So, all day, I anxiously awaited news that our training program meeting--a 7 p.m. 3 mile run--would be cancelled. Surely it would be insanity to run in those temperatures, and we're supposed to be teaching our new participants safe, healthy running.
No cancellation news came.
In early afternoon, I innocuously tweeted at Fleet Feet, keeping it real casual, y'know--"Are the training programs still on tonight with the heat advisory?" Just in case they didn't realize it was HOT out. I hadn't heard back by 3:30 or so, so I finally bit the bullet and sent an email to our half-marathon coach. I admitted to him that I am a wuss when it comes to heat and asked if we were still on.
Reasonably, his response was (paraphrased): Yes, but I'll tell you what I plan to tell everyone tonight. If you get out there and feel awful, just stop, turn around and walk back. Don't risk the rest of your season on this one run, because it won't make or break your training program.
I knew I had to give it a shot. They had shortened our 3 mile route to 2.3 miles--I really couldn't justifiably say I couldn't handle that distance. So I went. And I ran. And I expected to be at about a 12-minute mile--crawling--and instead finished under a 10-minute mile.
Yes, I was a completely sweaty mess. I've never had that much sweat pooling at my lower back before, and I was sweating from places I didn't know could sweat. (TMI? Probably.)
Yes, I was so, so happy to finish at 2.3 instead of 3.
But, I was surprised at just how much fun it was. I met some great, friendly participants that I can't wait to run with again. I really felt like a runner, being out there in that heat. (What I found most interesting is that it is more uncomfortable to stop running--my skin was burning when I stopped--than it was during the run. You learn something new every day.)
And, I think I could've done the 3 miles.
And this is just another reason why I really love the Fleet Feet training program--it constantly pushes me to break through any mental barriers I erect for myself or any discomfort I might feel. There is absolutely no way I would've run in that weather on my own. But now I know that I can, and I don't really have the excuse "it's too hot to run" anymore... because it doesn't get too much hotter than that.
As my safety disclaimer, I will say that I drank loads of water yesterday, and I carried a water bottle with me while we ran, and I had more water in the car for when we finished. And I had loads of water after the run. So, hydration is key.
But, it was nice to feel that instead of trying to "beat the heat," in a way, I just became one with the heat. (For real.)
