was provided by Mr JCR on his way out to cycle at silly o’clock this morning. He strongly recommended getting up and out as the temperature was rising again.
Umm, ggnnggg, uunnngg, yes I replied in a semi-comatose state. And it was good advice, but unfortunately I didn’t actually take it, I rolled over, fell back asleep and 90 minutes later woke up. Yes, it is scorchio, yes I was warned, and yes I am behind on being ahead on my planned kms. A quick mental recalculation and I decided that an 8km run in over 28 degrees of heat, would be unwise, especially after having the mother of all migraines last week.
A gentle pootle around the lanes was in plan b – I think this month I am actually up to plan y already, after recalculating on at least seven occasions. I popped out to Mill Lane and was assaulted by a large cloud of dust. Crops are being harvested and the fields are as dry as tinder boxes – I coughed and spluttered my way through Mill Lane and towards Lovers’ Lane. No-one there, except a local worker clearing up from last night’s concert at Villa Bali. The barking beagle house was quiet – no barking beagles at all, so no unsuspecting leaps featured today.
I aimed back towards Mill Lane and took Argo’s Loop, this is a steep descent but mercifully fully in shade, which given my mistaken lie-in this morning proved to be a blessing. At the end of Argo’s Loop I had a choice to make left or right – to the right potentially leads to a longer run and a most horrid walk up Prune Lane – to the left a winding route. I flipped a mental coin and took the right, then when I was overtaken by three swooshing mountain bikers, all of whom were chatting about the heat, I decided that had been a foolish coin flip and doubled back.
Laundry Lane is bathed in full sun and the temperature is topping 29 degrees – it’s just before 10am. With this in mind I decided that 5km was enough, after having had three runs this week covering more than 30km, a 5km would be a nice cool down.
Except there isn’t much cooling to be had in full sun, and my water had long since been consumed. I appear to have got sunburn on my lips, so an unwelcome tingling made me think that a rapid walk/run back to home would be good. In principle a good idea, in practice, not so much. The heat is sapping and the route home includes the Slope of No Hope which has a short but killer incline gradient of 15%. Logic overcame bloodymindedness and I decided walking home seeking the shade was an altogether better idea.
Not a great run, but I tested out my nascent Disco Divas playlist on Spotify and that helped take my mind off the trudge. I did have to smile when looking at the hay sofa, and Donna Summer singing Hot Stuff came on.
Anyone who has any ideas for adding to my playlist, please let me know. The ‘rules’ are – it can be a female soloist or lead of a group. For example, Gladys Knight and The Pips would be fine, but had Gladys been a pip and the group called Gerald Knight and the Pips, then she wouldn’t make the cut. Oh and one decided exception, under no circumstances will Gloria Gaynor/I Will Survive be permitted. Any other Gloria songs are fine, just not that one.
Playlist
Respect – Aretha Franklin
What’s Love Got To Do With It – Tina Turner
I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
I’m Every Woman – Chaka Khan
I’m So Excited – The Pointer Sisters
Lady Marmalade – Patti LaBelle
Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
Ain’t Nobody – Rufus and Chaka
Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Staton
Jump – The Pointer Sisters
He’s The Greatest Dancer – Sister Sledge
Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston
Forget Me Nots – Patrice Rushen
Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey
Stats
Distance 5.15km
Time 43:21
Average Pace 8:24 – sloooow
Elevation Gain 43 metres
Alzheimer’s Challenge
Kms To date 1343.12
Kms to Do 674.88
