Ahhh, what post isn’t made just a little brighter with a David Lee Roth reference, hmm??
Week Two of heat-slash-marathon training came roaring to life with a 12 and 4 brick this afternoon and even though it’s not getting any easier, at least it’s not getting harder. So I got that going for me. (A Caddyshack reference, too. What am I? Old?)
Riding a bike in the middle of the day really isn’t bad. I live in the suburbs, so traffic is pretty light around mid-day. I don’t have to stop at many lights and I don’t fear for my life the way I do in the early morning when drivers are all focused solely on getting to work (“What bike?”). Sure it’s hot, but all I have to do to get cool is go faster.
The run, however, is a different story. The run was just plain hot, no getting around it. The dirt trail near my house that simulates my tri race course has almost no shade (just like the tri race course). I played many mind games with myself to keep going today. I brought my iPod as a crutch. I let myself walk a little bit in the sparse shade and I drank almost 18 ounces of Nuun in the 34 minutes I was running, but it was still bloody hot.
I spent a lot of my bike ride today thinking about work – solving paperwork problems, reliving compliments, pretending I was telling off rude clients, etc. Almost the entire run, though, was consumed with reminding myself why running in the heat is “good” for me, in spite of that whole dying-of-heatstroke thing. Making myself run today and not cutting it short or giving in (too much) to walking is making me stronger for race day. In fact, there was this little portion of my brain that felt completely badass for getting out there and getting it done in this weather.
Wait a second, you mean I’m starting to like running in the heat?? Yeah, like I said…crazy.
Aimee (I Tri To Be Me) says
Way to get out there in the heat and do your brick! Woohoo! It will definitely make you stronger for race day!
Patrick Mahoney says
I’m trying to think of a clever 80’s reference, but I got nothing at 1:03 AM. Sorry. Usually, It’s so easy. There I go, GnR.
But forget that, getting it done in the heat is amazing.
misszippy says
Awesome job. I find that I like it too…don’t want to race in it, but I feel strong training in it.
ajh says
Good idea to relive compliments! We should all do that! People have such a hard time just plain accepting compliments.
Good for you for a good attitude in the heat. I was up running at 6:30 today and it was glorious although I was still soaked!
Heather says
You ARE badass for running in the heat. It is totally crazy how you can feel so comfortable weather-wise while on the bike and then hop off and run and it’s like putting on a freaking electric blanket.
Middle Name Marie says
Running in the heat is such a MENTAL-endurance builder! Good for you!!!
RockStarTri says
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Realize there is a fine line between badass and crazy. Embrace that line.
PS: You cannot have too many Caddyshack references.
Alma F. says
Nice work! You ARE a badass!
shellyrm aka jogging stroller mama says
That is sooo funny! I do that too. I always come up with the best things to say to those less-than-polite customers while I am running. I’d be so nice to be able to say them to the rude people. (ever see The Invention of Lying?)
AM-GoalsfortheWeek! says
niiiice run. it will make you stronger for your race.
and i too often find my runs a bit like therapy in processing all the stuff i did and need to still do;-)