New 'Thistlewood ' Loop

Good morning, everybody—Carlos here. Today’s adventure was a reminder that guerrilla podcasting doesn’t always go according to plan. I rode 7 km along the Lochside Trail before heading out on a 3.5 km run, but my recording gear fought me every step of the way: I left my voice recorder in my jacket, the earbuds let me down, and I accidentally recorded nothing but them clattering around in my pocket. No matter—sometimes the bloopers become part of the story, so here’s the outtake instead. I’ll still stop by the Longhorn cattle and Pondwood Pond on the ride home, camera in hand, because the adventure is always bigger than the technology.

Exploring the Merriman Trail

This week's adventure took me up the historic Merryman Trail on Mount Douglas, one of the mountain's oldest and steepest routes, where every step was a reminder of the early settlers and the Indigenous people who called this place home long before them. The relentless climb quickly turned into a power hike, with heart rate soaring, fallen trees to navigate, and just enough pauses to appreciate the forest and swap a few words with fellow hikers. I reflected on old races, trail history, and how these days I'm just as happy sharing personal thoughts as I am chasing miles, even if the audience is a little smaller. Reaching the summit was hard-earned, but the reward was fresh views, a few photographs, and the satisfaction of conquering one of Mount Doug's toughest ascents. From there, it was all smiles and an easy downhill cruise on Churchill Drive, another memorable Jackal adventure safely in the books.

The Classic "Duck Run"

I set out early on a warm morning run along the Feltham Trail with the goal of staying mostly in Zone 3, easing off whenever my effort drifted into Zone 4. My route took me on a tour of Bow Pond, King's Pond, and the surrounding trails, where I found very few ducks but enjoyed the peaceful scenery. The heat made the run more challenging, but my hydration pack kept me comfortable as I climbed the hills and settled into a steady rhythm. Along the way I simplified my watch announcements, listened to a little music, recorded videos at each stop, and focused on enjoying the journey rather than chasing pace. I finished the approximately 12-kilometre run feeling satisfied with a controlled workout and grateful for another morning on the trails.

Three triangles repeats (down Glendenning)

Three tough hill repeats made this a real strength-building workout, with 206 metres of climbing packed into just 7.4 km. I kept pushing the climbs, earning three achievements while closing my 700-calorie goal early in the day. My average cadence was 56 as I focused on steady power rather than speed. The effort was intense, with nearly 80% of the workout spent in Heart Rate Zones 4 and 5. Another solid step toward building stronger climbing legs and better endurance for the trails.

One order of chips.

My Wednesday morning trail run began at Cedar Hill Golf Course, where I made my way to the recreation centre for a long, refreshing drink of water before continuing toward Million Dollar Hill in warm, smoky conditions. The heat and lingering smoke made breathing more difficult, so I alternated between running and walking while stopping to photograph the golf course, Bowker Creek, the water gardens, and other familiar landmarks along the route. I realized I had forgotten breakfast apart from half a banana, coffee, and my vitamins, and I also had to turn back earlier to retrieve my Sony recorder before the outing could properly begin. The steep climb felt every bit as challenging as Irvine Trail, and although the smoky haze hid the Olympic Peninsula from the summit, I enjoyed the peaceful circuit and reflected on friends from the running and podcasting community. I finished with just under 3.5 kilometres of running, captured my closing video at King's Pond, and wrapped up another short summer Running Jackal adventure.