Location: Burnaby Lake, CW
Distance: 11.04 km
Weather: Overcast
Temp: 16ºC
Wind: light to none
Calories burned: 783
Average pace: 4:52/km <– personal record
Total distance to date: 1358.82 km
Ran all three optional loops: Piper Mill, Conifer Loop and Spruce Loop.
Good news: My feet and legs felt fine during the run.
Not so good news: my left calf again felt sore after but recovered quickly enough. I have no idea why my runs always seem harder on my left leg.
The weather was mild and overcast today and the threatened chance of showers did not materialize until some hours after I finished my run. It is funny how often my bladder determines in which direction I go around the lake. If I end up having to use the loo when I get to the lake I cross over the parking lot, use the strangely odor-free port-o-potty then head out from there in a clockwise direction, starting along the south shore. My default is counter-clockwise but since my bladder is tiny I end up mixing things up often, which is good for variety and hopefully good for reducing injuries from repetition.
The first km did not strike me as unusually fast and yet I came in at a new pace of 4:37/km. I apparently had some spring in my step. I eased up to a more reasonable 4:45 for the second km and maintained a consistent pace from the third km on, as has been the pattern lately. I was pushing a little harder today when it became clear that my legs were holding up but never over-extended myself, keeping control of my breathing and remaining cramp-free.
And the field had an adorably large group of goslings with their parents in it. One parent slept, as did most of the goslings, while the other remained vigilant against threats. So very cute.
I flagged a wee bit at the 10 km mark then redoubled my effort for a strong finish and managed to shave that extra second off as I got to the Cariboo Dam. I was rewarded with another personal record, shaving five seconds off my previous best and coming in at 4:52/km.
All told, I was pleased by today’s run and it was a fine way to end the month of May, running-wise.
Chart (average pace is bolded if different than the last km):
| km | May 30 | May 28 | May 24 | May 22 | May 18 | May 16 | May 14 | May 11 | May 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:37 | 4:48 | 4:46 | 4:42 | 4:42 | 4:54 | 4:51 | 4:50 | 4:55 |
| 2 | 4:45 | 4:51 | 4:51 | 4:47 | 4:47 | 4:57 | 4:55 | 4:56 | 5:03 |
| 3 | 4:48 | 4:52 | 4:53 | 4:51 | 4:51 | 4:59 | 4:59 | 4:59 | 5:06 |
| 4 | 4:49 | 4:53 | 4:53 | 4:53 | 4:53 | 5:00 | 5:02 | 5:01 | 5:08 |
| 5 | 4:50 | 4:54 | 4:54 | 4:54 | 4:54 | 5:01 | 5:03 | 5:02 | 5:08 |
| 6 | 4:50 | 4:55 | 4:54 | 4:55 | 4:56 | 5:01 | 5:05 | 5:02 | 5:10 |
| 7 | 4:51 | 4:55 | 4:55 | 4:56 | 4:57 | 5:02 | 5:06 | 5:04 | 5:10 |
| 8 | 4:52 | 4:56 | 4:56 | 4:57 | 4:59 | 5:03 | 5:08 | 5:05 | 5:11 |
| 9 | 4:52 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:58 | 5:00 | 5:04 | 5:07 | 5:05 | 5:12 |
| 10 | 4:53 | 4:57 | 4:58 | 4:59 | 5:01 | 5:04 | 5:07 | 5:06 | 5:12 |
| 11 | 4:52 | 4:57 | 4:58 | 4:58 | 5:02 | 5:04 | 5:07 | 5:06 | 5:12 |
