The excuses: The overnight low was 28 degrees and it was a bit warmer than that at 6.00am, humidity 87%. The air was still. Too still 😱 There was zero air movement around me, and let's face it, I hardly cause a ripple in the environment as I slo-mo through it. I reached the 15 minute mark and my legs were great, my breathing was even-ish, the new trainers were comfy, even bouncy! I was enjoying the run and the environment. My head was so hot though, so I pulled off my cap. I then remembered a comment I made to Bridget007 re running in the heat and out of the blue decided to take my own advice! 🤔 Nearly 18 minutes had passed and I figured I'd walk for one minute to try to cool down then get back into it. One minute turned into three, and then there was no way I was running again. I was weaving all over the path for a minute or so after stopping, so I was definitely overheated.
The critical self: "Not finishing a run has never been an option, so why today? Do you think that just because this is a post-grad run that you can just give yourself a 'get out of jail' card? You've run in similar conditions for every run except 4 in the air-con gym, and even then you didn't run faster because you're a shite runner and a snail. You don't have what it takes to do this. There are other people running here in the park this morning who are faster than you and they haven't given up. You have failed this run."
The reality: I didn't wear my lucky pants. Yes, for some reason I have lucky running pants. I've worn the same pair (yes, washed!) for every run since Week 5 Run 3. They're not particularly comfortable or even suitable for running, nor do I get lucky in them, but they got me through the programme. Mix up the auspicious underwear at your own peril.
When all else fails? Blame it on the pants.
Written by
DeeRunning
Graduate
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Maybe best to avoid running in the heat then, it won't hurt to take more rest days, make sure you are properly hydrated drinking water throughout the day everyday and keep the pace slow n steady...
Thanks, davelinks , all very sound advice that I do my best to follow. Where I live it's either run in the heat or run on a treadmill in the air-con gym and I try to avoid treadmill if I can. The lack of breeze/wind was really what made it so much harder this morning.
I have not experienced it yet but I’m due to run 5k early on Saturday and I’m ready for the possibility. I will stop running if I overheat. Anyone sensible will. And the relentless heat is whacking our hydration.
Well done for surviving the 18 minutes in these conditions. Is there anything you can do to keep yourself cooler as you run? Soaked baseball cap, for example?
Thanks Jay66UK , I didn't even think to soak my cap, that would have helped. The only other option really is the treadmill. Good luck for your 5K on Saturday. You're right to go into it with a sensible approach and being prepared to stop if you need to. Kinda goes against Must. Finish. Run mentality I certainly seem to have. You are probably a lot more level headed
😂😂 Sage words to live by, grasshopper. You are no fool.
A word of warning if I may: the overheating can sneak up and you don't necessarily realise it's happening until you stop running. Godspeed my friend. Long may you run on the hot days x
Honestly? Aaaaarrrgghhhh, I don't know! I was brilliant one minute, loving everything about the run ... then I felt my head was about to catch fire. Oh that could be a sign lol. Took my cap off but knew that I needed more to cool down. So i stopped. And I felt a bit dizzy. Sorry, unhelpful. Just felt I couldn't push through it any longer. Still wonder if it was a gremlin whispering in my ear. But it was prob the sun 🌞🌞
I have a white (or grey!) running cap, thinner material and much cooler than a baseball cap. (Shopping opportunity??) I think the visor would be the way to go - leaves the area free for evaporation ... for wont of a better word 🤔
There is a C25K experiment currently being undertaken for which volunteers are required: your role would be to freeze your pants and see if this mitigates any possible effects of heat exhaustion / heatstroke. No sign up required.
Sorry to hear you struggled too. Seems like we all are, all around the world! No worries, not beating myself up. It was the pants, and I'm sticking to my story
It IS the heat Dee so don’t beat yourself up about it. Tbh you did well to run for so long. No point pushing yourself too hard in this heat (are you back in the uk?).
Now get those lucky pants ready for your next run - in the cool! Xx
Ah no I live in HK so will be cursing/complaining about the heat for as many more years as I'm here. Lived in the UK for 4 years though... why oh why didn't I start this then? Although your heatwaves are brutal too! Sounds like there's a lot of struggle there too.
Omg not at all! I was in Scotland for 2 years - 16 degree days there were scorchers and felt so bloody hot! It was weird lol. The heat is different in UK to here, but sure when it's hot, it sure is hot.
OMG don't be so hard on yourself, if you're overheating and weaving all over the place do the sensible thing and get out of there, sounds like it could of got serious very quickly.
Look after yourself you can always run another day the pants will wait 👍
SendWine - yes the heat exhaustion can come on so quickly. I really was feeling good and strong and enjoying then suddenly thought, nope, stop. It's usually ok but as i mentioned above, without the breeze it was a very different experienc. And you're right, there's always another run, perhaps in the air-con gym next time
At least you got out there & gave it a go. Well done for running for 18 minutes in the heat & humidity. Bet you wouldn’t be so hard on anybody else who had posted a similar story - be kind to yourself & give it another go on another day🙂
Thanks, QueenTea I misread the weather signals, thought the wind would be stronger/would exist. It's ok, they were only fleeting thoughts, nothing i hold onto or believe. Thanks for your kind words x
Love it! Wish i was on my phone and had better emojis lol. That would be an interesting experience. In the interests of research and sharing our running tips, I may well try that. Just to see if it helps
Don't beat yourself up. Some days are just not running days. Rest, TLC for maybe a day or so longer than usual then give it another go. Maybe use the treadmill next time so you can build your confidence again. Air conditioning is a wonderful thing 😅
It's fine Goforitmama . It was a cracking morning and after I stopped jogging I walked around for another 20 minutes or so and it was just lovely, so it all turned out well. I wish I liked the treadmill but I just don't. I use it as a last resort... which would have been this morning if I'd known the conditions were going to be so unfavourable!
Definitely the pants. Mine are bamboo and lovely. So washed out and bobbly now but the most cool and comfy. I have favourite socks too. Doesn’t work if I don’t wear them!!
Pricey, but allegedly worth it. I think the shop I was in made some reference to them also "accentuating the male form". Whatever that meant. I'm sure the shop assistant must have had something in his eye tho. Kept doing this slow winking thing. And that note with the price on it looked rather like a cell phone number
Bloody hell!! I saw this this morning, but was pretending to be a grown up with a client and PowerPoint slides and all that.
Face it, hon. You live in a sauna. And it's not a mixed day. No wonder you're bleeding hot!!
Temperature here is somewhere in the 20s and we're dropping like flies. Your weather is in another league.
C'mon. Give yourself a break okay? You're doing an incredible job against a set of environmental and physical conditions that would break me like a stick insect.
If there's a winner in my book, it's you. You, you hear, you.
Thanks, hug-buddy You are no stick insect... you would be racing around my park like a cheetah, singing and air-guitaring all the way! I'll stick with the plodding. Strong wind forecast for the morning so hopefully I'll give it another crack
We literally had the exact same run at 6am this morning! I got to 17mins, walked "just for a minute" and then there was no going back. Dnt be hard on yourself, it's crazy warm out there!
Yo that's spooky! How hard was it to try to start running again?? Actually, hard? No. Impossible? Yes. I feel your pain. No worries, we've both got other runs ahead and you're so close to the finishing line! Godspeed
My goodness Dee! You really can’t be too hard on yourself about running in that kind of heat! I just can’t imagine it. 18 mins of that is phenomenal in my eyes! Admiration! ❤️
You are a darling woman Fabulous450 and you certainly live up to your name. Thanks for your kind words, as always. I don't know how you always find the right things to say, but you do! Hugs xx
Genuinely, just in awe of all of you runners at every stage. Those so far ahead, it still feels like a dream, but I get to know it’s possible and those coming up, because I recognise the challenges. It takes some real guts to decide to do this! Shucks....I’m amazing myself just by being one of the group doing it too! Stay awesome Dee! Love it! 😉❤️
Dee, you're not a machine, and yes lucky pants are probably to blame.
It is easier to say no, once you have graduated, it was never an option before, and now you sometimes have a wrestling match with the anti run gremlins.
Still you were out there, and next time , those gremlins will be stomped on. 🤗
Yes. I was wondering how much was gremlins and how much just. too. hot. Perhaps 50/50. The jury's still out, but i'm leaving it behind me. Need to plot a course for tomorrow!
Lol awesome amanda2463 . I will be fully kitted out in bamboo by summer's end!
I actually don't need the cap when I go out early - the sun's not up high enough - it's just something I'm used to wearing, and helps with the invisibility cloak I like to pretend I have when I'm running. I'll leave it behind the next run and see how that's goes
Definitely the pants - always wear the pants. All the rest of the replies to your horrible run are sensible, thoughtful and oh so right. I'm just daft ! Good luck with it. Where are you on this blue planet? Take care, and be so kind to yourself.
You are the least daft person here Gran4z ! And you're right, it was totally the pants, no question about that. I live in Hong Kong (I'm Aussie though) so it gets pretty hot n steamy round these parts
Nice part of the world - been there many moons ago. Hot and steamy for sure, courageous running. UK side we’re all struggling with 27C+, but at least getting out early it’s beatable, only 13c at 6.00 this morning, was good - enjoyable even.
You are some kind of Iron Woman Dee! 28 degrees is the kind of temperature we’re getting here in the afternoon in our current heatwave and no one is running in that! Yet there you are and that’s your night time minimum temp! That’s crazy!
You need the fire dept on standby with a hose to spray you all over before you set off and then at various points along your route. You would be a sight though! A big ball of steam moving along the water side like Godzilla had just popped back up to say hi!
And anyway - you know the score! No run is a fail ever. And you are still magnificent and majestic running royalty and always will be!
Hahaha iron woman? No. A magnificent shuffler with a wonky gait? Yes!!
The temperature is crazy, but at least it's consistent It will be like this until around October. I was so disappointed because that's pretty much what all the runs have been like through the programme and I got through them. But there's normally a sea breeze and yesterday there was nada. Too much hot.
There are sprinklers often going in various places, in lieu of the fire dept emergency cool down. I'll start to utilise them. It won't make much difference to overall appearance... drowned rat is the look I rock at the end of a run anyway
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