It’s Not the Heat. It’s the Running While in the Heat.

I’ve told myself to avoid summer races. I live in the RGV, where we’ve heard rumors of four seasons in the year, but we live in two - summer and not-quite-summer. June and July are… well, really, really hot. That’s why I think it’s best to avoid running events.

But, the local running store was having a 5K/10K to celebrate the business’ anniversary. I’m very grateful to have the store nearby, and it felt wrong not to support it.

There wasn’t any information on race day registration. I had already registered, but a young relative wanted to see if he could be in the kid’s run. Twenty minutes before it started, I was able to register him. He got to the the location about two minutes before the run was scheduled to start. We ran to the start line, while I tried to pin on his race bib. Not the best combination of activities.

His race went well. I got ready for mine. I had one simple goal. Don’t be last. I was last in the January 10K held at the same location.

I was prepped with my hydration pack, handheld water bottle, visor, and wet towel on my head. I learned how helpful that last one was during the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. I confess I smiled, when I overheard someone mentioning the wet towel and how it was a good idea. At the turnaround point, volunteers handed out wet towels, so everyone was a winner.

I poured water on my head at every water station. During my final “pour water on head” moment, my aim was off and I doused a volunteer at the water station. My apologies to her.

Only one officer checked to see if I was doing okay. When he did, I thought of a book I found on Amazon about one runner’s adventures titled, “Honey, Do You Need a Ride?”

The good news is I wasn’t last. The annoying news was someone handed out papers at the finish line for an upcoming race. At the end of a race, I don’t really want to be holding papers, especially ones that were already included in the race packet. I was fumbling with papers, while trying to find water. They were out. I eventually found a water station with water but not cups, as I was walking back to my car. Fortunately, I was carrying a cup.

So, mission accomplished. Not last.

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