Hot Summer Runs: Get Used to It

Despite my early depart time out the door and overcast skies, the temps and humidity this morning was a presence like an overheated sauna.  With June soon done, this is likely the mode of running this summer, not unlike any summer here- pounding out a lot of miles under intense conditions.

How do we adapt to things we cannot change?  Runners are notorious for handling just about anything Mother Nature throws at us;  from the uber-long-distance folk who brave deserts, mountains, artic snowfields and conditions us lower-level runners would curl back up in bed over, to the throw of the dice on any race day anywhere in the world which brings the question of weather.  Just think 'Chicago' as a favorite example;  how many times have they been caught out, in my dear Windy City, with so much heat the races are called off? 

It may seem contra-intuitive to those who run on gym treadmills or couldn't even imagine being out there to walk on a day like this, so here's the crazy thing:  at least for a while the heat/humidity feels good- like a sauna does.  Unfortunately the only way to 'exit' it is to enter someplace with A/C- which I do.   My pit-stops are orchestrated like a well-oiled military campaign.  I know every Publix and bathroom friendly gas station in a 20 mile radius.  So, 'sauna' good for a while, then miles 6, 7 and on- forget it.  The romance is gone, the heat is brutal and all I think about the last few miles is HOME, A/C, HYDRATE.

We need to pay attention to how far to push it in Life;  when to muster our forces to reach a benchmark, a goal, and when to regroup and regenerate our energy reserves by lowering expectations or resting altogether.  The same decisions are made even on the run itself.  It shows how even in the midst of our 'journey' we have the choice to throttle up or down to regulate our pace.  There is more up to us than we take into account, thinking about the pressures of the external world.  Feel your Internal Regulator reminding you to choose how you make your way into your future;  so much is up to YOU.

Ultimately I believe we love to challenge ourselves.  We're hard-wired to keep advancing our causes among the many layers of life.  We want to stop feeling depressed, get in shape, improve our relationships, find new jobs, places to live, get more spiritual etc etc.  If we do not have enough challenge in life, it seems as if 'Something' puts it in our path as if to say 'not so fast....' and the new reality of change begins.