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July 19, 2005
Yuck
I was due for a bad workout, but tonight's was especially abysmal. I'm sure the fact that it was 96 degrees and (I didn't check but I'm guessing) close to 100% humidity when I left for the track had something to do with it, but I couldn't stay focused. In the morning, I noticed that my usual 30 minute run was slightly slower (1-2 minutes), but I was sort of glad because that meant I was listening to my body and taking it easy in the heat. It was definitely pretty swampy already in the morning and I was drenched after even that short of a run.
Spending the day inside our apartment--I worked from home today--didn't cool me off much, either. When it's a day like today, the air conditioner just doesn't cut it. Even the one in the bedroom, which usually works better, wasn't doing the job. I was hoping that by the time I left for the track it would have miraculously cooled off (that's what happened last week) but no such divine intervention occurred.
I was pretty much dripping with sweat after walking from the subway to the track (it's a long walk.) I didn't technically have to "warm up" but I did so to get in a couple more miles. Actually, despite being really hot, I didn't feel so bad jogging about two miles around the track. But then we stood around for a looong time waiting for the club's coach to finish lauding praise on the tracksters who competed this weekend (garnering 4th and 6th place for the women and men, respectively) at the USATF Club Nationals. I was actually pretty stiff when we started and things just went downhill from there.
Coach Tony had purposely given us a short, quick workout because of the weather and the club champs, but for me it was neither short nor quick. It was only 3 sets of 600, 400, 300 but it was not pleasant. I kept up my usual "5K pace" for the first 600 and 400, but started feeling really awful after the 300. Every time we stopped, I drank some Gatorade and/or water, but it was like I couldn't get enough. I was obviously dehydrated and looked it--people kept asking me if I was okay. I slowed down A LOT and even skipped the last 400 when someone said it looked like I was going to pass out! (I wasn't.) My usual pace group was about 10-15 seconds ahead of me tonight, and many of them had competed in multiple track events over the weekend. Obviously it was not one of my best performances.
I was glad to finish but worried about being able to cool down without feeling lightheaded and nauseous again. I only did about 3/4 of a mile on the track and then slowwwwly jogged to the subway stop. I usually run back to the apartment from the subway too but I just could not. I noticed it was still 88 degrees at 8:45 when I walked by a bank coming home. And that's without the humidity factored in. Brutal.
I'm still drinking a lot tonight but I just realized I haven't had to pee since before the workout. This is not good. Tomorrow's run, if it doesn't turn into a gym session, is going to be all about survival. I am not made for this climate and I just want it to be a little more pleasant for the rest of the summer!
Posted by becky at July 19, 2005 9:54 PM
Comments
I've definitely been there with hot, miserable workouts. I hate the heat - maybe not as much as you - but I would take 20 and snowing over 90 and humid for sure! Just think though...fall is not too much farther away - only about a month and it HAS to be cooler when you move back to Boston for the new school year! Hang in there...and take it easy on yourself! (something I suspect you don't do very often... :)
Posted by: Beth at July 20, 2005 4:16 PM