Run 418 Average pace: 5:55/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CCW
Distance: 8.23 km
Time: 48:48
Weather: Sun and high cloud
Temp: 14ºC
Wind: low to nil
BPM: 162
Stride: n/a
Weight: 166.5 pounds
Total distance to date: 3382
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
I am gently pushing myself toward a full 10K run and today did my first 8K. Exercising (ho ho) caution, I deliberately set a more moderate pace, reflected in both a lower BPM and an average pace a few seconds higher than previous 7Ks. Still, 5:55/km for the first 8K is not shabby and I experienced no particular discomfort along the way.
It was warm, though. Even though the temperature was a little lower than on Thursday–14ºC vs. 17ºC–it felt warmer because I was in direct sunlight for longer periods, it was early afternoon and there was virtually no breeze. It was like a very early preview of the Africa hot days of summer.
The trail was also rather crowded, especially through the first half. Even the normally quiet Piper Mill Trail was packed full of people with ATV strollers. As I approached Eagle Creek bridge a large group of nature photographers were gathered, all of them pointing their cameras up at an animal sitting in the top of a tree adjacent to the trail. I didn’t stop but at a glance I thought it might have been a raccoon. Raccoons aren’t exactly exotic so would that many people stop to take pictures of one? Maybe. Or maybe it was some super-rare species and I totally missed out because I was too busy sweating and running.
Also, amazingly, every dog I saw on the trail was on leash for perhaps the only time ever.
There was one cyclist, she passed me just as I was nearing the exit of Avalon Trail (which is close to where I started). I gave her a dirty look she never saw. I shall cherish it.
The Hoka Speedgoats have apparently finished bleeding blue into my socks or the amount is now small enough for me to not notice. That’s good, I guess. It would have been better to have not happened at all but you takes what you can gets. I’m still thinking about getting some fancier laces like these as one or both of the shoes always feels like it’s on the verge of coming untied when I run, even when it never actually comes untied.
Overall today’s run was a nice step (!) toward getting to 10K.
Run 417 Average pace: 5:28/km
Location: Brunette River trail
Distance: 5.02 km
Time: 27:31
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 17ºC
Wind: low
BPM: 165
Stride: n/a
Weight: 167.7 pounds
Total distance to date: 3374
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
Which is not to say I ran in the river, I ran next to it.
My first after-work run of the year went well. The weather–on the last day of March–was more like an early summer day, with the temperature a warm 17ºC. The sun was still high enough to mostly be out of my eyes, though I had to duck my head a few times. All the more incentive to run faster so I could get to the end of the trail and run back with the sun behind me.
I tried pacing myself in the first km but felt positively springy. That changed to “lungs somewhat on fire” and I moderated until I found my rhythm. I ended with an average pace of 5:28/km, significantly better than my first few 5Ks of the year, so that was nice.
The color leeching on the Hokas has almost given up after seven(?) runs. The shoes are otherwise performing well. I finished the 5K with no discomfort at all in the left foot, which was also nice.
I keep saying I’m going back to my TomTom Runner Cardio watch but the Apple Watch is already on my wrist and it’s just so convenient (and honestly, it’s easier to use, though the taps aren’t nearly as noticeable as the TomTom’s vibration alerts). Still, I may switch over on the weekend. Maybe.
Run 416 Average pace: 5:51/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CCW
Distance: 7.12 km
Time: 41:41
Weather: Sunny with some high cloud
Temp: 9-11ºC
Wind: low
BPM: 166
Stride: n/a
Weight: 167.7 pounds
Total distance to date: 3369
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
A repeat of Friday’s run and the first time I’ve done multiple runs in a week all year, woo. The weather was nicer, with little wind and mostly sunny but still a bit on the chilly side. I wore my new long-sleeved running shirt (which is still much lighter than my old gray one, which is currently stinky and unwashed thanks to a broken washing machine) and it was a good call, at least on the walk to the lake.
Although the actual timing on the run was basically the same as Friday it felt better, with the last km not being “oh god please let it end.” I also switched back to the Hoka’s, which meant sacrificing another pair of socks. I need new socks, anyway. My left foot was grateful, though, and was remarkably well-behaved for the run. This, too, was a good call.
Despite primarily sunny skies I still encountered the worst weather while jogging–dogs. In this case it was one of those little dust mop dogs running around off-leash (shocking, I know). For reasons only it knows it veered from its side of the path and ran directly in front of mine. I had to put on the brakes to keep from stomping on it. Dear idiot who didn’t put his dog on a leash: This is why your dog should be on a leash, because dogs are dumb but humans are generally smarter. In this case it was more dumb and dumber. There were other holiday walkers out today and you can always tell them from people who regularly walk the trails because they will almost always fan out to block the entire path, then act surprised when they encounter other people who want to get by.It makes me long for the invention of the holodeck.
Overall, though, the run was fine. I felt decent and having a few days off instead of a week had no real effect on my performance.
And the bug? It hit my upper lip and bounced off, which is a good thing because that sucker was huge. It would have been a choking hazard.
Run 415 Average pace: 5:52/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CCW
Distance: 7.02 km
Time: 41:13
Weather: Sun and cloud mix
Temp: 11ºC
Wind: low
BPM: 166
Stride: n/a
Weight: 167.7 pounds
Total distance to date: 3362
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
The nicest thing about today’s run was the weather. There was some actual sun! When it wasn’t sunny it was still mild with little wind, so my choice to wear a short-sleeved shirt proved wise.
I bought a pair of Brooks Cascadia 11s and tried them out today. Unlike the Hoka’s they have a neutral stance, similar to the other trail runners I’ve had. At first they seemed fine, if a tiny bit snug, but more in that new shoe way than anything. After awhile my left foot started to hurt but it was in a way that felt different than the Hoka’s. The foot actually felt like it was going numb, the side effect of which was that it did not seem to hurt as much.
Unfortunately the numbness subsided and then it hurt more than the Hoka’s. Not enough to affect my pace, but enough to be noticeable. Worse, they failed the shoe lace test, with the right shoe coming untied with about 500 or so meters left in the run. If I really want to I can solve this with better laces or superglue or something.
The walk home the left foot felt initially worse but then, almost paradoxically, felt better as I continued to walk. As expected, there was no color bleeding on the shoes.
In the end I was a bit disappointed by the Brooks. I’ll try them again, but I’m thinking they may end up relegated to becoming street shoes like my last pair (which actually turned out to be very comfortable in a role they were not designed for).
The run itself found me feeling a bit tired, especially toward the end. My pace was a bit slower but only a touch, but I really wanted this run to end. I kept looking at my watch and you know what happens when you do that.
Heart rate was down slightly, though.
Overall this run was decent to middling. I didn’t feel like I made progress but neither did I feel like I back slid, either.
Oh, and the bug? Around a kilometer in I suddenly had this huge need to hack. Fortunately it didn’t persist but I’m pretty sure it was caused by the intake of a big, juicy bug. The sun has no doubt awakened a bunch from the numerous ponds dotting the edge of the trail. Also, the skunk cabbage was super-stinky today. It definitely motivates you to pick up the pace.
Run 414 Average pace: 5:50/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CW
Distance: 7.45 km
Time: 43:28
Weather: Rain, rain, rain
Temp: 9-11ºC
Wind: low
BPM: 168
Stride: n/a
Weight: 170.3 pounds
Total distance to date: 3355
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
Today is the first day of spring and I’m pretty sure we hit our quota of rain for the season already. I know because I was there.
As I headed out, it was about 9ºC, which is relatively mild. A light rain was falling from the moment I stepped outside and it did not let up the entire run. It actually started coming down fairly hard toward the end. Fortunately it had not been raining for long before I went out so while there was a good amount of puddle hopping there was only one small spot that required especially dexterous maneuvering.
My lower legs still emerged covered in a spray of dirt and more curiously, a fair amount of bits of bark.
There were few people out given the weather, but the split was even between walkers and runners. Everyone looked very wet. Most walkers eschewed umbrellas for sturdy raincoats with hoods. Most of the runners just got soaked. Like me.
I started feeling a bit of a burn and then a stitch in my left side, a sure sign that my early pace was exceeding my grasp. I slowed down and eventually the stitch subsided. I tried picking up the pace toward the end and the splits bear this out, with the last 1.5 km being a bit brisker. That first km was 5:13/km, altogether too fast for my current level of fitness. Fortunately my body is not shy about sending signals to the effect of “OH MY GOD ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?! YOU ARE, I CAN TELL. SLOW DOWN, IN THE NAME OF ALL THINGS HOLY, SLOW DOWN!”
My overall pace of 5:50/km is my best of my weekly runs and I even ran a decent bit more than intended, going 7.45 km instead of the planned 7 km.
The left foot was hurting a little but it was pretty minor and I don’t feel it affected my pace.
I am as pleased with this run as I am displeased with the weather during it, so pretty pleased!
I am tentatively planning on starting thrice-weekly runs again by heading out after work on Tuesday, probably on a 5K on the Brunette River trail. We shall see.
Run 413 Average pace: 5:56/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CCW
Distance: 7.05 km
Time: 41:55
Weather: Overcast, showers
Temp: 7-8ºC
Wind: moderate to strong
BPM: 168
Stride: n/a
Weight: 168.8 pounds
Total distance to date: 3348
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
I headed out earlier today to beat the rain and beat some of it.
The rest fell on me.
The day was cool and a strong breeze made it cooler still. The sky looked semi-threatening and the forecast indicated I’d complete my run before any real rain would start. Just over 2.5 km in, having just exited the Piper Mill Trail, a light sprinkle began. It remained much the same for the rest of the run, picking up a little toward the end.
After the run it turned into a downpour, so the last four km or so I got thoroughly soaked. It was the kind of weather that would have made it very difficult to motivate myself to get out in, so the decision to start early was wise indeed.
I opted to run 7K and managed it without issue, coming in with a slightly slower pace that pretty much equals out to the 5K pace of a few weeks ago. That’s nice to see.
The left foot was a tiny bit sore during the run but perfectly tolerable. I experienced no other issues.
There were no cyclists on the trail today. Hooray! There were several unleashed dogs. Boo! The runners started outnumbering the walkers as the weather worsened but other than a few dedicated walking groups, traffic was pretty light.
The strange crashing happened somewhere after the 9K mark when I was walking out, a few hundred meters shy of the Avalon Trail. I heard a loud crash just behind me and to my right. I snapped my head back (after leaping into the air) and couldn’t see anything immediately obvious but the woods here are marshy and filled with deadfall. There was a very large branch weighing down on other fallen timber and I suspect that may have been what I just heard. Recent storms with high winds and heavy rain have created optimal conditions for trees and branches to come down and there were several chainsawed trees along the trail that hadn’t been there last week. The fact that it seemed to be happening while I was there made me eye every slightly leaning tree for the rest of the trip around the lake.
Nearly every tree leans slightly at Burnaby Lake.
I escaped unscathed, apart from getting completely drenched and overall the run was a success. I increased my distance, maintained my pace and felt fine after. Now that Daylight Saving Time has kicked in, I should be able to start doing 5Ks after work soon™.
Note: The Speedgoats are still bleeding blue into my soaks for the fifth run in a row. I may pick up a different pair of shoes this week or at least see if I can exchange these ones as they’re clearly defective or my feet have new mutant color-absorbing abilities that coincidentally only activate when I’m wearing the Speedgoats.
Run 412 Average pace: 5:54/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CW
Distance: 6.06 km
Time: 35:50
Weather: Overcast
Temp: 11ºC
Wind: moderate
BPM: 166
Stride: n/a
Weight: 169.2 pounds
Total distance to date: 3341
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
The forecast thundershowers did not materialize for today’s run and though it sprinkled a little before and after the run, I once again lucked out by having the run itself stay dry. The recent rain meant the area around the fields required some nigh-impossible puddle-dodging, however. This is the last stretch of trail around Burnaby Lake that hasn’t been effectively shored up, so regular rain will often still produce mini-lakes that force you to go into the field to avoid. In this weather the field’s edges are bog-like, so it’s not much of an improvement. Basically, you don’t want to be wearing nice shoes here.
It was also 11ºC again, but with the wind gusting less, it felt much milder. It was nice.
Speaking of shoes, the fourth time out the Speedgoats still bled blue onto my socks, however the blue is a lot less prominent now and maybe in another half dozen runs or so it might stop. That’s still not really acceptable, but it is something to look forward to, sort of. The laces again felt loose on the walk back, but remained tied.
The skunk cabbage did not stink this week. It will stink again, though, as sure as spring officially arrives in two weeks.
Two cyclists rode past me as I began my walk back along the Cottonwood Trail. I thought evil thoughts as they went by (“Crash into each other!” “Get attacked by insane squirrels!”) but really, all I’d like is for people like them to use the roughly billion other trails and spaces in the lower mainland where cycling is allowed.
The run itself was largely a repeat of last week, with the pace within the mathematical margin of error at 5:54/km (it was 5:53 last week). However, I did push out to just over 6 km instead of the usual 5 km, so I was effectively faster. The extra km did not prove taxing so I’ll probably continue ramping up toward doing a full 10K loop again.
Overall, I was pleased with the effort. I can tell I’m making progress as much of my thought process during the run has shifted to various random things and away from “Dear god, when is this run going to end?”
Run 411 Average pace: 5:53/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CW
Distance: 5.35 km
Time: 31:30
Weather: Overcast
Temp: 11ºC
Wind: moderate with occasional strong gusts
BPM: 168
Stride: n/a
Weight: 169 pounds
Total distance to date: 3335
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
For my third weekly run I changed things up a little by running clockwise and running a wee bit farther, as the 5K marker is about 300 m further along the trail when approaching from this direction. The forecast threatened thundershowers but fortunately the rain held off entirely, though it was occasionally quite gusty. Despite being quite warmer than the last run, the wind was sharp enough to produce a chill on the walk to the lake.
The Speedgoats again bled color into my socks so grr on that. On the plus side, my left foot held up better. I tried to pace myself on the first km again and pretty much failed, with a pace of 5:21/km, much faster than the rest of my run. I’m not sure how much extra energy it would give me for the remaining four km, anyway.
I generally felt more energetic, which is nice with a lowly once-per-week pace and look forward to seeing even more rapid improvements when I resume running multiple times per week.
My pace was improved again, from 5:56/km to 5:53/km. Not much but I’ll take it.
A family of three were riding bikes, including the inevitable kid-wobbling-like-he’s-going-to-fall-over, one of my favorite things to encounter on the trail. Another guy was riding solo and he looked a bit sheepish when I shot him The Look as I jogged by. Here’s a good way to avoid feeling sheepish: DON’T RIDE YOUR BIKES AT THE LAKE.
The trail was a bit puddle-filled in places but only required a bit of minor dodging and the next sign of spring (after the early budding of trees) was in the air. And the air stunk. Specifically, the skunk cabbage is beginning its annual bloom and this earliest stage is among the stinkiest. Fortunately the stink was confined to a stretch adjacent to one of the boardwalks.
Overall, a satisfactory effort. I’m still undecided on wearing the TomTom but may do so next time.
Run 410 Average pace: 5:56/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CCW
Distance: 5.13 km
Time: 30:32
Weather: Overcast
Temp: 6ºC
Wind: light
BPM: 166
Stride: n/a
Weight: 168.6 pounds
Total distance to date: 3330
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
I replicated last week’s run, doing the same route, with one change: I used the orthotic insoles in my Speedgoats. While my left foot did hurt, it started to hurt much later and minimally enough that I didn’t consider it a serious issue during the run.
Despite a few sprinkles en route to Burnaby Lake, it remained dry for the entire five km and the trail was in much better shape, with the need to dexterously dodge and weave and sometimes plunge straight through puddles being unnecessary.
The Speedgoats proved to be a mixed success again. They passed the shoelace test but as I was nearing the dam on my walk back the lace on the right shoe was on the verge of coming undone. Had I still been running, I’m sure it would have, so I consider this a technical fail. Worse, the color leeching happened again. This time the only moisture in the shoes came from my feet sweating but this was enough to leave prominent blue stains on both socks. I’ll probably be taking them back to Kintec for a refund or exchange (likely an exchange, as I have to believe this is some sort of flaw in a specific production run).
I tried to pace myself a little better at the start of the run but mostly failed there. My first km was 5:24/km, fell to 6:10 for the second km and stayed in that general vicinity for the remainder of the run. The pace was a five second improvement, which was nice. My heart rate was also lower, which is also good. I expect to be sore again but not quite as sore.
I may wear the Tom Tom watch the next time just to compare (it also syncs to my Nike+ account).
Overall, I was hoping for small improvements and got them, so I’m pleased. Now I just need to finish runs without ruining more socks.
Run 409 Average pace: 6:01/km
Location: Burnaby Lake CCW
Distance: 5.18 km
Time: 31:56
Weather: Overcast
Temp: 9ºC
Wind: light
BPM: 171
Stride: n/a
Weight: 171.2 pounds
Total distance to date: 3325
Device used: Apple Watch and iPhone 6
For the past month or so I’ve been planning on resuming running, having completed an entire run back on December 20. In fact, I was hoping to get a monthly streak going for 2016. That didn’t happen because I got sick, got better but was recovering, sort of got sick again, then actually did get sick once more. This weekend I felt sufficiently recovered from all of that to get out and run.
Run is a bit generous, though. My pace was so slow you may be excused for thinking I used a walker for assistance. In my defense:
I was wearing new shoes for the first time, the Hoka Speedgoats. New shoes usually lead to slower runs the first few times.
I am obviously still not 100% after battling multiple viruses
I am really out of shape, and what little shape I have is reminiscent of a pear
my left foot (you know, good ol’ #@$%!) was hurting even before I started
That said, conditions were decent, with the rain holding off apart from an occasional sprinkle, and the 9ºC proving balmy enough that I could have worn a regular t-shirt and not the long-sleeved one (the running jacket, which I briefly considered, would have been way too warm).
I elected to break in the custom orthotics with the new shoes, even though I’ve been wearing them relatively trouble-free for weeks now. This may have been a mistake as halfway to Burnaby Lake the left foot started to hurt. It remained tolerable so I stuck to my 5K plan, once more using my Apple Watch and iPhone combo. It seems reasonably accurate but distance seems to be a little generous, with me hitting marks slightly before I’d expect. I’ll probably switch back to the TomTom for the next run.
The first 500 m, on the spiffy resurfaced section of the trail, went fine. No matter how out of practice, that first stretch you always feel great. I knew this would change and braced for it. As I moved onto the Spruce Loop trail, it changed. Suddenly it felt like I had lead weights in my shoes, in my lungs and possibly tucked away in other spots. I thought about pausing the run, about walking for a bit, but instead I pressed on and let my pace drop.
Somewhere between the 2.5 and 3 km mark the second wind kicked in, though it was a gentle kick. This was still enough for the lead weights to go away. My pace didn’t especially improve but I felt a lot better and finished out the run without any further undue suffering.
I walked back from the lake and the left foot, while still sore, did not present a notable obstacle.
Overall, I’m disappointed at the sluggish pace, but it is totally in line with the conditions of the run. I am pleased I got out and completed the full 5K and look forward to more runs soon. The addition of the custom orthotic will be interesting to observe, as it’s bound to be quite noticeable when running vs. walking (I don’t particularly notice it now during my day-to-day walking).
The Speedgoats were a mixed bag. On the plus side, they passed the shoelace test, with both remaining tied for the entire duration. The right shoe felt a tad loose on the walk back but still remained secure.
On the other hand, they did nothing to prevent the left foot from hurting. I think I’m pretty much doomed to all shoes being like this without an orthotic in them. Stupid foot.
More distressing was the fact that my socks had blue stains on them from the interior of the shoes. The trail was wet and squishy and I came out of it with mud splattered up my legs and my feet not exactly drenched but very much damp from a few unavoidable plunges through water. The interior of the shoes had a few wet spots and these appeared to allow the color to leech from the shoe to the sock, the first time I’ve had this happen in any running shoe. I was kind of shocked, actually. This shouldn’t happen, especially in a trail runner. I’ll be looking into whether this is a known defect of the Speedgoats or just bad luck on my part (49 reviews on the official Hoka site did not yield any mention of the issue).
UPDATE, August 21, 2022: Updated tags for better searching and to note this was the first run using an Apple Watch (Series 0).
Run 408 Average pace: 5:42/km Location: Brunette River trail Distance: 5.0 km Time: 28:35 Weather: Overcast Temp: 7ºC Wind: light BPM: 172 Stride: n/a Weight: 165.3 pounds Total distance to date: 3320 Device used: Apple Watch (debut, Series 0) and iPhone 6
Here it is a mere four and a half months later and I’ve completed my next run, which I was totally not expecting.
Dedicated spambots scraping this blog for running articles may recall that my last run was on August 3rd, the first official day of my vacation. The run ended with my right hip (not actually my hip, as it later turned out) being hurt sufficiently that I knew I would be out for the rest of the summer or, as it turned out, almost the rest of the entire year.
Once I had sufficiently mended we were past summer and into fall and the days grew short and it was difficult to run after work. Running on the weekend also proved difficult because I just plain lost my mojo.
Today I had a Clif Bar for lunch (usual as I quest toward my target weight of 150) but a short while later I caved and had an apple strudel. It was loaded not only with sugar but also guilt. I had made a vow to stop snacking, and this was a clear violation. I soaked in the tub and contemplated how this, along with a planned pasta dinner, would contribute to The Fattening. I felt bad.
I decided to run.
I got changed and because this wouldn’t be an “official” run, I chose to not wear the TomTom watch. Instead I thought I’d give my fancy new Apple Watch and iPhone a workout (ho ho), using the Watch’s Activity app.
Setup was simple. I chose Outdoor Run, it advised me as this was my first run that I should run for at least 20 minutes to let the watch suss out my average pace. I planned 5K so this would not be an issue as I have not recently had bionic legs surgically attached.
I decided to walk the length of the Brunette River trail first, then start the run at the opposite end. This would get me heading in the right direction on the home stretch. I wore my usual gear, though the t-shirt was swapped for the long-sleeved version. This was not an unwise choice as it was 7ºC, not exactly tanning weather.
Upon arrival at the river trail I noted the bear sign was still up. It’s December 20th, I’m pretty sure the bears have gone south or started hibernating or whatever it is they do in the winter.
Using the watch, I selected my running music (from 1987, see previous post), chose the Outdoor Run activity and set the distance at 5 km. I tapped the Start button and three seconds later I began my first run in a good long time.
I kept the pace deliberate and actually had no trouble completing the full 5 km. A stitch threatened early on but never fully materialized and the only discomfort I felt was the usual “this is what it feels like to use certain muscles again after not using them for 18 weeks.” The left foot started to hurt but stayed tolerable. I stuffed toilet paper into the shoe to help provide extra cushioning but toilet paper squashes easily, something I forgot since I’m not in the habit of squashing it.
My pace seemed about right, given the layoff: 5:42/km. I broke the five-minute mark on the first km, slowed over the next three and picked up on the final. Again, this is all more or less normal. The BPM came in at 172, much higher than the 160 of my last run back in August. I’m not sure if this is accurate and thus worrisome, or inaccurate and no big deal.
While everything worked well enough with the Activity app, it is too self-contained and lacks some stats to really prove useful in the long term. I may try the Strava app on my next practice run, as it’s supposed to be spiffy.
Three other things of note on the run:
There were a lot of fishers out there and more people in general than I expected
As I looped back to the entrance of the trail, a Metro Vancouver worker was removing the bear sign, as if he had read my mind; for reasons unknown (conspiring with bears?) the other sign at the western end of the trail was left up
Some dope with a dog let his dog off-leash and while he was bent over tying his shoe on the other side of the trail, the dog came running after me, nipping and barking at my heels. It wasn’t scary so much as annoying. I shot the guy a dirty look as he called Cujo back, then observed, with no surprise, as they headed off, the dog was still unleashed. I pondered what it would take to get him to decide it was a good idea to put the leash back on (he had a leash with him). I decided nothing would because he was a stupid, selfish jerkface.
I now wait to see how my body feels tomorrow (I’m thinking a little sore but not bad). I could potentially run again in three days, but may wait until next weekend. The important thing is I ran, I survived, I worked off that strudel, and I’m curious to go out and do it again.
Run 407 Average pace: 5:43/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Distance: 10.02 km
Time: 57:20
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 23-27ºC
Wind: light
BPM: 160
Stride: 175 strides/min
Weight: 152.4 pounds
Total distance to date: 3315
Device used: TomTom Runner Cardio
The good news is despite sleeping in a little, my first holiday run actually happened in the morning and temperatures remained comfortable throughout.
The bad news was the thing of evil known as my right hip. Never known for acts of great villainy before, it made up for it today, doing its best to topple me.
Yesterday I walked my usual run router and noticed that the right hip was feeling a little sore. I believe this stemmed from sleeping funny and twisting my leg in a way that is sub-optimal, similar to how some people will wake with sore backs. This happened last year then went away. It returned this year and while I have noticed it on runs it’s never really interfered, it’s more something I feel.
Yesterday’s walk was a warm-up, though, because today the hip made its presence known so strongly it completely knocked me off my usual pace. My left foot also started hurting between the 2-3K mark, though it leveled off quickly and I don’t feel it was a factor.
By around 9K the hip mysteriously started to feel much better, so much so that I put on the afterburners to get a good finish in. Halfway through this (with 300-400 m left) the hip did a full reversal and felt like it was on fire or going to explode or something. I had a few moments where I wondered if I would even finish the run. I did and also managed a slow walk home.
I’m not sure why the hip has suddenly gone haywire, unless I’m continuing to sleep wrong. I would correct this if I could stay awake while I sleep but you see the problem there.
I’ll see if I bounce back from this quickly or if it turns into some yucky long term situation.
Other than Hell Hip, the trail was rather crowded today with walkers and joggers out enjoying the nice weather of BC Day. Bonus: no cyclists!
