The soupy dog days...

Dictionary.com tells us that the dog days are "the sultry part of the summer, supposed to occur during the period that Sirius, the Dog Star, rises at the same time as the sun: now often reckoned from July 3 to August 11" or "a period marked by lethargy, inactivity, or indolence."

When the Annapolis Striders named the August race in their club championship series, they must have done so with a sense of humor.  The August race is an 8K cross country-style run named the Dog Days 8K.  I've run this race several years in a row now, and I have to tell you, the temperatures and humidity are never forgiving...and I always feel lethargic, no matter how in shape I am.  This year was no different.

I arrived about an hour before the race in order to get in a one mile warm-up jog.  (I toyed with the idea of jogging over to the race since its only 6 miles from my house, but thought better of it in the end...good thing, I probably would have collapsed from the heat.)  That one mile warm-up should have given me a real good indication that this wasn't going to be a fantastic race...running partner aside (love you Brie!).  First off, I ran hard yesterday so my hamstrings were tight.  Note to self, never run hard the day before a timed run.  Second, the air was so hot you could hardly breathe.

Lucky for me Brie was feeling equally tight and not up to a real hard run.  When the gun went off we just paced it nice and easy.  I think I was dripping wet with sweat by the end of the first mile.  Did I mention the first mile is a really boring two laps around a soccer field?  Oh yeah, Striders really needs to change that beggining.  We then headed toward the first wooded trail section hoping for relief from the heat pushing through the sun.  No such luck.  It was just as hot and hard to breathe inside the woods.  Now, if this race were in...say...October or April, it just may be one of my favorite courses in the champ series.  Its got a little of everything.  Trails, sand, hills, open grass, pavement.  Its enough to keep a runner engaged with the changing terrain.  However, since it falls in the worst possible running month of the year, I loathe this course.

Thank goodness Brie was there today.  Frankly, I would have skipped the race if she wasn't there.  Sunday morning runs with the best running buddy in the world aren't to be missed no matter the trials of the temperatures, location or other obstacles.  Oh, and they had Rita's italian ice at the finish line.  Yeah, that will motivate you :)  Here's to hoping next Saturday's race up at River Valley Ranch is not quite so warm.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  6.07 (1.07 warm-up, 5 mile race)
Time:   45:34 for the race (average pace of 9:07 per mile)
Location:  Anne Arundel Community College
Feeling:  tight hamstrings were a problem, and it was hard to breathe with the humidity