Training in the Heat! 4 x 2km, OUCH!
- Chris Dare
- Jul 21, 2011
- 2 min read
Training with the running club was extremely difficult due to the the high temperatures and humidity currently enveloping Quebec City. Although, it’s not as bad as the 40 degree weather a little further East, it’s still extremely difficult to train. Today at 1800, we were looking at 29 degrees Celsius with 70% humidity. Not fun when combined with a high volume week and tough intervals this evening.
Today, for us 21.1k and marathon runners, was 4 to 5 times 2km with a 3 min break between each repetition. Let me tell you, after my 20 min warm up I was done. My whole body was drenched in sweat and I was definitely not feeling up for it. However, I had the full intention of pushing out 5 reps even though my brain was telling me it wasn’t such a good idea and my body even more so.
First rep went fairly well at around 7:25 for 2km. Second rep was more of the same but my body was starting to shutdown. Normally a 3 min break is enough to get my body relaxed again and ready for the next rep but in this heat I was barely able to slow my breathing down, let alone reset for the next one. Third rep, yeah, now the pain train begins. I struggle to keep the speed going and am forced to slow down. I could feel the bubble of hot air around me which just wouldn’t go away. I end up running 7:50 (25 seconds slower) and slower than my prescribed pace for the training. At that moment, I convince myself training is over and I’m not doing a fourth. But after 3 min pass and I decide to do a slow fourth only because my water bottle is at the end of the 2k. Another 7:50 2k and my training is over. I couldn’t find it within me to push out a fifth as prescribed. My body was completely destroyed. Terry, one of the guys I run with, takes off for a fifth rep and my pride goes with him. “Next time”, I tell myself, today is just not a good day to train.
Comments