RedRockRunner: Training in the Desert Heat

Practically my entire life has been spent in the cool, mountain air of Colorado. Even my short stints of residency in Cedar City, Albuqurque, Greeley, and Grand Junction have put me close enough to the mountains that I could escape the summer heat. However, being in the Needles, the mountains are close, but definitely not near enough for a quick jaunt to higher elevation. It dawned on me that this could potentially be beneficial to my training. I recall three years ago blowing a 20 minute lead over second place in the Pikes Peak Marathon because the near 100 degree temperatures in Manitou Springs left me cramping and dry heaving on the side of the trail. So, despite the huge amount of suffering that heat can cause on a long run, I've been forcing myself out during the peak heat on my days off, requiring my body to learn to adapt. Again lessons are being learned. Just like my under preparation for the cold, winter days that I have learned lessons from, I am learning about preparing for heat. Most signifcantly, MORE WATER THAN WHAT YOU THINK YOU WILL NEED. Preferably frozen water bottles, but bring one unfrozen to start the run with. Plus electrolyte tablets, Salt Stick seems to work great (plus the owner I met at Trans Rockies is an awesome guy). These keep the leg and foot cramps away (it is amazing how much salt can come out of one person on a hot day).

So what prompted me to write this? A couple interesting incidents in the last week and a half. First I decided to make the trip down Red Lake Graben Trail to the Colorado River and back, what turned out to be a 19 mile trip and 4 hours. I took my standard water pack that normaly lasts for a three hour run. Ofcourse going down to the river in the morning was no sweat (no pun intended) but after a nice refreshing swim in the river the run out took its toll on me. Lets just say it took a good hour to cool down once I returned and I was getting a little nervous when I ran out of water with 3 miles left to go. My mouth has never been that dry. Today I made my third trip to Druid Arch. By far one of the most spectacular places! You feel so small when your standing there staring up at this gigantic arch. Its an 11 mile round trip and I did bring plenty (more than enough) water. However some people I passed on the way down thought perhaps I hadn't. They reported to Ranger Dorita later in the day at the campground that they had passed a crazy woman running with no water at Druid Arch. Dorita assumed it was me and inquired as to whether I had taken any water.