New Year’s Eve 2004: Vancouver, BC

I was lucky enough to spend New Year’s in Vancouver, BC this year and I wanted to remember New Year’s Day for myself and any friends that care.

At 1 in the afternoon, after spending the morning eating Breakkie, and walking around with friends, Chris and I ditched ‘em to go for a run around Stanley Park…

Stanely Park is situated on one-end of downtown Vancouver.  It is about an 8K+ trail around the edge of it.  The trail is just along the water and you can see mountains and whatnot in the distance.  Hard to believe you are in the middle of a city.

Chris and I left the Hotel at about 1 pm for the 1.5 mile run down to the park.  When we arrived at the park we stretched out the newly loosened muscles.  And then ran our way around the park counter-clockwise for the next 45 minutes…

It was one of those beautiful run where the legs feel great and the pace increases steadily over the distance.  The water was perfectly still and no wind.  Lotsa folsk were walking lazily around the park.  As we reached the 1/2 point around the park, we could see the sun coming off the water and English Bay in the distance.  We picked up our pace and cruised the last 2 miles in well under 7 min/mile pace.   It was a glorious moment…I just remember feeling my legs pounding and my breathing feeling so damn good.  Maybe we could have run a marathon.

We stopped at the newly refurbished Sylvia Hotel for a glass of water before returning to the Hotel.  After a massage and a nap I was ready to go out….

Despite being the only single bloke on the trip with 4 other couples, we had a sensational nite.  5 bottles of wine, Absinthe, and a 4 course dinner (at this place) later we brought in the New Year.  It was a good time.  See some pictures here.