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Redefining a "hot" day

July 20, 2019 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Once many years ago when I was just a boy, a wise man gave some sage advice. We were on a long run and I was complaining that our coach had told us it was supposed to be an easy day because we'd had a workout the day before and there was a meet coming up. Ben Stern turned me, and we flew down Glover Archibald trail at a near 7-minute pace, and uttered the immortal words, "We're redefining the easy day."

Today Jacob Gaba and I redefined what hot meant. When we started at 7am it was in the low-80s but by the time we ended the heat index with climbing toward 100. The humidity too became gradually more intense. To misquote Mich McConnell, nevertheless, we persisted. My plan had been do to the full Rock Creek Park Loop: south along the Western Ridge Trail till it ends down at Bluff Bridge just above Klingle Road, then north along the Valley Trail on the other side of the Creek up to Boundary Bridge at Maryland Border, and then back down the first few miles of Western Ridge to where we began. We stuck to that plan initially, always looking for the appropriate blazes on the trees, but after about 5 miles Jacob suggested be take a road for a little while as his calf was bothering him. This apparently improved our pace from 11-minutes to 7:30s. We stopped for a stretch break once near Wise Road and again for water at Candy Cane City (where we caught sight of Ana and Julia's dad out playing tennis in the 90-degree shadeless heat). Came back on the Western Ridge and bike path. All in all, a great run! So glad that Jacob decided to take it easy; I'm not sure how much faster a pace I could have managed. Great conversations as always.

Route: https://www.strava.com/activities/2548182150

Later took an hour-long walk with my mom to cool down. Then played 2 intense games of ping pong at Anthony's house. Don't worry, I made up for it all with ridiculous amounts of ice water.