Cross Country Canada

I found this little running gem today. It's the Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley, BC.

After checking out of the Westin this morning, I got a ride to Langley. Langley is about an hour from Vancouver, and where our warehouse is located. Tonight I am staying at a Days Inn, which is not nearly as "plush" as the Westin. It's not that I really care about hotels too much, but the gym here makes the gym at The Sandman (where I stayed last week) look like a field house. Concerned about this, I needed to make alternative plans.

Someone at the office told me about the park. The problem was that it's 10 miles away, and I don't have a rental car. However, there is a software consultant visiting us the week who does. And since he's staying at the Days Inn too, I immediately started working him in hopes he'd either give me a ride or flip me the keys for a few hours. First I baited the conversation with super innocuous comments like "What are you doing later?" or "Man, I'd really like to check out this park". Nothing. Then I straight up asked him if he wanted to go for a run. He didn't.

On the ride over to the hotel, he told me he was in for the night. So while walking through the lobby, I dropped an "OK cool, see you tomorrow. I'm going to take a cab to this park 10 miles away to run." He stepped into the elevator, turned his head and said "OK great, I'll see you tomorrow."

The elevator door closed.

I can't really blame the guy. After all, I just met him this morning. And he deserves props for playing it super straight. I was obviously desperate, and he isn't dumb. Yet in no way did his saying no (by not saying yes) make me feel like a dick for begging. Nicely played, software guy.

A $20 cab ride got me to the park entrance. Before I got out of the cab, I double checked that I had cell signal. I did, which was key because I'd have to call for a cab to get back.

The cab fare was money well spent. There is a 6.5 mile boundary trail that circles the entire park. The trail is well groomed, soft (almost too soft), and gently rolls across countryside that alternates between lush forest and grassy meadow. I don't see country like this in Orange County, that's for sure. And the weather was perfect, mid 60's and sunny. At the top of one hill, I caught a glimpse of Mt Baker over the border in Washington. There is something about seeing the volcanic peaks of the Cascades I never get sick of.


It was also a little muddy. In retrospect, my Newtons would not have been the go-to shoes for this run, but it's what I had. I saw a grand total of 4 million rabbits, 6 people, 3 dogs and 2 horses over the hour it took me to complete the circuit. When I was done, I called the cab company and had a ride back within 10 minutes.


I'm flying home tomorrow. But I'll be running this route again next time for sure.