About midday, I was already actively psyching myself out of going for a run later in the evening. There were several active weather systems approaching the area, and I figured that one would hit us. Well, as chance would have it all of the systems skirted us to the north and south. Knowing that I had no reason to not go, so I forced myself to show. Really, it’s at times like this when you especially need to show up. That’s an important part of forming a good habit, right?

So, upon stepping out of the car the heat immediately hit me. It didn’t really dawn on me that it was particularly fierce. Instead, I figured that the heat was plainly something that I just had to get used to. What was I going to do, turn around and go home? Hell, no. I wanted to stick it out. I was already saying that I wanted to run at a certain speed. I wanted to take it down enough, but people were warning me to take it easy.

At first, the run seemed to be OK, but within the first kilometre or two I was already having issues. A few people who I was running with decided to take a walk break to recoup some stamina. I didn’t want to stop because I thought that I might regret it later. In my mind I yelled at myself “If you stop, I won’t forgive you!” Of course, it’s not like that was a full truth, but forgiveness wasn’t really an issue. I tried to plough through, but after a few tough hills my body just didn’t want to cooperate. I slowed to a walk and decided to rest enough before starting again. By that time I was already sweating profusely. My shirt was quite soaked. I haven’t produced that much sweat in a long while. I’ve actually been under control in terms of perspiration for a year or so, but today the weather seemed especially rough. I started up again, but quickly found that I simply had no power in my movements. From about 4K onward it was all very stop and go.

Of course, as I was running on the sidewalk I became pretty self-conscious. I wondered if the cars passing by would see my sweat-soaked shirt and wonder who this lumbering oaf was. In reality I was sure no one cared, but I was happy enough to let my wandering mind go there since it provided a distraction. As much as I really wanted to start up properly again, every time I did I quickly returned to a walk. I was telling myself that it was all in my head and that I shouldn’t complain. If I just focused, the body would follow. Well, focus is all well and good, but when there are physical limitations outside of my control I just have to learn to accept it.

I did walk a lot of it, but I did finish running it in. Interestingly, my final time was faster than some of my old training runs when I was in the 10K clinic. Yeah, I’ve come a long way, but the heat and humidity certainly spanked me tonight. If I was starting to become cocky about running, this brought me back, crashing to earth. I know I have to cut myself a little bit of slack because weather is so beyond my control. At the same time it has me worried. I mean, what if the race itself is hot and humid. I don’t know. Time will tell.