Outdoor run-walks

I thought the snow had melted enough due to The Rains, so headed out to do a possible river run, my first outdoor run since all the snow and freezing and such. But I was greeted by this at the gate:

Not exactly optimal running conditions. It was also pouring hard. But I was committed, so I set forth…on a walk.

I walked to the dam at Burnaby Lake, slipping minimally, but my pace was much slower than average–over 10 minutes/km for most of the time. No traction.

On the way back, I decided to try running for a bit on the narrow ruts made in the snow by service vehicles, and it sort of worked. I wasn’t very fast, but I never felt I was going to face-plant, which is always a plus when running. But I only ran on and off for 2 km or so. It was just not very enjoyable.

The good news is that with all the rain that’s been falling the past few days, the slush and snow should be even further diminished by Wednesday, so I might be able to do a full, actual run outdoors then. Oh, to dream.

Stats:

Walk 102
Average pace: 9:44/km
Location: Brunette River trail/Burnaby Lake
Distance: 8.02 km
Time: 1:18:03
Weather: Rain
Temp: 6°C
Humidity: 99%
Wind: light
BPM: 128
Weight: 174.9 pounds
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255
Total distance to date: 762.46 km

It was warm and getting warmer. As part of my recovery, I am trying to get out and exercise more, even if it’s just walking with no running (especially the day after my first run in 18 days). The knees held up fine, but my upper legs are feeling the after effects of that run.

It was also quite warm and dry. Thankfully, there’s plenty of canopy right now on the river trail. There were other people out early afternoon on the trail, but more at the lake and roughly a billion at Hume Park.

I kept up a decent pace but again chose to split the walk into two halves, stopping at the lake to grab a few photos and to drink copiously at the water fountain near the dam.

Stats:

Walk 98 and 99
Average pace: 9:30 and 9:32/km
Location: Brunette River trail/Burnaby Lake
Distance: 4.03 and 4.03 km
Time: 38:17 and 38:25
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 27-28 °C
Humidity: 38%
Wind: light
BPM: 115 and 119
Weight: 165.2 pounds
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255
Total distance to date: 737.93 km

Today would normally be a run day, but I’ve already done three runs in the past six days, so I decided to just do a walk instead.

Lightly adorned with sunblock, I headed out to the turtle nesting area at Burnaby Lake, then whimsically decided to do the Spruce Loop before turning around and heading back. I went the long way past the dog park in Hume Park, and that allowed me to get in just over 10 km. My Forerunner then told me I was overreaching again. Whoopsie.

But the knees and other body parts feel fine.

No more walks or runs until Monday, though there will be some birding and stuff before then, but no running unless I am being chased by a crazed goose.

Stats:

Walk 97
Average pace: 9:14/km
Location: Brunette River trail/Burnaby Lake
Distance: 10.08 km
Time: 1:33:05
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 22 °C
Humidity: 37%
Wind: light
BPM: 113
Weight: 165.1 pounds
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255
Total distance to date: 729.87 km

Instead of my usual Monday run, I did a Monday walk, the better to preserve my right knee until the appointment on Friday.

Good news: The knee is fine. Better news: I walked 8 km, equivalent to about what I would do for a 10K run, minus the 10K run.

It was entirely pleasant, but I insured I would not foolishly start running by wearing my street shoes. In reality, there was no real chance that I’d run, because I am rather concerned about making things worse and having to wait even longer before running again.

But it went well, I maintained a respectable pace and all that.

Stats:

Walk 93
Average pace: 9:28/km
Location: Brunette River trail
Distance: 8.09 km
Time: 1:16:31
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temp: 17 °C
Humidity: 60%
Wind: light
BPM: 127
Weight: 166.1 pounds
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255
Total distance to date: 694.51 km

I stretched my walk today to allow for a full 2 km run along the river trail and posted some pretty good times:

1 km: 5:36/km
2 km: 5:30/km

All while maintaining a BPM of under 150.

The achiness in my legs isn’t completely gone, but it’s mostly gone, so I was able to start running without the same discomfort as yesterday.

A pall of smoke from forest fires is thick over the area today, but the river trail wasn’t that bad, otherwise I may have skipped the running.

Again, it felt good to get out, and today I was able to appreciate the more Zen-like aspects of running, which was nice.

Tomorrow I am planning to do a 5K and if it goes well, I’ll go back to my usual 10K run on Friday. We will see.

Here’s a shot of the Brunette River, from the bridge on North Road, about 2.5 hours before sunset. You can see the smoke haze in the distance.

Stats:

Walk 91
Average pace: 7:57/km
Location: Brunette River trail
Distance: 7.75 km
Time: 61:43
Weather: Sun and high cloud/smoke
Temp: 19 °C
Humidity: 64%
Wind: light
BPM: 120
Weight: 160.2 pounds
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 12
Total distance to date: 686.1 km

My legs have been mysteriously achy over the last few days. The last time this happened, I was told to take Tylenol or Advil and stop bothering people in the medical profession. Today would have been a run day, but due to the achiness I opt to just do a walk with some running mixed in. My first tentative attempts at the running part do not go well, as the very upper parts of my legs hurt enough to inhibit moving at a pace faster than a brisk walk. So I walk briskly.

I continue this, but keep trying to run periodically, and gradually the ache fades, until I am able to actually get a decent run going, bringing my overall pace down to 8:15/km.

Later, while preparing dinner, my legs were relatively fine, but my lower back really started hurting. Bad posture? Bad karma? Old? I do not know.

It was nice to get out, though. The weather was a bit smoky, due to regional forest fires, but it was very mild, and the forecast suggests two more days of pseudo-summer before seasonal temperatures and actual precipitation return.

Here’s a shot of the work they’re doing in Lower Hume Park, which I walk through on the way to and from my runs/walks. As you can see, they are planting trees a-plenty as part of a plan to return this section of park to a more natural state. It was previously just lawn.

Stats:

Walk 90
Average pace: 8:15/km
Location: Brunette River trail
Distance: 7.43 km
Time: 62:56
Weather: Sun and high cloud
Temp: 18 °C
Humidity: 68%
Wind: light
BPM: 122
Weight: 158.4 pounds
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 12
Total distance to date: 678.35 km