Hiking to the Crows

Douglas Creek to the Sea

Caesar and the Cougar Cave

On my Sunday show run through Gordon Head, I set off chatting about the local sights and sounds as P'kols pulled me along yet again. The pace was good until I hit the trails, where the heart rate mattered more than the watch and I stopped now and then to snap photos and catch my breath. Along the way I ended up in a couple of friendly trail-side debates about the new dog fencing and whether it’s really protecting the vegetation or just annoying the regulars. I also wandered up toward the old Cougar (or maybe Copper) Cave, thinking about the days when kids and even motorcycles used to roam these hills a lot more freely. By the time I crested the saddle between Little and Big Mount Doug, I was still happily rambling about the Ides of March, Caesar, and the little adventures that always seem to happen on a simple Sunday run. 🏃‍♂️🌲

The Leaning Trees on P'Kols

On my midweek run I completed the return leg of a seven-hundred-calorie out-and-back along the trails around P'Kols, an episode I titled “The Leaning Trees on P'Kols.” I ran mainly downhill at first, enjoying one of my favourite stretches of trail and settling into a steady pace of around ten minutes per kilometre while retracing the same route I had taken earlier. Along the way I passed the outdoor school again, heard the rush of Douglas Creek after the rain, and noticed the bustle of kids enjoying the day while I kept moving. I reflected on how I once ran beside the road without realizing this beautiful forest trail even existed, now appreciating the shelter of the trees and the quiet rhythm of the route. I finished the run near the Hiker’s Bridge, satisfied that this time the recording worked and that the short midweek outing had turned into a simple trail story with dry feet and steady miles. 🌲🏃‍♂️

Top Loop Romp

'Top loop romp' I went out for a relaxed Top Loop run and covered about 5 km in roughly 50 minutes. My pace was around 9 minutes per kilometre, keeping things mostly comfortable. My heart rate averaged about 135 bpm and briefly climbed to around 180 bpm during the harder efforts. I spent most of the time in the easier zones with a few stronger bursts mixed in. I finished the run feeling great, like it was a solid but playful outing. 🏃‍♂️

Friday trail variant

​Running trails on Friday has become a bit of a tradition for me lately, normally to coincide with Norma getting back from Pickleball.

This week we did our big shopping trip yesterday!