Remember how gross and muggy and hot I complained that the May race was? Oh, goodness, would I have welcomed those conditions this morning for the Houston Heights Fun Run.
The race starts at 7:30am, which is about an hour later than you want to even THINK about running in Houston in June. Add to that an 89-degree start temperature, good cloud cover, and tree-lined streets that kill any breeze? Oh- and 3,000% humidity to boot! It was like running in a rice cooker.
This is my 3rd HHFR, the first one being my reunion with race-running in 2010. I missed the 2012 race due to the broken foot ordeal, but it's one I try to make every year to see who in the neighborhood is out running- I always see a hand-full of familiar faces before, during, and after the race.
Garmin says I finished in less than 35 minutes, giving me about an 11:30 average mile. It felt like it took more than 400 years, and after crossing the finish I realized that not only was sweat dripping out of my hair (which is rare for me, especially in a 5K) but my tank was SOAKED, and so were my shorts. Boggy, boggy, boggy nastiness. Houston running is not for the weak of heart.
So here is my 5-second PSA for running in the summer- PLEASE remember to hydrate. Remember hydration starts the day before, so alcohol is NOT your friend the night before a hot, muggy race! There was a gentleman that was struggling at the finish area, and then had to be taken by ambulance, a scary reminder that when you run in the summer, you must prepare carefully, listen to your body and take great caution. It's better to stop and have a bad race time (or even not finish) than to take a hospital trip.
I'm just glad I knocked out that June race before things start getting mean temperature-wise here. Also, we'll be in and out with summer travels, so the rest of the month is too booked! But July is looking good, so I just need to find a night race, or a water crawl, or an excuse for a trip to Alaska for a 5K...
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