Naked running
Rhalou goes naked running in Australia (sort of...)
Thursday, 26 January, 2012
After mysteriously managing to complete the Yamaa Trust Ultra across snowy Glencoe last December (read all about it in the March issue of Women’s Running – out now!) my training has since petered off and I’m not exactly up to ultra scratch anymore. The concept of running for a full hour, never mind an entire day across icy mountains, suddenly seems like hard work. This may have something to do with the three-week holiday in Australia I just returned from. Lying around in the sun for any length of time is enough to wipe most girls run-memory. But hey, we all deserve to kick back and relax on the beach every now and then.
Bondi beach: Let's get naked!I did do a bit of running while I was down under, but as beautiful as the weather may have been, exercising in 30-degree sunshine officially sucks. I ran along the Bondi seafront in Sydney several times, which was considerably hillier than expected, but after twenty minutes of intense sunlight, I quickly felt like a gasping fish out of water and couldn’t wait to get in the sea to cool off. I guess being a freckled redhead is never going to lend itself well to the Australian summer.But despite the heat struggles, I did still experience a spiritual awakening of sorts while I was there. After planning my holiday with the best exercise intentions, I packed in a hurry and forgot almost all of my running kit. Once I’d unpacked and realised my fatal error, I was rather stressed out about the idea of going for a run without my usual collection of gadgets. How would I find my way around a new city without my iPhone? (Data roaming down under costs a fortune) How would I gauge my timing without my Nike+ Sportswatch? And run alone without music to keep me entertained? Impossible! And don’t get me started on running in cotton socks, and a running vest loosely disguised as my old holey pajama top. I wasn’t about to run in non-wicking fabric, and I certainly couldn’t fathom the idea of racing across the beach without my Y-Fumble arm sleeve to hold all my important bits and pieces. I was doomed!But being 12,000 miles away from home, I didn’t have much choice. So once the lethargy set in and I started barking at the moon, which usually occurs after day three of zero exercise, I boldly stepped out the door naked (in a running accessory sense) and into a new dawn of gadgetlessness. Although gadgets are great fun, and they certainly help with training, and dare I say it sometimes give me an excuse to go out in the first place, it turns out that the rumours are all true, and you really don’t need anything at all to go for a run. If you’re lucky enough to be in a hot country, you could probably even live without your trainers. I kicked mine off after getting too hot and felt considerably better. All you really need is some legs, some ground, and a sense of willing. Oh and for the blessed amongst us, maybe a good sports bra, although I passed quite a few runners on the beach that hadn’t adhered to this rule and still appeared to be having a perfectly lovely time. The beach helped too, as it’s hard to get lost when there’s a roaring ocean by your left ear.Despite my naked running renaissance, I’m probably less fit since returning home than I have been in months (it was so hot!) but I certainly feel a bit more relaxed about naked running, and I’m looking forward to a few more gadgetless adventures. Now all I have to do is remember how to run again so I can train with my lovely Team Bangs girls for the Berlin Half Marathon in April. Time to up my game... Now where did I put that sports watch?
Bondi beach: Let's get naked!I did do a bit of running while I was down under, but as beautiful as the weather may have been, exercising in 30-degree sunshine officially sucks. I ran along the Bondi seafront in Sydney several times, which was considerably hillier than expected, but after twenty minutes of intense sunlight, I quickly felt like a gasping fish out of water and couldn’t wait to get in the sea to cool off. I guess being a freckled redhead is never going to lend itself well to the Australian summer.But despite the heat struggles, I did still experience a spiritual awakening of sorts while I was there. After planning my holiday with the best exercise intentions, I packed in a hurry and forgot almost all of my running kit. Once I’d unpacked and realised my fatal error, I was rather stressed out about the idea of going for a run without my usual collection of gadgets. How would I find my way around a new city without my iPhone? (Data roaming down under costs a fortune) How would I gauge my timing without my Nike+ Sportswatch? And run alone without music to keep me entertained? Impossible! And don’t get me started on running in cotton socks, and a running vest loosely disguised as my old holey pajama top. I wasn’t about to run in non-wicking fabric, and I certainly couldn’t fathom the idea of racing across the beach without my Y-Fumble arm sleeve to hold all my important bits and pieces. I was doomed!But being 12,000 miles away from home, I didn’t have much choice. So once the lethargy set in and I started barking at the moon, which usually occurs after day three of zero exercise, I boldly stepped out the door naked (in a running accessory sense) and into a new dawn of gadgetlessness. Although gadgets are great fun, and they certainly help with training, and dare I say it sometimes give me an excuse to go out in the first place, it turns out that the rumours are all true, and you really don’t need anything at all to go for a run. If you’re lucky enough to be in a hot country, you could probably even live without your trainers. I kicked mine off after getting too hot and felt considerably better. All you really need is some legs, some ground, and a sense of willing. Oh and for the blessed amongst us, maybe a good sports bra, although I passed quite a few runners on the beach that hadn’t adhered to this rule and still appeared to be having a perfectly lovely time. The beach helped too, as it’s hard to get lost when there’s a roaring ocean by your left ear.Despite my naked running renaissance, I’m probably less fit since returning home than I have been in months (it was so hot!) but I certainly feel a bit more relaxed about naked running, and I’m looking forward to a few more gadgetless adventures. Now all I have to do is remember how to run again so I can train with my lovely Team Bangs girls for the Berlin Half Marathon in April. Time to up my game... Now where did I put that sports watch?