Run 512: A very sweaty 7K

Run 512
Average pace: 5:37/km
Location: Brunette River trail and Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 6:30 pm
Distance: 7.03 km
Time: 39:38
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 28ºC
Humidity: 41%
Wind: light
BPM: 159
Weight: 160.6 pounds
Total distance to date: 3971 km
Devices: Apple Watch, iPhone

Tonight’s run was a bell curve covered in sweat.

With the temperature up around 28ºC I adopted a steady-but-not-quick pace, hoping to endure the heat. I actually managed better than expected, coming close to Saturday’s pace (5:37/km tonight vs 5:34/km on Saturday). While that run was 3 km longer, it was also 11 degrees cooler. You kind of notice a difference like that.

At the midway point I could feel cramps threatening, so I eased up, then picked the pace back up for the last few km when the potential cramp crisis passed. Other than that the only other real issue was sweating. I sweated a bunch, especially around the forehead, where it always dribbles down and threatens to get into my eyes. No wonder headbands became so popular in the 80s.

They still look too dumb to wear. My finger can wick sweat away at no extra cost.

I felt a little bad for the people riding the SkyTrain with me on the way home. I’m pretty sure I didn’t smell spring fresh. Or summer fresh. Or any kind of fresh.

The only other complication came when I turned onto the Piper Mill Trail. A large group of nature enthusiasts were gathered and studying pine cones or something. They also blocked the entire path. Even though any of the dozen or so could have seen me, not a single one acknowledged my presence or moved to let me pass. I actually had to stop and then make my way around them off the trail. I hope they got attacked by a swarm of rabid butterflies, the jerks.

Still, even the nature-loving but people-hating clods could not take away from this run going better than expected.

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