Running in 95 Degree Heat

The Internet tells me that it is 85 degrees outside, but I know that it is a lot hotter than that. The actual temperature is about 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). But that didn't stop me from running for about two miles this afternoon.

I used to run almost every day for exercise when I was in the United States. When I got to Australia I decided to continue this habit to keep myself in good shape. During the first two months I ran five days a week and lost a lot of weight. Only to gain it all back again when I moved into my own house. The excuse was that I didn't have any place to run, but there was a walking trail very close to me. The reason I stopped running was because it was too hard.

A few summers ago I ran in three 5k races. In order to do well in those I applied myself like never before to running. At one point I was running eight miles a few times each week! I even ran for eleven miles with my brother during that summer. There is little doubt that I was in the best shape of my life that summer. What made the difference between last year and a few summers ago? I was definitely in better shape and more committed when I ran the 5k races. But where did that commitment come from? It came from the realisation that people believed in me.

My parents were in attendance at each of the 5k races that I ran. And after each one they would tell me how well I did. They took a number of pictures during the races (one which is currently the background my computer for motivation). My father would tell me every day how proud he was of me as I walked into the house with sweat pouring down my face. They would both tell everyone at our church about how well I was doing. And of course they cheered like mad when I ran by during the race.

In time the dream of running an eight and half minute mile became my motivation. But before that my motivation was the encouraging words of my parents along with many friends. It was those words that gave the strength to keep running when my legs felt like they would fall off. And it was their belief in me that fuelled my desire to run a faster sprint today than I did yesterday.

Which brings me to my mid afternoon run in 95 degree heat. My parents are able to see me on a web cam when I talk with them during the week using Skype. Last month they started commenting on how I was starting to look healthier. And once I told them that I started running again they got really excited. Now at least once a week they make sure that I am running, and tell me how proud they are because I am doing it.

It is amazing the power that can be found in simple words of encouragement. They can take a young man who isn't exceptionally gifted in athletics and turn him into a person who runs eight miles three times a week. And they can cause a person to run in the hot Australian sun so he can get a good workout (don't worry, I drank huge amounts of water and took a thirty minute nap afterwards).

I am a long way from where I should be physically but that's okay. Because I know that I won't quit this time like I did last year. Last year my motivation was getting in shape. But that motivation kind of gets weak after a while. Some people use music from their ipod as motivation to get over that last hill. While I do use my ipod it isn't my motivation. Instead I use the encouraging words of my parents. It is going to get cold in a few months when the Australian winter begins. And when the desire for fitness or ipod won't get me out the door, my parents belief in me definitely will.