Training: feeling the heat

Had a slightly more relaxed day at work today (after last week's progress reviews), including a lunchtime without meetings, so went out for a run. Was caught completely by surprise by the fact it was warm and sunny outside — at the same time! And boy did I sweat. 🥵

Actually, I was suffering as soon as I started. I really wasn't full of bounce today, puffing and panting right from the start, even though I was taking it easy. My route took me up to Leazes Park via the back entrance on Barrack Road, aiming to spend a bit of time among greenery.

After getting there and then doing a single lap of the parkrun course, however, I realised that that alone would see me hit almost 5K if I returned to the office there and then. More pressingly, I was already really struggling with the heat and decided I needed to stop doing uphill sections or I'd collapse! Well, I was getting a headache anyway.

One little loop, one big loop. Not the fastest ever, but that's fine.

So I ducked back out down to Barrack Road and took a not-quite-direct but mostly downhill route back to work. Passing the gurdwara, I continued along to Summerhill Church and beyond, then fairly steeply downhill towards Newcastle College before hooking left to St James's Boulevard and on to Central Station.

By the time I reached Grey Street, my forehead was wetter than it has been for a long, long time. 45 minutes later, I was STILL sweating — which wasn't great, given I'd already showered by then. 😞 But, even if it wasn't the fastest run I've ever done, at least I'm exerting myself. And it's getting closer to being a 3-times a week thing again. 💪

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