running in the tropics
So, first, m "u" and m "" button are both broken right now. I'll let ou guess which the second button is based on the missing letters. Right now I'm pasting in the "u" instead. This is about running, so whenever I need to spell run I have to paste.
I've been back from vacation for a week now and have had four chances to run - first when I came home, then a long run on Mon. evening, then another one on Wed. morning, and another on Thurs. This is comical...
The first three were the same pace regardless of distance - right about 9 minute miles. I was exhausted when I came back a week ago so that explains that being a little slower even though it was the usual 6 mile loop, but I was consistent. The long run was great, though. The work in Barbados prepared me for the hotter temperatures here. I ran 11 consistent miles, including a couple of good uphills. The thing that sucks about running in the summer is the fact that the warmer temperatures just sap power levels. I mean, I sweat and get warm, and much of that can be mitigated. Blood temperature rises a bit though and the brain starts sending off warnings to slow down a bit and even stop. When it's above 75 out I will stop after 4 or so miles and walk a little and then 4 or so miles later, and that drops the blood temperature a bit, but things just sort of shut down after a while. After 11 miles running - running - it takes me a 15 minute cold shower and 15 minutes standing under air conditioning to get back to normal where I stop sweating. And that's what happened after the long run this week, but thanks to Barbados, I was able to run it all.
Not so in Barbados.
The usual route I took in Barbados took me a mile through Barbados, up a steep hill, down another steep hill, and along the coast however long I pleased. When I came back, I would reverse it. So, on the first run I walked most of the steep hill both directions. The weather was not optimal, in the low 80s (27 C) with heat index in the low 90s (31 C), whereas here on even a hot morning it's 80 degrees (26 C) with a heat index in the upper 80s (28 C), and this summer most of the runs have been a little cooler.
So, Run #1 - 6 miles including the hills. Mile 1, 3, 4, and 6 were about 8:40 pace. Mile 2 and 5 were over 10 minutes.
Run #2 - 4 mile run. Mile 1, 3, and 4 were at 8:45 pace. Mile 2 was 9:30 pace. Then I scrambled a mile down the beach that's covered with rocks and ran another mile back to the inn at about a 9 minute pace.
Run #3 was the long run. Mile 1, 3, 4, and 5 were about an 8:45 - 9:10 pace. Mile 2 was a 9:45 pace. This was at dawn and it was clear with tropical sun though and whenever the breeze died down and the sun hit me, I slowed down. For the next three miles, I took a number of short walking breaks. I think Mile 6 was 10 minute pace and Mile 7 and 8 were 9 1/2 minute pace. Mile 9 was a good 8:45 pace as was the first half of Mile 10, but then I hit the beach and walked a mile in about 12 minutes (this included the rocks). The last mile was about a 9 minute pace. When I was running on the beach and climbing over the rocks, the tide came in and I ended up getting wet, so when I got to the point where I was on flat beach, I just ran into the water's edge with wet shoes.
Run #4 was creative. One afternoon, I went out and did hills. I started at the bottom of the hill next to the inn and started running uphill the best I could, then I turned around when I ran out of steam. I did this about four times for a total of a mile and a half, then I ran over the hill behind the inn and down the other side a bit, reversing and returning back. This totalled 3 miles, and it was close to 90 with a heat index over 95 - the hottest I'd seen in Barbados (so, 30C and about 35C).
Run #5 was a simple six miler, but with a mile on the beach and rocks. Average, including the slow rock section, was about 9:10 pace.
Around Bathsheba I became known as the one who runs. The next town down was a bit more white (I don't know how else to put it) and people didn't look as much, but in Bathsheba I stuck out a little. Not that I minded.
I've been back from vacation for a week now and have had four chances to run - first when I came home, then a long run on Mon. evening, then another one on Wed. morning, and another on Thurs. This is comical...
The first three were the same pace regardless of distance - right about 9 minute miles. I was exhausted when I came back a week ago so that explains that being a little slower even though it was the usual 6 mile loop, but I was consistent. The long run was great, though. The work in Barbados prepared me for the hotter temperatures here. I ran 11 consistent miles, including a couple of good uphills. The thing that sucks about running in the summer is the fact that the warmer temperatures just sap power levels. I mean, I sweat and get warm, and much of that can be mitigated. Blood temperature rises a bit though and the brain starts sending off warnings to slow down a bit and even stop. When it's above 75 out I will stop after 4 or so miles and walk a little and then 4 or so miles later, and that drops the blood temperature a bit, but things just sort of shut down after a while. After 11 miles running - running - it takes me a 15 minute cold shower and 15 minutes standing under air conditioning to get back to normal where I stop sweating. And that's what happened after the long run this week, but thanks to Barbados, I was able to run it all.
Not so in Barbados.
The usual route I took in Barbados took me a mile through Barbados, up a steep hill, down another steep hill, and along the coast however long I pleased. When I came back, I would reverse it. So, on the first run I walked most of the steep hill both directions. The weather was not optimal, in the low 80s (27 C) with heat index in the low 90s (31 C), whereas here on even a hot morning it's 80 degrees (26 C) with a heat index in the upper 80s (28 C), and this summer most of the runs have been a little cooler.
So, Run #1 - 6 miles including the hills. Mile 1, 3, 4, and 6 were about 8:40 pace. Mile 2 and 5 were over 10 minutes.
Run #2 - 4 mile run. Mile 1, 3, and 4 were at 8:45 pace. Mile 2 was 9:30 pace. Then I scrambled a mile down the beach that's covered with rocks and ran another mile back to the inn at about a 9 minute pace.
Run #3 was the long run. Mile 1, 3, 4, and 5 were about an 8:45 - 9:10 pace. Mile 2 was a 9:45 pace. This was at dawn and it was clear with tropical sun though and whenever the breeze died down and the sun hit me, I slowed down. For the next three miles, I took a number of short walking breaks. I think Mile 6 was 10 minute pace and Mile 7 and 8 were 9 1/2 minute pace. Mile 9 was a good 8:45 pace as was the first half of Mile 10, but then I hit the beach and walked a mile in about 12 minutes (this included the rocks). The last mile was about a 9 minute pace. When I was running on the beach and climbing over the rocks, the tide came in and I ended up getting wet, so when I got to the point where I was on flat beach, I just ran into the water's edge with wet shoes.
Run #4 was creative. One afternoon, I went out and did hills. I started at the bottom of the hill next to the inn and started running uphill the best I could, then I turned around when I ran out of steam. I did this about four times for a total of a mile and a half, then I ran over the hill behind the inn and down the other side a bit, reversing and returning back. This totalled 3 miles, and it was close to 90 with a heat index over 95 - the hottest I'd seen in Barbados (so, 30C and about 35C).
Run #5 was a simple six miler, but with a mile on the beach and rocks. Average, including the slow rock section, was about 9:10 pace.
Around Bathsheba I became known as the one who runs. The next town down was a bit more white (I don't know how else to put it) and people didn't look as much, but in Bathsheba I stuck out a little. Not that I minded.