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Ruck, Sweat, and Paw Prints: A Quick Grind with My Pack

Each photo marking a step forward, a mood, a moment.
First a walk, then a hike—who knows, maybe a mountain summit next. 🏔️




🌥️ Dark clouds rolled in this morning, but I still kicked off the day with purpose. First stop: a quick oil change. Then I grabbed the leash and headed out with the dog for a riverside walk along the park path. It wasn’t a long trek—just 1.4 km in 16 minutes—but I had a 30 lb pack on my back, which added a solid challenge. The excitement to get home (and retrieve the drink I’d left in the vehicle!) made for a brisk pace.

🎥 I’ve been switching things up on the blog lately by adding more video content. Here’s a clip capturing the energy as I hit the trail—short, sweet, and full of motion.


Just realized that the dates are mixed up here it's not the 25th it's the 15th.










🌬️ It was a mild +17°C this morning, with that kind of warm-cool breeze that makes you second-guess your layers. I grabbed a cold drink thinking I’d warm up during the hike, but ended up leaving it in the vehicle—my hands were already full with a camera and the dog’s leash. Adding a drink to the mix would’ve been too much.

🎒 I did bring a pack, but didn’t want to keep taking it off and on every time I needed to leash the dog again. It’s one of those small logistical things that can make a walk feel less smooth.

👣 Lately, it’s mostly just my parents joining me on walks. Would’ve been nice to have a few more people along today. I kept the walk short—just 1.4 km—since Bryan mentioned he’d be up for a walk later. Didn’t want to be too wiped out to join him. Last time he came by, I’d already done a full 5 km and had to pass. Planning takes a bit of effort, I guess.




📸 After snapping a few photos from the bench along the path, the first part of the video wrapped up. From there, I wandered down to the riverbank and followed the water trail back to the vehicle—that’s where the second half of the video picks up. Dixie was absolutely stellar today, and I genuinely had fun.

🎥 I made a conscious effort to keep the camera pointed away from others, so no one else ended up in the blog. It was mostly a solo walk, though I did pass a few people out enjoying the morning. I only did one lap while others were looping around for more.

👋 As I got back to the vehicle, I waved to someone and their dogs who had been walking ahead of me. It was a nice moment to end the outing on. The time with Dixie was wonderful—she’s always a delight—and with the current temperatures, it’s perfect weather for hiking with a weighted pack.


🏞️ Ruck Hike Summary

Pack Weight:

  • You carried a solid 14 kg pack—no joke, that’s a serious load for a hike!

Pace & Speed:

  • Average Pace: 11:56 per km
  • Best Pace: 5:21 per km (you must’ve hit a groove!)
  • Average Speed: 5.0 km/h
  • Max Speed: 11.2 km/h (maybe your dog spotted a squirrel?)

Timing:

  • Total Time: 16 minutes 54 seconds
  • Moving Time: 15 minutes 58 seconds
  • Elapsed Time: 16 minutes 54 seconds
  • This was a short but intense burst—likely a warm-up or a quick conditioning session.

Heart Rate:

  • Average HR: 139 bpm
  • Max HR: 157 bpm
  • That’s a strong cardiovascular effort, especially with the pack weight.

Cadence & Steps:

  • Average Cadence: 94 steps per minute
  • Max Cadence: 152 spm
  • Total Steps: 1,636
  • You kept a steady rhythm, with bursts of speed—maybe when your pup got excited?

Elevation:

  • Total Ascent: 28 m
  • Total Descent: 27 m
  • Min Elevation: 826 m
  • Max Elevation: 853 m
  • Slight elevation changes—likely a trail with gentle hills.

Calories & Hydration:

  • Active Calories Burned: 187
  • Total Calories Burned: 216
  • Estimated Sweat Loss: 179 ml
  • You definitely earned that post-hike hydration.

Intensity Minutes:

  • Moderate: 4 min
  • Vigorous: 24 min (12 min x2)
  • Total: 28 min
  • You pushed hard—this wasn’t a stroll, it was a purposeful grind.

🐾 Your Ruck Hike with the Dog: The Story

You strapped on your 14 kg pack, laced up, and hit the trail with your four-legged companion trotting beside you. The terrain offered gentle elevation shifts, just enough to keep your legs honest. You kept a steady pace, but there were moments—maybe a rustle in the bushes or a scent trail—when your dog pulled ahead and you surged to keep up, hitting that 11.2 km/h top speed.

Your heart rate climbed with the effort, peaking at 157 bpm, showing real cardiovascular engagement. Despite the short duration, you packed in 28 minutes of intensity, with most of it in the vigorous zone. That’s the kind of training that builds endurance and grit.

And while your dog probably didn’t care about cadence or sweat loss, you clocked 1,636 steps and burned over 200 calories. Not bad for a quick outing. You moved with purpose, and your stats show it.









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