I've been suffering through the heat lately. It is just that time of year, and we are in one of those nasty weather patterns. If you live in central Texas, you know. Today's high was around 109. The only good point to that is the humidity wasn't in its usual range.
I've been getting out during lunch a few days a week. I'm targeting four days, but sometimes the work commitments take over.
Still, the hard work in the heat is having an impact. And I mean that in a good way. A month ago I was struggling to keep moving forward faster than a walk for more than a couple of miles. With each week, I stretch the run out a little further. Tuesday's run was just over 4 miles with temperatures around 98 at run time.
Today I went out for a few miles with my boss. He has just started running again after a few years off and feels good about his progress after running for two months. He is feeling good about his progress. I tried to take it easy on the guy. We did take a few walk breaks, and I held back quite a bit. We talked about running together once or twice a week to push him and give me a break.
It was easy to look back afterward and see that he isn't far from where I was a month ago. And at that time, I wasn't facing the temperatures we were in today. It was 100 by the time we finished just after 1. It was also very nice to be able to run in such ridiculous temperatures and feel good. It was a chance for me to actually see progress that wasn't just a measurement of speed or distance.
Tomorrow I'm out in the heat again for a much more arduous effort. Having struggled through trying to run in the Texas summer heat for several years now, I know what to expect. Progress during the hot months seems stalled or in slow motion. That perception changes with the first cold front. The hard work eventually pays off.
I'm also happy I can handle 100 degree weather again. It is a confidence builder. To run in the heat, you have to train in the heat. Maybe fall will have a nice surprise for me.
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