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Sunday, September 17, 2017

Hey, drink water!

Of course, I know that I need to hydrate before a race.

Yesterday my racing/walking friends and I did The Great Pumpkin Run 5k race at Keller's Farmstand.  We always have fun together and yesterday was no exception.  Although the temperature wasn't too awfully warm for September, the humidity was very high.  And the sun was shining.  A pretty day but muggy.

We were encouraged to dress up for this festive race.  I obliged,as you can see below.  Tutu, tulle headpiece, pumpkin earrings and a bright orange tee shirt.  I really had fun with this!
Oh, and I'm carrying a 3.5 pound pumpkin.  We each earned some extra bling for carrying a pumpkin throughout the race...intact and always visible.


Laurie, Connie, Me, Shawn, Carol
That's our race team in the above photo.  These women are so much fun, and so uplifting.



In this kind of weather it's especially important to hydrate well before a race.  Yes, I drank lots of water the day and evening before the race.  But, on race morning I skimped on the water.  How do I say this?  Well, I wanted to avoid having to pee during the race.  You know....no where to "go" during those 3.1 miles.  I ate a hearty breakfast early that morning, but just a little water.  Bad decision.

There are lots of early weekend mornings that I walk more than 3.1 miles before I even eat breakfast, or start drinking water. And I'm just fine.  But the sun is just rising and the temps are much cooler then.

By the time I finished yesterday's 5k, I was spent.  Feeling a little weak and very wrung out. VERY.
I knew what the problem was and I knew that it was my own fault.  Duh.  Dehydration.  I grabbed my free bottle of water right after the finish line AND the free cup of cider.  Ahhh.  That helped a little, but I knew I needed more than that.

So, I followed my friends into the orchard's market building.  They have lots of apples, cider doughnuts, kettle corn.  All kinds of yummy stuff.  But I was more interested in getting more water.
As I stood in the looooong like to the order and cashier line, I wondered if I could stand there long enough to get that much-needed water.  I did it, because I had to...for the water.
As soon as I could I downed the first of the 2 bottles I bought, then drank the other one during our hour commute home.  What a difference it made.  I felt SO much better.

The point of this very long story is:  please learn from my mistake and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate before and during prolonged physical activities in warm, humid weather.  Especially in the bright sun.

And, while you're thinking about it.....REMIND me to  do the same.  Okay?

Thanks!





Excuse the language, but I just have to share this one too.  Yup, so proud of myself when it's clear.
All graphics courtesy of Pinterest.