The Running Jackal

This morning I tackled the Meadows trail loop, a short but demanding five-kilometer route packed with steep climbs, rugged rocks, and tangled roots. The constant elevation gain kept the effort honest, pushing me into Zone 4 on some of the tougher sections while most of the run stayed comfortably aerobic. I averaged about a 10-minute kilometer pace and managed to keep moving steadily despite the technical terrain underfoot. The workout left me feeling strong, energized, and satisfied after nearly fifty minutes of grinding through the trails. Sometimes the smaller loops end up delivering the biggest workouts, and today was definitely one of those days.

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Carlos reported in from near King’s Pond on a Wednesday rest day, where he checked on the ducks and admired a tame wood duck before continuing toward the golf course for water. He reflected on how his running schedule shifted week to week and spoke about recent concerns with his breathing, heart rate, and overall cardiovascular health as he compared his walking and running pace. Along the route, he described the sunny weather, blackberry patches, and the Derby Road Connector while listening to a true crime podcast and thinking about the differences between professional podcasting and his own real-time recordings. He also mentioned that his neighborhood’s water supply was temporarily shut off for maintenance, forcing residents to prepare by storing water ahead of time. By the time he reached the Cedar Hill golf course clubhouse, he had completed five kilometers, stopped for hydration, and signed off from what he called a full real-time recording of his walk

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I headed up Mount Douglas Park for a tough run-hike to the summit of Little Mount Doug, taking on the steepest climbs right from the start. The trails were rugged and slow going, with plenty of climbing, off-leash dogs, rocky sections, and a careful descent after my recent fall earlier in the week. I looped past the saddle, caves, and Todd Trail before making the final push to the summit on the safer back route. Along the way I stopped for photos, monitored my heart rate and calorie burn, and enjoyed the incredible views despite feeling a bit sleep-deprived. By the time I reached the top, the outing felt less about speed and more about endurance, caution, and simply enjoying the mountain.

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Back at Lambrick Park today, keeping things simple with steady laps, early walk breaks, and plenty of time to settle into the rhythm. The wind was up, the skies were moody, and the park was full of life — tennis players, tai chi groups, baseball practice, dog walkers, and all the familiar Lambrick regulars crossing paths on a cloudy Wednesday morning. My pace gradually improved as the breathing settled down, reminding me again why I enjoy walking and controlled aerobic work more than forcing the pace too early. Between laps I stopped for a few photos, chatted with one of the longtime park walkers I see almost every week, and thought ahead to the soup and kitchen prep waiting for me back home. By the end of the outing, the body felt smoother, the heart rate calmer, and the whole morning had that satisfying mix of exercise, routine, fresh air, and simple everyday observations. https://jackal100.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-lambrick-edition.html The "Lambrick Edition"

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I visited the weight room to see the changes they had made and noticed that some of the equipment had been moved around. I went for a long run through Bow Park, Bow Pond, and King’s Pond, stopping at water fountains along the way and checking on the ducks without bringing them any food. During my run, I talked about my work schedule, including how I had covered extra dishwashing shifts and was preparing to help train a new employee who was on the autism spectrum. I also reflected on my past involvement with the Elk Beaver Ultra Marathon, which I had directed for several years before retiring from long-distance running as I got older. I finished my outing by enjoying the beautiful morning, taking photographs along the route, and ending near Mount Douglas before heading home.








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Up Irvine down Harrop trailsI put in a solid effort on a familiar route, tackling it for the 35th time with a bit more grit than usual. My pace was slower than recent runs, but the added elevation and tough mid-route climbs made that expected. I spent most of the run in higher heart rate zones, pushing into threshold and tempo for a strong overall effort. The challenging terrain also dropped my cadence below normal, reflecting the extra work on the legs. Overall, it was a tougher day out, but a good reminder that sometimes the route sets the terms—and that’s all part of the journey.




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I climbed up from the Harrop trail to the South Ridge on Mount Douglas, realizing partway through that I’d lost about twelve minutes of recording, so I kept the recorder going as I continued. I adjusted my gear so I could climb hands-free, navigating rocky sections, loose gravel, and some steep, hands-and-feet scrambling while stopping to take photos of the camas, broom, and sweeping views out toward the Olympic Peninsula and Mount Baker. Along the way, I reflected on the busy running season, with the Times Colonist 10K happening that day, and thousands of runners out while I made my quieter climb. I encountered a few hikers, tricky terrain, and even had to reroute around a restricted construction area near the summit before reaching more stable ground. Pushing through the final stretch, I emerged at the windy top, shared briefly with a handful of others, and wrapped up my run-climb with a sign-off before heading home.

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Went out for a run this morning on “The Show Route”—6.86 km in 1:10. It was a mix of steady effort and some harder bursts—felt great overall! Averaged 9:42/km, and with 733 calories burned, it was a solid session. Heart rates climbed, so I know I pushed a bit harder—time to rest up and recover!

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I went out for an easy run and covered just over 8 km in about 70 minutes.
I kept a steady, relaxed pace and my heart rate stayed mostly in the aerobic zones.
I felt strong throughout, with most of my time spent comfortably in Zones 2 and 3.
My cadence and effort stayed consistent, and I didn’t push too hard at any point.
I finished feeling great and hit my move goal for the day.

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I headed out for a routine trail run but got stopped at the bridge by a group releasing classroom-raised chum salmon into the creek. A quick chat turned into a reminder of how those fish support the entire ecosystem, from bugs to trees. The run itself settled into a rhythm—managing heart rate, mixing walking and running, and enjoying the familiar Mount Doug trails. I couldn’t help noticing the contrast between that care for nature and the vandalism sprayed on nearby trees. Looping back, I caught the kids releasing the fish and felt like I’d landed in a small, hopeful moment before heading off to the rest of my day.










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