Monday 16 July 2012

Hot runnings

 In training for the Tour de France?

Summer seems to be racing by. The boys are now halfway through their six week summer camp, and come back tired, filthy, ravenous and reeking of chlorine at 5pm each day. Their hair is bleached blond and straw-like from the pool and their pale arms and legs are slowly becoming olive brown, despite the masses of sunscreen I apply each morning. But they are happy, and healthy, and (I hope) having a summer that they'll remember for years to come.

Their day is actually now longer than the school day, so I suddenly have a couple of hours more child-free time in my day, as I finish work at 3. I had hoped this would mean I could do a little more running. The trouble is (and yes I know, I know I'm at risk of offending everyone in England, so, sorry) that it's been roastingly hot for about the past month, with no real let-up. We've got to the stage now where even the early mornings are about 77 F (25 Centigrade), and it's humid too. However, with another 10K race coming up, and having (perhaps foolishly) signed up for a half marathon in the autumn, I can't give up entirely.

So, I set off with my water bottle, returning later with a face like a beetroot and unbecoming red blotches that don't even disappear after an ice-cold shower. Honestly, how can those professional marathon runners look so sleek and un-sweaty? Some of them even wear jewellery - if I did that, it would probably disintegrate due to the salt content of my skin. Even after five minutes, I look as if I've done an hour of 'hot yoga'.

This morning I decided to try something different from my usual circuit and go running instead at the beach. I thought the breeze here might cool things down, and it did, slightly - but I hadn't reckoned on the fact that there is absolutely no shade. Even at 9am, the sun was beating down on me and I ended up just as scarlet and sweaty as ever. The only other people there were pensioners gearing up for a day in deckchairs in the shade, and they looked at me as if I were a madwoman as I pounded up and down the promenade.

Perhaps the best thing when it's this hot is just to watch sport on TV from the airconditioned comfort of my sofa, rather than partake in it. And what a summer it is for sport. Having moved on from Euro 2012 and Wimbledon, we're currently glued to the Tour de France of an evening. Roll on the Olympics - and if the British weather continues in the same fashion, at least those athletes won't have to worry about the heat......





10 comments:

Dorset Dispatches said...

The LittleBoys must be having one of the great summers of all time. They'll remember it for the rest of their lives. Just brilliant. And we are also loving the summer of sport. If it would just stop raining for long enough for us to actually do some...

Expat mum said...

My Little Guy is also having a blast - and i"m just not going out. It was 85 degrees at 8am this morning and went up to about 95 and very humid today. I'm not built for this weather.
I also complain about never getting a tan but really, it's no surprise.

AliBlahBlah said...

I am so grateful for the morning fog of Coastal California - the ocean views may not be quite as spectacular, but I turn beet red in anything over 75º so I feel your pain. On our hot days I run before 8 or after 7:30 (and hope I don't run in to anyone I know!!!)

Circles in the Sand said...

I can't believe how hot it is here! The car told us it was 100 degrees today - it feels cooler than Dubai, at least, and we're still visiting all our favourite parks and lakes, but, my goodness, it's roasting hot, even at 6pm! You'd think we'd be used to it, but not really coz in the Middle East you stay indoors - I'm refusing to let the heat defeat us here! As well as the parks, we've sweated our way round an airshow, the outdoor bit of a train museum and even tried a walk today...it's all been wonderful, but oh so hot with heat/travel-induced crabbiness! Sooooo good to be back tho!

Metropolitan Mum said...

Same heat in the South of France (yes, still here, :-)) - but for no money in the world would I be running. Bump or not! I truly admire you.

nappy valley girl said...

Pants - I know, I do feel for you. At least here we can swim....

Expat Mum - No-one is built for this weather! It's 35 and rising here.

Ali - that's the best time to run - unfortunately at that time I am making lunchboxes for camp, and I am not prepared to get up any earlier!

Circles - glad it's fun. You must phone me soon! The early evening is actually the hottest time here - about 5pm. Always surprises me.

MetMum - I think I'd like to be in St Tropez. I bet the mosquitoes aren't as bad as they are here...

About Last Weekend said...

OOh you're making me so jealous as I sit here in Oakland in my two sweaters (The weather in france was not that great either...) Good on you for keep on keeping on! I would love to be a runner (also an Americanism. You do not run, you are " A Runner") but have terrible pigeon toes, which wrecks my knees

John said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

Just in case you were wondering, it is STILL RAINING here. Still.

nappy valley girl said...

ALW - not sure if I really qualify as 'a runner' yet, but I am trying!

KM - If it makes you feel any better, it's raining here today too.