Guess what! Guess what! Guess what! I have a new training partner and you’ll never guess who it is – MY BIG BROTHER!!! Okay maybe he’s not my full-on training partner, but we’re getting there 😀
So this morning I sent him a text letting him know that I’d be running 5 km after work, and asked if he was in? And while I’d love to say that I sent it in all seriousness, truthfully it was done with a little bit of a gloating jibe … what can I say, it’s been awhile since I reminded him of this here day:
So totally my most favourite photo right now!
But my oh my, did my Big Brother ever come back with a surprise for me. Apparently he wants to run with me, on a regular basis, like once a week, which I’m super duper excited about, I love hanging out with my big brother, even if he is grumbling the entire time.
Mind you, when I called told him we’d have to find a hilly route (I am training for those San Francisco hills after all) he put up a bit of resistance reminding me of the plum colour of his face and the choice words he used while trudging up that never-ending hill of our race. But then like two seconds later – I kid you not, TWO SECONDS – he was informing me that he could kick my butt up the Grouse Grind! And I’m like you do realize that’s one big freaking hill right? Ahhh, yes, the sibling rivalry is back!
TONIGHT’S RUN:
- 5:15 p.m. BG before: 8.3
- Temp. basal: -60 per cent
- Distance: 6 km
- Average pace: 6:09 min/km
- Time: 37:01
- 6:15 p.m. BG after: 5.0
Holy crud monkey, that was a hot one! I had only planned on doing 5 km, but ended up with 6 after I got lost in the trails. (Have I mentioned how directionally challenged I am?) I hadn’t planned on running through the trails, but about 3.5 km into the run, with the sun beating down on me, I was Dead Chick Running in desperate need of shade.
Lucky for me, there was a trail nearby.
I’m not complaining about the heat, I love the heat, and I much prefer training in the heat than the snow, but right now, with just a few straight days into 20+ weather, I am not yet acclimatized to it. And so, my legs were bricks, I was dripping in sweat, I had that overheated pukey feeling, and I almost ran into three poles. Awesome.
In my defense, with this pole, I was so focused on trying to figure out what the post-it said that I didn’t realize until the very last second the pole was like half an inch from my face!
How do you deal with training in the heat?
“Dead chick running.”
You’re a riot, Alice. No kidding, I shouldn’t read your blog before bedtime because I hyperventilate with laughter.
Anyway, how to deal with training in the heat?
Go to an air-conditioned gym, of course!! 🙂
When I was young and stupid and gave a hoot about my flabbiness, I used to run around this in-door track at a YMCA gym in Toronto. It was a beauty. An inclined, hardwood, oval track above the area where other stupid young guys played basketball. But the beauty of the track was that it never changed, no matter what the weather outside, and yet you actually ran like a human – not like you run on those stupid treadmills. A whole different set of muscles are required to run like a human.
And that’s the truth.
“Holy crud monkey” 🙂
ah the heat. we are no strangers to it here in the toilet bowl of Onterrible. Heat is tolerable, humidity is not. I embrace the sweat. That’s how I do it. If the humidity is really awful I slow it down a bit and always make sure I am drinking water, even on a short 5k.
and yes, “holy crud monkey” is my new favourite term. You are really good at cursing without swearing, I should learn from you!
Might I recommend the early morning? 5:00 AM is relatively cool… usually.
I agree with Jeff. These days I do two training runs a week at 5am.