W9R1 Hardest yet!

[NorwegianWood]

Here in the Adelaide Hills where we've just lost 80+ homes and a friend in a huge bushfire, I decided I would run in the middle of the day in around 30degC. Huge mistake! I drank two glasses of water before leaving but very soon realised that I was dehydrated. I finished the 30mins but it just about knocked me over with exhaustion. I wasn't expecting that.

Presumably it was the increased temperature that had the impact. Oh, then there's the incline that I normally stay away from. Will search out flat terrain and stick to running in the cool of the mornings.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Take care of yourself in those temperatures. I'm not sure but if you really want to run why not just do a 15 minute one. I know that's not part of the plan but the runs can wait you don't want to collapse with exhaustion 🎅🎅🎅

[NorwegianWood Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

30degC is very common weather here in summer and sadly 40+ is getting more common all the time. It's fine walking in that temperature but I don't think I was ready for running in it. There are times when I can't fit in a morning run so a short run on such days is a good idea.

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Oh goodness please be careful in that heat. So sorry to hear you’ve lost a friend. Hope you are staying safe with those awful bush fires. Take care and drink loads, when I ran in those temperatures earlier in the year I always took water with me - for drinking and pouring over the head to cool down. Merry Christmas

[NorwegianWood Graduate in reply to Grannyhugs]

I think you're right. I squashable bottle would work - one that won't allow water to do too much swishing around.

[Grannyhugs Graduate in reply to NorwegianWood]

The swishing is well worth it, I found after the first few minutes I forgot about it. Good luck

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Sorry that you lost a friend and all those homes in the awful bush fires that are raging in parts of Australia, I can assure you that those fires are making the headlines here in the UK. I wish we could send you some of the rain we have here to put those fires out.

Congratulations on running in those conditions, between the heat and the pollution caused by the smoke it must be quite a challenge to run at all.

[NorwegianWood Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

The fire is now within control lines so there is only a light smoke haze and smell over Adelaide and the Adjoining Adelaide Hills. Sadly, the influence of the coal lobby and mining lobby is huge on our national government . It will go down in history as having refused to read the science and having refused to act despite national polls indicating that the people are crying out for strong policies to phase out fossil fuels. I didn't notice the smell at all while I was running today. The wind must have been blowing the smoke away from us.

[NorwegianWood Graduate in reply to NorwegianWood]

I spoke too soon. (Christmas Eve morning) The fire is burning vigorously but is not currently threatening further homes.

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Very sorry to hear of the loss of your friend, and of what you’re having to endure at the moment. Take care of yourself in the heat 👍🙂

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Running in that heat is exhausting, so sad the bush fires let’s hope for good rain to douse the flames and start life growing again

Peace at Christmas

[NorwegianWood Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Sadly there is no rain forecast but another heat wave coming after Christmas. We have to learn from Australian Indigenous people about doing winter burn-offs.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to NorwegianWood]

You are right about the winter burn offs

Happy Christmas