Morning everyone...and happy Friday to you all....
So I have just got back from my final run of week 3, the 7k and I’m not gonna lie, it was tough, very tough. I have never ever sweat like that in my entire life...and I never ever thought I could go any redder than I usually do but Flippin ‘eck I look like giant match stick!!!! I have my short run on Sun/Mon than my 5k on Wed but if it’s anyhing like this next Friday I am scared that I won’t be able to cover 8kms...I know there was absolutely nothing left in the tank today....any advice from anywhere would be really appreciated...I’m thinking even the early morning sparrows fart runs are too warm too!!!!?! Is it the gremlins telling me I can’t run in the heat?? They’re very persistent with their message....
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Mummycav
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Thanks Mike...phew, at least I’m not alone....it’s a bit disheartening when you think you’re doing so well & then you have a tough run...and start questioning your ability again...I start off so positive and strong but then I end up like a drooping sunflower crying out for water!!!!
Well done with the 7k, I think a lot of us were out there braving the heat this morning. You are right it is tough, it was quite warm at 6.30 and I was not sorry to finish. BTW, now have "Flames" in my "run music" playlist think I needed that to spur me on for my last 1k today.
Oh fab!!! I don’t know how it happens but it always seems to come on just at the right time...it’s that first line “one foot in front of the other babe” love it!!
Yes, we are all braving it...it’s a struggle but we’re soldiering on!! 💪🏻🏃🏼♀️🏃♂️
Hopefully next week will be a few degrees cooler and if you can, slow down. You have done the 7k and next week we are both going to do the 8k, 💪🏃🏾♀️💪🏃♂️
Well done MummyCav, the heat is brutal at the moment.🌞 Take extra rest days after a long run. Maybe check the weather forecast before your 8k and plan the best day for it...
I took walk breaks last night during my run, I know you won't want to do that, but it would be an idea as a 'holding plan' until this weather breaks.
You absolutely will be able to run 8k...it's just 4k there and 4k back😆...
I have been soaking my running buff in cold water and wearing it round my neck as suggested by SaskAlliecat..it's very effective...
Great work today, hope you feel a bit cooler now ...and 7k😎!!!✔
I feel your pain, Mummy. Off to investigate electrolytes at Holland and Barrett in my lunch break…think I am going to need a little extra help hydrating on my Sunday run. xxx
It's not gremlins. it's really just not good to run in this heat! I've just done my 5K and I clung to every bit of shade I could, finishing in the tree-filled park. I got in before 11am so avoided the worst - could get dangerous, I know mrrun is urging real caution at the moment. Also I went slower than usual and wore teeny tiny shorts!
We'll need to look after each other - I know a lot of us will want to run on Sunday but it's going to be proper scorchio...
Shorts...now that’s something I haven’t got yet..don’t know if I dare...my next run is on Sunday but if it is scorchio I’ll have to re-think...I’m going online shopping now for some shorts, I’ll need them for my holiday runs anyway 😉
I am still planning my '8K on the 8th' but I am really concerned! Alarm at early o'clock on a Sunday is really not a promising prospect but neither is heatstroke
The shorts are just necessary now - but I then ran into someone after my run and sat to talk with them in view of everyone coming and going - I felt increasingly self conscious! (Not to mention sweaty!)
Whatever you decide - take care of yourself. As they say when people are having life get in the way or waiting for recovery from injury - the runs will still be there...
That’s true...they don’t go away do they but it’s almost as if, without running for more than 3-4 days, it will go away and I won’t be able to do it anymore!! All psychological I know
I’ve read a few posts today about a gremlins mass attack on our forum runners. Bloody nuisances they are!! 🤬 They must strive in this unforgiving heat we are having.
My only advice is getting out much earlier. I know its crazy but I’ve been out with the sunrise and then the run is bearable. Seems to get so hot so early atm.
You did really well keeping at it to 7km. I couldn’t at this time in the morning. Well done you!!! 💪🏼
Congrats on 7k MC! That is an achievement in the heat. If you are able to get out a bit earlier and slow your pace just a little, I think 8k is totally doable. Good luck!
Well, no matter how hard I can try to sugar-coat this, I can't sell you runs in this weather as a bundle of joy. But, as I haven't missed any of my runs yet and have 19K scheduled for Sunday, what I do is prepare because I have no intention of collapsing like a spent marionette.
Hydration is a non-brainer, but do check out the little bits as well. On Sunday I'm picking the route along the Thames through central London. I'm doing 'there and back' in a straight line so will pick the shaded side of the river. Will also make sure that the wind (if any) is hitting me in the back on the way 'there' and cooling my face when running back.
Stretch well, that with water will hopefully prevent any cramps hitting you!
People can't agree on what's better, black or white shirt colour in the heat, in terms of heat/light absorbance/reflection and I can't wait for the resolve (saw Bedouins wear either, and also saw old people in the Mediterranean with dark as well as white tops, so there), so I will stick with a lightweight Nike dri-fit running top (plasters over the nipples, of course).
Now, the time. Ideally, as early in the morning as possible given that the evening run still retains all the day's humidity and where I will be, the asphalt won't cool down quickly either. Last week's 16K was no problem whatsoever but I learned a few things about the route which I will change this week.
Finally, if it gets too humid (yesterday was bad) and uncomfortable, I will simply run a shorter run for fun rather than create an endurance event for myself. Also, this time I am carrying water with me, got electrolytes too, so let's see how it all goes.
Well done Bev, you’ve got 7km under your belt, which is 7km more than I ran today. It’s sooo hot I’m getting very little sleep and when I do fall asleep I wake up early with the sun and struggle to get back to sleep, so when my alarm went off for my run this morning I was so knackered I decided to give it a miss.
So you should be proud that you ran at all. Once the weather breaks you’ll be be able to run so much more easily. Hang in there. 👍🏽😀
Thank you Razouski ...it’s really testing...I hate stopping mid run but it was so cool under one of the bridges I stayed there for about 10 seconds & had a breather!! Gonna take an extra rest day...I think I’m too hard on myself sometimes...x
It is tough in this weather... but I also think its still a mental battle too. I went out last night at 6 for 10k and for the first 3 miles I kept tossing around the idea of shortening the run, thinking did I have 10k in me after work. I got to the point where if I'd wanted to shorten it I would have and actually had forgotten that I'd even thought it. Did the 10k, got a PB and Current Record on Strava for a segment that I was only trying to shave 1 sec off of (took 4 off) and second fastest 10k overall.
Prepare well. Extra rest days when you can but also... just do it! 👍✊😉
Mummycav... You can do it. Think of it like W5R3... pace yourself and persevere!! You've got this... don't let gremlins get ya! 👍😁
Thanks GoGo_JoJo ...you sound like you proper nailed it...I think a lot of it was a mental battle this morning, I was already convinced I was going to struggle before I’d even set off! 🙄...it is in there I know it...I’m def taking an extra rest day
I did the exact same run this morning, 7k at 9am, I was actually melting when I finished. My main advice is to seek as much shade as possible and drink loads the day before, I’m like you I don’t always sleep well (I try to have a drink when I wake during the night too) and I struggle to get up to go out early. Like the old c25k advice I took it ridiculously super slowly (like an hour for 7k!) and that made it bearable even in this heat tbh and I could have carried on if I wanted to. I was being cautious because I didn’t want to overheat but it might help you too.
Thanks Jenny...good advice there, maybe I’m not hydrating enough...I went out just after you, I was in full sun half way round & then bits of shade when I reached the canal...must plan my route better!! 🙄
Hi Beth, lovely to hear from you...you’re out there doing 5k happily so stick with that for now..when I’d done 2k I thought “just a 5k to do now & ive done that a few times now, so I know it was the heat & bad planning Mrrun has great advice on his reply x
I am regularly waking at 5.30am for my morning run as even getting back home about 7.30 is too warm. It’s amazing how motivating the heat is to make me run because I know I can’t put it off otherwise it’ll be too warm.
I was like a beetroot yesterday, returning at 7am - surprised an ambulance didn’t stop and scoop me up at the front door! Regarding the lack of sleep, I compensated yesterday with a 45 minute snooze before going to work at midday! There can be ways around these things...! 😉
Well done Bev, 7k in the legs bank. I think this heat wave has created a fertile environment for gremlins and they are breeding like rabbits!! I had a hoarde of them with me yesterday, little buggars.
You are doing great Bev, 8k is there and waiting for you
Thanks Lorijay ...at one point I felt so far away from home with what seemed like a long way to go, even the last 1.5k felt a really long way but I’m here, it’s Friday night, I’m gonna have a beer later on to celebrate & enjoy my homemade Thai green curry...and enjoy the football tomorrow...thank you for your encouragement...have a lovely weekend x
I’m not sure if I have any advice but also found it super tough and mine wasn’t even in the blazing heat- found a cloudy even drizzly day. I reckon it’s just one of those runs just sent to test us
You are amazing.... you’ve only gone and bloody run 7k!!!! In this heat????!!! Stop and revel in what you’ve achieved MC. Remember how you never thought you’d get to 5k? You ARE unstoppable. I know you are worried about the next big run but crikey that’s a SUPERB achievement. And you did it 😊🥂. It’s possible the weather will break at the end of next week, just for you 😊. Good luck you running machine you xxx
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think I needed that to spur me on for my last 1k today.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
