Wahoo! I Survived My First Summer Run!

Yes! I did it! I almost didn't. As I watched the temperature rise throughout the day, to degrees I hadn't yet seen this summer, I continually found myself reaching for excuses.



1.The pool is up (a 4ft deep Intex soft side) and you ran circles in it and kicked and splashed with the kids. That burned calories, right? That got your heartrate up, right?

2.You're not used to the heat. You will collapse in the middle of the pavement and someone will have to utilize your Road ID and call your husband to come mop your sorry puddle of a self off the trail.

3.You have loads of laundry to do and that would be so much more fun than running in the heat. For the record, I hate laundry so the fact that this excuse was temping says a lot.

4. All your non-running friends have said, "It's too hot!" and if they wouldn't run why should you?

5. Okay, you're at the trail, running shoes on, tunes cranking in your ears, you're ready to go but look around ... The only people out here are cyclists! Where are all the runners? I'll tell you where they are. Home. In front of their fans. They ran early in the morning when it was still somewhat cool outside. You can still go home.


Well, guess what? I ignored all the excuses and I ran anyway. And as for that last excuse, I saw three other runners on the trail so I wasn't the only crazy one who waited til the evening to run. Why did I wait? The kids are home from school, dh is up early for work so ... evening is all I have.

Now, I know many of you are dealing with scorching temperatures and have been for some time now, but I live in the Pacific Northwest where temperatures have been in the 60's with overcast skies. In fact, the 4th of July found people wearing sweatshirts and coats. Suddenly, in one day we find ourselves jumping to 85 degrees. I'm not acclimated! Even when I am acclimated to the heat I can't say I enjoy it so the fact that I pushed myself to run yesterday feels really good. Today is a cross-training day so I get to reward myself with a workout dvd done in front of a fan (not a lot of air-conditioning in my neck of the woods) and a dip in the pool with some friends who are coming to cool off and then leave their kids for an overnighter. Yes, both my kids are having friends spend the night. Hey, I ran in the heat yesterday. I can handle a few extra kids for the night, right? Right? :)