Tough Run

My thought process this afternoon: it's about 5:00, and the temperature is hot. There's a breeze blowing from the south that makes it feel a little better, but it's still scorching outside. I check the forecast. By 8:00 the temperature will drop a whopping five degrees. Five. I'd like to run earlier in the afternoon so I can get a few things done. I can pull my drink out of the freezer and take it with me because I know I'll need it. Throwing common sense to the wind, I go for it.

This is how it goes once I step out the door: It is hot. Scorching doesn't even begin to describe how hot it is. Gamely, I start jogging, keeping it nice and slow. One mile in I'm okay, but I notice that my drink bottle, which was 2/3 ice when I started, is already almost completely melted into nothing but water. Through the next several miles I take swigs of water and spit them out, keeping my mouth from getting dry. About mile three I squirt some water on top of my head. It feels reeeeeaaaaalllly good. Mile four, and it's still hot. I think about walking, but it's still a long way back, and I think I can make it without suffering a heat stroke. By this point when I squirt water on my head it's not the least bit cold any more. After five miles, I make it home.

It was only five miles, but it was one of the toughest runs I've ever had. If I hadn't taken my water bottle I never would have made it. This is one of those outings that I'm proud of. I didn't give up, and even though it was only 5 miles it counts for a lot more in my mind. This is one of those runs that makes me think I can complete a marathon. If I could go out today and finish waht I had planned, I can do 26.2.