Run 342
Average pace: 5:18/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Ran Spruce and Conifer Loops
Distance: 10.04 km
Weather: Heavy rain
Temp: 18-17ºC
Wind: light
Calories burned: 772
Total distance to date: 2867
I dedicate the following songs to today’s run:
Here Comes the Rain Again
Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head
The Rain is Falling
And of course:
Goodbye Blue Sky
I spent an hour this morning trying to out-wait the rain before giving up, going out and getting drenched. The light rain changed to a heavy rain well before I got to the lake and by the end of the run my shirt and shorts were clinging to me like very clingy things and it felt like I had picked up an extra ten pounds from the weight of the water in them.
I ended up a few seconds slower than the previous run, coming in at a pace of 5:18/km. This was likely due to the extra navigation required to maneuver around the copious number of puddles that grew even as I made my way around the lake. At several points the puddles were more pools than I just had to plow through.
I did experience a minute or so of light pain in a muscle somewhere between the left calf and knee but it appeared suddenly and left the same way. The legs felt fine afterward.
The lower temperature–it actually got cooler as I ran–meant I had enough energy to pick up the pace for a strong finish, which was nice to see.
A surprising number of people were out walking the loop, particularly along the Cottonwood Trail and near the start of the Avalon Trail. Regulars, perhaps. It was somewhat annoying because they all had giant umbrellas that effectively blocked any easy way to pass by. The roar of the rain also meant they were oblivious to my approach. I managed to avoid going in the ditch, though.
I also saw about half a dozen dedicated runners getting soaked to their collective hineys. Most were dressed like me in shorts and t-shirts but one was wearing a jacket. That sounds sensible for a run in heavy rain but at 17-18ºC it wasn’t cold so he probably ended up extra sweaty underneath. Kind of a lose-lose situation on a day like this, really.
Here’s hoping Friday’s run is a wee bit drier.
