However, unlike in Melbourne where a drinking fountain or tap can easily be accessed on demand, Boulder does lack this one essential novelty. Normally I can push through a run without having to ingest much or any fluid. However, over here it is so hot and humid that I find my self scrambling for water at any opportunity.
After my first few runs where I almost keeled over from dehydration, I am now accompanied by my small trusty drinking flask (8oz to be precise) for most of my runs (very novel of me I know). This is all well and good until the fluid in that 8oz drinking flask runs out...as I learnt last week.
I was down to do a 90min run with about 30min of effort in the middle. So off I trotted with gel in one hand, drinking flask in other and a 35+ degree day on the way. All was going swimmingly up until about 60min into the run. I had just finished my efforts, downed a gel and before I knew it I was down to my last drop of water...and I still had 30min to go. Now when I say there are no drinking fountains or taps in Boulder, I really do mean that. Not even a Servo has a communal tap (well there is this one servo but they charge 50 cents to fill up with water...absurd!). Anyway back on with the tale...30min of run to go, dehydration kicking in, but I know I have to just guts it out and get home.
All was on track to get home unscathed until out of the corner of my eye I spotted the sweet sight of a cool, flowing river. NO! I tell myself. Resist the urge...you don't know where that water has been. But then I hear YES! YES! water! Hunters and gatherers always drink out of rivers, the water will be fine, it's flowing, forget about the cows upstream and the sprawl of civilisation surrounding the river, it will be the sweetest most satisfying water you have ever tasted. I decided to reason with myself, a splash on the face, no water in the mouth, you'll be on your way, all will be fine. So with sweat pouring off my face I make my way over to the river, the sweet succulent water drags me in and before I know it I'm guzzling down the water like there's no tomorrow. STOP! STOP! I tell myself, you will pay for this, your guts will protest. I somehow manage to pull myself away, but not before I have downed about half a litre of this suspect water and copped a few questionable looks from passers by. Anyway, I give my self a quick once over, guts seem to be fine, thirst quenched, body temperature returning to normal and I'm on my way.
How great I think to myself. I have now found an endless supply of water for my runs, no more suffering in the heat of the day...genius. That is until I return home where I decide to bring up this topic of conversation at the dinner table with our homestay host Pam. Pam I say, would you drink the water from the river down the road?? Her reaction almost sent me through the roof. I actually thought she was about to pop out a baby (albeit 7 months early) with her level of exclamation. You what! No way! That's disgusting. Your going to get giardiasis . I turn to Sam for some sort of reassurance, but he is in on it too. But I was soo thirsty I protest! Neither will have a bar of it, you will pay they say.
For the rest of the day I am paying extra attention to my body's vital signs, making sure that a toilet is in close proximity at all times in case the dreaded giardiasis decides to show itself. However, as the day progresses the signs of a backlash seem more and more unlikely, until it comes to the stage where I can diagnose my self with the all clear. Phew, you were lucky I say to myself! However on reflection, if faced with the same dire situation again, I am sure that I would once again be sucked into that succulent cool flowing water, however next time I WILL NOT let that sweet succulent cool water pass my lips.
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