Running In The Heat/Part 2/Perspective

[mrrun]

I took this photo on 31 July 2015 in Zadar, Croatia. 4.30pm, in the sun. Temperature in the shade was around 38C, high humidity, 'dead sticky heat', sensation of 'no air', panic attack territory. All local population are inside, aircons are on, siesta time. All Brits are on the beach, drinking beer, roasting. I took a swim against what local people advised. They say - do NOT go out before at least 5.30pm, it's dangerous. After 3-4 hours on the beach and swimming my skin got purple, I suffered from heat exhaustion, I was unwell. Water amplifies sunrays and you get burned while trying to cool down. Nobody wore hats. Idiots dicing with death. Somehow, however, I liked it, it was surreal.

A year later I took up running and discovered running in the heat. What we have here is exceptionally mild and pleasant weather with very moderate temperatures. Some say that 22C here is 'hot'. Oh, please people... We are so, so lucky with this weather, we aren't even aware.

Last year I visited my friends in Croatia and for three weeks daily temperature did not drop below 32-33C. Not once. And people get by. They go out. They RUN. I ran and loved it immensely. Perhaps we all should try such shock once in order to appreciate more what we've got?

Happy running, enjoy the sunshine coz rain and wind are never too far away.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

I think running hot (literally) is a mindset, like so many other running related things. I did my 2nd mara run on the hottest day of the year last year. I also did another a few months later in Spain in even hotter conditions. I'm not one of these people that has always had an affinity for heat. I sweat heavily, I used to get easily irritated in the heat and generally hated it, but a few years ago I had a serious word with myself and just told myself to get over it and get on with it... weirdly, it worked!