The more than slightly damp recovery run

Average pace: 5:07/km

Location: Burnaby Lake, CW
Distance: 11.18 km
Weather: Overcast, drizzle
Temp: 15ºC
Wind: light
Calories burned: 793
Total distance to date: 1602 km

A change in the weather as I prepared for my first run since Wounded Knee Wednesday. With the temperature an unseasonably cool 15ºC and the sky threatening rain, I set off, nervous but cautiously hopeful, as my knee had not experienced any pain or discomfort since Wednesday, perhaps due to my diligent and quick icing.

The walk to the lake went fine and the rain held off. I opted to go clockwise and started out on a deliberately slower pace — the first km coming in at 4:39 then tapering way off to 4:56 by the second km. My knee wasn’t bothering me but I did start to feel some soreness in my right thigh, perhaps due to a slightly shifted gait due to my slower than normal pace. That was a minor inconvenience, though and I pushed on. By the 4K mark it started to drizzle and it kept up for the remainder of the run but that’s all it was, drizzle.

I still got soaked but it was a gentle soaking rather than a complete drenching.

There were several times during the run where I wanted to pick up the pace. With the cooler conditions and slower speed I was feeling comfortable and felt like I had room to spare. But I was not going to push harder and risk anything. I finished with my slowest run in a few months with an average of 5:07/km but the important thing is the knee held up fine.

I’ll continue to keep to a more deliberate pace for the rest of the week, although my times are bound to naturally improve and hopefully all will be well at week’s end.

One thing I noted is that the planks for the new boardwalk currently under construction have all been moved from their resting place to the boardwalk area itself. I wonder if that project is ahead of schedule. Part of me wants to sneak in there one day and have a look but the more sensible part of me knows I’d a) get yelled at and b) probably twist my ankle or have something else equally stupid happen.

All in all, I was pleased by today’s run. The knee seems to have recovered and if I don’t push too hard I should be able to get back to my usual pace soon.

I also hit another new milestone, passing the 1600 km mark, woo.

Chart

Date Average Pace
July 23 5:07
July 18 4:55
July 16 4:55
July 13 4:59
July 11 4:55
July 9 4:54
July 6 4:58
July 4 4:54
July 2 4:47

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