We returned from our tropical tour last night and after enjoying a few beers and a meal we dragged ourselves out of bed for one last time. The difference being, however, that it wasn't a sunrise that was on offer but a 5km run, or parkrun to be precise. Some may argue that that the prospect of a run is even less of a reason to get out of bed in darkness, but we were in town on a Saturday and there was a parkrun so it had to be done.
The only drawback is that due to the heat and humidity the run started at 07:00am, which by extrapolation required a 06:00am alarm call. To put it in context, this was a whole hour earlier than New Zealand parkruns and two hours earlier than those in the UK. After all of the early alarm calls on this trip, the early start should've been second nature but it was so tempting to just turn it off and turn over and go to sleep. I'd like to think that it was the lure of air conditioning and a comfortable bed that was the main reason but I suspect the beers from last night also played their part.
But no, we'd come this far and a late surge of steely determination pulled us out of bed and into running kit. After weeks of relaxation and relative inactivity it felt odd putting on running kit - and it felt it had a slightly snugger fit than the last time it was worn. How strange. Maybe it had shrunk in the wash?
The hotel apartment was lovely and cool but as we opened to door the heat hit us - it was if someone had wrapped us in a blanket. We hadn't even taken a dozen steps and we already sweating profusely. This was going to be tough!
It was only a short walk to the starting point - we would've normally jogged there to warm up but in this heat there was no need to warm up and the thought of losing even more fluid than was absolutely necessary kept us at a walking pace.
As we waited for the run to start, parrots were waking up noisily in the trees above. Our local parkrun is next to Auckland Zoo so it's not unusual to hear elephants whilst waiting for starters orders, but it was quite something to be surrounded by parrots. You don't get that in Darlington!
After the briefest of briefings, and a big shout out to the runner from Scotland, we were off. Although the first kilometre was slow it was fairly easy going, or so I thought. After a couple of tight turns, the pack started to thin out and I slowly increased my speed. That was a big mistake. As I hit the halfway mark, it was clear that the lack of running and suffocating humidity was taking its toll.
I have been known to stop at water fountains during parkruns in New Zealand but usually only once and, more often than not, the reason is due to dehydration from the takeout food the night before and not from over-exertion. Today was different. I must've stopped at six or seven water fountains during the short run and it was the first parkrun where I have seen a dedicated water station.
Finally, after leaving a trail of drips from sweat, I was into the final 500m and started to run for home. Except I couldn't. With an increase in speed came more sweat and shorter breaths. How does anyone breathe in these conditions? It felt like tying to run with a scarf around my face. I've never wanted to stop so much but managed to keep going - the finishing line was in sight.
As I staggered over the line in a relatively slow 24 minutes something or other, I was relieved to have finished.
"Are you ok there?" a local asked me, probably a bit concerned by my purple-faced appearance, before adding, "that was a strong finish!"
"Thank you, but that was tough. It's so humid!" I replied.
"Naaaa, you should try this in the wet season. It gets really uncomfortable then!"
The thought of trying this again in even more insufferable conditions was not tempting in the slightest and I was happy to have just finished.
We dripped our way back to the hotel, spurred on by the thought of a cool shower, air conditioning and several litres of cold water, content that we had completed our first parkrun in Northern Australia and the closest one we have ran to the Equator, and probably ever will unless we decide to holiday in Singapore..... Now there's an idea.....
Good grief you look knackered! Well done x
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