Friday, June 8, 2012

So you signed up for a race and now it's going to be 90 degrees.

Today's fun facts are all about modifying your goals in in-climate weather!

I am by NO means an expert on running in the heat.  In fact i suck at it, proven by the fact that i have already collapsed from what was most likely heat stroke once this year.  But, I have had almost every single race i put my heart and soul into this year end up with a heat warning, so here are some of the lessons i have learned the hard way.

1.  There is always going to be someone in the race who is a seasoned runner and is completely unaffected by heat and humidity.  They will make you look like an asshole, but there is nothing you can do.  You run your race, they run theirs.  Every seasoned runner probably at one time had a race that was way too hot where they severely underperformed.

2.  Adjust your goals.  This is the hardest one (for me)  Maybe you have worked for the past four months training for this race.  Maybe you are running it to honor someone.  Maybe your whole family is watching.  It doesn't matter - if it's hot, you have to slow down and send your time goals packing.  You aren't going to meet them, and you might hurt yourself.**

**Luckily, i think most of us this weekend were running this race casually anyway, so hopefully there aren't many disappointed people.

3.  If you need to pull out at any point, no one will think any less of you.  I made that mistake at Rockford, when i knew i should have quit because my body couldn't handle it, but i was more concerned with people thinking i would be a failure if i didn't finish.  That's bananas.  No one will judge you if you don't start the race, nor will any one judge you if you don't finish it.  People WILL be upset if you die during the race though.

4.  Bring water.  You might not need it.  In fact, if it is a properly stocked race, you absolutely won't need it.  But do you really want to risk it?? At the same time, don't freak out and over hydrate.  If you drink 30 glasses of water today, you are just going to be up all night peeing, and will in no way have an advantage tomorrow.

5.  Don't over dress.  I can't tell you how many people i saw lying on the side of the road wearing black capris at the Rockford Marathon.  Are you kidding me?  If there is a heat advisory don't wear black pants!  As a general rule, dress like it is 20 degrees warmer.  So if its going to be 80, dress for 100 degrees.  If it's going to be 90, dress for 110.  I don't actually know what i would wear if it were 110 degrees though....i doubt i would leave the house.  And if i did, i would probably be naked. 

6.  Run with a buddy.  Or make a friend out there on the course.  You usually don't realize when the heat is frying your brain (i didn't).  You think you're running a nice steady pace, but you are actually weaving all over the place, mumbling something about tacos.  You're going to want someone who can intervene on your behalf and recognize that it is NOT your normal behavior.  Unless it is.

7.  Wear Sunblock.  I do not understand the whole "I'm too much of a badass for sunblock" movement.  I am bringing SPF 50 tomorrow if anyone wants in.  And even if you "don't burn like a ginger" do you really want to look like this?? 

8.  Just try to have fun.  If you want to whine, go to town, i encourage you.  I might whine myself.  But try your best to make light of the situation, because while you may be miserable, so is everyone else.  Yay to misery buddies!



But seriously, just be safe out there this weekend - I kind of like all of you!

28 comments:

  1. Haha I love this! We became friends real quick when sharing a water bottle was necessary. I was glad I had it afterall. Also, those arm warmers were completely unnecessary at Get Lucky.

    My friend said she saw some people wearing the long sleeved half-zip pullover on the day of the blistering Chicagoland half. CRAZY PEOPLE!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too!! My sister and I saw the same guy a couple times, and at mile 12, HE WAS STILL WEARING that long sleeved thing, zipped up even. Insanity.

      Delete
    2. If any of you show up in a sweater tomorrow, you are in trouble.

      Delete
    3. oh. back to the drawing board / running clothes dresser.

      Delete
    4. Maybe all the bloggers should just come completely ill-prepared. Kelly - bring ALL OF YOUR COTTON TSHIRTS CUZ WE'RE WEARING THEM!!

      Delete
    5. YES PLEASEEEEEEEEE. I'm bummed that I didn't get to hang out with all my blogger friends at the 13.1. Oh well, there are always more races!

      Delete
  2. This will be my first HOT race tomorrow. Hoping for the best :-/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will go GREAT! Just take it nice and easy, and wear the right clothes! :D

      Delete
  3. Another alternative: Since the money is down the drain already, don't run the race. Sleep in until 10am then sit in your air conditioned house drinking coffee (or beverage of choice). Later that afternoon, glance at the running blogs and read about how miserable it was as you sip on a cocktail. BTW BBoys Rule! :-).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This idea is WAY to tempting, seeing as how i don't want to run the race in the first place! I can't remember the last time i slept in until 10!

      Delete
  4. If it weren't for all you people running too, I would totally be sleeping in tomorrow. Part of me wants to sleep through my alarm, accidentally on purpose...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been thinking about it all day. I ran a marathon last weekend...no one can judge! :D

      Delete
  5. Since both myself and my friend are - 1) running for free & 2) nowhere near in shape enough for 13.1 & 3) not excited about the heat - we've decided to downgrade to the 5k (if we still can). We still want to run A race, just not sure we're up for a miserable experience. And we want a race we can actually finish, haha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you still coming super early for the blogger meet-up?? (or hanging around until after?) I expect my time to be about 10 hours. So pack a lunch. And probably a dinner.

      Delete
  6. Nice tips! I loved each one. I started running a year ago now, so I trained in the heat, I wondered why I got so fast in the fall ;) DUH! lol

    I hate it now but hopefully i'll get used to it. I'd rather walk a race than not finish though ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats what i'm hoping! I ran all last summer, but i never kept track of time, only distance, so i have no idea if my speed progressed at all. But after so many hot races this spring, nothing really seems that terrible anymore! :D

      Delete
    2. My speed definitely picked up after summer ended last year, but that's also when I started running with groups and also running a lot more.

      Delete
  7. One of my friends ran the Rockfort Marathon in all black. Actually, based on what she wears to group runs, I think she ONLY owns black or dark-colored running clothing. I don't get it! I've recently made a point to buy more white/light colored running clothes. Also people who don't wear a hat/visor or sunglasses during a race. How are you not pissed as hell at the sun by the end???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose if its what you train in?? but seriously, i don't know if they are just total badasses, or don't check the weather.

      Delete
  8. Great tips. My friends all think I'm nuts because I wear sunscreen every day of my life. Who's going to be the crazy one in 40 years? Probably all of us, but I'll be the one with less wrinkles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too wear it every day. Even in winter. I can proudly say that i still get carded at bars, and i am at an age when i actually appreciate it.

      Delete
  9. 13.1 Chicago is a bright and sunny course...not a lot of shade after mile 3 or so. They black flagged it last year when I was at mile 9. A friend and I ended walking the rest of the way, though we were told there were buses just ahead.

    Take it easy and try to have fun...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ugh, me and the sun. Well, hopefully it stays reasonably warm so that they don't have to black flag it a second year in a row. I might just have to bust out my 12 minute miles for this baby!

      Delete
  10. Great list! And I love the visual aids. I also hope no one had goals for this race. I am thinking about running before to tire myself so I run even slower... still pondering that one though.

    Did you see there are arm coolers for the summer? Ugh... no. The less material, the better!

    Hope I see you tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This was too funny! I like the run as naked as possible approach and heed it often. It always stinks when the weather takes a turn for the worst, but I still think its a success as long as you come out of the race alive! Good luck tomorrow and have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  12. good luck this weekend!!! V and I are scheduled to run 1-2...we will need to get up early at some point this weekend

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is creepy, but I am pretty sure I spotted you this AM! Hope it went well!

    ReplyDelete
  14. mmmmmmm......tacos!!! Hope you had a great race, Sara!

    ReplyDelete