Average pace: 5:27/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CW)
Ran optional Piper Mill, Spruce Loop and Conifer trails
Distance: 11.1 km
Weather: Sunny
Temp: 21-22ºC
Wind: light
Calories burned: 808
Total distance to date: 2167 km
Today’s run was a disappointment. With the sky clear, temperature warm but not uncomfortably so and a light breeze blowing I couldn’t ask for much better conditions on a late spring day.
The first ominous sign was that merely walking around home and doing simple chores like sweeping led to my left foot feeling mildly sore. I’d also messed up my sleep schedule a bit over the weekend by going to bed hours later than normal. Even after getting up late to compensate I still felt droopy this morning.
The good news is that the left foot did not fare any worse than the previous run. It was a little sore by the end but still much better than previous times. I still opted to walk to the Production Way SkyTrain station instead of back along the Brunette River trail. No sense pushing it for the sake of burning a few more calories.
The right tendon flared up a bit from time to time but again it was never a major issue. Adding in as more delightful complications: the left shin flared a few times, very briefly and not really painfully. I chalk this up to the leg muscles starting to feel the effects of the year’s running. This should smooth out naturally over the summer. The right knee also made its presence known in a minor and brief way. I think this was the same knee that gave me trouble for one run last year. Again, not a big deal, just another kink being worked out. Or so I hope.
The big problem today was just energy. I steadily lost speed over the first half of the run and by the midway point I was so tired I actually contemplating stopping the run to rest before continuing. I didn’t stop, though, and ended up with a pace of 5:27/km, a full ten seconds off the previous run and effectively erasing the progress I made this week.
Oh well.
It will be interesting to see how the next run’s results compare. Also if my legs find new ways to ache and bother me.
