5K

I had been hoping to hit 1,000 official™ runs this year, but then your body makes you go to the ER and things happen, so instead I end with 996 runs and I should hit 1,000 sometimes in the first week or so of the new year. And that’s fine.

Today, a week after my last run–which was also on a Tuesday–I waddled off to the lake (I am a whopping 3.2 pounds heavier than the last run) and…it went decently!

It was a later start because I wasn’t sure I would even run today, but it seemed prudent to go today with the weather being dry, if cool. I saw a decent number of people, including a lot of joggers, though none of the regulars. One guy had the temerity to run past me. But he was wearing gloves, so I was still more manly.

I got to see the aftermath of the windstorm from the other side and it looks like at least one giant tree uprooted itself on the Southshore Trail, along with several smaller ones. The trail was clear today, though the beating it’s taken has left the normally unseen underlay/mesh exposed in multiple places, almost to where it’s a tripping hazard.

Although it was 6C and the weather app said it felt like 6C, it felt colder. The air was damp enough that my minimal facial hair was dripping throughout. I felt clammy and cold walking home, despite three layers. But maybe I added a few more hairs to my chest.

The run yo-yo’d a bit in terms of pace, but I felt fine and finished with an overall pace of 5:47/km and a BPM of 147. My Detraining status has now reverted to Maintaining. Overall, I am pleased and should now resume a more regular run routine.

Stats:

Run 996
Average pace: 5:47/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW, short loop)
Start: 1:10 p.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 29:07
Weather: Partly sunny
Temp: 6°C
Humidity: 84%
Wind: light
BPM: 147
Weight: 169.8 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,810 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (70/117/187)

Music: Murmur, R.E.M.

I’m a day late with my run because of the timing of yesterday’s doctor’s appointment, the weather, and possibly the alignment of the moon.

The forecast promised rain by early afternoon, but I wanted to run at the lake, so I split the difference and did a short loop, which saves me about 45–50 minutes of walking. Plus, I didn’t really want to do all that extra walking, anyway. 8 km seems like plenty.

Conditions were similar to the last run at the lake, though a smidgen warmer at 4C (the weather app said wind made it feel like 2C, but wind was a non-factor for me). I was a bit slower, but managed to improve my pace throughout and had an average of 5:42/km, which is fine. BPM remained at 146 again and I got a new max HR of 163. I can’t remember if this is higher or lower. I very rarely hit 160, so it’s also fine.

There weren’t many people out, possibly because the chilliness offset the relatively mild conditions, but there was an assortment of joggers, walkers and birders (I could not see what they were looking at, but a few were staring intently in one direction on one part of the trail. I did see a Steller’s Jay myself, though!)

We had another windstorm pass through yesterday, so there were some twigs and small branches scattered about, but nothing like the debris field of the last run here.

Here’s the Spruce Loop from last week:

And today:

With the trail clear, I was able to complete my run without having to stop, walk, duck or divert. As an extra bonus, I also didn’t have my shoelaces come untied. Nice.

A good start to the week.

Stats:

Run 995
Average pace: 5:42/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW, short loop)
Start: 9:53 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 28:41
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Temp: 4°C
Humidity: 90-87%
Wind: light
BPM: 146
Weight: 166.6 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,805 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (65/109/174)

Music: Lifes Rich Pageant, R.E.M.

With the sun out, I was not going to miss running today. I’d had three days off as my December run schedule has been beset by appointments and bad weather (also, my treadmill is currently out of service, so no backup).

I headed out a little later than usual–just after 10 a.m., and was greeted with the expected debris of twigs and small branches littering the trails after last night’s windstorm passed through the area, with gusts up to 80-90 km/h.

However, I was not entirely prepared for the level of destruction at Burnaby Lake. I ran a short loop, which means I only saw a relatively small section of the 10 km loop, but there were multiple trees down, including what appeared to be at least two fir trees that may have formed a suicide pact about 1 km along the run, on the Spruce Loop:

I had to detour back to the main trail, then headed up to the Conifer Loop, hoping it would be passable (it was). But just to the right where the Conifer and Spruce Loops intersect was this:

There was another large tree down on the Piper Mill trail and a couple plus another runner and I all bottled up at it, working our way over it.

This led to the overall run being a bit of a crazy quilt, with odd turns and pauses all over. I started out with a casual pace of 5:56/km, but the last few km were unobstructed by debris, so I managed an overall pace of 5:45/km. My BPM was a pretty low 146. It was chilly at 6-7C, but I probably didn’t need to wear three layers.

This was also my first run wearing the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is different mainly by having an AMOLED display vs. the 255. It is quite a bit brighter, but I need to adjust the stats it displays during a run. Bafflingly, it doesn’t include distance on the main face.

Overall, an interesting change of pace, given the conditions, but otherwise a finee mid-week effort.

Stats:

Run 993
Average pace: 5:45/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW, short loop)
Start: 11:03 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 28:57
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 6-7°C
Humidity: 78-75%
Wind: light
BPM: 146
Weight: 167.6 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,795 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (55/97/152)

Music: Shuffle mode

Birding was cancelled due to illness, but I was not the ill one, so I decided to take advantage of the one day in the 10-day forecast that doesn’t mention rain and went out for a run. This was also handy because I did not feel like running yesterday after my PET scan.

I dressed in two layers and even that almost felt like too much. It was 11C, which is well above normal for this time of year. My plan was to run clockwise, then reverse course and walk back the way I came, avoiding Puddletown by the sport fields.

The puddles weren’t totally inescapable, though, as the marshy area just past the rowing pavilion is a little flooded and at several points there are trail-wide shallow puddles that make you scan and look for the best option:

• Go left
• Go right
• Go through and try to hit the exposed bits of trail
• Vault over the whole thing

With one such puddle, I determined left was the best approach. As it happened, another runner was coming from the other side and was thinking the same thing. As I was arriving first, he paused to let me dipsy-doodle past, then continued on. Runners are generally very polite to each other.

There was a new extra-tree, but it weirdly seemed to fall in such a way to leave most of the trail clear. Even the ex-trees are polite here!

Other than a few cyclists just past the puddle in question (near the end of the run), I experienced no issues, and the pair of cyclists were at least riding slow. I still said, “Bicycles aren’t allowed” to the second cyclist as I ran by. I am not convinced they were wracked with guilt afterward.

Also, I passed not one, but TWO pairs of runners. And I don’t mean sneakers sitting on the ground, I mean actual people out jogging. Admittedly, both pairs were being rather casual and chatting, but still.

Also also, my pace was still a decent 5:39/km and my BPM was down to 147, likely due to the much milder temperatures. Although the sun poked out a little post-run, it was cloudy and calm during.

In all, a perfectly pleasant rare weekend outing.

Stats:

Run 992
Average pace: 5:39/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 10:53 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 28:26
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 11°C
Humidity: 90%
Wind: light
BPM: 147
Weight: 167.6 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,790 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (50/89/139)

Music: Shuffle mode

I missed Friday’s run for reasons and postponed my usual Monday run due to a rainfall warning. The warning proved to be quite accurate.

But today the weather was milder and with no threat of rain, I headed out. I debated a short loop but in the end, the conditions persuaded me to do a regular 5K. I stopped at the first boardwalk to retie my left shoelace (Ol’ Loosey, I call it now), but generally the run went without issue. Two things to note, though:

• Somewhere around the 4K mark or so I almost started to develop a cramp. I didn’t, but IU could feel it trying. I was probably just pushing too hard.
• My left foot twinged a few times, never quite hurting, per se, but getting close, if that makes sense. One theory is the foam in the insoles of the shoes is starting to compress, so it might not be providing enough support. I may end up having to put my grubby old orthotics back in.

Overall, though, I maintained a good pace throughout, and even on the 4th where I lagged a bit, it was only by seven seconds. I saw Servo Girl, too, so at least some of the regulars are still getting out.

As mentioned, conditions were relatively mild. I probably only needed two layers, but three did not prove to be uncomfortable. The trail was generally in good shape, though the branches (and twigs) were indeed out, scattered all over the place. I guess yesterday’s storm had something to do with the debris. I finished the run and was perfectly dry, then had to face Puddle Town by the sports fields and ending up spraying mud up one leg and generally getting my feet quite wet, because the puddles are too big to avoid and the edges are all soft and murky. I will be writing to Metro Vancouver, because I’ve been running here for 14 years and they have never addressed the regular flooding on this section of trail.

Other than that, it was a pretty good run.

Stats:

Run 991
Average pace: 5:33/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 9:47 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 27:56
Weather: Mix of sun and cloud
Temp: 7-8°C
Humidity: 91-90%
Wind: light
BPM: 153
Weight: 167.6 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,785 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (45/76/121)

Music: Beauty and the Beat, The Go-Go's

Conditions were pretty similar to Monday, though it was a bit more humid (I couldn’t feel the difference). I dressed in three layers again and since I ran at the lake today, the third layer was nice for the 4K walk there and back.

My watch told me to do a shorter recovery run, so I compromised and did my usual 5K, but eased up a bit, with an overall pace of 5:45/km and a BPM of 149. The only time I notably picked up the pace was when I was passing by the Nature House/Piper Spit and one of the park putt-putt cars was heading out. I looked behind me and could see it was coming my way, so I goosed it a little to stay ahead of it. It was pulling a cute little trailer, so I don’t think there was any serious chance of it catching me.

I did not have any issues on the run, and the trail was sparsely populated. Once again, I did not see any of the regular runners. Kind of weird at this point. Maybe they take winters off.

In all, a fine mid-week effort and any run in December where it isn’t raining or freezing is A++ for me.

Stats:

Run 990
Average pace: 5:45/km
Training status: Productive
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW, short loop)
Start: 10:56 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 28:57
Weather: Overcast
Temp: 5°C
Humidity: 91-89%
Wind: light
BPM: 149
Weight: 166.3 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,780 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (40/63/103)

Music: Shuffle mode

I missed two runs this week:

• Monday: No good reason, I just didn’t want to go. Bad.
• Wednesday: Waited all day for a delivery that never arrived. Thanks, massive retail conglomerate! The weather was decent, too.

But today the weather was clear, if cool, so I headed out nice ‘n early and did an actual run at the actual lake. I wore two layers and shorts. This proved sufficient for the 6C start, the coldest yet this fall. A lot of the water had mist pooling over it, which was a nice effect.

The first km revealed what a week off, plus a cold start can do–my pace was a slothful 6:01/km. I expected the rest of the run to be similar, but actually found my form fairly quickly, with the last two km coming in under 5:30, bringing my average pace to 5:46/km, pretty much the same as my last run a week ago. My BPM was higher at 153, probably a combination of the colder weather and the time off.

I didn’t experience any issues during the run and even passed another jogger, woo. The trail was mostly dry but there was post-run puddle navigation required around the sports fields. The trail there is legitimately terrible now. I should really write a letter.

There were more people than usual, I’d say, no doubt brought out by the sun, but not enough to become an actual crowd.

And after the run, I had about a dozen people on horseback turn onto the trail ahead of me, which was different. None of the horses pooped, which was nice of them.

In all, a nice return.

Bonus shot: Mist before starting out:

Stats:

Run 988
Average pace: 5:46/km
Training status: Strained
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 9:57 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 29:01
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 6-7°C
Humidity: 83%
Wind: light
BPM: 153
Weight: 166.2 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,770 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (30/51/81)

Music: The Turn of a Friendly Card, The Alan Parsons Project

I opted to do a repeat of Friday’s run. Most of the conditions were similar, except there was drizzle and light rain. This made it feel a lot cooler, so the two layers felt appropriate both before and during the run.

I suspected I would be slower and I was, which is fine. Again mirroring Friday’s run, my left shoelace came untied, forcing me to stop just past the 2 km point to tie it. Just prior to this, a guy jogged past me, and I briefly entertained a delusion of catching up to him. But then I had to tie my shoe, so that became impossible. Now I can safely pretend I totally would have caught up to him otherwise (ho ho).

My overall pace was 5:40/km and my fastest was at the end, 5:30. BPM was 149, which is good.

While it was kind of drizzly or lightly showering for much of the run, it wasn’t bad at all. I never had to look over my glasses to see. However, it had clearly rained a fair bit earlier because there were puddles aplenty and the trail next to the sports fields was basically puddles with small sections of trail between them. I may write a letter.

But other than having to carefully navigate puddles post-run, it was a perfectly adequate way to start the week.

Stats:

Run 986
Average pace: 5:40/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 10:00 a.m.
Distance: 5.02 km
Time: 28:28
Weather: Drizzle, light rain
Temp: 8-9°C
Humidity: 89-87%
Wind: light
BPM: 149
Weight: 166.7 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,760 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (20/34/54)

Music: Voices, Hall & Oates

I missed my Wednesday run because I was waiting for a delivery and the timing was about what you’d expect (vague window of many hours, then delivered some time after that window had passed), so I was unsure how today would go.

One thing I changed up, though, was my insoles. My Peregrine 15s come with unusually cushy foam insoles and I decided to just leave them in, instead of putting in my increasingly worn orthotics that date back to the simpler days of 2016. And it actually went fine! The only foot-related issue I had was the left shoelace threatening to come untied just as I was heading past the parking lot at the rowing pavilion. I stopped to re-tie it, then finished the run, which was already in its final km at that point.

As for the run, it went well. I started strong and only dipped to 5:40/km for one km, then finished strong, with an overall pace of 5:34/km and BPM of 148. It was the coolest¹Not Fonzie cool, of course run of the fall yet–only 7C to start, but I wore two layers and the utter lack of wind meant it was fine. I never felt cold. I saw half a dozen or so other joggers, though no regulars. Someone who had just finished a run was returning to their vehicle at the parking lot by the aforementioned rowing pavilion–and had gone sans shirt. Show off. Admittedly, he had stuff to show off, but still.

One other thing of note. I am considering making an inquiry to Metro Vancouver, as the trail adjacent to the sports fields is very swampy and puddle-rich, as seen in the photo below. It’s a pretty miserable experience for both joggers and walkers. Even skirting the puddles is iffy, because the grass is often saturated with water, too. I’m hoping they finally do something about this, but I’ve been running here for 14 years now, so I’m not exactly holding my breath.

Overall, a good run to wrap up the week. Hopefully next week stays dry and I get in all three runs.

Stats:

Run 985
Average pace: 5:34/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 9:48 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 28:00
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 7-8°C
Humidity: 87%
Wind: light
BPM: 148
Weight: 165.9 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,755 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (15/21/32)

Music: Green, R.E.M.