Exercise

My partner gently suggested I go for a run this afternoon, and after pondering how busy the trail would be tomorrow, my usual run day, due to the Thanksgiving holiday, I was persuaded to don my jogging stuff and get out there.

The conditions were fine, although there was a good breeze blowing, which made me glad to be wearing a long-sleeved shirt for the non-run parts.

Because I have been bad/lazy and haven’t run for a bit, I adopted a slower pace right from the start and indeed, I came in five seconds off my last outing. My BPM was the same, but I chalk that up to the cool wind and letting myself get flabby and losing that slight edge I had on stamina.

I swear I’ll do better going forward!

The run itself was uneventful. A stitch threatened at one point, but never materialized. The trail was quite busy, though–not really surprising, given it was a sunny Sunday afternoon. It was right on the edge of annoying, but I was in an easily-annoyed mood today, too. Really, it was fine.

I did run in spurts post-5K, but mostly to get around people. I also saw some snow geese on the fields, which was neat. They are here migrating through the area. I also saw a snake slither into the grass ahead of me. No bunnies this time, though.

Stats:

Run 661
Average pace: 6:12/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 2:09 p.m.
Distance: 5.04 km
Time: 31:16
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 13ºC
Humidity: 56%
Wind: light to high
BPM: 156
Weight: 181.1
Total distance to date: 4910 km
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 12
Shoes: Brooks Caldera 5 (40 km)

I planned to do a walk/run combo today, with an eye on the weather, as a heavy rainfall warning was still in effect. It was dry when I headed out and a fair bit cooler at only 13C, but with only a light breeze blowing it didn’t feel bad.

Today is a stat holiday so I expected to see a few more people out on the river trail, despite the gloom and sure enough there were. For some reason, their presence sufficiently annoyed me into thinking the lake would be better, so I wrapped up my walk, headed to the lake and did a 5K loop around the northern side trails.

There were people at the lake, too, some ill-prepared for the weather, but the weather itself got progressively nicer as I ran, with the sun poking out at one point. It was not to last.

As I neared the 2.5K turnaround point, a group of three people ahead of me were fanned out, blocking my way. I called out “Behind you” to alert them to my presence–I was on the left (passing lane). The guy directly in front of me opted to just suddenly stop moving, apparently thinking this was the correct course of action. And it is, if a collision is the desired result. I slowed down and he moved aside at the last moment, realizing the error in his plan.

The run was otherwise uneventful. I started out with what I thought was a deliberately slow pace but was actually 5:44/km. I ended with an overall pace one entire second faster than my last run. Woo. The splits did not show the usual renewed energy in the last few km. I guess I was tired, or maybe just not trying to push. Yeah, that’s it.

Still, it was an otherwise fine run, especially since I hadn’t intended on doing one today.

As for the weather, the rain began on the walk back, when I was in Lower Hume Park (about 1.5 km from home), so I didn’t get utterly drenched or anything.

Here’s a shot of the lake post-run when the sky was shifting back to ominous-portents-of-rain:

Stats:

Run 660
Average pace: 6:07/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 2:32 p.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 30:46
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 13ºC
Humidity: 86%
Wind: light
BPM: 156
Weight: 177.9
Total distance to date: 4905 km
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 12
Shoes: Brooks Caldera 5 (35 km)

I had to get back on the full run bandwagon again, so I headed out a bit earlier in the afternoon today to do so. Fortunately, it was also a pleasantly warm and sunny early autumn day, which provides some grease on the motivation part vs. a monsoon with high winds (which we had last Friday).

I opted to do a full loop around the lake, running the first 5K, then walking/running out the rest of the way.

I felt a tiny bit of a stitch threaten late, but it subsided quickly, and there were otherwise no issues.

The delusion came as I headed to the lake, thinking I might try for a full 10K. That notion was cast aside by around the 3 km mark. 😛 I’ll get there, though!

This was my best run at the lake with a pace of 6:08/km, edging me closer to breaking the six-minute mark.

I also saw a snake post-run. It was just hanging out on the trail, soaking up the sun. It didn’t budge even when I got close to take a pic. I’ll post the photo in another, uh, post, but here’s another post-run shot of Burnaby Lake looking serene and pretty in its early fall colors:

Stats:

Run 659
Average pace: 6:08/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 2:10 p.m.
Distance: 5.02 km
Time: 30:50
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 23ºC
Humidity: 50%
Wind: light
BPM: 154
Weight: 177.9
Total distance to date: 4900 km
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 12
Shoes: Brooks Caldera 5 (30 km)

I hemmed and I hawed while heading out today. Would I:

1. Be lazy and just walk to the end of the river trail and run back (2K)?
2. Be less lazy and do a 5K, but start right at the entrance to the river trail, minimizing total time required for walking/running
3. Carry on to the lake and do a quick loop running 2.5K and then doubling back

I ended up going for option #3 and was glad I did.

It was somewhat humid again but cooler than last time, resulting in some sweating, but also my mouth not really drying out. This was a good compromise, really, and probably provided a bit of an energy boost.

The strobe light part happened because the sun was low enough that it was shining through the tops of the trees when I was running westward, producing a distinct strobing effect. It’s a bit distracting. By reversing after 2.5K I completely avoided the effect on the way back, thus saving myself from getting bedazzled and running off the trail and into a clutch of giant skunk cabbage.

Also of note, I saw a squirrel on the trail holding a chestnut in its mouth–with the outer shell/skin still on it. You know, the one that’s covered in spiky bits. This must be the squirrel equivalent of eating Cap’n Crunch.

I found a comfortable pace from the start and maintained it throughout, completing the run without that OMG WHY HASN’T THIS ENDED YET?! feeling hitting me.

As a result, I shaved four seconds off my previous pace, had an even lower BPM and just generally felt a lot better. Running the lake trail is more technical than the river, though it’s pretty mild in terms of curves and dips, but it’s still so much nicer to run on an actual travel and not a seldom-used-by-vehicles service road, so the extra walking is worth it. Plus, with the resurfacing going on now between Piper Spit and Phillips Point, the entire loop is pretty much 100% exposed tree root-free. Even when the leaves pile up in the fall, I won’t have to worry about snagging a foot on one of those evil wood things. Woo!

When that resurfacing is done, the only remaining area will be the strip alongside the athletic fields, which can still flood or get very swampy from the rain, or even when they run the sprinklers for too long. The drainage in the area is a bit lacking.

In any case, it’s good to be back to a regular run routine. Here’s hoping my body doesn’t goof it all up.

Stats:

Run 658
Average pace: 6:12/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 4:29 p.m.
Distance: 5.02 km
Time: 31:10
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 19ºC
Humidity: 50%
Wind: light
BPM: 150
Weight: 177.8
Total distance to date: 4895 km
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 12
Shoes: Brooks Caldera 5 (25 km)

I returned to the lake today and ran a 5K clockwise in what I used to refer to as the “easy” way around the lake, because it seems to slop somewhat more downhill. In retrospect, I don’t think it’s much different. Visually it’s more interesting because you’ve got boardwalks, some close-ups of the lake itself, plus fields and the possibility of encountering a horse.

I did not see any horses today.

The weather was pleasantly warm, but a tad humid, so I was both sweating and feeling a bit parched by the end. I felt a stitch threaten on my left side at one point, but kept a steady of somewhat sloggy pace, and emerged unscathed.

Because today was Labor Day, the trail was packed full of people who apparently say the following to themselves on every stat holiday: “Well, I guess I should go out and see nature or something.” Fortunately, all dogs were leashed, people with bikes were pushing them instead of riding, and everyone was generally aware and polite, save for one guy walking with what may have been his son and wife and was utterly oblivious to my presence and completely blocked my way around him until I was almost literally breathing down his neck. Technically that doesn’t count, as I had already finished the 5K, but even though the run felt like it took a lot of effort, I found enough gas to run on and off as I made my way to the end of the lake loop.

The two runs at the lake have been remarkably consistent–pace has been very similar, and my BPM has been exactly the same each time. This also marks my sixth run of the year, now putting me ahead of all 2020. Woo for clearing an admittedly low bar!

Not to go all TMI, but I went to the bathroom before heading out due to the Embarrassing Incident on the previous run. This was smart, but I know my body and felt there was a good chance I’d have to go again when I arrived at the lake. Sure enough, I had to make use of the Jiffy John™ after getting there. I was unsurprised to find the loo had no toilet paper. But I had anticipated this and brought my own! (Not a whole roll, just enough.)

I did cheat a smidgen by pausing the run to take a few photos of the lake, but it was probably no more than 30 seconds. And the shots look nice.

Here’s one. The yellow is the lily pads starting to put on their fall colors–yes, already!

Stats:

Run 656
Average pace: 6:14/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 2:23 p.m.
Distance: 5.02 km
Time: 31:17
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 23ºC
Humidity: 49%
Wind: light
BPM: 155
Weight: 178.3
Total distance to date: 4890 km
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 12
Shoes: Brooks Caldera 5 (15 km)

Today I did not feel like running, but I headed out, thinking I’d walk to the end of the river trail and at least run back to the entrance (2 km). If I felt more up to it, I’d do a full 5K.

What happened next was a bit weird and pretty much my own fault.

As I walked through Lower Hume Park, I thought, “Hmm, I may have to go to the washroom.” There is a washroom conveniently in Lower Hume Park. I even had a mask with me, something I normally don’t carry when running. But I opted to bypass the washroom because it was more just a feeling (not more than a feeling). This was a bad move.

By the time I got to the river trail a few minutes later, I definitely had to go, curse my easily agitated organs. So I decided to duck up the first of two service roads that leads off the main trail and up to the train tracks. After climbing a short hill, the road bends, then there’s a short straight stretch before it bends again and then exits out to the railroad tracks and environs. I have rarely seen CN vehicles use this side road and can’t recall the last time I saw a person walking it. I had ducked up here before without incident.

As I positioned myself, I looked both ways to insure no one was strolling along to see me do my business. Now, this is an actual road, albeit a narrow gravel one in not-great shape, so if someone did come along, they would pretty much see me.

Which is what happened. Two guys on one bikes (one lower, apparently on a recumbent bike) suddenly rounded the corner, coming from the track area. I quickly pulled up my shorts, even though I was not finished and my bladder was about 10 seconds from exploding. I hopped and jogged back to the main trail, found a large tree just off the trail, and finished there. Why I hadn’t done this to begin with is a very good question. I waited behind the tree, to see if the bikers would go left (exiting the trail) or right. I did not want to have any sort of interaction with them, for obvious reasons.

They went left. Hooray. I waited another minute, then came back onto the trail and looked in their direction–they were near the exit, but their bikes were facing me. Apparently they were coming back. Curses. I decided to just walk to the end of the trail as planned, looking behind me periodically to see if they were following or, worse, following and closing the gap.

I did not see them.

And then I did. They were still far behind, but were clearly on the move. I thought I heard someone let out a loud hoot. One of them? Maybe. I kept walking, but did not see them again after that.

But I wasn’t chancing anything, so I decided to keep going on to Burnaby Lake. I didn’t want to do a full loop, considering I wasn’t really feeling like running at all, so I opted to take the side trails and hit the 2.5 km mark, then turn around and return to my starting destination by the dam to complete the 5K. After I hit the 2.5K mark I paused the run, walked a little farther up to make sure I would definitely hit 5K on my return, then resumed.

My pace was sluggish. My mind was frazzled, and my tank o’ gas felt empty. I actually started decently at 5:33/km, but fell off quickly after that and never regained my pace. But in a way I was just happy that I managed it at all.

And I will remember to always squirrel myself completely away from view if I ever need to go while I’m out in nature. Curse my tiny bladder.

(I also had to go again when I got to the lake. Fortunately, it has a Jiffy John™ right there by the parking lot.)

On a more positive note, I have now matched the number of runs I did in all of 2020 (five), in the space of about two and a half weeks. So that’s nice!

Stats:

Run 655
Average pace: 6:12/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 4:31 p.m.
Distance: 5.02 km
Time: 31:09
Weather: Cloudy, a smidgen of late sun
Temp: 22ºC
Humidity: 42%
Wind: light
BPM: 155
Weight: 178.7
Total distance to date: 4885 km
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 12
Shoes: Brooks Caldera 5 (10 km)