Curse This Heat!
So on Sunday we drove down through France. The 07:00 ferry meant an 04:45 start, and then it was 700 miles of mainly motorway driving. Some really bad weather in the plains before the Massifs Centrale (rain like you wouldn’t believe), left us all really tired by the time we arrived in Gabian.
After last week spent recovering from my tarmac allergy, and a lazy day yesterday, I decided that it was time to metaphorically get back in the saddle. So at seven yesterday evening, I set off for the 10k circuit from Gabian to Fouzillhon & Pouzolles. Aware of my home climate in Northumbria (20C is a hot day), I set off prepared: Karrimor hydration pack, hat & shades, breathable clothes, and just for form’s sake, a banana.
The first 5k was pretty easy, but by the end of it I was cooking. Even though in the early evening 23C, the sun was still pretty fierce. The dark blue cap on top of my rather thick hair (an understatement - it’s more like wire wool) was definitely not helping!
Also when I run, I breathe very fast - in on one foot, and out on the other. So drinking without slowing down significantly is really hard work.
In the end, despite clocking the first 5k at a 46 minute pace, I only got home in 52 minutes.
For those of us from the frozen north, with pale blue skin & eyes that water in sunlight, summer running can be hard work!
