Running as Exploration
Running has been a major part of my life for many years, but not every run has been only about training, pace, or preparing for a race. Running has also given me a way to explore places, experience different routes, and connect with other runners along the way. Some of these experiences have been structured training sessions, while others have been group runs, trail runs, or simply memorable days of running that I wanted to document. Together, they capture another side of my running journey beyond race results and training goals. This collection brings those experiences together, preserving the places, routes, people, and moments that have made running an exploration of its own.
Routes, Places, and Running Communities
One of the things I enjoy about running is how closely it can become connected to a place. Different routes, trails, neighborhoods, and training environments can make each running experience feel different, even when the activity itself remains the same. Many of my earlier documented runs took place around Vancouver, from city routes and waterfront runs to trails and hill training. Group runs also added a social side to these experiences, giving me opportunities to run alongside others rather than always training on my own. As my running continues in new places, these experiences continue to evolve. New cities bring new routes, running communities, and environments to explore, adding new chapters to this collection.
Documenting the Journey
Over the years, I have documented many of my running experiences through photos, training records, and Garmin maps. Some posts capture a particular run or training session, while others bring together photos and experiences from an entire year of running. The Garmin maps add another dimension to these records by preserving the routes themselves, while the photo collections capture the places, people, and moments surrounding the runs. Together, these reports have created a visual and numerical record of different periods of my running journey, from individual training days and group runs to larger collections covering months of running.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Looking back, these reports capture running at different stages of my life, from individual training sessions and group runs to years of accumulated experiences. What began as documenting particular moments has gradually become an archive of where running has taken me. That archive is still growing. As I continue running in new places, joining different running communities, and working toward new goals, there will be new routes and experiences to document along the way. Running continues to be both a long-term pursuit and a way of exploring the places and communities around me.