This past Saturday I ran my first real warm run after this
year’s winter. It was a trail run and I certainly felt the heat. The
temperature was far from a hot summer’s day level but I am definitely not used
to the warmer temperatures anymore.
I realized again how hard summer running can be. In general
I prefer the cold over the heat and when it comes to running it is exactly the
same. I would run in the cold any time before I run in the heat.
Green thorn trees.
Looking at the trail and the surrounding area, I realized
how tough nature is to survive all the elements thrown at it. It is very dry
here at the moment but still nature is pushing on and surviving. It was almost
as if it was giving me a message to remind me I need to toughen up if I want to
survive the summer running that is coming up.
Very dry here at the moment.
I know from experience how important heat training is. If I
want to run races in the heat I have to train in the heat. I need to get my
body and mind used to the high temperatures and the harshness of summer running.
This is even more important for trail running than road
running. You need to prepare for the heat on the road as well, but on the
trails there are no frequent water points with water to pour over your head or
even someone spraying you with water. Heat on the trails can get very hard to
deal with.
Looking at the animals and plants on my run I realized how
they adapt and survive. It is dry and hot now, but they are still doing very
well. I saw a Springbok ewe with her twin lambs and this made me smile. The
elements are not getting them down. They simply get on with the day.
Springbok ewe with two lambs right and three Wildebeest left.
The Porcupines are around as well.
I brought a lesson back from the trails on Saturday. There’s
only one thing to do for the summer races coming up…adapt and push through.
Hard, warm training runs with proper hydration and recovery is the only way to
get ready for summer running.
There are no short cuts. Just do it!
11 comments:
I find it so odd sometimes that our season are opposite. We are finally heading in to fall and leaving those, hot, hot summer runs behind us. You are totally right though, if you want to race in the summer at all you have to get out there and acclimate. Have fun :0
What a great and reflective post. I need to channel this and adopt this more often instead of complaining as much as I do!
Like Michael, I always get a kick out of our opposite seasons. That said, my Friday run was way too hot for me to feel good. 85F seems like a sauna now!
It's nice that you have the opportunity to enjoy that kind of beauty! And I understand and agree with your comments about running in the heat. I'm a TERRIBLE heat runner. But I know I can do some things to adapt. It sounds like you've figured that out, too. With that said, I also much prefer the cooler temps for running.
We've already started to have some of those really hot runs. Our humidity makes it pretty unbearable but taking a shower afterwards is the best!
I agree with Michael. It seems odd how our seasons are the opposite. I am loving fall and look forward to winter as well except for the loss of biking. You will adapt to the heat.
It looks about as dry there as it dis in Colorado (no humidity - yay). I'm absolutely hate snow and being cold and running (and driving) in that stuff, but I have to say I can't ever acclimate to the heat well no matter how much I try (good thing in CO is that you can get up at the crack of dawn and beat the heat :)).
Right now, it's perfect 55 degree days in Colorado...ah, the calm before the wintery storm.
Enjoy those trails, Johann!
I'll never stop being surprised each year that when we are moving into cold, you and Char are moving into warm! I loved running on warm summer days, but you are totally right that you have to adjust to it to be able to do it. Enjoy your summer!
Gorgeous area! Loved this post.
I'm the opposite - I'll take heat over cold any day, at least for running.
Criminal Minds is a HUGE favorite of mine.
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