Sunrise Running

 Over the last couple of days Britain has been in the grip of a horrific heatwave.  In some ways 'horrific' seems an overly dramatic word to use to describe a very short-lived heatwave, a couple of baking hot days of British summer.  You might expect us to be celebrating such a rare event.  However, this was no ordinary heatwave.  It came with red weather warnings and days of media build-up, terrifying us with gloomy predictions of 40 degree heat, death and destruction.  All we could do was hope that it was all a huge exaggeration.  On social media the usual suspects spouted on about the 'nanny state', daring to encroach on our hard-won freedoms and telling us how we should behave in the sun.  Others made contingency plans, buying fans and mobile aircon units or (in my case) stocking up with jelly and ice-cream.  

In the running world, extreme weather is something that we love to disagree about.  Whether it's running in a blizzard or running in intense heat, you can be certain strong opinions are going to be expressed on both sides of the argument.  Runners love a challenge and for some there is no bigger challenge than taking on the elements and coming out on top.  A few races were cancelled over the weekend as the temperatures continued to soar, and many people weren't happy about it.  Many expressed the view that we are all sensible adults who know how to take precautions in the heat.  Some had worked abroad and felt that the British paranoia about heatwaves was frankly ridiculous and that life should go on.  But of course, race organizers have to look at things from a wider perspective.  They have to consider volunteers and marshals, not just runners.  They have to take account of all those runners who haven't lived in Saudi Arabia or run marathons in Florida and all those less experienced runners who might not have learned how to adjust their pace in warmer weather.  I know for a fact that when I first started running, I only had one pace, whatever the distance and whatever the weather conditions.  As you gain experience, you learn how to adapt to different circumstances and you also learn about fueling and hydration.  It's often a case of trial and error.  So, frustrating though it undoubtedly is when a race is cancelled or postponed, sometimes it's better to err on the side of caution.

Aside from organised events, the decision to run or not to run remained a matter of personal choice.  Many people were still choosing to run, albeit with a few wise precautions, like heading out early in the day and taking extra fluid.  For my part, I decided to avoid running completely on the two hottest days.  I am not good in the heat, even on 'normal' summer days.  It didn't seem right for me to take an unnecessary risk, particularly at a time when the health service is already working flat out.  However, I think we have to be careful when we play the "don't put pressure on the NHS" card.  Yes, I do feel that, we should not take stupid risks with our health but, let's face it, we take risks every day, each time we leave our homes to cross a busy road, each time we eat a fry-up or some other unhealthy treat, each time we drive a car  The whole point about the NHS is that it's there for everyone, not just the sensible ones who claim they never take risks with their health.  It's there for the old, the young, the rich, the poor, the fit, the unfit, the responsible and the irresponsible, the wise and the stupid.  We shouldn't be guilt-tripping people into behaving a certain way and we certainly shouldn't be making out that they are undeserving of treatment if the worst comes to the worst.  After all, we pay our taxes and it's not our fault the NHS is in such a crisis.  So, within reason, I do support people's right to make their own choices about their own health.  Personally, I choose not to run in the heat but I know that for many people, running is their rock.  Two days without running might not seem much of a hardship for most of us, but it can be an interminable time for others.  For those whose mental health depends on routine, it can feel like going a couple of days without medication. So, it's all about balance and everyone's needs are a little bit different.  I think we need to cut each other a little slack. I've seen way too much condemnation online these last few days.

After the hottest day on record, last night was probably the most uncomfortable night I have ever spent.  My bamboo sheets, praised for their cooling qualities, made absolutely no headway and the open windows didn't let any air in.  In desperation I dampened a running buff and put it round my neck, but it brought no relief.  We were told that temperatures would start to drop by midnight but although outside it was clearly cooling down, our house remained like an oven.  I slept fitfully.  At around 4 o clock I woke up to find one of the cats sprawled out on top of me, her face tucked under my chin.  Much as I love to wake up to a kitty cuddle in normal circumstances, the last thing I needed this morning was a rug.  It became obvious I wasn't going to get back to sleep again so I got up, put my running gear on and headed out for my first ever sunrise run.  

As soon as I shut the front door and jogged down the driveway, a delightfully cool breeze hit me.  I could have wept!  I set off on my regular 5K route and it felt quite surreal to be out at that time.  I was a little bit scared, because I was on my own, but at the same time the quietness made me feel safe, as if I had stepped into a gentler, calmer world.  I saw a couple of dog walkers but for most of the time it was just me and the birds - and the sunrise of course, the beautiful sunrise.  I took some photos at the end of my run before heading back to the house, feeling strangely empowered, as if I had just accomplished a secret mission.  I showered and went back to bed, feeling fresher and more comfortable than I've felt in days.

It's much cooler today and we are expecting scattered showers from 4 o clock this afternoon.  I hope that proves accurate.  I've been hearing terrifying stories in the news about wildfire.  Six houses were burnt down yesterday not far from where we live.  It's the sort of thing you expect to happen in Australia, not Barnsley.  It seems that the Met Office's gloomy predictions were not an exaggeration, sadly.  It makes you wonder what on earth is happening to the world.  I desperately hope temperatures like yesterday's aren't going to become the norm in Britain.  Changes will have to be made, because we just don't have the infrastructure to cope with it right now.  The train tracks and runways have been melting, aircon is still non-existent or ineffective in a vast number of workplaces and people don't know how to keep their homes cool.  Even Tesco ran into problems yesterday, with its fridge and freezer sections breaking down.  (Just as well I didn't leave it too late to get the ice-cream.) 

So, here are a few pictures of the sunrise.  I've wanted to do a sunrise run for a while but somehow I never managed to wake up quite early enough.  At least one good thing came out of that horrible heatwave.  But right now I am really looking forward to Autumn.  Even winter is beginning to sound rather pleasant.  In the meantime, I would settle for a run in the rain.