It's Getting Hot In Here...So Please Hydrate Excessively So You Don't Die

I can't think of a better way to spend a hot steamy, oppressively humid day than to go for a run in Central Park!

As a way to conserve energy in my office building, we had zero A/C yesterday. Fans spun hot air. And so, I sat at my desk, sweat pouring off my forehead, for the duration of the day. So going for a run was especially unappealing.

Mike went to Sports Authority yesterday and bought us a couple of hydration packs. The run for me was supposed to be 3.4 miles, or two laps of the lower loop of Central Park. We were instructed to work on our "effort levels":

• Recovery effort (E1): 60-65% effort. This is a slow, easy jog or walk, and is used mostly during warm ups, cooldowns, or in between hard intervals.
• Easy effort (E2): 65-75% effort. You should be able to maintain a conversation while running at this effort.
• Lactate Threshold (E3–3.5): 80-85% effort. This is a challenging effort but in control. A couple of words can be spoken, but you can't maintain a conversation.
• Max Effort (E4): 85%+ effort. This is an almost all-out effort. AKA, misery.

The plan was to do intervals of E2 and E3, using high arm swings during E3, which helps to lengthen your pace. Instead we did E1 and E2 intervals. Despite the "easier" run, it was completely oppressive. I also couldn't figure out how to adjust the stupid hydration pack and came dangerously close to taking it off and kicking it at an innocent bystander.

Despite the heat, the crazy runners were out in force, shirts off, strides long. Remember in my first post I talked about clotheslining people? Well that literally almost happened to me last night. On the path you are supposed to be two across, which I was, with one other girl. This crazy scrawny man put out his arms like a T and I had to dive out of the way to avoid him. I understand I'm an amateur and I'm running with amateurs, but we were following the rules. Of course because of the delirium of the temperature I blurted out "wow, look who's hard core!" I was afraid he was going to come after me with his over-sized yellow tank top.

Anyway, I feel like if I can run in that kind of heat then I can handle any temperature, so that was kind of a proud moment! Please feel free to share any high temp running stories so I can commiserate:o)