Despite it being hot as heck out there this evening, I followed up on my goal for the day and went for a 5K run after dinner (at 7 PM).
How hot was it? Well, at five different spots on my route, I encountered some bunnies (on people’s lawns). And, usually, the sound of my pounding feet would send the little critters on a scurry. But, tonight, none of them moved as I approached. None of them. Each time, the rabbit gave me a look like “Dude, it’s way too hot out here. I’m going to assume you’re a nice guy and not move – cause I’m in a cool spot and I’m not giving it up, today, no matter what the risk!”
How hot was it? It was 91° F with a RealFeel® temp of 99° F.
At first, I wasn’t sweating that much – any more than usual – because I was using a somewhat shorter stride and slower pace. And, it wasn’t until I was about 2 1/4 miles into it that I really started to sweat.
In the end, it took me 28 minutes and 53 seconds to run the 3.1 miles. (Compare that to my last run which was 27 minutes and 49 seconds.)
Of course, most importantly, I had no issues with my left knee. (I’m pretty sure this is now five 3.1 mile runs in a row where there was no sign of ITBS. Dare I say that I am cured?)
In the end, I worked up a monster sweat. Probably my biggest one since I started C25K this January. In fact, something happened tonight that’s never happened to me before – because of the sweat.
Once I got home, I started to drink water and ice my knee – the latter is a precaution against ITBS. And, of course, I was still sweating. (I find that I can sweat heavily, sometimes, up to an hour after my run.) The water was pouring off me and the sweat from my forehead got into my eyes – and I was blinded.
The burning was nasty. Truly, it was so bad that I could not see. I was drinking my water with my eyes closed, it burned so badly.
Eventually, it went away – and I made myself a post-run bowl of oatmeal and then took a shower. (Oatmeal on a hot day? Yes. I eat a ton of oatmeal. At least two bowls a day, sometimes three, once in a while four. It’s my “go to” quick meal/snack.)
I’m proud of myself for making this effort today – and dealing with the conditions out there. And, overall, I’m proud of myself for hitting my goals over the first 32 days of my 9-week plan. This is the half-way mark of the program. And, I’m looking forward to nailing the second half as well as I did with the first half.
