Hot Cross Training, Gullane Beach 13/7/06
As the country bakes in something of a heatwave you may be feeling its a bit on the warm side for all this running malarkey. Of course there are plenty of other ways to break into a sweat in this weather and here are some we got up to recently.
You don't have to be a tennis champ to enjoy a game of bat'n'ball. We had a knock-about behind the dunes off the beach as we felt all the bad language might disturb the sunbathers. If done correctly, about 80 minutes of this will leave you with sore glutes for 2 days.
After working up a lather you may find the idea of a swim refreshing. However if it has been 10 years since you dipped a toe in the water go easy - its really cold despite all this sunshine and several trips in and out (getting deeper each time) with a run up and down the beach inbetween allows you to acclimatise.
While the "half empty" mindset would say the water doesn't appear to be very clean, the "half full" folk might choose to recognise the success of the Forth valley industries.
Here's a tip; take 2 towels. One for standing on when you come out the water, while you try to pull your wet sandy feet through your underwear. This is all good training for triathlon transitions. And mints or chewing gum and something to drink after your swim will remove some of the foul taste from your mouth. And don't forget the sunscreen. Happy summer.
photos Peter Buchanan, Mary Hunter
