Winning at Christmas usually means that you get to keep the small plastic toy in your half of the cracker. If you’re lucky it could be a mis-spelling of ‘wining’, which usually goes with ‘dining’, both of which I heartily approve of. If you’re less lucky it could be a misprunt of ‘whining’ which I can never condone. Fortunately for me I must have been a good girl last year because I really was a winner in a competition run by the lovely Jog Blog. Jog Blog (aka “She who must be obeyed as the organiser of Janathon and Junathon”, aka Cathy aka Planet Veggie) had reviewed a snazzy pair of running tights from a website called ‘Zalando’, and had a voucher worth £25 to give away. Enter Lucky Lucy!
I finally got around to spending this voucher recently and put it towards a new, warm, winter coat. It arrived and was excited unwrapped, and then was disappointedly re-wrapped because it was too small. (I know, I know, I ordered my usual size but then wanted to wear a winter jumper underneath and still be able to move my arms. Some people are just so demanding).
I ordered a different coat ( in the next size up) and it finally arrived today. I can fit more than just my underwear beneath this coat, it feels lovely and warm (and showerproof) and with the enormous fluffy-edged hood up I feel like Kenny from Southpark. What’s not to like?
So July 2013 has finally remembered its meant to be the SUMMER! Someone’s flicked the thermostat up to HOT!!! The cats are lying in strange places around the garden (either flaked out on warm patio slabs, or hiding under shady bushes), the garden is blooming (although the lawn is starting to look a little brown and crispy in places), and British people are getting used to not taking a cardigan and waterproof jacket with them every day ‘just in case’.
One problem with the heat is that running suddenly becomes much harder work. What was meant to be an easy 3 mile run, becomes a sweat-soaked struggle with a sky high heart rate. Apparently after 14 days your body starts to acclimatise to the heat, so the trick is to struggle through the next two weeks and hope your body feels happier in the heat after that.
So, to help you though those 14 days, I give you the Black and Tabby Guide to Hot Runnings.
1. Be prepared to sweat.
Its your body’s mechanism to help cool itself down. Its perfectly natural. It doesn’t mean its pretty though. Make sure you’re wearing running kit that’s really comfortable. If you occasionally get a little bit of chafing somewhere, then make sure you use something like Bodyglide, or good ol’ fashioned Vaseline in the appropriate area.
If you’re self-concious of sweat marks on your clothes, then don’t wear clothes that are going to show them. I have a new running t-shirt, in a gorgeous plum colour that I bought to reward myself for a good Marathon this year. I’ve worn it lots because its light, fits well and is loose rather than clingy. Unfortunately it also shows any sweaty places, no matter how strange.
I give you exhibit A. Tummy sweat marks.
Attractive tummy sweat
Also be aware you may sweat in places you didn’t know you could. As well as the strange tummy sweat marks, I discovered only this week that on a hot run I end up with sweat dripping from my elbows. Who knew, eh?
2. Sun cream
Make sure you apply an appropriate sun cream before you set out. Give it time to soak in to your skin, and make sure it can cope with sweat. Yesterday I picked up the wrong bottle, and covered one arm in a quite expensive sun cream especially for your face. (I bought it last year, but stopped using it when I realised it just made my face extra shiny). The other arm had my usual sun cream on (bargain, half price own brand from Superdrug, non-animal tested, good for the whole family).
After a hot 40 minute fast-ish run, I discovered that only did I have sweat dripping off my elbows again, but the arm with the expensive ‘face’ sun cream also had sun cream dripping off. I could see the track of white cream from the crease of my elbow, down to my elbow, and then down to my wrist.
Sun cream tracks
There are sun creams that specifically say they are sweat proof so it might be worth trying one of those. I’ve never used one, but am happy to hear any reports of good brands that won’t leave me with white tracks on my arms.
3. Head and Eyes
Obviously if the sun is strong then you need to protect your eyes from the UV rays as well as make it more comfortable to see where you’re going. Sunglasses are good, obviously wrap-around styles are going to protect more of your eyes than the latest fashion glasses, but as long as they’re comfortable to run in and have proper UV filters they’ll be good.
Embrace your inner Geek
An alternative to sunglasses that I’m only using for the first time this year is a running cap. Previously shunned as looking ‘too geeky’, I decided to give one a try earlier this year. (I was in Decathalon and it was a bargain, let’s be honest). I have discovered that my cap keeps my face shaded so I don’t have to wear sun glasses as well, which is good as my best running sunglasses tend to pinch behind my ears after about 45 minutes). I guess keeping the sun from the top of my head is probably a good thing, although I do find my head gets pretty hot under there. I presume the next step would be a triathalon-style visor, but I don’t think even I’m ready for that level of geekiness yet!
4. Hydration
Hydration choice for B&T
As you puff and pant along in the hot weather, you may well find yourself feeling thirstier than usual. Hardly surprising – think of all that sweat your body has made (I refer you back to Exhibit A above). I used to just take water with me, but I noticed I was getting headaches after long / hard / hot runs. I tried drinking more water, thinking I was dehydrated, but that didn’t help at all. It was only by chance I read somewhere that I could be losing too much salt, and I would be better off drinking an electrolyte drink, which contains the right balance of salts and water for my body.
I dislike any sugary sports drinks, so I was very pleased to stumble upon High 5 Zero tablets. They were in my goodie bag after the Bristol Half last year so I decided to try them. They just dissolve in 750ml of water and are good to go. I find the taste mild and pleasant, not sweet and sticky at all, and easy to drink. My favourite flavour is the Pink Grapefruit, which is strange because I don’t actually like grapefruit. they have zero calories so are great to take on runs where I don’t need any extra calories. As an added bonus, my post-run-headaches have disappeared as well!
Obviously everyone has their own tastes, likes and dislikes, and there are many different brands of sports drink, electrolyte drinks, powders and gels, so get out there and start tasting!
Even following all of my own advice, this was how I looked after my 40 minute slog in the sun yesterday.
Hot and sweaty B&T
I think that may be it – I have used up all my words of wisdom. My final thought – if you can train through this hot weather, think how fast you’ll be at your Autumn race. And dream of how wonderful that first run in the rain will feel!
If I’ve missed anything out, or if you have any top tips for keeping comfortable when running in the heat, please add your comments below.
This morning dawned bright and sunny, and I felt inspired for my “up to 1 hour’s MP Run”. So inspired, I decided it would be a good idea to test out my hydration backback and running cap, both from Decathalon, Duly ‘geared up’ off I set.
My run felt good. Whether it was because Wessex Water have finished digging up the village which means I no longer have to run the gauntlet of hard-hat-wearing-men-with-shovels every time I venture out, or because it was sunny, I don’t know., but it was good. My overall pace was more like a Tempo run than a MP run, and that includes the hills!
At around 5 miles I came upon a couple of other lady runners. They were running slightly slower than I was, so I decided it was better to overtake them than to run just behind them all the way back to the village. We had a quick chat as I passed, and then I ‘sped’ off in front of them. When I looked at my stats that’s my quickest mile, as I made sure they didn’t catch back up with me.
I made it back home, after a quick ‘duckling’ count at the village pond (21 and rising!) and delightedly stripped off the hydration backpack, the sparkly white cap and my Garmin. I uploaded my stats, had a drink and a stretch, and got ready for my shower.
At this point, I made the discovery that I’d been wearing my running top inside out the whole time. Doh! As they say, all the gear, no idea!
Having run all of my marathon training in long tights through the long cold winter, typically race day is currently forecast to be somewhat warmer. So the tights will have to go – but to be replaced by what? I have my lovely (albeit somewhat embarrassing) knee high socks to consider. This morning, having finally shaken off the cold that’s been stopping me from breathing for the last few days, I got ready for my first run in 5 days. Over my trusty compression socks I pulled on my lightweight capri length trousers. Oh dear – even my husband, who is used to my strange running outfits, sniggered at the sight. Think knickerbockers with tights underneath and you’ll get the picture.
There was nothing for it, it would have to be the shorts.
I also bravely wore my race day t-shirt but I also popped my faithful jacket over the top. After 5 slow, easy, glorious miles my legs were attractively pink but not too cold, and my top half was actually feeling too warm. All looking good for Sunday!
The First Rule of Marathon Club is … you do not talk about Marathon Club.
No, not that rule. The other First Rule of Marathon Club.
NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY
Now if you don’t know that rule, you’re going to get into all kinds of trouble. Rubbing, blisters, chafing and other assorted unpleasantnesses. Of course I know this rule. Before every race I’ve run so far I have always worn my complete race day outfit at least once beforehand to make sure everything is comfortable. My shoes are always well broken in, but not broken down. Gold star for me.
So obviously, this is why I was out running today in a brand new pair of shoes, when the marathon is next weekend. It is also why I have no idea what I’m actually going to wear on marathon day.
My current trainers have had a hole wearing in the back of them for a couple of months now. Asics GT2170s – the shoe that meant I could run the London Marathon last year after all. However Asics, in their wisdom, have updated the GT2170 and transformed it into the GT2000. Ever cautious I wanted to have the new style fitted at my favourite running shop to check that the fit was as good as the last pair. However guess which size they didn’t have in? Yes, a UK 7. Guess which size they still hadn’t had in by the time we went on holiday last week? Yes – a UK 7.
I returned from holiday, with shoes I can only run in now if I wear big blister plasters on the back of my heels and a feeling of desperation starting to grow. Nowhere had my size in stock in my faithful GT2170s, and I was growing ever more nervous about ordering a shore online that I hadn’t had the experts check me running in. Thanks to the wonders of t’interweb I finally managed to find what must be the last pair of GT2170s in size UK 7 in the UK. Thanks to the lovely Val at Sporties Online despite telling me I’d missed the post for that day she somehow still managed to get these shoes to me by the very next day. Cue one very happy B&T bouncing out for a short run this morning to check how they feel. Happy to report they feel fine, so will try and get a few more runs in them and then wear them on the big day.
Now – what about the rest of my marathon day outfit? The problem here is that the weather has been so cold ever since my training began that I think I’ve only ventured out in anything less than long tights, long sleeved top and jacket or gilet maybe just the once. Since I have no idea what race day weather will be I still have no idea what I should wear.
When I do finally decide which top to wear, I have already ordered some iron-on letters so I can emblazen my name across my chest. See – organised in some respects!
Didn’t make it out for my run on Friday – not only did the promised snow arrive, it also brought a blizzard and a child demanding help with building an igloo.
By Saturday, I couldn’t put my run off any longer. The snow had stopped falling, but the ground was snowy and icy.
Luckily I had my Icebiters (see below) at the ready. It was cold, but I had my new jacket on again, fleecy head band and gloves. Somewhat nervously, I set off up the lane. It was hard work, but exhilarating. The Icebiters lived up to their name, and it was reassuring to hear a faint ‘click’ noise with each step as the metal studs dug into the ice.
I wasn’t so keen on the ankle deep loose snow though, as it was very chilly on the inch gap of exposed skin between the top of my socks and the bottom of my tights.
Schedule had said 12 miles, I reckon 8 miles in those conditions counted. My legs certainly felt like they’d run 12 miles, with strange aches in my backside and the backs of my thighs.
Snowy miles run: 8
Scheduled miles : 12
Number of photos taken of me : 1
Number of bemused walkers passed : about 10
Number of walkers who told me they should have been running : 1
Hardcore points : about 1000
Smug points : about 1000
To the long suffering Mr B&T, I need to say a huge ‘Thank You’ for the best Christmas present of 2012. My lovely new running jacket. Its light, non-rustley, soft, warm, waterproof and such a great colour (most important!)
I was trying to *only* get the jacket in – please excuse the gormless look
Best of all, it means I can set off for runs on cold and frosty mornings (like yesterday) feeling comfortable and relaxed, rather than hunched and cold. It means if I spot the sunrise and some cold frosty sheep through the hedge, I feel like stopping and taking photographs of them rather than keeping my head down and shivering on by.
Bet the sheep wish they had a jacket like mine
So sorry, the jacket will mean more photographs of frozen fields and sunrises. Taking them makes little ‘easy’ 3 mile runs (like yesterday) feel like more of an adventure.
Just need to find my better gloves now to sort out the frozen fingers I got as a result of taking this photo. Well, it is my birthday soon.
So suddenly the temperature has plummeted, and I’m faced with the dilemma of “what to wear when I go running”. Not enough clothes and I’m miserably cold all the way round, too many and I’m red faced and sweating after a mile. I normally manage to gauge it about right, with pockets in my gilet for discarded hat and gloves, and many convenient hedges for stashing jackets and top layers in for collection later in the day.Once the temperature falls low enough to need some kind of hat however, then I’m really stumped. Never having been a dedicated follower of fashion, I thought I had long since stopped worrying about how I looked when running. Then the head gear appeared.
My first option is a hat from a hat and gloves set by Nike. Its light (so great for stuffing in a pocket when you no longer need it), does keep your head and ears warm to a certain degree. However, it does make me look like I have an egghead, and not in a good way.
Exhibit 1. Egg head
Exhibit 2. Rats tail
Second option is the attractive 80’s style fleece headband. Main problem with this, is knowing quite how to wear it.
Wearing it under hair without bobble is a no-no for someone with a low hairline like me.
Wearing it under a ponytail (as pictured) makes my pony tail look more like a rats tail.
Wearing it over the top of my hair, 80’s tennis player style, looks okay at first (think swish skier look). However after 5 minutes it gives me a curious ‘mushroom hair’ look.
So, all of the above look ridiculous. However, the secret between you and me is, they are all actually really quite toasty around the ol’ lug ‘oles. And that’s all that really matters.
So if you see a mushroom headed / rat tailed / egg headed runner around North Wiltshire, with a secret inner head ‘glow’ (think Angel Gabriel style halo crossed with some one who’s eaten their Ready Brek)- that’ll be me. Just need to sort out some warmer gloves now – the matching Nike gloves were useless today …
So my 3rd 3 mile run in 3 days -a strong start to my marathon training!
However this was by far the coldest run of this week, with a thick frost and frozen hard ground.
Beautiful, but hands were frozen all the way round (even with Nike running gloves on). Rest of me was okay, but then I was wearing a hat, long running tights, TWO long sleeved tops and and hi-viz running gilet.
