The Running Jackal
This channel is voice recordings of my life here in Victoria.Usually running trails, but not always.This usually is edited down from longer sessions, to under an hour.I hope you enjoy the show.
Queenswood Raw.(Full Audio)
Running North on Norn.
While running the Norn Trail this morning, I paused to take a still photo of the elbow tree before starting to record my trailer video. I was moving northward, trying to choose between a confusing web of trail options, but eventually turned left to stay on Norn, passing near Arbutus Mount. I recorded audio simultaneously with a backup mic tucked into my little "baby glove" windsock, just in case the video camera audio wasn't clear. Instead of heading up the mountain today, I continued toward the mystical elbow tree, pacing myself at about 9 minutes and 2 seconds per kilometer. Around...
'Richmond' Runback
I got a ride from Norma to the Heart Institute and decided to run the eight kilometers home from there. Richmond Road was too noisy, so I turned onto a quiet street I’d never explored before, Ernest Avenue. I tried to take a shortcut through a bushy path but ended up tangled in blackberry thorns and had to reroute. After getting a bit lost behind the University of Victoria, I finally found my way back toward Mount Tolmie. I finished my run through Lambrick Park, where I had taken my very first run in Victoria back in 1997.
Norn Trail Anticlockwise
Carlos is running along the Norn Trail today, starting from the Sea View Inn and heading north in an anticlockwise direction. He’s deviating from his usual route, making his way around Mount Douglas toward the swampy area and then up to the lower meadows. Despite some challenges with mud and puddles, he’s focused on hitting his training goals, having already burned 300 active calories. He’s also been multitasking, making a batch of beer with a new recipe to reduce the malt flavor, while maintaining his steady pace of around 9–10 minutes per kilometer. As he nears the end of his loop...
The 'Tolmie Run'
This morning, I set out for a run up Mount Tolmie, Mt. Douglas’ smaller neighbour, leaving behind the traffic at Mayfair Drive and heading toward quieter trails. The camas lilies were just beginning to bloom, and though the climb was steady and steep, I paused now and then for breath and photographs. Lizards darted across sun-warmed rocks, and the wind up top carried the songs of birds and the distant glint of boats in the far distance. My pace improved on the way down, and I passed bluebells and daffodils fading into spring’s next wave. With the run near...
Closing out the Loop.
Carlos set out after breakfast on a brisk hike to Cedar Hill Park, planning to record most of his podcast along the way. As he made his way through Bow Park and onto the Feltham Trail, he captured the early morning sounds—woodpeckers tapping, birds calling, and the neighborhood slowly waking up. He paused often to take photos of the Olympic Mountains, the golfers in action, and the dingle-dangles of the maple trees, all while reflecting on his training routine and weekly goals. Throughout the route, he shared thoughts on everything from weather and cooking to long COVID worries an...
Lochside Ride.
Today, I set out on my 21-speed 'Norco Malahat' to record a trailer for my upcoming audio episode, the "Lochside Ride", along the scenic Lochside Trail. I passed landmarks like Roy’s statue on the trestle bridge and stopped to photograph longhorn cattle grazing in the fields. The ride was peaceful, with birdsong, woodpecker taps, and the occasional rustle of my jacket as I checked my camera and stats. I cruised through parks, past spring lilies, and reached Claremont Avenue before turning around near Mattick's Farm. Wrapping up at the Red Barn Market, I felt content, knowing this quiet jo...
Whittaker Power Hike.
The Whittaker Trail in the Mt. Doug area offers various hiking options for different skill levels. Here are some key details about the trail:
# Trail Options - *Moderate Hike*: The Whittaker Trail to Mount Douglas is a 6.1-mile moderate hike with an elevation gain of 344 feet, taking around 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete. - *Easy Hikes*: There are shorter, easier options, such as the Little Mount Douglas via Whittaker and Norn, which is a 3.2-mile hike with an elevation gain of 449 feet, taking around 1 hour and 40 minutes. - *Difficult Hikes*: For more experienced hikers, there's the Mount Douglas Loop...
Irvine Going Up!
 I embarked on a high-energy 6K run up Mt. Doug, navigating hilly trails through a forest of Douglas firs and Garry oaks to reach the summit. The climb tested my endurance, especially along the Irvine Trail, named after John and Jessie Irvine, early settlers who arrived from Scotland in 1851 and established the “Rose Bank” farm in the Cedar Hill area. Pushing past the familiar “rock wall,” I maintained a moderate effort, training my body for the final stretches of any challenge. Reaching the summit was a victory, offering panoramic views and a moment to reflect on my journey—from moving to V...
Pat's Loop
"Carlos Castillo set out on a misty solo run around the back of PKOLS (Mount Doug), where the layers of fog mirrored the layers of sound he described to his listeners. Navigating the twisting trails, he crossed the “fake bridges,” climbed through the muddy Upper Whitaker section, and admired nature’s slow pruning of fallen trees. As the rain intensified, he wrapped up his recording from the Whitaker Trail, another chapter in his ongoing journey of movement and connection with the wild."
