The Running Jackal

Carlos takes us on a wet-weather running adventure from Feltham Road, along the Feltham Trail and through Bow park towards King’s Pond and Peacock Hill Park. Despite overnight rain, muddy trails, soggy shoes and plenty of puddles, he enjoys some downhill running and encounters ducks, squirrels and the occasional noisy leaf blower along the way. He explores the possible origins of Peacock Hill’s na...

Carlos takes us on a run/walk along the Lochside–Galloping Goose Connector, heading towards Hamilton's Hops and Grape to pick up malt extract and a new cheesecloth sock for his home brewing and tofu-making activities. Running without Samantha (his usual audio heart-rate companion) feels a little strange, and he finds himself taking more spontaneous breaks as he discusses the difference between Eng...

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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-running-jackal--500980/support .

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-running-jackal--500980/support .

I set out on my Sunday run with a five-mile target, deliberately leaving GPS, Samantha, and most of the usual data collection behind as I concentrated instead on storytelling and simply enjoying the run. My plan was to cross the Blenkinsop Trestle, say hello to my old friend Farmer Roy, and use the back gate of GardenWorks as a handy shortcut—but the gate was firmly secured with a chain and padloc...

R & R remix Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-running-jackal--500980/support .

On a quiet Friday morning in the French countryside, the Running Jackal heads out along the Chemin de Pompe, enjoying some unusually flat roads and a little freedom from the hills around Cordes-sur-Ciel. Along the way, he reflects on the flax fields, learning that this crop is being grown for linseed rather than fibre, while wandering through the dry river valley and photographing a few of the far...

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A little Running Jackal time travel today, back to one of my historic Sidney runs with Derek during the COVID era. Derek was coming back after a couple of months off, so we took it steady, talked about getting him back into training, and planned on meeting every Thursday for the next month. As usual, the conversation went everywhere—shoes, UFOs, electric cars, Facebook relationships, virtual races...

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The Running Jackal hits the Rake and Radish farm stand at the back of Mount Douglas, scores some basil, beans and pickling cukes, and heads for the hills. Through Upper Whittaker and toward the saddle, the trail gets steep enough to remind him that some terrain is best conquered on foot—with a good dental plan! Along the way, fallen trees, mossy rocks, old trail junctions and even the spot where h...

I headed out to the golf course to make a guerrilla video podcast, but naturally I forgot the Sony and ended up doing the whole thing handheld with my Nikon and a health app instead of Samantha in my ear. I worked my way around the hilly wood-chip, gravel, and dirt trails, mixing running and walking with my breathing and the terrain, while trying to keep the camera rolling and avoid the noise. Alo...

I headed out toward the weir and the Rake and Radish, taking audio notes on the Sony while testing Samantha’s coaching, my artificial Jackal voice, and settling back into my nine-minute Jackal pace. I went through Robinwood and into the forest, talking about everything from the heavy rain and the surprisingly busy Sunday traffic to my new hobby of making soy milk and tofu from dry soybeans. Along...

Running Naked Around the NeighborhoodToday’s five-mile solo run is another Running Jackal experiment: no Samantha, no constant heart-rate nagging, just me, my Apple Health app, and running by feel. I wander through the neighborhood toward Glencoe Cove, noticing everything from Montessori kids and dog walkers to playground construction, sea fog, pressure washers, and a suspiciously Homer Simpson-li...

Second-String Podcast Mission:- Got a story from your active life? A run, a ride, a hike, a walk—or just one of those moments when you’re out there doing your thing? Send me an audio file at:- therunningjackal@shaw.ca. Tell me what you’re up to, where you are, what you’re seeing, and whatever happens along the way. I’ll collect six submissions, stitch them together, and when the pack is full, I’ll...

Laps at Lambrick Park: Going Nowhere FastLaps at Lambrick ParkGood morning, viewing public. The Jackal is back at Lambrick Park. Same park. More laps. The legs are complaining. I’m ignoring them. Another run. Another story. Another day on the trail. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-running-jackal--500980/support .

The Running Jackal heads out on the Norn Trail, enjoying the sunshine and open space before disappearing into the deep, deep woods. The trail soon narrows between the bushes, requiring maximum concentration to avoid going “ass over tea kettle” on the roots and obstacles underfoot. It’s a nostalgic, memory-lane run, reconnecting familiar trails and old friends while creating a new Norn Trail 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...

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...

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 h...

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...

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...

Today's trail run climbed to its highest point on the Blenkinsop Trail before dropping down the steep, technical descent and looping home via the flatter Lochside Trail. The rocky downhill demanded patience rather than speed, but the Garry oak meadows, sweeping views, and dry summer landscape made every careful step worthwhile. A herd of Longhorn cattle waiting by the gate provided the perfect pho...

Today's adventure felt more like mountaineering than trail running as I tackled the steep Irvine Trail in the summer heat, with plenty of climbing, hydration breaks, and a few scenic pauses along the way. A missing Golden Retriever named Murphy became the unexpected storyline of the morning, as I could hear the owner's increasingly desperate calls echoing through the forest long after we'd parted....