General

I skipped Monday’s run due to a cute little weather phenomenon known as an atmospheric river. As you may know, rivers are wet and full of water. The atmospheric version is very much the same. I could have opted to run in the downpour on the river trail and been relatively safe–there are fewer large trees to be upended there vs. the lake, but I still would have been utterly drenched within the first few minutes.

So today, under merely cloudy skies, I headed to the lake. With four days off, I decided to adopt a more mellow pace that ended up being kind of sluggish. I had no oomph. This was made clear when I clocked in at 6:04/km on the second km. It’s been a long time since I was that slow. I did pick up after than (my best was the final km at 5:42) and finished with 5:54/km–my slowest run in a good long time.

I didn’t experience any issues and actually slept well last night, but I had a headache in the morning (possibly related to dehydration, or lack of caffeine) and that could have affected my performance. I just felt like I was plodding. Because I was plodding.

Still, the run itself was otherwise fine. Despite the rain, there weren’t really any puddles until the sports fields. When I hit one that spanned the entire width, I reversed and started running back the way I came, but was close to the end, so wrapped up the run shortly after, anyway.

The most visible sign of the storm were all the freshly cut trees. A fair number looked like they had been deliberately cut, because the trees were dead//rotten/in danger of toppling, but a few had just plain toppled as well. The trail, despite being mostly puddle-free, is in pretty bad shape in areas where water is cutting in. Water vs. gravel trail = water wins!

In all, not one for the record books, but it was still good to get out.

Stats:

Run 1,001
Average pace: 5:54/km
Training status: Maintaining
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 11:43 a.m.
Distance: 5.03 km
Time: 29:29
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 8°C
Humidity: 96%
Wind: light
BPM: 145
Weight: 169.1 pounds
Total distance to date: 6,835 km
Devices: Garmin Forerunner 265, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation)
Shoes: Saucony Peregrine 15 (95/150/245)

Music: Shuffle mode

I was heading out to the SkyTrain, off to pick up a replacement motherboard for my new PC (I will get to that particular tale in another post) and just past the hospital building next to our condo complex, there is a path made of concrete pavers that goes from the road to the sidewalk. From there, the hospital’s main/emergency entrance is at the top of the hill (this is a separate building from the one mentioned). The curb here is low and curved, allowing you to roll things like strollers or wheelchairs onto the path.

Here’s a 2023 shot of the path from Google Maps:

A woman was ahead of me in a wheelchair, and was using her feet to slowly shuffle forward. She got to the curb and it was clear she didn’t have the ability to get over it. I mean, I wouldn’t have been able to using my feet, either. I think you’d need the feet of a hill giant.

I offered to help her over the curb and then just kept pushing. She was thankful and, really, if she could have managed using foot power to get the wheelchair up the sidewalk (which was doubtful), it would have taken ages. I figured it was time to put my sexy running legs to use.

I got up to the corner of Keary and East Columbia. Here, the hill rises even more steeply, albeit briefly, before levelling off. It was now a workout for me. She guided me onward and inside the hospital, down a few corridors and to the elevator that would take her to her therapy. She described being in a car accident–she called it being “run over” and listed an assortment of broken limbs and such. I assume her hands were still on the mend so she couldn’t use them to help with the wheelchair. It all sounded awful. I wished her a speedy recovery and said it was no issue bringing her to the hospital–I was glad to help.

I got her name, but I wished I’d gotten some contact info, because she is going to be stuck if she needs to take the same route again. I’m going to keep my eyes open for her.

It felt good taking the time to help, and I wondered how many people would have just brushed by her as she struggled. I suspect most, but I could be wrong. It feels like people tend to exist in their own narrow space when they go out in public, the world shrunk down to whatever is on their smartphone screen, oblivious and indifferent to what is happening around them.

I guess it’s nice to know I’m not one of those people.

Help people, when you can. It feels good. It is good. And it makes the world a better place every time you do.

/end sermon.