Start time: 08/03/05, 6:00pm
Location: W&OD Trail
Distance: 4 miles
Run:Walk ratio: 5:1
Average pace: 12:30min/mile
Another ultra-hot day here in the Nation’s Capitol, so we decided that rather than die a horrible death we’d just go slower than normal. In retrospect, we should’ve changed the run:walk ratio to something smaller but instead, no, we just ran slower. Which can actually be difficult, on a hot day, because all you keep thinking is, “I’d rather be taking a shower.” In fact, that is literally all I thought for the last two miles, and there was no chit-chat when we were done; I leapt into my car, drove home, and practically threw myself into the shower. Ahhhhh…
youa re probably right, a shorter run/walk would probably have been better. Despite running more often, running slower keeps you out in the heat longer and if your stride is different enough from your regular runs can lead to extra fatigue later (different muscles used) and soreness (same reason).
You probably should have cut off some mileage as well. You do want to be prone to heat exhaustion for being out in this heat for too long… at this point you’re not going to miss a mile or two.
I applaud you for braving the heat… I will probably do another lunchtime run tomorrow. So this is a “Do as I say, not as I do” Post 🙂