Holy Hellfire, Batman!

I didn’t time my long run very well this afternoon. The goal was to run the 5430 1/2IM course. It was a “just get it done” run, but I was to run as much steady pace as I could handle as well. Did masters first thing in the morning, did a little work and then left for my run at 1:30pm. I knew I should probably have waited until a little later in the evening, but putting things off “until later” can sometimes be dangerous.

So I screened up, grabbed three bottles of water and headed out. Figured I’d be okay without the Camelbak (ha!) and just took the water belt with one bottle since I would be doing loops.

Bloody hell it was hot out there. The course is completely exposed, the temps were somewhere around 94F and the humidity was a mere 15%. There was a nice little breeze coming off the reservoir, but when your sweat dries before it’s even fully escaped your pours, it doesn't even get a chance to cool you.

I made it to the first turnaround in a little under 40 minutes, then headed back to find some sort of road, path or trail that led around the reservoir. I was really starting to roast now, couldn’t see where the heck the course was supposed to go for sure, and I was already down to less than half a bottle of water with at least 45 minutes to go.

I said aloud to myself, “I’m dying out here.” Just then I heard water gurgling alongside the road. A few more feet and there was a little pullout in the road where a small creek ran. I ran straight for it, took off my cap and dunked my head. Oh yeah, that was pure heaven! I dipped my hat in the creek like a cup and popped it on my head, letting the water trickle down my back. Pure heaven! I really didn’t want to leave that little oasis, but, I had a run to finish.

I felt much better running off, but I still couldn’t find exactly where the course went. There was an open gate that said “Open Space” on it. That was probably the way to go, but I didn’t see any discernable path or trail and didn’t really feel like exploring with the lack of water I had on me. I continued on until I happened upon another driveway. This one had an obvious trail that “may” have led to the reservoir, but the sign on its gate basically said "cross this fence and be shot". I decided a gunshot wound wasn't on the plan for today. That was it. My two loop run would have to be a double out and back.

It got harder and harder to run. I needed another dunk in the creek, but I was no longer following it. The last three KM back to the car rolled a little bit and I had to actually walk a couple of them. I was “rationing” what water I had left -- just enough to wet my dry mouth. By that point, the fact that my water was toasty hot didn’t matter one bit. It was liquid and liquid was all good.

Finally I made it back to the car and I b-lined for the cooler of chilled water. I had two bottles in there and it took less than a minute to down the first one. Oh, I needed that. I started chugging on the second one and realized that would be it for my run. I knew I could run longer yet, but not another full out and back. A couple more swigs of cold water, a look at what was left in the bottle and decided to call it done. Besides, the AC in the car was extremely enticing.

So that was that. I planned to head back out and run another hour in the evening when things cooled off, but Gordo said that was enough running for the day. He was surprised I actually ran as long as I did in that heat.

Lesson for today -- do long runs along hot, exposed routes as the first workout of day... and early. ;-)

July 2, 2003

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