Bikram Running

For the first time I can remember, I aborted a speed workout on Friday due to severe heat and humidity. My intended 4 x 800 meter intervals turned into a 1 x 800 (2:46) and a 1 x 400 (82 seconds). Part of it was starting out too fast, the other part was New York's oppressive summer weather, where I was visiting family this past week. I knew it was going to be a slog while jogging to the local track and I dreaded gutting it out. Disappointed with that lackluster training session, I tried to make up for it today by running four miles a little harder than usual (7:05, 6:58, 6:58 and 6:25), albeit it on a treadmill in a comfortably air conditioned gym. And indoors for good reason, too: we almost hit 100 degrees (38 C) today, with an absurdly high heat index, like 280.

But contrasting my experience on Friday with today's run made me wonder: am I "cheating" by training indoors? After carefully thinking about this for three seconds, my conclusion is no, unless I'm going to race in 100 degree heat. Since my next time trial is in October, when the weather will be cooler, "Bikram running" may be pointless, leading to really disappointing times, if I finish my workouts at all. Plus, not making myself miserable is the least I could do for my wife and kids who have to be around me.