DEFEAT, HEAT AND STUPIDITY

[TEOTWAWKI1066]

As we all know today is/was brutally hot especially at 1400-1600. Because I was working nights and my son has swimming I needed to fit a 14th run in this month (I couldn't leave it on 13) so I ventured out at yes, you've guessed it at 1443 for what I hoped would be a 6km run. I knew it was hot and I knew it would be brutal but I just wanted to test myself.

For the first 3km it was going well with an average pace of 5.20 p/km but then it hit me and I just couldn't carry on at that pace so the splits went up to over 6m and then to 6.54. At 5km I was completely done and had nothing left in the tank. I then had cold sweats and goosebumps so walked the last mile home as I didn't feel right. It was just as well I stopped as it was my body's way of saying "What are you doing? If you don't stop I will make you collapse!"

Moral here is don't run in the heat of the day but also more importantly LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. If you don't feel right it is probably because you are not. I have learned my lesson here and won't be that foolish again. I don't do well in heat so why I thought I could run in it I will never know.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

It’s brutal out there... a rare double rest day for me! I don’t think I’d manage 3k at that pace today, to be quite honest. Well done getting that done, slowing, and deciding not to push on. Lots of hydration now... that’s a hell of a workout. You’ll benefit from it a lot.

[TEOTWAWKI1066 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Benefit hey? I feel better after taking rehydration salts and drinking loads too. It was a very odd sensation with tingling too.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to TEOTWAWKI1066]

People pay a fortune for warm weather training... ok so we’ve had one hot run, but by the sounds of your description you’ll have a little anaerobic gain to go with the aerobic one.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to TEOTWAWKI1066]

I forget the explanation but the antidote for the tingling might be an antacid. When I used donate platelets that's what they gave us to replace whatever mineral was being leached out of our system.

Temps here regularly in the high 90s plus godawful humidity, I learned very quickly to hydrate and slow waaay down on particularly brutal days. Dehydration/Heat Exhaustion can hit as fast and hard as a train and never pleasant.

The upside is that they reckon running in hot weather is "The poor man's high altitude training" - a very experienced Marathoner reckons it adds ten percent to your cooler weather speed

[Tasha99 Graduate]

And if you do go out, go slowly!

Glad you’re ok. My friend just went out with her husband and he nearly fainted. She had to go and get the car and go back and pick him up!

[TEOTWAWKI1066 Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

I am lucky then. Hope your friend is ok.

[HeavyFoot Graduate]

Don’t beat yourself up. I’m a half marathon grad (although very slow) and a few weeks ago I set off on a hot morning with inadequate hydration. Result: running slower than walking, feeling terrible, exhaustion and pee like treacle. Just learn: avoid the heat and hydrate adequately for that day and the day before. Keep smiling!

[TEOTWAWKI1066 Graduate in reply to HeavyFoot]

Treacle pee hey? Never heard it called that before. I think a few months ago I would have beaten myself up but now 5km in this heat in under 30 minutes is still good. Well done on the 1/2 marathon. Awesome.

[HeavyFoot Graduate in reply to TEOTWAWKI1066]

Then I don’t see the point of your original post.

[nowster Graduate]

Um...

Been there done worse, walking.

It was the day of the Wimbledon Final in 2013. A gorgeous day. The following morning I was about to start a new job so, expecting to be cooped up in the office all day, I wished to cherish my last bit of freedom.

I decided I'd go out for a walk round the Pennines, and I chose to do a 9 mile waymarked walk.

My first mistake was parking at the highest point of the route. (Free car park vs. crowded pay car park.)

My second mistake was not wearing the right socks.

My third mistake was not carrying anywhere near enough fluids.

My fourth was doing the circular route in the wrong direction.

So I ended up climbing the Roman Road up Blackstone Edge (a 200m ascent) when I should have gone down it.

By the end of the "walk" I was absolutely exhausted, had borderline heat stroke, and huge blisters on both feet.

[TEOTWAWKI1066 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Oops

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Sounds like heat stroke.............we live and learn.

I like to enjoy my running, so those conditions are not running conditions for me........there is always another day.

[TEOTWAWKI1066 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I caught it in time and will be way more mindful. I am taking a week off from running now as I haven't had a break since March. Picked a good week as it's gonna be a hot one.