Conditions today were a bit warmer and less humid than Wednesday. The net effect was not much difference–the real change was post-run when it started to shower and got a bit chilly. The run started out sunny and got increasingly cloudy, but remained nice ‘n dry.
I started out at the dam today, in order to reduce the overall length of the walk back home. The only downside: fewer photos of Still Creek after the run. Worth the trade.
Starting out, I felt a bit sluggish but my pace was actually 5:51/km, and my performance condition was +4, both pretty good! However, I still dipped to 5:58/km for the second lap. Undeterred, but with a pleading bladder, I hit the 2K mark then diverted to the closed-for-the-season Nature House and its washrooms, because the Jiffy John® by my usual starting spot was being serviced. I stopped long enough to hydrate (a drink from the fountain) and, uh, dehydrate (by using the loo). This allowed my heart rate to drop to 116 or so, which somehow allowed me to get a pace of 5:39/km for lap 3. Yowza,
I finished with 5:46/5:44 for the 4th and 5th lap, and an overall pace of 5:48/km, with a BPM of 148. This is my best pace, post-surgery, so yay for that.
October is also the first month where my average pace dropped below 6:00 minutes, to 5:54.
My left knee felt a little hinky for a few minutes, like everything wasn’t quite locked in, but it sorted itself out. I’ll probably have the knee looked at eventually. The knee did not slow me down, obviously, and near the 4K mark I spotted a runner ahead of me. For a few moments I couldn’t tell if they were approaching or moving away, then they started getting closer–but it was because I was catching up, ho ho! I wondered if I might eventually pass then before finishing the run and very nearly did–but the guy stopped his run and started walking back toward me just moments before I would have passed. He looked like he was about 40 years younger. We gave each other a little jogger’s nod as we passed, me running and him walking.
The trail was relatively quiet, otherwise.
And it was a nice way to end the week.
Stats:
Run 1,081
Average pace: 5:48/km
Training status: Maintaining
Performance Condition: +4
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 11:17 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 29:09
Weather: Cloudy, some sun
Temp: 9–11°C
Humidity: 79–72%
Wind: low
BPM: 148
Weight: 172.5 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,205 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (185/374/559)
Music: Autoamerican, Blondie