The Running Jackal

I rode my e-bike twice today, using the first short loop to get moving and the second to close the loop and pick up my cycling gear. Between the rides, I settled into a solid 30 minutes of traditional weight training. The strength session felt steady and controlled, with an average heart rate of 97 bpm and just enough effort to keep me honest. Altogether, the second ride covered 6.61 km with 67 meters of climbing, giving the day a nice aerobic lift. It felt like a quiet homage to my virtual training buddy KG, sharing the work even when one of us didn’t hit record.

Carlos introduces the hike while climbing the South Ridge Trail, showing off his new chest-mounted camera alongside his point-and-shoot. He pauses to give viewers a 360-degree look at the surroundings as he continues the ascent. The outing is framed as a straightforward trail update, with “South Ridge Ascent” set as the title for the day.

I headed out on a familiar run toward the swoopy trail and the meadows, narrating as the podcast music faded and the downhill rhythm took over. Along the way, I tested my activity camera on its lowest resolution, talked through its settings and time-lapse features, and laughed at my ongoing habit of misplacing bits of gear while still learning how everything works. As the kilometers and calories ticked by, I decided my route based on how close I was to my daily burn, eventually committing to a climb up Little Mount Doug. Near the top, breathing hard in zone six, I reflected on how good my body felt, even crediting a recent pedicure for happy feet. I crested Little Mount Doug on the last day of 2025, set up the camera one final time, and signed off with a careful, focused descent, closing out the year on the trails. Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/30910405?utm_source=youtube (video made with https://www.headliner.app)

Short Coastal O&BA short coastal out-and-back just under an hour, covering 6.42 km. I ran for 56:25 with a relaxed overall pace of 8:47/km, averaging 6.83 km/h. Heart rate stayed mostly easy at 125 bpm on average, peaking briefly at 155. Cadence was low and economical at 67, and the effort felt great throughout. About 529 calories burned on a steady,

I completed a purposeful ride–run–ride day, stacking short e-bike sessions around a steady trail run. I kept my heart rate low throughout, staying firmly in aerobic territory and focusing on efficiency rather than intensity. I used the Golf Course Loop run as a controlled endurance effort, letting it complement the rides instead of turning it into a hard workout. I finished the day feeling durable and composed, confident that the work supported long-term progression rather than short-term fatigue.

Hello everyone—Carlos here, taking a few audio notes before I properly hit record. I’ll be filming the show later today on an epic summit run, hands free, with a point-and-shoot camera strapped to my chest. Douglas Creek is in full storm-surge mode this morning, swollen and loud, the kind of water that demands a photo or two for context. All of this is just note-taking for now, setting the scene before the actual program begins up near the resort.The sun is out, fifteen minutes in, hydration check done, and I’m heading toward Ash Road on the west side of the creek, trying to stay relaxed and honest in Zone 2. This route took me about an hour and fifteen last summer, and there’s no need to rush it today. A brief stop, a drink, a friendly exchange with a fellow trail traveler and her dog, and a reminder that the mountain always introduces you to someone—or something—unexpected.That’s enough notes for now. Time to stop talking, start climbing, and let the summit do the rest.

A Trip Around the Chip I headed out midweek from Queensbury Avenue toward King’s Pond, setting off on a familiar loop of the well-drained chip trail at Cedar Hill. The run felt like a trip down memory lane, with ducks on the pond, the million-dollar view, and the soft crunch of fresh chip underfoot despite the recent rain. I mixed steady jogging with short walk breaks as the rolling hills, muddy patches, and creek crossings kept things interesting. Even with interruptions for photos and trail chatter, I held a comfortable sub-nine-minute pace and stayed mostly in zone three. I finished the loop relaxed and content, knowing I’d parked the e-bike nearby to grab groceries before riding home.

I headed out for a short, sharp hill repeat session on Glen Denning, keeping it simple with relaxed recoveries and aiming for about three climbs. I used the early kilometres across Mount Douglas to check in on my body, calm the system, and note that my heart rate spiked early, confirming I was a little stressed before the real work began. I completed each hill repeat by labouring up, turning around gratefully at the top, and enjoying the downhill resets, pausing occasionally for photos, brief walks, and friendly trail-side encounters. As the session unfolded, I settled into zone three efforts, reflected quietly on family, generosity, and Christmas while descending, and accepted that today’s work was about effort, not speed. I finished with three hill repeats plus the jog to and from, turned toward Harvest Lane at 3.68 kilometres, and signed off on the connector trail feeling worked, steady, and ready to head home.

I rode my e-bike down to the Lochside Trail and started my out-and-back run toward the trestle bridge over Blenkinsop Lake, which I always called Roy’s Bridge. I fumbled with my voice recorder at the start, laughing at all the clothing noise before finally tucking it back into its glove. As I crossed the cedar planks, I enjoyed the glockenspiel-like sound of my shoes tapping along the wooden bridge. A little farther down the trail, I bumped into Chris running in the opposite direction doing his K-repeats. I carried on down the path, feeling like the Running Jackal signing off near the end of another rambling trail podcast.

I slipped back into the forest of fun for a steady hour on the trails, covering 6.49 km. My pace stayed easy and smooth, settling into long stretches of Zone 1 and 2 with a few spicy climbs pushing the effort higher. The route wound from the neighbourhood streets into the cool woods, then out toward the beach before looping home. My legs felt strong, my heart steady at an average of 126 bpm, and by the end I’d burned 584 calories. It was one of those relaxed Saturday runs that left me feeling great from start to finish.(This description was summerize from my data by an AI algorythm)

I headed out early for a relaxed 5-kilometre walk through Gordon Head, keeping a steady pace of around 10:30 to 11:00 per kilometre. My heart rate stayed low at about 107 bpm, and my cadence hovered around 127 steps per minute, so it really felt like an easy errand walk. The route took me through quiet neighbourhood streets with only small rises and dips in elevation. Along the way I passed a giant Canadian Santa and a whole lineup of inflatable Christmas pups that made me smile. It was a calm, steady way to start my morning.

On a bright, sunny Sunday morning, I headed out solo for my Two Cove Run with a goal of burning 600 calories. I covered 6.98 km in just over an hour of running time, holding an easy, steady pace of 9:17 per kilometre. My heart rate stayed comfortably controlled, averaging 121 bpm and peaking briefly at 140. I spent most of the run in Zone 2 and Zone 3, keeping the effort aerobic and relaxed. I finished feeling great and nearly hit my calorie target with 582 burned.

Learning from the forestI went for a solo run in the Forest of Fun and let the trail pull me into its cool, green quiet. I moved past the rushing creek and noticed how swollen the water looked after the recent storm. I ran by the Douglas Weir signs and paused just long enough to read about storm surges and rain-garden projects. The mix of forest sounds and fast water kept me focused and steady on the climb. By the time I finished, I felt refreshed and grounded from being out there.

I headed over Mount Douglas and down toward Lohbrunner Pond for an easy Sunday outing with a baggie of brown rice in my pocket. My legs settled into a relaxed rhythm, most of the run sitting comfortably in Zones 2 and 3. The trails were calm and cool, and by the time I reached the pond the ducks were already circling the little landing, waiting to see what I had brought. I fed them by the water’s edge under the cedars, enjoying that quiet pause before jogging home. All told, it was 8.66 km of steady effort, a great-feeling run with a simple mission accomplished.

Somewhat Discombobulated!, Workout to burn 600 caloriesI headed out feeling a bit scattered, but the trail settled me down quickly. I moved through all five heart-rate zones as I covered just under 6 km in a little under an hour. My pace stayed easy and steady, even when a few harder surges pushed me toward the top of my range. By the end, I had burned just over 600 calories and found a comfortable rhythm. I finished feeling great, glad I showed up for the effort.

I headed out for a quick push from Harrop up toward the South Ridge, keeping it sharp and efficient.The climb hit hard and fast, proving once again that the shortest line to the summit is always the steepest.I held an average cadence of 56 and kept my effort steady through the tight bends.I covered just over five kilometres with nearly two hundred metres of climbing.By the time I wrapped it up, the whole thing had become a compact, punchy fifty-one-minute burner.

I started recording my trailer video at the BlenkinsopTrail sign and began hiking uphill after a bit of running along Blenkinsop Road. The trailer captures the first climb as I transition from running to power hiking, giving viewers a steadier view. I mention that the footage is handheld and that I’ll soon need to put the phone away to avoid cracking the screen on the rough trail. Before ending, I turn the camera on myself to say goodbye and remind viewers to watch for the Blankens Up Trail Run, Zone 4. I accidentally start another short video while trying to take a photo, adding a bit of bonus footage as I continue climbing.

Doumac Park Run After e-biking along the Lochside Trail, I kicked off the run segment of my ride-run-ride session at Doumac Park. It was a relaxed 1.58 km in just over fifteen minutes — mostly Zone 2 and 3 effort, steady and smooth. My heart rate hovered around 119 bpm, peaking briefly at 146 as I picked up the pace. The morning felt great — calm legs, good rhythm, and a clear head. A small loop, but another link in the chain of active, creative days on the trail.

I set out this morning for a climb up the Irvine Trail to the antenna summit, skipping the usual lookout to explore the adjoining peaks instead. The air was crisp, with water running lightly in the creek and frost reported further up the island. Along the way, I met a group of hikers and their dogs, trading greetings as we all worked our way up the steep grade, sometimes running, sometimes hiking. The climb was steady, filled with reflections about work, missed timesheets, and the rhythm of trail running itself — knowing when to push and when to ease off. Reaching the old antenna, soon to be replaced, I paused for photos and a final look before heading down the South Ridge Trail, signing off from the summit of Mount Douglas on a bright Tuesday morning.

Storyline: “Trail Running 201 — The Midweek Extravaganza” It began like most midweek runs for Carlos — The Running Jackal — waiting for the number 28 bus to pass before settling into an easy rhythm along Majestic Drive. Ten minutes in, he laughed at his own wordplay, taking a “preemptive” walk break while watching the maple leaves fade from brilliance to frost-muted tones. Turning toward the “Mountain of Joy,” he reflected on how his training had evolved from Trail Running 101 — chasing medals and age-group podiums — to Trail Running 201, where the joy lies purely in movement, conversation, and connection. Along the way he met familiar faces: an older runner nursing a tendon injury, a teacher leading an outdoor school of young adventurers, and the quiet hum of a hummingbird above the trail. As he reached the “fake bridges” marking halfway, the metronome ticked in sync with his breath — a reminder that running, like life, isn’t about racing anymore, but about listening, pacing, and savoring every step through the Pacific Northwest’s living classroom.