Run 365
Average pace: 5:45/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Distance: 5.04 km
Time: 29:01
Weather: Sun and cloud
Temp: 14ºC
Wind: light to nil
Calories burned: 393
Total distance to date: 3034
Device used: iPhone 6
The last run I did was on October 26, 2014. According to my superb math skills and calculator, that was 104 days ago. My pace on that day was a not-great 5:25/km. How would I fare some three months later?
The results were pretty close to what I expected. My pace was worse still at 5:45/km but for the first run back that’s actually very close to what I would have predicted.
The conditions were downright spring-like, with a mix of sun and scattered cloud and the temperature climbing over 14ºC. This is while the eastern half of Canada is buried under a half mile of snow. Due to recent heavy rains I chose to run clockwise because I expected the trail to be nicely flooded around the athletic fields, which would have meant navigating through giant mud puddles if I’d gone counter-clockwise.
This turned out to be true. I finished my run about 100 meters away from The Great Flood. Then I either had to turn around and walk back or just march straight through it. I chose the latter as I hate going back the way I just came.
The ever-problematic left foot behaved itself for the run but felt a bit sore after. I walked home and it never got as bad as it’s been in the past but that foot still ain’t right. Getting it checked is on my 2015 fitness to-do list.
The first km was the usual “hey, it doesn’t feel like I haven’t run for 104 days!” (a very nice pace of 5:05/km) while the last four km was the usual “everything hurts, make it stop, make it stop!” I felt a few cramps threaten but held them off and while the tendons felt on fire at times, by the end everything seemed pretty much fine. My pace after that first km was remarkably steady, with almost no variance at all. I hit a wall and stuck to it. Or something like that.
I’m not sure when I’ll run next as it’s still getting too dark for me to run after work but we’re only a month away from the return of Daylight Savings Time, so I’ll try to squeeze in a few more. It’s nice that I could come back after months off and emerge intact, at least.
This was also my first run using my iPhone 6. It behaved well, though I will need a larger Spibelt™® as the current one I use is too small for it. The case I use is grippy so it wasn’t at all uncomfortable holding it. It’s just nicer not having to.