On the run - Tampa
On humidity and the bridges we have to climb
When the first 70-degree day comes in Ohio, it’s a sign that things are looking up, but experienced Buckeyes know that it’s a red herring. Ohio has multiple springs - fake spring (the first 70-degree day mentioned above), daylight savings (when the sun is out long enough to make everyone think the weather is nice), followed by spring itself. The end of March is a perfect time to escape to warmer climates for a spell and let the temps catch up to the mentality.
I’m bringing this week’s post to you from Clearwater, Fl. It’s been in the high 70s and low 80s the entire week. And thankfully the rain has stayed away.
The goals this week? Enjoy our spring break as a family, check out some of the local sights, and recharge for the rest of spring back home. And aside from the beach, pool, seafood, and tourism, that means finishing some books, writing, and logging miles in the Florida sun.
Even in March when the temperature is manageable, the humidity is still high. An easy run can still bring the sweat, and draw the energy from my legs quicker than back home. But I like the feeling - I can feel the toxins of the daily grind escaping.
Training in the humidity has similar benefits to training in higher altitudes, a common tactic of elite marathoners. It produces adaptations in the body, increasing the oxygen delivery to the muscles at a given level of effort, leading to a higher VO2 max, thus leading to being able to run faster for longer. These adaptations typically occur within 5-7 days, faster than the 3-4 weeks it takes when training at altitude. Runners who participate in marathons in the fall, after training all summer, often report feeling and performing much better at the end of a race than their counterparts who train in the winter and race in spring. The takeaway? If you don’t live in Boulder or Flagstaff, the next best thing is to find a place to sweat it out. And think about trying a fall marathon if you haven’t already.
Am I trying to capture some of that magic this week? A little. But I’m not training for anything at the moment. My runs here have been recreational. Over the decade we’ve been visiting, my runs have mostly stayed around the neighborhood, yet each time we’ve visited I wish I had run the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail, which spans the gap between Tampa and Clearwater. Miles of paved surface run alongside Route 60. I’ve run portions in the past, but never the whole thing, especially the raised section in the middle that offers a panoramic view. This bridge has been both my nemesis and inspiration each time I visit. I’ve always wanted to run it, but have never had the chance, due to time or construction closing that section of the trail. I remember the disappointment of seeing TRAIL CLOSED last year on a giant sign as I approached.
But not this time. With no closures posted, I ran towards it. No signs diverting me this time! I got to climb and descend the bridge on my morning run. The views were just what I expected. And in the morning sun, all was right.
A bridge may be a bit obvious a metaphor for running. You climb up one side, straining yourself to reach the top. The climb could be training for your first marathon, a personal best, or simply getting out the door. Yet the peak is glorious: knowing that all that training paid off or that the feeling of completing that run was much better than sitting on the couch. Having peaked, you are slightly different than you were before you started climbing. And those transformations add up. That’s why it’s important to seek those bridges, and to run them.
What bridges are you chasing? If the trail is open, I hope you start to climb.