This was my first run in 11 days. If you read the previous post, you’ll see I had both good and bad reasons for missing the last four or five runs. Today, it promised to be sunny, mild, and I had no real excuses, so out I went.
And it was fine!
I opted for a t-shirt and with the wind low and the sun mostly out (and feeling a tiny bit warm now that spring is here), I was not at all cold or uncomfortable. I walked to the lake and did a short loop going counter-clockwise, starting by the fountain and then turning back right at the 3K marker. I ended my run just before reaching the 1K marker.
After being in a glum mood for a while (also see the previous post), I found it darkly amusing that these three songs popped up in consecutive order as I started my run:
- Goodbye Cruel World (Pink Floyd)
- It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (R.E.M.)
- Everyday is Like Sunday (Morrissey)
(For those unaware, “Everyday is Like Sunday” regularly calls for the coming of Armageddon and atomic bombs.)
Despite the downer tunes, the run went well, with no issues, even after the week-and-a-half layoff. I started out OK with a pace of 5:47/km (I was keen to not push things) and ended strong with 5:38/km, while being a bit pokier in the middle. My BPM was actually the same as the last run, which is actually not bad at all.
As for the birbs, they were indeed everywhere. I swear the same song sparrow I nearly stepped on was on the trail ahead of me again. It really didn’t want to move and instead just keep flying low and stopping a short distance ahead of me. I’d get close, it repeated, until I finally actually moved over to the left to give it more room, and it seemed content to stay. It was still pecking around the same area when I looped back later. I also saw a pair of Steller’s jays at the same spot I’d seen a pair before (the intersection of the main trail and Conifer Loop). There are clearly shenanigans happening.
I also saw a pair of squirrels either fighting over a log or doing a squirrel courtship over a log. I am not a squirrelologist, so I couldn’t tell.
I also saw lots of robins, towhees, juncos and what I think was the rump of a Northern flicker heading into some trees. To clarify, the entire bird headed into the trees, I could only see the rump part of it. I even saw a pair of hooded mergansers drifting down the river post-run. Everywhere you go, it’s gonna be birds.
As a bonus, Metro Vancouver was finally convinced spring is here and the water fountain by the dam is open again. I sampled its deliciously cold water.
Another sign of spring: little bitty lily pads are starting to dot the surface of the lake again.
It was nice to be out again.
Stats:
Run 861
Average pace: 5:49/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW, short loop)
Start: 11:06 a.m.
Distance: 5:03 km
Time: 29:17
Weather: Sun and high cloud mix
Temp: 11-12°C
Humidity: 57-55%
Wind: light
BPM: 153
Weight: 168.9
Total distance to date: 6190 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: HOKA Speedgoat 5 (330/610/940 km)
