If there is one thing we Seattleites don't know how to do, it's run in the warmth...especially early season warmth. I've seen it time and time again. Runners from Seattle venturing unto other climates and absolutely getting it handed to them in races of any length with a temperature of 65 degrees or greater. I think we are just so used to running 8 months out of the year in the 50s or less that we don't know how to hydrate and our bodies aren't used to what our friends in the South are so accustomed to.
To be clear, I am not complaining. Anyone who lived through our winter would be insane to complain about a sunny day in the upper 70s. In fact, there could not have been a nicer day for an easy run anywhere on earth. It's just doing things at race pace or faster makes the warmth all of th sudden uncomfortable. Ironically, I did my workout today because tomorrow calls for an end to our beautiful weather and brings back the rain.
The gauge at Redmond High School said 81. I don't think it was that warm, but it was over 75 degrees when I got started. The workout was 2x2M @4:52 pace. First mile went well (4:51) but I knew as surely as I know the sky is blue, that the rest were going to be uuuugly. Second mile was 4:57. After a four-minute rest and 10 ounces of water, I jumped into the last 2M repeat with the simple goal of hitting each mile in 5:00. The first one was right on and the second was 5:01. Good enough for me. |