 5:04 | 5:10 | 5:12 | 4:58 | 5:05 | 5:12 |
| 8 | 5:08 | 5:05 | 5:11 | 5:15 | 4:59 | 5:06 | 5:13 |
| 9 | 5:07 | 5:05 | 5:12 | 5:17 | 5:00 | 5:06 | 5:13 |
| 10 | 5:07 | 5:06 | 5:12 | 5:19 | 5:00 | 5:06 | 5:13 |
| 11 | 5:07 | 5:06 | 5:12 | 5:20 | 5:01 | 5:06 | 5:13 |
