There is a common thread here, difficult not to make reference to the 'bleeding obvious', as Basil Fawlty said, but running around these past few days, conditions have been somewhat 'moist', shall we say. An uncomfortable word, but fitting. I think it's quite a special, unique feeling, to be completely immersed in heat. I love it, and love running in it. To feel that burn on your face when you stop, no longer cooled by passing air, it's a rare but pleasurable experience. But racing, that's another matter.
A long trip out to the Alwen Reservoir near Denbigh on Sunday for the Fairy Freckled Cow Trail Race, an 11k undulating run round the reservoir, it was 27C on the start line and not a breath of air. There was a sense that we were heading for trouble, unsure of the outcome, not meaning position or times, but essential survivability of the task ahead. The St Johns Ambulance team were very busy that day! So that was an interesting new dynamic to the variables of racing.
One consequence was that this race, the 11th in our Summer Series, was that it was 'good for points', meaning not many showed up. It was too hot for some, too far for others. There are a few 'ever-presents', those who prefer a trail race over a road, some preferring the hills...and so it goes on. You'll ask your combatants if they're racing on Sunday, they will answer 'no' and then you have to show casual disinterest as annoyingly they turn up. All part of the fun.
Keeping the regular run routine going these sticky days has been a challenge, meaning appointments with RunClub training and committing to maintaining the miles. A 5.30am morning run was cool, quiet and quite refreshing, watching the sun rise over the usually busy by-pass. And somehow finding the energy for sprint drills, arriving as we usually do but with a greater degree of reluctance than usual thinking surely this must be cancelled tonight, or scaled down.
But no, reps up on The Edge followed relay sprints showed we all had it in us. The sweat drained out and the flies feasted on our vulnerability. It was great fun, though. I'm quiet sure that had I remained asleep on the sofa prior to Tuesdays training speed session, I would still be there, and with some justification as every muscle in my body and emotion in my head was screaming 'no way, not tonight'. But we did it. And we must remember that, next time the doubts come.
