Running in the intense humidity has issues all of its own. I did finally find though a great place in Panama City to run - which was full of other runners around 6-8pm when it was a bit breezy and below 30 degrees c.
The place i mean is the causeway, at the end of the Panama Canal - you can knock out 5km there and 5km back, in fact more if you round the block a little at the landward end. Its a beautiful narrow road that connects 4 little islands, lined at time with very romantic restaurants and with a beautiful view of the Panama City skyline. Because of he breeze, it doesnt feel so humid, and so, while of course you still sweat like hell, you can run almost normally.
However i ended up the next week in Jaco, Costa Rica - talk about humidity! The beach is great for running along though, it's about 10km up and down (my battery ran out on my i-pod yesterday so i cant tell you exactly until tomorrow) Tonight at 7pm i ran a 7km race through Jaco - it was quite well attended, a few hundred glistening, aclimatised, Tico bodies. And one Scottish idiot with a full backpack on, sweating profusely. I went back to the old ways, i mixed honey with my water bottle, which i like to think improved my time (40mins odd)
My biggest problem with running in this hot and humid weather (it was still 29degrees c at 7pm!) is breathing. Just like if you are in a really hot steam room, i found myself struggling to take full breaths, and trying to get air into my lungs took up a lot of the focus of the race. Of course the sweat drips off you instead of evaporating so you sweat more and more and don't cool down, which is probably the root of the problem. Theres a great link about this and the health issues here . (i.e. it's quite silly to do excercise in hot humid weather, you might die)
And yes, of course its beginning to dawn on me (especially when semi-concious while running in this damn heat) how difficult this marathon des sables is going to be. I have a month and ten days to go from struggling to do 10km with full pack on in the searing humid heat here, to (by 2 weeks) i should be at least knocking out 80km a week including a 30km run or so.
Well, ive knocked the drinking on the head and im eating better now, and every day im swimming and cycling (and surfing badly) so i think im making the right moves at least. I could murder a pizza though right now so i think thats just what ill do.....adios!
 |
| The Causeway, Panama City - perfect for running |
The place i mean is the causeway, at the end of the Panama Canal - you can knock out 5km there and 5km back, in fact more if you round the block a little at the landward end. Its a beautiful narrow road that connects 4 little islands, lined at time with very romantic restaurants and with a beautiful view of the Panama City skyline. Because of he breeze, it doesnt feel so humid, and so, while of course you still sweat like hell, you can run almost normally.
However i ended up the next week in Jaco, Costa Rica - talk about humidity! The beach is great for running along though, it's about 10km up and down (my battery ran out on my i-pod yesterday so i cant tell you exactly until tomorrow) Tonight at 7pm i ran a 7km race through Jaco - it was quite well attended, a few hundred glistening, aclimatised, Tico bodies. And one Scottish idiot with a full backpack on, sweating profusely. I went back to the old ways, i mixed honey with my water bottle, which i like to think improved my time (40mins odd)
My biggest problem with running in this hot and humid weather (it was still 29degrees c at 7pm!) is breathing. Just like if you are in a really hot steam room, i found myself struggling to take full breaths, and trying to get air into my lungs took up a lot of the focus of the race. Of course the sweat drips off you instead of evaporating so you sweat more and more and don't cool down, which is probably the root of the problem. Theres a great link about this and the health issues here . (i.e. it's quite silly to do excercise in hot humid weather, you might die)
 |
| The starting line, Jaco - so humid even guys with no shirts are sweating like crazy! |
And yes, of course its beginning to dawn on me (especially when semi-concious while running in this damn heat) how difficult this marathon des sables is going to be. I have a month and ten days to go from struggling to do 10km with full pack on in the searing humid heat here, to (by 2 weeks) i should be at least knocking out 80km a week including a 30km run or so.
Well, ive knocked the drinking on the head and im eating better now, and every day im swimming and cycling (and surfing badly) so i think im making the right moves at least. I could murder a pizza though right now so i think thats just what ill do.....adios!
 |
| My new running track, Jaco beach, Costa Rica |
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