Average pace: 4:39/km
Location: Burnaby Lake, CCW
Distance: 11.71 km
Weather: Sunny, warm
Temp: 20-25ºC
Wind: light
Calories burned: 794
Total distance to date: 1875 km
Ran Piper Mill trail, Conifer and Spruce Loops.
I got off to a later-than-intended start for my morning run and didn’t get started until 11 a.m. By then it was already 20ºC and climbing rapidly. Rather than risk getting blocked by construction equipment on the Brunette river trail, I opted to take the SkyTrain to Production Way and walk to Burnaby Lake from there (it’s 11 minutes from the station). I headed off counter-clockwise and the only hitch during the run was a close encounter with a trail-hogging Metro Vancouver mower. The driver kindly gestured for me to go around on the side without the whirring blades of death. I did so.
The first half of the run felt fairly close to my pace as of late, somewhere in the 4:35-39 range but the second half I began to really feel the growing heat and started to wilt like the delicate flower I am when it comes to running in warmer temperatures. By the end my pace was 4:44/km. That would have been a personal record in July. Now it’s decidedly average. Such is the way of progress. On a more positive note the soreness in my legs is all but gone now.
This was also the first run in awhile where I actually stopped and drank at the end. The well water near the Cariboo Dam is always cool and yummy after a run. Less yummy were the huge numbers of bugs once again. I had four hit and stick to my glasses and one refused to budge even after I blew hurricane force wind on it. That ain’t easy when you’re running, either! I’m pretty sure I swallowed a few, too and had a couple more glue to my face for good measure. I can definitely do without them.
The bear mentioned in the title is because the bear signs have reappeared along the trail, like so:
I did not and do not wish to see any bears while running. The bugs, birds, squirrels, snakes and occasional coyote are already enough.
Chart (records are in pink)
| Date | Average Pace |
| September 17 | 4:44 (11K) |
| September 15 | 4:39 (11K) |
| September 13 | 4:37 (11K) |
| September 11 | 4:36 (11K) |
| September 9 | 4:35 (11K) |
| September 8 | 4:33 (5K) |
| September 5 | 4:40 (5K) |
| September 3 | 4:39 (11K) |
| September 1 | 4:43 (17K) |
Well, look at it this way — you’ll be able to break your personal best time if a bear is chasing you. And it’s all about the numbers, right?
Good point! They even have a sign for that: