I ran in my first 3000 metre race for the year on Thursday evening. It was a Dog Day Evening — 33°C (91.4°F for Imperial readers). I'd spent the day working in higher temperatures, so was suffering an alleged "attitude problem" before the race even started.
I ran with restraint in the early stages, zeroing in on "slow Stromlo km repeat pace" — 4:10 for the first kilometre. Inexorably I drifted further behind the Katie/Geoff group, running a second kilometre that was more like 10k race-pace (4:28). With just over a lap to go, Bronwyn came flying past (on her way to a 15 second PB), so I chased with all my legs had (not much), finishing with a time of 13:00.05.
I'm fairly philosophical about the result. My hot weather racing has never been pretty. The effort was there, but the speed was absent. I should have a better idea of how I'm going when this heat-wave subsides. This morning I ran 5k at tempo effort on the lovely manicured grass at Stromlo which compared favourably to a similar session this time last year. Before the run I watched Australia's best distance runners racing for a place on the team for the World Cross Country Championships. Local runners Marty Dent and Emily Brichacek were inspirational, winning the senior men's and junior women's races.
I ran with restraint in the early stages, zeroing in on "slow Stromlo km repeat pace" — 4:10 for the first kilometre. Inexorably I drifted further behind the Katie/Geoff group, running a second kilometre that was more like 10k race-pace (4:28). With just over a lap to go, Bronwyn came flying past (on her way to a 15 second PB), so I chased with all my legs had (not much), finishing with a time of 13:00.05.
I'm fairly philosophical about the result. My hot weather racing has never been pretty. The effort was there, but the speed was absent. I should have a better idea of how I'm going when this heat-wave subsides. This morning I ran 5k at tempo effort on the lovely manicured grass at Stromlo which compared favourably to a similar session this time last year. Before the run I watched Australia's best distance runners racing for a place on the team for the World Cross Country Championships. Local runners Marty Dent and Emily Brichacek were inspirational, winning the senior men's and junior women's races.
Stromlo's dam was more inviting than it's manicured grass this morning
Collis Bermingham and Lee Troop lead after 2k with Marty Dent in 8th place
17 comments:
Here's hoping it will be much cooler running by Wed or you'll have to run shirtless!!
some running royalty in that bottom photo. Well done on getting out there on the track, despite the heat. sounds a bit like the 5k I did in similiar conditions a few weeks back...hopefully better conditions and good times not far away, wouldnt want to be in western victoria right now...
Not a bad effort, considering the conditions Ewen. Good character building stuff. Imagine how you will be flying with the same effort in the cooler weather.
looks like you need a Dos and Don'ts list for running in very warm (snot hot, toots) weather. (http://tinyurl.com/clrxny)
if i'm not there, it's not hot. just sose you nose.
Good effort Ewen. Tough running in that - hopefully the heat wave will break soon.
I thought that meant a fast 3000m. Hard to run fast when it is that hot.Get it next time Ewen.
Well done Ewen - tough going in the heat. I find it difficult to walk in 33c.
Every race, even a the bad ones, is good for something. Whether it's teaching you to keep pushing when you're really uncomfortable, or tackling difficult conditions (hills, winds, heat), or just the pure developmental strides racing contributes to...there's something in there. Good effort on a miserable day. Sorry for the terrible fires Australia's suffering.
Your tempo 5K on the grass at Stromlo demonstrates that you are in pretty good shape –at least good enough to shave more than a minute off that ‘hot 3K’ time once the temperature settles. However, maybe you are paying a bit too much attention to the stop-watch at the moment. Your ‘epic’ battle with Lily in the 800m last year demonstrates that it can be fun to set a different sort of race target from time to time.
Glad to know someone else suffers running in the heat. I can commiserate with you. Bring on the cool weather!
well its still faster than my 3km :) heat is a killer in races over 1500
That's way too hot for a race.
You guys should race more in the winter...
It would have been great to watch the trials. One of the Western Aths girls ran and finished 10th, she was telling me about the heat and how a few of the athletes didn't handle it very well.
Hi Ewen
It is interesting how each and every human body is so unique. I see it in my patient's eyes. No 2 are at all alike and in terms of how our bodies react to different conditions I have to believe it is the same thing. I have a suspicion that your body, for whatever reason, performs better in the cold. Still, I think a very nice performance against some outstanding competition.
Looks hot and what a heat.
Nice pics.
Rinus.
www.rinusrunning.punt.nl
Nice run Ewen! I would have stayed home with that heat. Yuck. I heard on the news about your record temps and fires, and I thought of you... running. Crazy, I tell you!!
Great pictures though. Congrats on the race. Have a great week. :)
Thanks Ewen.
www.rinusrunning.punt.nl
Post a Comment