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August 21, 2005
Another humid day, another crappy run
To be fair, I have had some good long runs in the past few weeks. Part of the reason for that was undoubtedly the weather. Today's weather was soupy and sunny, and I melted, big-time.
The plan for today was to meet my co-worker Michelle to do about 5 or 6 miles in the neighborhood around Rockefeller before the Team for Kids 14-mile run began. We did about 5 since we had to stop a few times to direct people coming to the run (who recognized us from their cars) to the meeting spot for the TFK run. It was definitely humid, but the sun wasn't fully out yet and I felt like I usually do in those conditions—sluggish and incredibly sweaty, but okay.
Then we got to the TFK meeting spot, stretched, etc. and realized it was past the time we were supposed to start the run (8:45ish). It is logistically difficult to organize a run for 50 people with different paces in a place none of them know well, and the schedule just went out the window. The Team members were getting antsy, the coaches were getting antsy, but the main TFK coach wouldn't start everyone until he was 100% sure that all the course marshal volunteers were in their places. I should have realized that the best thing for me to do would have been to just get going on the rest of my run, mainly because it was getting much hotter. I didn't know what the exact course was, though, and I wanted to go with everyone else. By the time we left it was 9:50—way, way too late for someone like me, who is super-sensitive to the heat and humidity, to be setting out for the rest of a hilly run.
Michelle and I stuck together for about 5 miles, but then her ultra/trail running background kicked in and she started really picking up her pace on the hilliest parts of the park. (The first 3 miles or so were in direct sunlight on the streets surrounding the park.) I was carrying two Gatorades but I could feel myself getting more and more dehydrated. Soon, TFK members who are definitely not faster than me started passing me—not just passing me, but asking if I was okay. I knew I'd make it, but it wouldn't be pretty. I bought two more Powerades or whatever they had in the machine at the Rockefeller Visitor's Center to refill my bottles, but I never started feeling better. I'm sure that part of the problem was that I needed to eat something, considering that we ended up waiting around for so long between the two portions of the run. I tried to eat a Swedish Fish I had in my carrier but it made me gag and I spit it out. (Usually I can eat anytime on the run.)
The last 3 miles of the run were a true deathmarch, complete with a few Gallo-walking/type stops during which I cursed my proclivity to melt in the heat and the humid East Coast climate in general. When I got back to my car, Michelle (who had been there for a long time by then, I'm sure) said I didn't look so hot. I had my three Becky signs of dehydration: my ears were completely blocked (don't ask), my eyes were having trouble focusing and my legs were cramping up. It wasn't anything serious; I was just upset because I had such a bad run and couldn't even enjoy the "I'm done!" feeling. I probably got in 18+ miles today and felt worse than after most of my marathons. Ugh. I hope that the weather cooperates in the next few weeks so I can get some good (or just decent) 22+ milers in.
I took a long nap today and feel somewhat better now. Matt is staying another night in Westchester but I'm headed back to the city to rent a movie with my sister. We've gotten so used to being neighbors that we are sad that we only have a few more days together and want to make the most of them!
Posted by becky at August 21, 2005 9:23 PM
Comments
Hey, sorry to hear about your run. It's been a tough summer. I hope you're feeling better and rehydrated. And I hope your return to Boston goes smoothly.
P.S. I thought about you on Saturday when I had my Jamba Juice. :-)
Posted by: Leilani at August 22, 2005 9:42 AM