Week 13: Sixteen miles

4:43 hours, 2:3 minute run/walk ratio for about 12 miles, walk about four miles

I had planned to try to get up even earlier than usual today, since the weather report called for a high of 92F, but it was not to be. I had a bad night the night before last, and was exhausted yesterday. I had a hard time getting up at 6 am, even after going to bed before 10 pm. But I did manage to get out on the road a little before 8 am.

I had also planned to run on the track at the middle school and nearby roads, so I could stay close to water and bathrooms today, but that was also not to be. I drove to the school, but found the bathrooms locked. I knew I was going to have to make at least one bathroom stop today, so I just ran four miles at the track, then filled my water bottle and drove back to the mailboxes at Dennison and Highline, then ran to Meadowbrook Park from there, going down Dennison to Valley, taking Valley to Golden Hills Blvd, then down to the park along Westwood. I figured that was five miles, so I'd done a total of nine by then. I stopped for a much-needed bathroom break, filled my water bottle, and soaked my hat and bandanna, then did three loops around the trail for about two miles, made one more water stop and headed back along Red Apple Ave.

By then it was after 11 am, the sun was high and hot and there were no clouds or shade to be had. There was a light breeze, and keeping my hat and bandanna wet helped keep me from overheating, but I just couldn't run any more. I only did about every other run interval along Red Apple, but when I reached Tucker and Tehachapi Blvd, I stopped trying and just walked the rest of the way. At that point, I figured I wasn't trying to keep up a pace any more, just trying to get back to my truck without giving myself heat exhaustion.

I walked up Tehachapi Blvd to Snyder, then turned up Snyder so I could take advantage of the water fountains at the school for one more water refill along the way. Then I finished up along Valley and Dennison.

I stopped my stop watch while I drove from the school back to the mailboxes, but otherwise I just let it run, through all the water and bathroom stops. Even with rest and water stops, and walking more than four miles, I still managed to maintain about a 17.7 minute per mile pace, which is pretty impressive, I think. The new mesh hat worked really well at keeping my head cooler, especially when I kept it wet. Wearing a wet bandanna around my neck helped, too. I was able to keep walking at a fairly quick pace even when I was on my last few miles. Taking numerous brief breaks to pour water over my head and catch my breath made it easier to keep going in the long run.

Now, I just hope the weather starts to cool down by the time I'm ready to do my next long run!