When I got home from work at 4 p.m. last night it was a sweltering 37C/99F, sunny and windless. My brain was fried from sitting in a warm office all day and waiting in an even warmer train station for my train home. I laid down on the couch and took a 15 minute nap. I awoke as my wife came through the door from work and we ranted and raved about the heat until it was time for me to get ready to go running with my running group.
I decided to run the 4K/2.5M to the running club meeting point, a decision that had my wife questioning my sanity considering the heat. I filled my water bottle, warmed up and headed out into the heat. I took my time, a nice easy pace, and arrived about 10 minutes before the group started the run (6 p.m.). A few of the people that I ran with the last two weeks weren’t there (too hot?), so I asked around and found three men who wanted to run the 11K/6.8M at a pace that sounded about right and we were off.
I ran the 11K in around 58 minutes last week, but this week we took our time due to the heat and finished in 1:04:15. Actually two of us finished in this time, the other two slowed down after 10K and waved us on. This was an average pace of around 5:50/K (9:24/M), not bad considering the 37C/99F temperature.
After the run I took my turn at the little well located at the meeting point and let someone pump (hand pump) the ice cold water over my head. This seems to be a tradition of the group and was pure ecstasy considering the heat!
I lingered a little bit talking with a few club members. Some hasty plans were made for the weekend 10K and HM race that the club will participating in (I’m running the half) and the most made there way home to get out of the heat. I lingered a few minutes longer and talked with Iris, the pretty young lady that first invited me to run with the club, and Gisela the club leader, then ran the 4K back to my house.
I felt a stiff after the run, probably because I stood around blabbering too long without stretching, but due in part to good hydration did not feel any negative effects from the heat.
Tonight (Thursday) I want to stop at the swimming pool on the way home and maybe do some weight training.
Either Friday night or Saturday morning is my long run, I want to do at least 3 hours. On Sunday at 9 a.m. is my half-marathon.
How’s your week going?
You're the man, Jack, for running in temperatures like that!!
Won't the fall feel nice when the temps and humidity drop!
Glad you asked, my week is improving as the temperatures are dropping. You should get the same effect in a day or so.
I found a great running tool on zombierunner.com that helps me tremendously in the heat. A bandana with a pocket in it for ice--great idea, huh?
I'm back to building up my mileage and am trying not to be too impatient and push too hard. The temps in Chicago are also sweltering. Global warming ya think??
you are such a runner. "we ranted and raved about the heat, and then I went running." I love it!