Yesterday was the second last of my long runs in preparation for the marathon, just under a month away. I would normally have done this on Sunday, but I worked until 7:30 Sunday morning, and I've decided, due to prior incidents, that a long run on a day I work is a bad idea. So I decided Monday would be fine. Glen was home Monday, and he agreed to meet me at around 20 km so I could fill up my fuel bottles. I was supposed to go 30 km. Emphasis on the supposed to.
It rained all Sunday nite and into Monday morning, but luckily we slept in until noon, and it wasn't raining anymore. So I got all ready and told Glen where and when to meet me. I should also mention that I took the cell phone so I could call and get a ride home from where ever I ended up after 30 km. As I was about to leave, someone decided to open all the taps and it started pouring. But it was a small cloud and I figured I could wait it out and after that I wouldn't get rained on again. The rain stopped after about 5 min and away I went. I did pretty well for the first 10 km or so, keeping it really slow. The weather was actually quite nice at this point. Not too hot, not too cold, and not raining. Then, at around 13 km, it started to sprinkle. Fine. This is Campbell River, after all. It rains here a lot. Then I heard the ominous sound of thunder. A sound I have not heard since I moved here two years ago. It started to rain harder. My hands started to get really cold. I will now mention that I was wearing only a T-Shirt and my previously described short-shorts. So, 1 1/2 hours into my run, I couldn't feel my hands. I pulled out the cell phone so I could call Glen and get him to bring me a pair of socks so I could warm my hands up, since he was supposed to meet me in 1/2 an hour. I thought socks since my hand were soaked and mittens are hard to put on if your hands are wet and cold.
But alas, to no avail. After having to dial the number 3 times, there was no answer. At this point I was punching the numbers with one hand and holding the phone with the other, 'cause my hands were so cold I could barely control my fingers. Picture me doing this in the pouring rain. I give you permission to laugh. So I left Glen a message and kept going. About 1 km later, the rain got harder and decided to turn to hail. Now you can understand how cold it was. And here I am in a t-shirt and shorts. I have never been quite so miserable. Wait, yes I have. Kayaking Maligne Lake in the snow was more miserable. Though I was slightly warmer then than I was yesterday.
The hail finally gave way to rain and to appease myself I tried to believe that it would all be over in about an hour, and at least it wasn't hailing anymore. And to my disbelief, the rain actually slowed to the point of almost stopping. Just as my spirits were lifting and I was getting even closer to my rendezvous point with Glen and a sweet, dry pair of socks, the downpour started again. It rained for about 30 seconds, then turned to hail again. And not just regular hail. Big, pellet sized hail that came down with such force it actually hurt as it pinged off my bare skin. It hurt enough that I decided I needed shelter. Luckily I was only a short distance from a walkway that passes under Dogwood Street via a concrete tunnel. So I broke out in full sprint in the pellet sized hail and full-barelled it to the tunnel, splashing through puddles that easily came past the tops of my shoes.
The hail continued after I got inside the tunnel for a good 5 minutes. And this particular tunnel has very poor drainage, so the water started pooling around my shoes, not helping the fact that I was already cold enough for 4 Alberta winters. It was at this point I decided to pack it in. Looking like a drowned rat hiding under an underpass waiting for the rain and hail to slow enough that I could make a break for home and safety. I tried calling Glen again but no answer. I figured he'd be waiting faithfully for me at our pre-arranged corner, so off I went again into the rain, headed straight for that corner, and then home.
I had only gone a little ways before I saw the car pass me, and I turned around to check again. Hallelujah, it's Glen! In his shining Silver Honda Fit, come to save me from the rain! He went farther up the road, turned around and I met him as he came back, dripping all over the upholstery. Needless to say, I did not finish the suggested 30 km. I did, however, manage to go about 20 before giving up. I know I'm insane, but after being hailed on twice, I had to draw the line somewhere.
On the plus side, I would like to say that had it not rained, hailed, rained, and then hailed on me, I think I could have made it 30 km without too much trouble. But we'll see how it goes next week.
