Burnaby Lake runs

I headed out a bit later than normal, but with the sky cloudy and temperatures cooler, I wasn’t overly concerned.

And it turned out the conditions were ideal for me to put in my best post-surgery run yet, making it the first time since mid-May that I broke the six-minute mark, coming in with an average of 5:54/km. My BPM was only slightly higher at 150 and never went higher than 155, an indication of how better weather is a mercy when running.

It was a more technical run, in that I was constantly having to dart around slugs. They were copious.

I saw a few old regular runners, including Hang Dog (he seemed to have more spring in his step than usual) and Very Old Guy with a Slight Limp, who always stares resolutely ahead while running (at a decent pace).

I didn’t experience any issues and my main focus, after breaking the six-minute mark on the second km, was to maintain or improve my pace for the rest of the run. When I hit 5:45/km at the 4K mark, I had breathing room, but still nicked off one more second before the end. It felt good to finally get back to the form I had.

This may all come undone if it’s hot and sunny on the next run, but for now I will bask in the small glory of today.

Stats:

Run 1,061
Average pace: 5:54/km
Training status: Productive
Performance Condition: 0
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 11:28 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 28:44
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 16°C
Humidity: 73–71%
Wind: light
BPM: 150
Weight: 170.4 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,110 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (90/197/287)

Music: Xanadu soundtrack (less groovy)

Today’s goal was pretty simple: Beat the rain. Not that I’m afraid of melting or anything, I just prefer to run when it’s not raining, mostly because I wear glasses and they do not have little windshield wipers on them.

The forecast on the phone and the PC both agreed on showers, but disagreed on when. I decided the safest plan was to go to the lake (my preference) and do a short loop, which would get me back around 11:30 a.m., which was within the window of the more pessimistic forecast–and it worked! It was cloudy, but did not rain. The sun even threatened to poke out a few times, but never quite managed it.

I ran 2.8 km, turned around and planned on running on the main trail, but just as I neared the intersection between the main trail and the Conifer Loop, one of those giant mowers appeared around the corner of the main trail, appearing to take up almost the entire space. So it was off to the Conifer Loop, which I ran in its entirely, coming back out on the main trail and finishing ahead of where I’d planned, but with plenty of time to get back before The Rains (as I type this, it remains dry).

In terms of the run, it went well. My pace was 6:04/km, slightly edging Monday’s effort, though the overall time remained identical at 30:33. I felt fine and broke the six-minute mark on the final km again. The trail was fairly light in terms of traffic (other than giant mowers), no doubt due to the clouds, but the conditions were pretty good for running.

In all, a fine midweek effort.

Stats:

Run 1,060
Average pace: 6:04/km
Training status: Productive
Performance Condition: -1
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW, short loop)
Start: 10:13 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 30:33
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 19°C
Humidity: 65–63%
Wind: light
BPM: 149
Weight: 171.3 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,105 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (85/184/269)

Music: Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (so groovy)

Today’s run was different for a few reasons. First, I didn’t run on Wednesday, because air quality was bad, then I didn’t run on Friday because I wanted to let the mail carrier in (long, weird story) and so today, a Saturday, I headed out, somewhat wary because of the four days off and the potential for Saturday crowds, especially with perfectly fine late summer weather.

But it turned out the four days off may have been a benefit and not a hindrance and the crowds were not really much different than most days and everyone was pleasant and all dogs were good boys or girls.

In the end, my BPM was up a bit at 151, which is still fine, but my overall pace was 6:09/km, a full 11 seconds better than the previous run and my best 5K performance (or even 2.5K) since I resumed running post-surgery on June 29. It was also the first time since surgery that I had a km come in under the six-minute mark. The last km, to be exact, where I posted a pace of 5:53/km, proving I can still boogie a bit.

I also saw the Spitfire near the start of my run on the Spruce Loop (I think she runs every day because she is hardcore. I am mediumcore, at best.) She then looped back and passed me post-run when I was doing an unusual bit of wool-gathering on the trail and not really paying attention. I almost got in her way and felt bad. I paid full attention after that.

There were also three topless runners in varying states of glistening. The last was rather hirsute, which is not my thing, but the first had a perfectly flat stomach. No killer abs or anything, just nicely flat. That will be my goal, to match Flat Stomach Guy. Someday.

But for today, I am glad to get a run in and see signs of progress (and better running temperatures, too).

Stats:

Run 1,058
Average pace: 6:09/km
Training status: Productive
Performance Condition: +0
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 10:34 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 30:57
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 17–19°C
Humidity: 70–63%
Wind: light
BPM: 151
Weight: 169.8 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,095 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (75/173/248)

Music: Out of the Blue, ELO

Today’s run was defined by three things:

• People
• Bikes
• Humidity

In order:

• There was a lot of people out on the trail, many of them walking dogs, but just also lots of people. The weekend weather was showery, so I guess it makes sense that people would flock to the trail with the sun coming back. At least one dog was off-leash, but they were all well-behaved.
• A guy rode past me on a bike mid-run. He was going pretty fast and was a jerk. I gave him the stinkeye and said, “Bikes aren’t allowed”:, which is all I had time for before he blew past me. I encountered a father and two kids post-run riding bikes and the father insisted the workers (from the City of Burnaby) had said it was A-OK to ride on the trail. I said it was not and shouted, “Read the signs!” as they rode off. Hopefully some geese chased them off.
• It was clear and sunny and at the start of the run humidity was 81%. This is very high. By the end of the run it had dropped to 68%, which is a big drop but 68% is still really high. It sapped my energy like a giant energy-sapping machine.

I didn’t have any issues for the run, and in the last two km, when the humidity started to drop, my pace improved, but despite the lower temperatures, I was slower than Friday’s run. Still, my BPM was also lower, at 146 and it was another effort rated Productive per my Garmin Forerunner, so I can’t be too displeased.

Plus the view from the dam was like looking into a mirror (check the first photo, above).

Stats:

Run 1,057
Average pace: 6:20/km
Training status: Productive
Performance Condition: +2
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 10:11 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 31:49
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 19–21°C
Humidity: 81–68%
Wind: light
BPM: 146
Weight: 169.9 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,090 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (70/160/230)

Music: Kookoo, Debbie Harry

I headed out about 45 minutes later today, but still well within the morning window. However, with a high of 31°C expected today, I knew it would be hotter than Wednesday no matter what. And it was!

When I started the run it was already 24°C and climbed to 27°C by the end. Bleah. I started out decently and ended pretty much the same (I’m not entirely sure where I found the reserves to pick up the pace in the final km), and the middle three laps were all right around 6:18 or so. The +5 for Performance Condition is probably because I stopped to take a phone call at about 0.61 km into the run and was on it long enough to bring my heart rate back down, so to the watch it must have seemed like the run was easy-peasy. It was not.

The heat and humidity acted as a kind of cap on my BPM. Since I could not push harder, my heart rate was lower, at 148. And despite the heat, I actually did not feel too bad. I sweated, but my forehead didn’t sweat as much, benefiting from slightly lower humidity, perhaps.

There were a fair number of other sweaty runners out, including the Spitfire, who looked like she was about to blow a gasket–pretty unusual for her.

A little past the 4K mark I saw a guy ahead of me sans top, but not glistening. This is because he was just standing there. He appeared to be checking something on his watch–perhaps starting a workout–then started jogging. I fell in behind him, expecting him to accelerate and leave me literally in his dust (the trail is very dusty right now). But he continued to move in this weird, almost dainty kind of trot, like he was roleplaying a show horse or something. I had no choice but to accelerate slightly and pass him, and this probably led to my faster finish. Once I added the extra speed, I just kept it up, all the sooner to finish the run and get to a water fountain and drink my weight in water.

The overall pace of 6:16/km is something of an improvement, given the conditions, so I’m actually pretty OK with the result.

The forecast for next week seems a bit uncertain, so we’ll see how it pans out. I’ll be happy with anything that isn’t super hot.

Stats:

Run 1,056
Average pace: 6:16/km
Training status: Productive
Performance Condition: +5 (I think this got thrown off, more below)
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 10:28 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 31:30
Weather: Sunny
AQI: 61 (moderate)
Temp: 24–27°C
Humidity: 57–52%
Wind: light
BPM: 148
Weight: 171.7 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,085 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (65/147/212)

Music: Shuffle play

Or something like that.

In a remarkable turn of events, I actually headed out relatively early and started my run at 9:38 a.m. This is over two hours earlier than Monday’s run and yes, it made a difference. It was 21°C and humidity was relatively high. Just as importantly, there was a lot of high cloud covering the sky, which blotted out the sun for almost the entire run.

Because of these more favourable conditions, I had a little more spring in my step and sliced nine seconds off the previous run’s pace, tying my best post-surgery effort with an overall pace of 6:10/km. My BPM was up slightly at 150, but totally in line with the increased effort.

I felt pretty good throughout, with no issues, and actually picked up the pace in nearly every km, finishing strong.

Weirdly, the Performance Condition was listed as -1, but I think that’s because I started with a long uphill part that slowed me right at the beginning of the run.

Most of the other people I saw were fellow joggers, including one glistening topless dude who blitzed by then eventually circled back, and blitzed by again, this time allowing me to see his 1970s-style moustache, which I was not a fan of. He could really move, though.

Overall, a fine midweek effort.

Stats:

Run 1,055
Average pace: 6:10/km
Training status: Productive
Performance Condition: -1
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 9:38 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 30:57
Weather: High cloud, veiled sun
AQI: 60 (moderate)
Temp: 21°C
Humidity: 66–62%
Wind: light
BPM: 150
Weight: 170.5 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,080 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (60/134/194)

Music: Songs from the Big Chair, Tears for Fears (inadvertently in shuffle mode)

I spent a lot of time this morning doing things to avoid running. I’m not sure why, because I knew if I waited, it would just get warmer and the run would be harder. But I finally headed out and started my run shortly after noon–about three hours later than I’d normally like.

It was not quite as warm as last Wednesday, but humidity was higher. The AQI¹Air Quality Index was 61, which is moderate, as high haze from distant wildfires hung in the sky. The air felt thick, or thicc if you prefer, you crazy hipster.

For the first four km my pace was very consistent, hovering right around 6:22/km or so and the average pace went down because, surprisingly, I had a little to spare to push a bit at the end and the final km was 6:10/km. BPM was a nice 148, while the sweat-o-meter was Very High. Despite the muggy conditions, I found I had the energy to keep pushing and never flagged or experienced issues. I drank from a fountain copiously upon completing the run, but that was all.

The trail had a modest level of activity, mostly other runners, some of whom looked unnaturally cool and dry, like they were androids or had some kind of futuristic cooling systems under their skimpy jogging clothes. Or maybe I just sweat a lot.

In any case, a decent start to the week under less than awesome conditions.

Stats:

Run 1,054
Average pace: 6:19/km
Training status: Productive
Performance Condition: +2
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Start: 12:09 p.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 31:47
Weather: Sunny with high haze
AQI: 62 (moderate)
Temp: 22–23°C
Humidity: 63–59%
Wind: light
BPM: 148
Weight: 170.3 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,075 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (55/121/176)

Music: Shuffle play

I wasn’t sure what to expect heading out later than usual today, except that it would be hotter and probably more challenging as a result.

I was half right, because it was indeed a full six degrees warmer, with humidity also way down, though curiously it still felt humid, so a dry mouth was not a problem.

But I was wrong about it being more challenging, because I posted an overall pace two seconds faster than Wednesday at 6:20/km and my BPM dropped from 149 to 147. Nice. The BPM likely benefitted from a brief pit stop at the Nature House to hydrate at the water fountain there, just past the 2K mark, but not too much, as I really did just sip and run.

I did begin to feel the heat, as they say, later in the run, but managed to keep a consistent pace from beginning to end, with a variance of only five seconds from slowest to fastest km. I think this worked to my benefit.

And despite the sunny conditions, there weren’t as many people, dogs, or geese around as on Wednesday. I have no explanation for this.

The Pavilion Trail has been resurfaced, and the water is being held at bay for now. Parts of the trail seem a bit unfinished, making me feel there is more work to do. When I got to the end, where it reaches the rowing pavilion parking lot, there was a Trail Closed sign. But there wasn’t one at the other end, so it is existing in both a closed and open state at once, a paradox unto itself. Or someone nicked the other sign.

In all, this was a nice way to end the week, doing back to back 5Ks, seeing improvement and having no issues.

Stats:

Run 1,049
Average pace: 6:20/km
Training status: Productive
Performance Condition: 0
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 11:35 a.m.
Distance: 5.01 km
Time: 31:48
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 25–26°C
Humidity: 38–37%
Wind: light
BPM: 147
Weight: 169.4 pounds
Total distance to date: 7,050 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy S26, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Scarpa Golden Gate ATR 2 (30/76/106)

Music: Glass Houses, Billy Joel