Beat the Heat

I am not a natural athlete. I was always more involved in academics and the arts. I helped run my high school's creative writing club and literary magazine, took voice and piano lessons, and acted in several of my school's theater productions. I got good grades, especially in French and English, and I spent my extra time working with special needs children. I do love watching baseball, so I had the notion once to play softball. That lasted until I realized that to make the high school team, you actually needed to have played softball. Like, ever.

Another reason I never really played sports was because I was born and raised in Arizona. You may wonder why that matters. Well, I think it's a terrible idea to be outside in 120° weather. It's as simple as that. And frankly, I think that's pretty darn logical. However, it seems that not everyone shares my affinity for air conditioning. Someone even went so far as to organize a race in the middle of June in Arizona.

Despite my skepticism, I did run the 5K (I use the word "run" lightly). Originally, I laughed when I heard of the Scottsdale Beat the Heat 5K and 11K. It was scheduled for the record hottest day of the year in Phoenix, at the record hottest time of the year (in the middle of the afternoon). A good friend of mine had registered with some family members. Her family members ended up having somewhere else they needed to be and she didn't want to run alone, so I bought one of the registrations.I was coming off of two weeks rest for plantar fasciitis and shin splints, and I wasn't thrilled about the prospect of running in 112° weather. Still, I put on my Sparkle Skirt, laced up my Brooks, and took off (slowly) at 2:47pm. Because I was out of practice and still a little tender, I ended up slowing to a walk very early on.

The 5K itself was pretty much normal; it wasn't a fun run, so we just followed the course and tried not to die of heat exhaustion (I'm only exaggerating a little). What I remember most was, near the end of the course when the 5K and 11K converged, runners who were finishing the 11K would pass me and consistently encouraged me as I hobbled to the finish line. They'd say something like "Great job!" or "Keep it up!" as they flew by, and I just couldn't believe that the "real runners" would even notice me, let alone spend time and energy making me feel better. I was so touched, Of course, I understand now that this is just how runners are: we are a unique community comprised of support and understanding. I've also since stopped referring to other people as "real runners" and discounting my own progress. So what, I had to walk the whole 5K and it took me 57 minutes to finish? I'm pretty sure that's still progress.

At the finish line, they had a fire truck and sprinklers to cool down participants, and a 40-foot water slide was waiting nearby. I was definitely ready for the Sno-Cone station, too. In the end, it wasn't a great run, but, like all the others, I'm glad I did it. It's true, what they say, about never regretting a run.