It’s “hard” week again. And I wasn’t ready. I really thought that I needed more than one day to recover from last week’s “hard week.” After much procrastination, running errands, chores, laying around and reading, my husband practically pushed me out the door to run. The time was 4:00 PM. And it was hot and muggy.
One thing that occurred to me whilst lazing around this afternoon, falling in and out of sleep, is that I NEVER run without a hat. Never, ever, ever. I don’t even wear visors anymore. It’s always a hat. I wondered if I could even run without a hat. What if, perhaps, I left the house forgetting my hat. Would I drive back?
You betcha.
I find it humorous that when I take my boys hiking, I ALWAYS say, “Get a hat.” And they look at me like they wouldn’t know what to do with a hat.
If I don’t wear a hat, this is what happens: Sweat drips down from my forehead, salty sweat. It gets into my eyes (ouch), but even worse, the salty sweat seeps into my eyelid creases and burns a hairline cut across them. This sometimes even occurs when I wear a hat (on particularly long and hot runs). A visor will help with the salty sweat, but it won’t help with heat exhaustion. That’s why it’s always a hat, never a visor which leaves the top of my head exposed.
Today’s run was relatively short, a little over 6 miles and I still wasn’t going to run it without a hat. Better yet, today I thought that I’d try one of my hats that I oh, so much want to like. It’s one of those hats with a flap on the back to provide shade for your neck. The sun shined particularly bright when I left today. Time to try it out (again).
Running into Wood Canyon:
Heading up to West Ridge via Cholla Trail:
A view of Catalina Island from Park Avenue Nature Trail (look closely at horizon line):
The verdict on the super cool flap hat . . . I still hate it. The hat literally traps the heat in. I just don’t understand it. People love these hats. Even worse, I can’t turn it around to wear it backward. And that makes all the difference in the world to me. So I will wash this hat and pack it away in my gym bag for anyone who wants to borrow it.
Another greeting from Top of the World:
I also wear a hat; it's great for those hot races when you can put ice cubes in it...that cold water dripping down from the hat can make all the difference in the world. Visors don't work quite so well. :)
ReplyDeleteI so do the ice cube thing Rachel. It really works great during our hot California times. Visors are practically useless for me. Yet, I see lots of runners wearing them. Thanks for reading!!!
DeleteYour first picture is great. I don't know why but I never manage to take picture of myself while running.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I can't stand hats and much prefer sweatty eyes :)
Thanks Daniele. I really like that first picture too. I used it as my facebook profile. I always take pictures of me running because I am the most unlikely runner ever. If someone would have told me ten years ago that I'd be a regular runner, a trail runner at that, I would have choked on my laughter. Very interesting that you prefer the sweaty eyes. I just can't deal with that. Thanks again for commenting!!!
DeleteI'm a visor or Bondi band gal! I think hats make my head look weird.
ReplyDeleteFunny Stacey, I think that hats make my head look weird too! LOL. It's just so hot out here, I can't deal with a visor. I need to look into bondi bands. Thanks for reading!
DeleteGreat run once again, well done! I run with a cap. I never run without it as well. It keeps the sweat out of my eyes and also shelter me from the sun. When it is very hot during a race I like to soak my cap in cold water when possible.
ReplyDeleteI knew you ran with a cap Johann. Like me, you always have a cap on in your pictures. That sweat really stings. And if I don't keep the top of my head cool, I will get heat exhaustion. Soaking my hat in cold water is a great plus. So is stuffing snow or ice into it. I think we are similar runners. Though you are faster, we have like habits. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteIn the heat that you run in I don not blame you for running with a hat on!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Ed. The heat is killing me right now. Seriously, I'm skipping so many runs that I'm freaking my family out right now. I used to think heat and me were okay. Now, a hat barely does it. Here's to hoping that summer ends NOW in So. Calif. : )
Delete