By the time this prints, I’ll either be turning circles because we ran May 24, or I’ll be in a hospital wing at KEMH.

Worst-case scenario, my obituary will be on the next page. If it is, I hope it says something fun and very inappropriate. Hopefully, though, I’ll be sipping champagne from a mug at my desk, celebrating survival of the sweatiest half-marathon known to man. All right, I’m pretty sure there’s a race through the desert that’s worse, but Bermuda humidity has got to be high on the list?

I always promised myself I’d never do it. I like to stubbornly stop at 5k and, having run the Bermuda Day relay before, I worried I’d be one of the ones I’ve seen drop with heat exhaustion. But I’m also not good at saying no. So, eight weeks ago, when my friend Elly started to twist my arm, I got curious and one thing led to another. And so here we are, I’m writing this on May 23 and all of a sudden I’m wondering what on earth I have done. I’m wearing a Beat the Couch shirt tomorrow so if I do drop like a fly, that won’t be fantastic PR..... better suck it up then and make sure we sprint (limp?) over the finish line!

Moving up from 5k (3 miles) to 13 miles in 8 weeks turned out to be OK. I had to take a few weeks off in the middle for an injury, but was put back together by the chiropractors at Inside Out Wellness.

They were honestly like miracle workers, so if you ever get benched for injury, definitely book in! Aside from that, there were two major things that kept me going (apart from being very stubborn). The first was having a friend and training buddy to keep me accountable and the second was a good hydration strategy. The latter has made all the difference over the longer distances. Just a small dip in hydration can lead to a massive performance loss, so it’s been great to avoid that hurdle. I’m sure there’ll be other challenges as that East End route is mega hilly, but at least we’ve got the electrolytes covered.

It may seem a little premature (and oh my god I’ll have to eat my words if it turns out I didn’t make it), but we’re already planning the next half-marathon. It’s not so much overconfidence, more an understanding (based on previous patterns) that if I don’t have something new to work towards, my motivation will drop and I’ll lose all the gains. This time, the goal is the NYC half in March — which is an awful lot cooler weather-wise and may have something to do with a few nights out and shopping too! No reason why we can’t multitask?

The tricky part is to keep running through the heat of the summer. We take a break from Beat the Couch (our beginners’ running programme) from June to September and there’s a good reason why. Learning to run after years (or a lifetime) of being unfit, is hard; even more so in Bermuda’s high heat and humidity. So, it makes sense to skip the summer months! But what do you do if you’re already running and want to maintain your fitness? Here are some simple tips to keep you going:

1. Be flexible with your training environment

You may not be a gym rat, but it does offer you an air-conditioned alternative if lunchtime is your only free time of the day. I much prefer running outside and really don’t love the treadmill, but using a cross-training elliptical will make things more interesting and take some pressure off your joints too. It’s a good strategy to ease up on your ankles and knees occasionally anyway, so you can kill two birds with one stone. When it comes to picking a gym, take a look around and find one with easy access that’s well equipped. I love Court House Squash & Wellness, it’s the only one I’ve ever loved going to. I’ll hold my hands up and admit I’m biased, as it’s in the family, but it’s high-tech, has great classes, close to work and REALLY clean — all on my hitlist!

2. Vary your workouts

You might like running, or you might LOVE running so much that all you want to do is run.

But switching up your workouts challenges new muscle groups and, as above, takes repetitive pressure off your joints.

Taking classes lets you cool off in the AC, whilst keeping up your strength and fitness. Don’t be afraid to branch out. You won’t forget how to run.

Even if those first few times back on the road feel a little shaky, you’ll get up to speed nice and quickly if you’ve kept yourself flexible and strong.

3. Switch up your training windows

If you’re not having any of my gym talk, you might have to switch up your training windows. I love running after dark in the summer as it’s still warm, but not blistering.

To stay safe, pick a route through Hamilton (great people watching, especially right now with the AC in town) or pop into Sportseller for lights! (I hate running with anything awkward, but they carry the Nathan products which are really cool). Early morning is good too, if you can drag yourself out of bed — and there’s nothing like ticking your workout off your list before breakfast.

4. Hydrate like a pro

Water really may not cut it if you do run during the heat of the day, but that doesn’t mean you should be downing Gatorade. Remember Gatorade was designed for Olympic athletes so, I don’t wish to offend, but it may be overkill! Try Ultima Replenisher (Supermart), or Natural Nuun (most pharmacies) for the best options free from excess sugar, artificial sweeteners and artificial colours. If you’re ordering online, try SOS Hydrate, which is a little like drinking sweat, but it’s a) better when it’s cold and b) used by some of our AC sailors (which has to be a pretty good testimonial).

5. Eat well, sleep well

Let’s face it, the next few weeks may bring about an above- average amount of booze-related fun. But you need to fuel well and sleep well if you’re going to be motivated to keep working out! Don’t let it all slide completely, just make sure you schedule your training sessions at the beginning of each week so you don’t miss a good window.

6. Set your next goal

Make sure you have some kind of target to work towards. Whether it’s a specific race, a time you want to achieve, a distance you want to reach or some beachwear you want to feel confident in, think about your goal, figure out realistic steps to getting there, and then commit. And if you can’t think of your own, come run the NYC half with me in March!

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns is the managing director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. For details, please go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511. Join Catherine on Facebook: Natural Nutrition Bermuda