Too Hot to Handle=another very bad idea

So. It has been over a week since I updated the blog. I am having a really hard time getting in my five days of training. It hasn't hurt me yet-but I don't want to continue along this path.

Last week's (July 12-17) workouts were not as good as I wanted them to go. I missed my Monday run, so tried to compensate Tuesday by doing an extra 2 miles with longer strides than assigned. On Wednesday (tempo run day) I decided to go to running group with some friends and only managed to do a mile warm-up and a mile at a very slow pace. I came home with every intention of getting in my 3 miles of marathon pace, but one mile in and I was done-still too hot and too humid and my shins were on FIRE!!!I did however do my easy run on Thursday.  My shins were still flaring up, so in anticipation of the 15K on Sunday I decided to just walk on Friday and rest on Saturday.

I haven't raced a distance longer than a 5K, since February so I was very anxious about Sunday's race. I like the course and had the expectation of at least running the same time I did in January. Well, disappointment was the order of the day.

First off, the field was increased to 2400 (the previous race was only 1800) and believe me, there were at least that many people there. It took 5 minutes to get to the start line and we were in the middle of the pack. The second thing was the race was suppose to begin at 7:30, but because so many people showed up late to register we didn't get going until 8:00. By that time the sun was completely up and beating down. There was a dead armadillo under the bridge we had to run by at the beginning of the race and it made me gag-nothing like the smell of baking roadkill to start the day off!

The course was deceptive because the first four miles were nice and shady with a lovely breeze blowing off the lake. Then at mile 5, the wind died and so did my stamina. I was going slower, and slower with each mile.  I reached the 6.5 point and just couldn't pick my feet up to jog any longer. I walked until mile 8 when my wonderful husband and son came out to meet me and run the rest of the race with me. They had ran the 5K earlier and were waiting on me-I was so happy that they did that for me! I wouldn't have been able to jog without their encouragement. I did manage to jog to the finish in a shamefully slow time of 1:54 minutes (chip time). So much for maintaining my 1:37:55 from January. I knew I was going slow, but I really didn't think it was that slow-I just don't think I could have done any better. If it would have been cooler I know I would have ran a lot faster. My friend has told me that I don't need to beat myself up about this, everyone has a bad race and I haven't had mine yet and everyone plateaus, which I also haven't done-but I think I am there.

To get through this I will need to be patient with myself.

Long run and much needed day of rest!

My regular coach was absent on Saturday and so was the rest of the group. My sub coach was a lot of fun and I felt very good during the run.

After bootcamp on Thursday I was too sore on Friday to even contemplate running, walking or jogging. I simply wimpered and stretched during the day. I got up extra early on Saturday to make sure I had a small bite to eat, some Spark energy drink and time to hydrate. The small bite of food seems to really help me and the Spark wakes me up without having to drink my coffee. I drank a whole lot of water on Friday in addition to my stretching in preparation for the run.

It was very humid, but a nice pleasant 73 degrees, however by the end of the run I was completely soaked! I brought a change of clothes so I could go to the grocery store. The route had some nice lengthy inclines, which I am needing to do and I felt good on the run. My soreness was gone after about the first mile. I am rethinking the whole 10:15 a mile, I am not sure I can do it, we will see. I am kind of sore today, but basically in my legs and booty.

I am not going to do bootcamp. I am not physically capable of it at this time, maybe in the future I will be able to do both. Right now I want to run and that is all.

Things that are bad ideas....

Okay, so sometimes I overestimate my physical capabilities. Yesterday was proof of that and it messed me up big time.

Bootcamp started back up and I have to admit that I miss my back, arms, and stomach getting firmer. I decided to go and see if I could handle it and then go run my easy four miles. To make a long blog short, I couldn't. My legs were to sapped for me to do anything at all. I came home and tried to go run but only made one loop around the neighborhood walking and jogging-mostly walking. I can't decide if I should try to go out and get in 3 or 4 miles or just rest up for the long run tomorrow?

Bootcamp meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so instead of running afterward I am going to try to run before and see if I can do this.

Looking forward to eight miles tomorrow!

I run because.....

I run because I want to and no one else can create that desire.

I run because I have realized that my body has given me a second chance to redeem myself from the abuse I have heaped on it for the past years.

I run because I have discovered that it is a much better treatment for my anxiety, anger, and stress than devouring a pint of ice cream.

I run because I know that it makes me a stronger, more confident, and happier person-which makes me a better wife and mother.

I run because I enjoy meeting new people and going new places.

I run because I am very aware that every day of good health is a gift and not to be taken for granted, ever.

I run because I can.....

Okay, so I haven't been updating-sorry. I got really busy with getting the house ready for the 4th and trying to shop so we can eat healthy.

Basically last week I managed to miss one of my four mile workouts and never made it up.grrrrr. Met a friend from work one day and had a nice lunch at the Indian buffet in McKinney.

My husband and I went to Cafe Istanbul for dinner one evening and I pigged out on the Turkish flatbread they served with the meal. Then I pigged out on pizza last Friday before the long run on Saturday. I discovered that if I eat just a small bit of food it makes a huge difference in my running. I had a half piece of toast with the PB poweder and some honey. It was just enough to satisfy the sweet, carb, protein, and fat needs.

Found out a dear man went home to be with his Lord on July 3rd. It was very sad, and I know that Dillard is in a better place, but I am grieving for his family. I was unable to go to Dillard's funeral.
Also, another friend suddenly lost his father and I am saddened by this news as well.

We had a cookout on the 4th with our friends, shot off some fireworks, and then went and watched the neighborhood firework show. It was a nice holiday. I just wish Brian would have been off on Monday.

Due to indulging a little too much on the 4th, running on Monday just didn't happen.

My friend came down and we had lunch together. It was nice to catch up and I really miss my friends from home!

I got back on track yesterday and did 5 miles. Unfortunately, I decided to do this stupid thing in the middle of the afternoon. We had a nice cool front come through and the temperature dropped to 82 and I thought I would go run. About a half-mile into the run the sun came out, the clouds all wents away, and the temperature shot back up to the 90s with about 60-70% humidity. I had to stop and walk for almost a mile after going 3 very hard miles, with hills included. On that note-I have been running in the neighborhood and it isn't hilly at all. I have to go and find some hills just to run on so I don't become complacent with the flats.

Today I decided that I want my goal marathon pace to be a 10:15 mile-if Oprah did that I can too! I did a warm-up of 1.8 with a running group and then came home to do my 3 miles at pace. I did it, but it was very hard to maintain that pace. Then I came home and undid all my hard work by eating 2 pieces of pizza.

I am having a hard time with the diet again. It's like I can't have one day off because then I seem to sneak more cheats in each day.

Tomorrow is an easy 4 miles, but I may go longer since I skipped a whole day. It will just depend on how I feel. My Garmin has been ordered and should be in next week! I am super excited about having my own "running toy"!

We are running the "Too Hot to Handle" race on July 18th. I am doing the 15K, Brian and Kam are doing the 5K. I am hoping to maintain or break my 1:37 that I did back in January, but I need to remember that it is 50 degrees warmer and I am only one month into training.

Hopefully tomorrow I will update, but if not I will update on the weekend.

Finishing out Week 3.....

I am definitely holding true to my once a week a promise!

Week 3 Day 4-the dreaded tempo run!
My half marathon pace is a 10:15 mile and I had to do 3 miles at this pace with a mile warm-up and a mile cool down. I used Brian's Garmin again and ended up running 3 miles in 28:49, definitely faster than I was suppose to go. It didn't feel great, but I didn't want to die either. The important thing is that I did it.

Week 3 Day 5-easy 3 miles
I have to keep reminding myself that I am suppose to be doing a 12:00 minute mile...the Garmin makes it so much easier to keep up with the distance and pace, now I just need to convince myself that  it is okay to go that slow..not having much luck in that area. I did 3 miles in 30:49....

Week 3 Day 6-Rest, which I did.

Week 3 Day 7-Long run 6 or 7 miles.
Met with the group for my second long run. We could have gone 7 miles, but my shins are not happy with me and the heat/humidity sapped my strength. However, it is over and done with. We averaged a little over a 12:00 minute mile, but we stopped for water three times.

Tomorrow I will rest and ice my shins some more.

Catching up.....

Week 2 Day 4-three miles at an easy pace..did it and it felt okay. I hate the heat.

Week 2 Days 5-7 Rest days and Long Run...didn't get to do it. We went to dinner with friends on Friday and I got very sick late Friday night and stayed that way through Saturday and part of Sunday. I have not been eating red meat for the last few weeks and decided to eat some, I do not know if that contributed to my illness or not. The garage sale went well (considering the circumstances-thank goodness for my wonderful husband!), didn't make enough money for a Garmin, but got the guest room cleaned out. I fully intended to do my 5 miles when I started feeling better, that didn't happen until late Sunday night and I knew I would need a rest day before starting a new week. So, I decided to just skip the first five miler and hope for the best! Plus, I had done 5.4 miles last Monday and I know I am capable of running that far.

Week 3 Day 1-I decided that this heat is going to be the death of me and my motivation. It sucks the life right out of me and just the thought of going to run makes me not want too. I decided to straighten up the study and get the treadmill where it could be used again, until this ridiculous heat passes. I got on the treadmill and cranked it up to the desired pace and made it for about .7 miles and decided that I would rather deal with the heat and I headed out the door to run in the dark. I ended up going my usual route, so I did a total of 3.7 miles.

Week 3 Day 2-I am the queen of procrastination...I can put off running until the last moment. In this case, that was at 9:15 at night, just a smidgen of daylight left. I borrowed my husband's Garmin so I could make sure I was pacing myself correctly.

I have been afraid that I have been running too slowly. The only way I have been timing myself is using my iPod's playlist and then driving the route and subtracting a half mile from whatever shows up on the odometer-not the most scientific way to go about this. When I run, I feel very slow, especially when I get home and add up the minutes using my playlists. I have been feeling really discouraged because I think I am running slower than my projected times.

Last night the Garmin proved me otherwise. I am suppose to running at a 12:00 minute easy pace. I am doing more like a 10:40-11:00 minute pace, which made me feel much better. I haven't been going "all out" in this heat and I think as long as I stay around this range it will only get faster. I ended up doing 4 miles in 42:57 with 4 strides (1 each mile). It was hot and sticky because the wind had died completely down. I choked on a couple of bugs and I didn't take a drink before I left. I got really thirsty while running. I loved running with the Garmin and now I know I have to get one!

Today I have to do 5 miles total and 3 of those have to be ran at my half-marathon pace (10:15). I dread it, but I know I can do it. It's just a matter of making myself, but it's already 90 degrees outside! I will wait until the sun goes down again. Once again, there is no sense in me getting up to run early when I won't be able to do that when school starts. I am establishing a routine I can actually stick to!

Week 2-Day 3

My decision to run at night is working out well for me. I was suppose to do a 2 mile warmup, 2 miles at my half-marathon pace,and a 1 mile cool down. I have been having an awful time pacing myself, so I made Brian go out with me and use his Garmin. My HMP was suppose to be a 10:41 mile. We did a 9:56, it was nice running with Brian. I am starting to feel the effects of running so much and I am going to have to be very diligent with my stretching before and after now.

We are having a garage sale on Saturday-yippee....not really. I have to go get everything ready and hope that  we make some $$$ so I can put it towards a Garmin : )!