Weekly Round Up!

Last week was another humidity laden week from hell.  After my ten mile run on Thursday, I ran another four miles on Friday morning.  It was tough.  My right knee is aching a bit, and I think I have pulled something on my right side, near the leg-meets-hip area.  I'm a lady, so "groin area" sounds a bit crass--(but "hell" is ok) :) *I can hear Ty laughing now*  It is a bit sensitive, especially when I run.  Not horrible, but enough that the phrase "Man, that's annoying" runs through my head in a continuous loop.  It makes a great background to my Ipod music.


I was supposed to run 4.5 miles on Saturday after work, but I just refused to do it.  The weather is a-changin' much to my happiness, and I ran this morning before work.  I really tried to run faster than I have been, and it was a bit easier because the weather was cooler. I actually ran my miles in 30 minutes.   I was happy with my run.  Tonight it's going to get down into the upper 50's, so I am bouncing for joy knowing that tomorrow morning it will be cool!  This week will definitely be a challenge--a long run of eleven miles, and five miles of hill work.  I'm not quite sure how to do five miles of hill work, but I will head to the cemetery again and run around for an hour.  I'm planning on taking Laura and Cole for a final before schools starts bike ride on Wednesday.  Bud's birthday is on Thursday, and I have a delicious dinner planned for him.  I myself can't wait to eat it!  Grilled  steak, caprese salad, and peach cobbler.  I'm a bit concerned about the cobbler--I can barely identify a peach and really don't know what to do with them.  I don't think I've actually eaten a peach in it's natural state before.  I'm more of an apple and nanner kind of gal.  


But, Bud requested peach cobbler, so if he's willing to eat it, I will attempt to make it.  I do need to come up with a tasty drink, too.  We've been making mojitos this week, and they are super good, with the bonus of a rum induced-snooze after just one!  I do need to invest in some straws, as the mint ends up in your teeth and that's just not where it should be.  I prefer that it remains in the glass.  


So, not much happening.  Continuing to read a lot.  I have not bought a book yet this month.  I'm really proud of myself--I can have some self control.  It also helps that people at work know, so I can't sneak one in. I'm reading some great new fiction, and making some inroads into the purchased-but-not-read stacks I have.  And, I've convinced my niece Jamie to finally read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Gosh!  It took her long enough.  It helps to be a relentless drone in her ear, and also to have Kirk say "You haven't read that yet?!"  Can't wait to hear what she thinks of it.  Mocking Jay comes out next week.    


I'll keep you posted on my running this week.  I know ya'll are just sitting on pins and needles waiting for my updates!  Oh--I was thisclose to a Garmin 110 at Scheels yesterday.  It had the heart monitor built in, and was too expensive.  I so want one!  Continuing to drop my change in the margarita bucket I use as a fund building container at home.  I would love to have it for both my half marathons in Sept and Oct, but I don't think it will happen--at least for the Sept half.  Keep your fingers crossed!

A Lousy Run to Close Out the Week

Yuck.  Bad.  Not happy.  I was supposed to run 6 miles today.  I got up too late to run before I  went to the farmer's market downtown with my sister and her family, and then went home.  It was cool and cloudy; looking good.  Then it rained.  Then I fell asleep on the couch.  When I woke up, it was around 1 pm and very sunny outside.  Cue the humidity.

I bought a hydration belt the other day and was so excited to try it out.  I mixed up some Heed from Hammer, and filled my bottle.  Drove to a new place to run which I was told was a two mile loop, but when I looked it up on the trail info website, it's really only 1.6 miles.  So, had to recalculate my running--should do four trips around to get to my 6 and a little over.

So, I started out, after calling Bud and letting him know where I was and that I would call him back after my run.  It was a new place, and I just wanted someone to know where I was, since it is not on my list of regular running places.  I ran about 20 feet before my hydration belt began to do a dance around my middle.  I tried to tighten it, but the only way it would stay in one spot was if I ran with one hand holding it down.  The sun was blazing, and I was really peeved and disappointed with my hydration belt.

 I made it around 3 times, stopping to walk and adjust the belt continuously.  It stays in place if you walk, so I may gift it to C-Joy for her to use in her half marathon.  It's great for walking, but not for running.  I'm not happy, since I had decided this would keep me from stopping at water stops during my races, and help me improve my time.  All it did was slow me way down and annoy me.  And it made me feel lopsided.

Back to square one.  I will have to just suck it up and grab water at the water stops like I always have done.  I really have no idea how to carry my drink with me comfortably.  I am also very unhappy that I didn't complete my 6 miles.  I just gave up, which I usually don't do, but I had just had it!  Maybe it's from running three days in a row, in the heat, and not when I wanted to, but when I could.  I can only hope that when it begins to cool down, my running will improve since my body has completely forgotten what it's like to run without major heat and humidity.  I'm glad I'm not training for a full marathon, cause I would have serious thoughts about dropping out.  What a summer for running.  I'm pretty sure many people across the country feel the same way I do.

After going to Target to get some things, I came home.  Bud called me.  I forgot to call him.  He was ready to drive over and find my car to make sure I was ok.  I feel like a crumb.  Oops.

Taking tomorrow off; it's supposed to be 90 degrees with the humidity climbing again this week.  Only had one day of lovely weather.
Ten mile run to accomplish; my goal is to do it on Tuesday, my other day off.  Going to get up and be out by 6 A.M. to accomplish it before it gets too uncomfortable.

On the bright side, the Sac and Fox Trail has been repaired from the 2008 flood, so  I am going to go there Sunday afternoon and ride my bike--get some cross training in for the week.

Less than a month away from the half marathon!  Getting a little nervous, although I am definitely better prepared than I was in May.

Running Week in Review-- I Made My Goal!

I just finished up my last run for the week, and now I'm cleaned up and my appetite is waking up rapidly!  I need food!!  Mexican, hopefully.

My weekly running goal for this week was 21 miles, and with my 5 mile run today after work, I did it.  I'm so happy with myself.  It was hot running; the humidity was bearable, but I am so used to complaining about the smothering effects of a high dew point, I've  forgotten what it's like to just have it be hot outside.  Can you tell I prefer to run when it's 60-65 outside?

I have to say I am feeling better about my running, although I am still frustrated at my slow pace.  I hope the alternating weeks of hill and speed work over the next month will help improve my speed on race day--which is on Sept. 5th--about a month away!  I'm debating getting a waist belt for carrying my drinks with me when I run long distances.  It would be nice to have my preferred beverage with me, and then I wouldn't have to stop at the drink stations, cutting into my time.  I'm going to check them out and think about it, although I need to decide quickly so I can practice running with it.

So next week is only 18 miles:  hill work of 4 miles, a long run of 6 miles, and a few more 4 milers thrown in.  Two days of cross-training and one day off.  The day off will have to be tomorrow, since I work all day and I can squeeze in the rest during the week.

I am going to have to replace the pads in my shoes sometime soon, and I have a problem with my running shoes:  I've managed to poke a hole in the tops of both shoes where my big toe resides.  I've superglued one shoe, and it seems to be holding.  I guess I'll do the same with the other one.  I may have to get another pair of shoes before I run my third and final half marathon in October.

Running Recap for This Week--Mother Nature Packs a Wallop!

My sad smiley face

Well, my goal total mileage this week was 19 miles.  I failed to reach my goal.  I am disappointed, since I did so well last week!  


The weather has definitely been a factor.  I still have a difficult time running in high humidity.  It just does not make running a feel good experience.  But, I made myself run twice today, to make up for my lack of running on Friday--I should have run 4 miles yesterday, but between storms and the high humidity, it just wasn't in the cards.  Going down to the gym is equally unpleasant, since the humidity level in there (created by all the sweaty people) makes it gross.  I will probably try running there for the speed runs I have to do, since it's easier to do them on a treadmill--you increase your speed, and it's run or fall off the treadmill!  And no holding on--that doesn't count.


I did manage to do my two days of cross-training; one day was weights, another was bike riding.  This next week my mileage increases to 21 miles with a speed day and a hill day, along with a long run of 8 miles.  
So I'm closing the book on this week, and looking ahead to more running delights next week.  I've discovered I really crave honey roasted peanuts after a long run, and while flavored water ( I tried Propel powder in my water bottle) helps me drink more and tastes better during a run, it still doesn't sit very well afterwards.  The search continues for something that hydrates and gives me energy without giving me a queasy stomach.


Must go--the couch is calling me!