The nippy and zippy run

Average pace: 4:33/km <– ties record for personal best (under 10K)
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW), Brunette river trail, Lower Hume Park
Distance: 9.28 km
Weather: Clear
Temp: 12ºC
Wind: light
Calories burned: 630
Total distance to date: 1928 km

This past week has been a bit of a bust for running.

I missed my usual Saturday run because I went to the island to visit the family. I had planned on doing a Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday schedule the following week. Tuesday (today) I ran as scheduled but come Thursday I was feeling tired and unmotivated and opted to ksip the run. I felt like I had been on the go all week with no time to relax.

Late Friday afternoon I was struck by a 24 hour flu bug that left me in a weak, kitten-like state and I ended up missing Saturday’s run as well (it is Sunday morning as I write this, though I’m, posting it on the day of the run, October 2).

I’m now planning to go back to a Mon/Wed/Fri schedule this week. We shall see how it goes.

As to today’s run, I didn’t quite plan the route as efficiently as possible so I came in a little under 10K. My ankles also felt a little sore around the 7K mark, what I believe is lingering issues from the uber-walk. On the plus side, I finished with a record-tying pace of 4:33/km, my best for under 10K and I believe I would have maintained that had I been able to push the small distance needed to get over 10K. I think I may have been running faster to stay warm. 😛

It was only about 12ºC for the run, the coolest since before summer. It actually took a few km before my hands warmed up. I also wore my long-sleeved t-shirt and didn’t feel that was a bad call (although a short one probably would have been fine, too). The sun had set before I finished the run and despite the clear sky the light faded fast.

My runs this week should be different, as for now it appears I will have the option of running in the day. I’m actually curious to see what Burnaby Lake park will look like after being away for a week or so. I predict many fallen leaves.

Speaking of the park, one thing I’ve neglected to mention is that back in August they put up temporary signs at key points on the trails that read thusly:

FIRE DANGER
STAY ON TRAIL

No Smoking

It is interesting to note that a week into October those signs are still in place, there has been no precipitation this month, almost none last month (driest September in Vancouver in over 100 years) and just a few days ago — again, in October — the forest fire danger has been elevated from High to Extreme, the highest level in goes to.

I am expecting winter to be unusually unpleasant as payback for this very dry summer and early fall. It shall make for interesting runs.

Chart (records are in pink)

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