The Cumulative Effect of Intense Heat

Post #: 6
Weeks of training complete: 11 weeks, 3 days
Time until Ironman: 20 weeks, 4 days
Miles swam: 39.2
Miles biked: 510.7
Miles run: 162.04

Goal: $5,000
Total money raised: $270

Part of living in Arizona - and doing so happily - is learning to forget. Each year, as September turns to October turns to November, and the 100-degree days bid their annual farewell, you convince yourself: the summer wasn't really that bad. And each year, as March turns to April turns to May, and the triple-digits return, you convince yourself, you like it. The state empties out; you have it all to yourself - only the real Zonies make it through the summer.

But then you live through it: the daily reality of a summer in the desert where there is no 60s, no 70s, no 80s; just 95 degree mornings; 110-degree afternoons and 100 degree nights. As I sit here typing this at 7:42 p.m., it is 109 degrees outside.

I know a lot of people around the country like to brag about how their region of the country has the roughest weather and how this makes them so tough. My dad loves to scoff at the temperature here and tell me how it's 90 in New Jersey and how the humidity is so high it's actually hotter; or how in the winter, it's 35 and it's "haht." But until you've experienced, first hand, the oppresive quality of the desert heat, you don't know what you're talking about. The only thing comparable, I think, is probably places that experience intense, sub-freezing temperatures. For most cold places, you can just throw on more layers. That doesn't apply in the desert - you can't just take more clothes off. If it's not the sun that destroys you – burning your skin until you go into shock, it's the low humidity, which will literally suck you dry until you go into a state of severe dehydration. Your only defense is shade, protective clothing and lots and lots of fluids. More fluids than you think it possible to drink, especially if you're training.

I took this vacation to get a lot of work done around the house. We put a beautiful expansion on our home - about 750 square feet of tiled, covered outdoor living space - but there was some considerable work to be done. With a 3-year-old, and 15-month-old, this is not easily done. Unless you have a few days that you can send them to day care and take off of work. So that's what Heidi and I did.

But after two days of working outside - on top of some big training days - I'm spent. Despite taking it easy today, I can't get properly hydrated. I'm having to force myself to drink water. And those dreams of a beer or two on the patio: forget it ... not when you feel so dried out.

Taking a look at the forecast doesn't offer much hope - it goes like this. Tomorrow: 113; Friday: 110; Saturday: 107; Sunday: 107; Monday: 110; Tuesday: 112. Ugh.

But who am I to complain. I chose this as home did I not? And you know what? We'll truck on through, just like we always do. Waiting for the symbols that the end is almost near: the start of college football, the anticipation of Oktoberfest and before you know it, we'll all be bragging again.

In the time I've been typing, I've been drinking more water. Starting to feel better ...

I have about a 50-60 mile bike ride tomorrow morning. Think I'm doing this one inside, on the trainer. Staying out of that nasty heat for the day.

For those who are interested, you can donate to my cause, by clicking here. Please be sure to send me an e-mail to ed@ecollegetimes.com to let me know the amount, so I can record it in the blog.

Godspeed,
Ed