Living Reflections from a Dream

Yesterday I woke up, jumped into my running clothes because I was running a 5 mile road race. I quickly checked out the weather..

86 degrees and humid... at 9am. Being the lunatic that I am, I think: it's not so bad. It's only 86.

Then I walked outside. The humidity literally hit you in the face like this:

I was sweating just walking to my car. Walking from my car to the start line sweat was running down my back. I already needed a shower. But I press on. I decide I'll just go slow. I just want to finish.

What happens?

The first mile I run literally the fastest mile I've ever run. I thought the timer guy must be wrong. Yeah, that was smart. By mile 2 I'm beet red and sweating profusely. I had run the second mile faster than the first. I must be suffering from dementia or dehydration.. After this, the race becomes sort of a blur. Ever done something so physically demanding that all of your focus must be on your motion - no outside stimulai can be processed? All I remember is there being a guy with a white shirt in front of me and I was going to just stay with him and at one point seeing in the distance and oasis:

the WATER STOP!

Instead of the usual grabbing of the water and continuing to run, I had to completely stop and chug down this water, then get another one to throw over my head. Then I had to go fast to catch up to the guy in the white shirt.

Somewhere in the third mile I started to feel a little dizzy and I had to walk. I hate that.. it's like admitting defeat. But my one functioning brain cell told me it's probably better to walk than to fall down (and not be able to get up!).

This pattern went on for the rest of the race. I would run to catch up to Mr. White Shirt then die and half to walk. I had to walk 3 times, but I eventually finished and I've never been so happy to see the finish line. I didn't even have the coordination or brain power when I finished to check my time or stop my watch. Then I drank about a gallon of water and poured it over my head.

Tip for guys: road races on hot days.. people just dump water all over themselves. It's like a big old wet t-shirt, though probably not as exciting as say Fort Lauderdale because of the whole sports bra thing.

I drank Gatorade, I ate some fruit. Eventually, when prodded, I checked my time. I couldn't even find my name on the list. I had assumed that since I walked that my time was really slow. No.. my best 5 mile - by like 45 seconds, which is insane. It's like rewarding lunatic behavior. Though I still kind of think that the timer is wrong.

The moral of this story is: pace yourself. Stay hydrated.-----
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