60 minute run 🥵

[Jools2020]

I was away at the weekend and it messed up all my running plans. I did run a 3K last week and forgot to post it!

So, yesterday I did check the forecast to see if it going to be raining or windy, which it wasn’t. What I didn’t check was the temperature, which I only noticed this morning. It was already warm! I hesitated - but the air quality was excellent, so I decided to run. I would do a Zone 3 60 minute run. Surely I could manage that!

I wore my (only) sleeveless top and shorts. Warm up exercises done, tech synched and I was ready for the off. I stepped outside. That side of the house is in the shade in the morning and the air was fresh on my shoulders. Lovely! I walk up to the top of the hill where I like to start my runs. I took a few seconds and decided to listen to Santana and focus on the music. I started the watch and walked briskly for 90 seconds before easing into a slow jog. My heart rate immediately shot into Zone 4. I kept it steady, I was going downhill at this point. Zone 5. What? Must be the heat! I slowed down some more. Zone 6. I didn’t even know there WAS a Zone 6, I’m sure I’ve never noticed it before! I wondered about aborting the run, I was a bit spooked, but decided to continue very slowly. Around the third km my heart rate dropped into Zone 3 and I relaxed into the run and concentrated on the joy of running and my music. Crisis averted!

The fourth kilometre sees me approaching the Demon Hill and I accept that my heart rate is going to go up here. I have just one rule for this hill - no walking! At least this part of the route is in the shade and there is a slight breeze. I shorten my stride and although I might have blurred the line between running and walking 😂, I keep going and crest the hill. Now I can relax on the downward stretch. I head back into the sun! I allow myself to increase pace just a little for the fifth km, not too much as I want to run a sixth. I run round the little park and watch some dogs playing as their owners chat. I’m near the town centre and run down into the underpass and up the other side. I’m heading towards my house and run past it, so I’m now doubling up on my route until I reach 60 minutes, running on a little in case Strava robs me again! As I slow to a walk, I realise how hot I am! I’m really going to enjoy my shower this morning 😊. I head home for stretches and decide to have a chocolate swirl ice cream as recommended by AlMorr !

Probably one my slowest runs - and that’s saying something. Note to self - run earlier in the day in hot weather 😊

[Runninggirl59 60minGraduate]

Well done Jools you did it even Demon Hill. Santana sounds like a good choice to me, we're gong to see a Santana tribute band in a couple of weeks, not quite the real thing but hey ho. I've just done 4.5k but I struggled in the heat too so very well done to you. Now ice cream, there's an idea, my favourite 😍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Runninggirl59]

Thanks. I don’t usually run in the heat, what was I thinking!? You know, I do believe Demon Hill was just a tad easier today, even in the heat!

[Runninggirl59 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

Just goes to show that the training works 🏃‍♀️

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Runninggirl59]

Yes, it does! 👍

[nowster Graduate10]

Last summer the heat (combined with coastal humidity) is what got me in mid July. Well done!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thanks! Once I’d started, I didn’t want to give up, but it was an effort.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Good run for you today Jools, I hope you enjoyed your run and that ice swirl chocolate after 👍✅🏃🏾

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks, Al! The ice cream was delicious, great recommendation! 👍

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I recommend that to ALL runners on this forum 👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

😊😊👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Well done Jools. You conquered Demon Hill in the heat - no mean feat! (The rhyme was accidental!)It's certainly a warm one today - it was 18 degrees on my run at 8 o'clock this morning so I stuck to the shade of the woods instead of running across the fields. Even so I was certainly a tad warm at the end!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks, Diane. The Demon Hill is definitely getting easier. Great idea sticking to the shade. I think I’ll get back to my old routine of running at 5 am when it’s hot! It served me well back then.

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Well done! One of the reasons I don't have a gaming is I don't want to know my heart rate zones - much too scary! Early morning runs will definitely beat the heat!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

I started doing it to do Zone 3 runs, but I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t! Yes, I’m going to start running early again, like the early days. It only worked so well then because I wasn’t sleeping - now I’m sleeping just fine and it will be difficult to get up early! 😊

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I meant a garmin of course - damn autocorrect!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

I knew exactly what you meant! Autocorrect is the worst invention. I had a text yesterday from Virgin Media to say they were doing some work in the area. I was trying to delete the text, but instead somehow managed to send them a text saying ‘Oh Poo’ 😂😂🤣

Fortunate it was one of those texts that you couldn’t respond to and it failed to send!

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

😂😂😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Jools! you’ve only got one short sleeved tee shirt? you either need to go shopping or send me your address and I’ll send you a dozen or so. 😀or did I read that wrong? 60 minutes of steady running is brilliant. I wonder what your heart was doing in the beginning? as long as you felt ok probably a blip. As zone 5 has my max heart rate I wonder what would happen at zone 6? I didn’t know there was one either.

Have a good day

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

😂I’ve got loads of tops, just not many specifically for running. I have one sleeveless, one short sleeved and 2 long sleeved. I like Lycra or close fitting t-shirts for running, my normal t-shirts won’t do at all! I do, however, have 6 sun visors 😂

At the beginning of the run my heart rate shot into zone 5. I think it was the heat, I felt OK but I felt I was working hard even though I wasn’t running fast. So I slowed right down. I’m sure I didn’t imagine Zone 6. Once when I was really pushing it at the end of a run, I saw 102%!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

Zone 6 must be high, for running I wear a strappy stretchy top i buy them from M&S and have a huge heap of them, all different colours and it’s true things from that shop last forever as some of them are over 20 years old and still cling, then various other things over the top depending on weather , I know what you mean about ordinary tee shirts, they won’t do for running. Yesterday when not seeing pace I was slow even for me but very comfortable

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Very well done! Especially on conquering Demon Hill in that heat 🥵🥵 I also didn't know zone 6 existed (that must've been scary!) but my heart rate sometimes spikes early in the run before settling down.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Perhaps we are so excited to be setting out on a run! 😊