May 24 2008
Coffee Withdrawal
It’s 1650, and I’m suffering from coffee withdrawal. A few days ago I decided to cut back on my daily consumption of coffee. I haven’t been out of control, but 4-5 cups a day seems to have more of an effect on my 43 year old body than they had on my 33 year old body. My eyes feel completely bloodshot, if bloodshot is actually a feeling. I’m trying to have 1 cup a day in the morning. It’s not going so well!
Why am I cutting back? In addition to aggravating my heartburn, coffee is helping to dehydrate me. Even now, it’s 106F (41C) outside. I’m already drinking 4 liters of water each day, sometimes 5. I feel waterlogged when I go out running and dehydrated when I finish. I really need to switch to running in the mornings instead of the evenings. This morning, sunrise was at 0455 and at 0600, the temperature was 77F (25C). So there is plenty of light to run at 0600, and the temperature is still relatively cool. However, at 1900 tonight, the temperature will be about 101F (39C), and the sun will set around 1913. All of the temperature data is from the Weather Underground.
What was I doing at 0600 this morning? Sleeping. I get up at about 0630 each morning, brush my teeth and shave, watch some news for the headlines, then wander into the office around 0730. I won’t have the luxury of sleeping that late when I’m slugging to the Pentagon. Oh well. I’ll be running this evening. Tommorow, and each Sunday, is my day off from running. I’ll try getting up early on Monday to go for a 0600 run.
Mugs and the kids should be picking up our new puppy right now. I’m sure we’ll have a great post from her soon!
