May 2016 Running Challenge

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  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    edited May 2016
    First off, Happy Mothers Day to all of the moms out there!

    Congrats to all who raced this weekend! I've noticed quite a few!

    Welcome to the new faces!

    So I was unsure last night about the wisdom of attempting 10.5 miles today to make up for lost mileage after a week of crappy runs. After all, if someone else posted here with those issues I would recommend some down time.:smile:

    So part of my common sense said don't do it, but another part said the data did not support the idea of me being worn down (HR, sleep, mood, energy levels during day, etc). My gut instinct also was telling me I was capable.

    I woke up feeling very good. So I headed out to run. I noticed I was running easily, not sore or stiff but I kept my pace down over the first couple miles to be safe. I wound up cranking out all 10.5 miles feeling good, and finally satisfied after a run.

    So, I guess the lesson is to use as much info as possible to guide your decisions. In this case the data and my gut were able to convince my uncertain common sense to get out and put in the miles, and it paid off.

    5/1 - 13.1 miles
    5/2 - 6 miles
    5/3 - 6 miles
    5/4 - 9 miles
    5/5 - 6 miles
    5/6 - Rest
    5/7 - 10.5 miles
    5/8 - 10.5 miles

    61.1/200 miles

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    2016 races:
    4/9 - Rock the Parkway half marathon (Kansas City, MO) 2:30:17.6 new PR
    4/16 - Garmin Wickedly Fast half marathon (Olathe, KS) 2:28:39.52 new PR
    4/23 - Heroes for Hope half marathon (North Kansas City, MO) 2:19:14 new PR
    5/1 - Buffalo Bell Stampede half marathon (Leavenworth, KS) 2:25:06
    5/14 - Running with the Cows half marathon (Bucyrus, KS)
    6/2 - Hospital Hill 5k 7pm PRE-RUN (Kansas City, MO)
    6/3 - Hospital Hill half marathon 7am RE-RUN (Kansas City, MO)
    9/25 - Broadway Bridge half marathon (Kansas City, MO)
    10/15 - Kansas City Marathon 26.2 (Kansas City, MO)
    11/5 - Jenks half marathon (Jenks, OK)
    11/6 - Kansas half marathon (Lawrence, KS)
    11/12 - Longview half marathon (Kansas City, MO)
    11/13 - Gobbler Grind half marathon (Overland Park, KS)
    11/19 - White River half marathon (Cotter, AR)
    11/20 - Pilgrim Pacer half marathon (Lenexa, KS)
  • ddmom0811
    ddmom0811 Posts: 1,881 Member
    @skippygirlsmom - that is awesome! (the whole post, that is). :smile: Skippy is so adorable. Happy Mother's Day!
    @AdrianChr92 - I can't believe you ran in that hail!
    @WhatMeRunning - hope you feel more energized this week!
    @9voice9 - That does sound like a great cause. But, yeah, a little crazy that it was so unorganized.

    5/1 - 35 mile cycling
    5/2 - 5 miles
    5/3 - 3.5 miles
    5/4 - 5 miles - intervals, sort of.
    5/5 - 25 miles cycling in a brutal wind
    5/6 - 5 miles
    5/7 - 34 miles cycling
    5/8 - 36 miles cycling


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  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    @kristinegift Thanks! It was intense! My next marathon that will have a proper program is going to be Rock n roll Vegas in November. My next race is a 50k in 4wks. Will be running it pretty slow/easy. Prob just by feel. First 50k, so I'm going to enjoy it. 5hrs, 6hrs. Fine by me.

    Nice run today! Are you shooting for a Half PR on you're next race?

    @MNLittleFinn Awesome of you to pace you're mom to a PR! Nice run!

    Update on me: Everything tightened up to the max overnight and it took about 20mins of work to get my legs to stand up. Walking is ok. Sitting down and standing up and stairs are REALLY bad though. All i'm doing is eating everything in sight and watching tv. Still down 8lbs this morning lol. And that's after a 5500 cal post race lunch/dinner. Going for 6000cal today. Working hard to restore everything. Hope everyone has a great day! Run for me!
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    edited May 2016
    May 1 - 17 km run.
    May 3 - Light parkour 2 km run.
    May 5 - 8 km slow & gym.
    May 6 - 7.5 km slow & yoga.
    May 7 - skipped bike ride.
    May 8 - 19.2 km mixed. 6 km hike.

    Total 53.7 km goal 120 km.

    Morning run and it was cool enough then that I couldn't get my HR up to where I wanted for the first 5 km. Well, shouldn't have worried, after 12-13 km riding a high and feeling great I overheated a few times. And at the end I did not go for an even HM. We had a meeting for hike and I was running late. Still, it was a great run - discovered new paths and regions of the forest. A lot of planned slow running, a little tempo stuff and a few walks to get my HR back down when needed.

    The hike, after the run, was harder. Kept it slow and am now going to spend the next hour rolling my legs and butt. <delicious pain>

    Edit: oh, yeah, strava reports a 10 mile PR - I'm not happy about this because given the amount of walking, I should have had a better 10 mile before.

  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    @ROBOTFOOD wow 8 pounds! I'm usually up a few post race. You killed the training.
  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    @ROBOTFOOD wow 8 pounds! I'm usually up a few post race. You killed the training.

    It was 11lb yesterday! I loose ridiculously easy. And I trained ok. Not for the race though. I should have ran all my long runs on the course. Then I would've been fine.
  • louubelle16
    louubelle16 Posts: 579 Member
    edited May 2016
    So, today was my second half marathon of the year and *wow*. It was, without a doubt, the hardest thing I have ever done. The weather was absolutely horrendous, we've had such a sudden heatwave here in the UK, with temperatures at 26°C, which is nearly twice as hot as it should be for this time of year (it would normally be about 15°C), and this has only come on over the last 2 days. No-one running today could have prepared for it, and no amount of extra water and shower-sprays on course was going to make it any better. I actually cried at the mile 11 marker because I really thought it was mile 12 and the thought of having to run for another 18-20 minutes was just too much. All I could think of was that I couldn't stop running because that would make it last even longer and I couldn't stay out there any longer. Plus, I thought I had some supporters at mile 11 but they weren't there and that was just too much.

    My feet are shredded (I haven't had more than 1 blister ever before today) from my feet having swollen up and my shoes having gotten wet from all the water being sprayed/thrown around, I have sunburn, despite having put SPF50 on when I got dressed, and I very nearly threw up when I passed the finish line. It was such a mental struggle to get through, it was a battle of endurance, not necessarily physical training. Oddly enough, my legs actually feel fine.

    I have never seen anything like the number of people who were passed out on the sides of the road. I saw the first person collapsed and being treated by the volunteer ambulance crews at mile 5 (and he was unconscious, not injured) and by the time we got to mile 10, the streets were lined with people being seen to by members of the public because the medical teams were so overstretched. At mile 10, there was a medical treatment tent and there was a queue of people, lying in the recovery position, outside of it waiting to be seen. Honestly, St John's Ambulance, the voluntary medical/ambulance charity here in the UK, were the real unsung heroes of the whole event because they were working their absolute backsides off. I am sure that, without them, there could have been a lot of fatalities there today. I think that I must have seen over 100 people being treated, most of them passed out, not injured.

    I have to say, if that had been my first and only half marathon experience, I can't say that I would ever put my running shoes on again. It was absolutely horrible from start to finish. I even have a time I can actually be proud of, as I was only 40seconds behind my PB, but I cannot possibly enjoy it because it was just so thoroughly unpleasant. I hope no-one running today was put off. It's definitely put me off racing for a while, I did think a few 10kms in the summer might be in order but absolutely no way after that. I'm hanging up my racing shoes until the autumn.

    Also, the race was far too big for my liking. It was just SO busy the whole way through, the water stations couldn't give the water out fast enough, and you were constantly ducking and weaving to get through or past people. It started 15 minutes late too, the corrals were SO big, there were nearly 5000 people in each one, by my reckoning (as there were hardly any people in the 1:15-1:30 and the other 15,000 people were split into the other 3 times). Also, they shut the speakers off with all the motivational music etc at the 2:30 mark, even though it took me 15 minutes to get over the start line, my race time therefore being nearly 2:20, so there were loads behind me who had no support or encouragement. So, all in all, I wouldn't do it again, even in good weather. I'll stick to my small, local, rural races from now on :)

    So yeah, an absolutely horrible day and one I cannot wait to forget! Seriously, even looking at the medal makes me feel angry right now.


    2nd May - 3.06 miles
    3-4th May - poorlysick
    5th May - 2.40 miles
    8th May - 13.1 miles Hackney Half 2:05:24

    MTD - 18.56/70 miles

    Upcoming races:
    2nd Oct - Tonbridge Half Marathon
    30th Oct - River Thames Half Marathon
    9th April 2017 - Brighton Marathon


    EDIT: I forgot to add another detail to my race report:

    At the first half a mile, some idiot in a white mercedes drove onto the closed course with 15,000 runners. The course marshals tried to stop him but he kept on going, revving his engine and beeping his horn, so the marshals dragged him out of his car and there was a fight.

    I mean, this couldn't have been any more ridiculous!
  • louubelle16
    louubelle16 Posts: 579 Member
    Now time to procrastinate from writing an essay catch up on everyone's posts :)

    @MNLittleFinn - well done to your Mum! That’s a huge difference from what she was aiming for, even more awesome!

    @MLS1582 - Congrats on finishing your first 10km! I agree with what others have said, that wouldn’t have been dead last at any other 10km race I’ve run so don’t let it get you down. It sounds like you entered a real serious race so well done for doing it, I think that would have freaked me out and I would have gone home!

    @ROBOTFOOD - Congratulations on your marathon! I bet you’ll smash your goals next time, if you did so well with a less-than perfect lead-up :)

    @Orphia - I love that photo! I don’t think I would have that much energy after smashing a PB!

    @9voice9 - I cannot believe how bad that race sounds! I hope you didn’t spend too much on entry?


  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    @louubelle16 Congrats on finishing your race! That sounds like pretty hellish conditions. I'd be tempted to throw the towel in and cut it short or not start even at all. And that's a huge HM! 15000 people?! A little big for my taste. Definite kudos to the medical team, sounds like they had their hands full!
  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    @louubelle16 Wow!! That sounded brutal! I hate heat running! And I live in Vegas haha. But great job pushing through that! I hope you get some nice, cold weather for you're next race!

    @_nikkiwolf_ Race recap of the year goes to you! Love the detail! I felt like I was there! Awesome job on the PR!
  • louubelle16
    louubelle16 Posts: 579 Member
    I just found out on Facebook that, about 15 minutes later after I finished the course, they stopped it and made everyone else walk with all timing stopped. Madness!

    Congrats @_nikkiwolf_, that's a great time! And so glad you enjoyed it :) Sounds like you battled the heat today too.

    I'm starting to think that racing after the first couple of weeks of April is to be avoided from now on...
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited May 2016
    ROBOTFOOD wrote: »
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    @ROBOTFOOD wow 8 pounds! I'm usually up a few post race. You killed the training.

    It was 11lb yesterday! I loose ridiculously easy. And I trained ok. Not for the race though. I should have ran all my long runs on the course. Then I would've been fine.

    I think when my foot heals I'm gonna "run" 4 hours once a month and see if I can lose 8-11 pounds! #BeLikeROBOTFOOD!

    Least this time off has helped me eat better. Can't really afford fries, pizza, and burgers not running.


    Oooh! Congratulations @_nikkiwolf_ !
  • vandinem
    vandinem Posts: 550 Member
    Date      Miles      MTD
    ------    -----    -----
    May 03      4.2T     4.2  
    May 04      4.2T     8.4 
    May 06      5.1     13.5 
    May 07      8.2     21.7 
    May 08      5.6     27.3 
    

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  • 07KatieP13
    07KatieP13 Posts: 220 Member
    Another 4 miles today in this ridiculous heat, not impressed :(
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    @louubelle16 holy hell! An idiot driver on the course! So glad they took care of him!
  • ariceroni
    ariceroni Posts: 422 Member
    5/01: 6 miles, easy
    5/02: 6 miles, easy
    5/03: Off, rest day + strength training
    5/04: 5 miles, easy
    5/05: Off, rest day
    5/06: 6 miles, tempo
    5/07: 5 miles, easy
    5/08: 10 miles, long and slow
    Total: 38 miles

    Nice 10 miler today! Looks like your girl is finally back on track :)

    @MNLittleFinn - what an awesome way to spend Mother's Day! Great picture too
    @louubelle16 - WOW that sounds like such a hard race! Awful conditions. I'm laughing about that guy driving on the course, it's pretty funny to imagine. Congratulations on pushing through and making it to the finish line!
    @_nikkiwolf_ - Congratulations on your first half marathon! A great finish time too, and it's always nice to exceed your own expectations. Well done!


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    Races I'm registered for:
    05/22 - Chicago Spring 13.1
    05/28 - Soldier Field Run (10 miles)
    07/21 - Esprit de She 5K
    09/10 - Magnificent Mile Half Marathon
    09/25 - Chicago Lifetime 5K
    10/09 - Chicago Marathon
    10/30 - Hot Chocolate 5K
    11/27 - Space Coast Half Marathon
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Congratulations @louubelle16 and @_nikkiwolf_ on your half marathons!

    Fascinating reading your reports, since I hope to do one fairly soon.
  • KWKirkbride
    KWKirkbride Posts: 119 Member
    I finally ran (I don't post much here. Got hit by a car two months ago today and broke my collarbone and couple ribs) so I feel like I can post in here again haha. Been feeling well enough to run for a few weeks but I couldn't muster the ooomph to get out and do it. I've been on the bike, but running is just harder for me mentally.

    2 miles today. Ate pizza and cake a couple hours ago. Ugh. Even though it's a small start I feel really good about it. It's been a rough couple months so it's nice to feel like I'm almost back to my old self.

    Hope everyone is doing well in here. Looks like people have been kicking *kitten* in all sorts of summer running events. Great job! I think I'm going to scour the Chicago events in June and give myself something to train for. Anyway, it's GREAT to be back!

    May Goal - 60 Miles

    5/8 - 2 Miles
  • MLS1582
    MLS1582 Posts: 71 Member
    @_nikkiwolf_ Congrats on your race! It looks like it was awesome.
    @Orphia I love your picture from the park run!
    I didn't want to do it, but I went ahead and put in my 4.8 miles today, which gets me caught up to my training plan (earlier this week, I cut a run short due to rain).
    5/1 - 4.5m easy
    5/2 - 4m easy then fast w/rain
    5/4 - 3.2m moderate w/rain
    5/6 - 2.5m moderate
    5/7 - 6m RACE 11:10 pace
    5/8 - 4.8 easy
    5/9 -
    5/10 -
    5/12 -
    5/14 -
    5/15 -
    5/17 -
    5/19 -
    5/20 -
    5/21 -
    5/22 -
    5/24 -
    5/26 -
    5/27 -
    5/28 -
    5/29 -
    5/31 -
    Total: 25/94

    5/7 - Sgt. Larner Memorial 10k
    6/25 - Jackson River Scenic Trail 10k
    9/4 - VA Beach R&R Half Marathon
  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    edited May 2016
    Thanks for the kind words @ROBOTFOOD @louubelle16 @Orphia @ariceroni @MLS1582 @Elise4270

    @MNLittleFinn Great race for you and your mother, what a lovely way to spend mothers day together.

    @Ch1psNQueso That sounds like a really bad accident. Glad to hear you are feeling better, welcome back!

    @louubelle16 Oh no, I just read your race report, how horrible was that? I think we got hit by the same heat wave, seems like was all over Europe this weekend. It was quite unexpected here too - I think neither London nor Geneva are supposed to be warmer than Madrid this time of the year (or ever). I saw quite a few runners being treated as well during the second half of the course.
    Before the weekend, I was annoyed that the full marathoners started at 11am and could sleep in, while I had to be there at 8:30am for the half - now I'm really glad, this way at least the first 45 minutes or so where fine, until I started noticing the rising temperatures. And no craziness like car drivers on the course - as if the heat wasn't already enough to deal with!
    I'm really sorry for you that you had such a bad time! That you finished in such a great time despite everything is impressive, you can be really proud of yourself!

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  • kimlight2
    kimlight2 Posts: 483 Member
    5/1 - 2 mi
    5/4 - 2 mi
    5/7 - 2 mi
    5/8 - 2 mi

    8 down 22 to go.

    Forgot to log yesterday's run.

    I have signed up for a 5k at work on 5/20. I am planning to run it in intervals since I haven't done 3 miles in a while. Not really worried about time since it is at high noon and last year it was so hot I almost over heated passed out so this year I am planning better.


    So I have a question if anyone can help me. I am stuck on Week 5 day 3 of my Couch to 10k app. It is the dreaded 20 minute non-stop run. I have completed this program before and was up to 5 mile runs so I know I can do it but I am just stuck right now. My question is this... how bad is it if I don't complete it. I am perfectly happy using run/walk intervals and week 6 day 1 goes back to them. Week 6 day 3 and everything after is solid runs until week 9 it goes back to 10 minute intervals when is gets into the bridge to 10k part, there are just more of them. So I guess my question is this... How important is it to keep banging my head against the wall until I complete it?


    Planned races:
    5/20 Move More Spring 5K
    6/11 Run and Ride 5k at Cedar Point
    Oct, Nov, and Dec 5 mile trail series
    Dec Santa Hussle Half Marathon
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    @ROBOTFOOD - Everyone talks about Heartbreak Hill in Boston, but it's really the downhills that beat you up. But wow! 5200 feet of drop is way more than Boston, where I found it easier to run gentle inclines than gentle declines after the first 20 miles.

    @louubelle16 - That's brutal weather to run in. I ran a half in temperature like that last July, and it was the most miserable half I've ever done. It's a true accomplishment just to finish under those conditions.

    @_nikkiwolf_ - Nice race report! Good planning, and good adjusting the plan to circumstances! And yes, starting earlier is better on a day when the temperature starts out reasonable and rises.

  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    May Running Totals (miles)
    5/1 – 3.11 easy
    5/2 – rest day
    5/3 – extra rest day
    5/4 – 3.51 almost easy
    5/5 – 6.34 easy
    5/6 – planned rest day
    5/7 – 11.02 with pace group
    5/8 – extra rest day

    May total to date – 23.98

    Nominal Challenge Goal – 150 miles
    Real Goals: Recover from Boston and Flower City. Build Base. Start training program for Rochester Marathon.

    Today's notes – After yesterday's 11 miles, today my right leg is sore again to the point where I sometimes need to hold the rail going down stairs and running is clearly a Bad Idea. Sigh. At this point, I'm about forced to admit that this is not simply recovery, it's injury. Tomorrow I'll call my PT for an appointment. I might need some other specialty such as an orthopedist, but I have a relationship with a PT so that's where I'll start.

    Bummer. I may end up backing off to volunteer at Lilac Run instead of even pretending to race it. :(

    2016 races:
    January 1, 2016 Resolution Run 7.5 mile (Mendon, NY) finished in 53:58
    January 9, 2016 Winter Warrior Half Marathon (Gates, NY) finished in 1:30:59
    March 12, 2016 Johnny's Runnin' of the Green 5 mile (Rochester, NY) finished in 32:32
    March 26, 2016 Spring Forward Distance Run 15K (Mendon, NY) finished in 1:05:24
    April 18, 2016 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA) finished in 3:23:01
    April 24, 2016 Flower City Challenge Half Marathon (Rochester, NY) finished in 1:36:50, targeting MP
    May 15, 2016 Highland Hospital Lilac Run 10K (Rochester, NY)
    June 19, 2016 Medved 5K to Cure ALS (Rochester, NY)
    July 16, 2016 Shoreline Half Marathon (Hilton, NY)
    September 18, 2016 Rochester Marathon (Rochester, NY)

  • lousoulbody
    lousoulbody Posts: 663 Member
    To everyone running and racing...Cheers!

    DATE...............MILES.............TOTAL
    5/1....................3.00..................3.00...laChocolat Run 5K 34:28
    5/2....................3.00................. 6.00
    5/3.....................Cycle/Abs.........6.00
    5/4.....................2.00..................8.00
    5/5......................Rest..................8.00
    5/6......................4.50.................12.5
    5/7......................Abs..................12.5
    5/8......................5.00.................17.5
  • 5BeautifulDays
    5BeautifulDays Posts: 683 Member
    But I loved your video because I miss tile roofs and windows that open to the side. When I was a teenager, my family lived in Germany, and our cat would jump out the window onto the roof, easy as you please and then come back in when she felt ready.
    Okay, now I'm baffled - I only went to the US a handful of times, and the last time is already more than ten years ago, but I never noticed that there weren't any tile roofs. And even more puzzling - you don't have windows that open to the side? So only slider windows, where you can only get half the window to be open at a time? The only other kinds of window I can think of which don't open to the side are those pivot windows, but I've only ever seen them on roofs, not for lower-floor rooms.
    dach-schwingfenster-fts-v-u2-bxh-94-x-118-cm-natur-1171587.jpg

    I had one of those pivot windows as a kid. And the one thing our cat enjoyed more than walking around on the roof was to balance on the window edge and enjoy the view - so that I had to wait for him to make up his mind before I could close the window once he was completely in or out :D
    ynnurvd0h5zw.jpg

    I'm just now reading, so I don't know if anyone else has answered you, but at least here in Virginia, and where I grew up in Illinois, everyone has shingled roofs (usually black) or occasionally around here you'll see cedar shake roofs (rare) or other wooden shingles on mansard roofs. I've only seen pivot windows on very expensive homes or very old homes.
  • Katiebug89
    Katiebug89 Posts: 18 Member
    May 6 - 2 miles
    May 7 - 6 miles
    May 8 - 2 miles


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  • 5BeautifulDays
    5BeautifulDays Posts: 683 Member
    I see people with these lists of races they're slogging through and wonder how on earth anybody can afford the registration costs for all these things. lol

    I got a great deal on registrations for 4 local races and a pair of shoes for $180 at Christmastime. A lot of the other races I do are in the $30 range, so I guess I feel like they're cheaper than a lot of other entertainment. The only fees I've cried over is the RunDisney one that I'm skipping because my travel companion is sick with cancer. And then more because of the reason than the money (although I'll admit the money hurts, too).
    MLS1582 wrote: »
    I ran my first 10K race today. I came in dead last, while running a pace that was a full minute faster than I had planned (because I was last). Officially, I finished in 1:07:18, but I think they directed me to cut the last corner (like cut it off entirely) because my watch only had me doing an even 6 miles. I'm really torn - I feel like crap for finishing last and being so slow they had me drop almost a quarter mile just to get me across the finish line, but I'm also really freaking proud to have run 6 miles at an 11:10 pace! I will not be running this race again - ever.

    I'm currently at 20 of 94 miles for the month.

    I've run several 10k races and my fastest speed is 1:09--and I normally come in smack dab in the middle of my age group, so I think you did really well. Congratulations!
  • ACSL3
    ACSL3 Posts: 623 Member
    @louubelle16 - people call me crazy for signing up for races in the winter where it's really cold. But honestly, I can handle cold, heat no so much. I'm super sensitive to high temperatures, especially sudden increases (I got lightheaded dealing with a sudden increase to 74 F the other day). I'll still do races in the summer but usually shorter ones that start early in the morning, haha. Congrats on finishing!

    (oh and as a former EMT, those kinds of races can be tough just making sure everyone that's laying down is okay enough for now and not having heat stroke. Hopefully they called in some reinforcements).
This discussion has been closed.