Brown Socks

Make it stop!

No- not the pain, I can handle that. It's the heat!  It's still in the hundreds this week. There is supposed to be a cool front coming through tonight....PLEASE let it be true!

Half-week recap:

Monday, I took a day off after my Sunday long run, and I sooo needed it. I never run on the road, let alone 16 miles, so my legs were more than a bit SORE.  Achy actually, like my bones were aching.  Give me the trails.

Yesterday I got a run in before work  when it was cool (in the 80's) at 7AM.  I set my alarm for about 5:30 and dragged myself downstairs to eat breakfast and watch TV before heading out.  The guys were still sleeping so I tiptoed downstairs and turned on the dining room light and dimmed it low. I made my way into the kitchen, using the dining room light to locate my breakfast: Powerbar and water.  I fill up a glass with ice and water and proceed to grab my Powerbar to eat in the living room as I watched the news. But the Powerbar is sticking to the counter (yes, the wrapper was on). I pull at the the Powerbar and it is still sticking to the counter. Now, I am still sleepy and it is fairly dark and this makes no sense. Did the package rip open and the sticky bar "melt" through the wrapper and fuse to the counter? I'm baffled and I pull on the bar again, and it is still stuck.

Finally, I get the Powerbar off of the counter. Guess what I found. Three large pieces of duct tape were holding the Powerbar onto the counter.  Zack.  Very Funny.

Today was quality workout day. I checked the temperature before I left work to meet up with the training group- it was 105.  I can not run SLOWLY in the heat like that, let alone up a hill and fast.  We head over to the park, doing our warm up along the way. The warm up nearly made me barf and I hadn't even done the work-out yet.  GREAT.  The workout: 400 meters up a hill at a 10K pace, 200 meters jogging, and 600 meters at 5K pace. Whatever, all of my paces are the same.  Slow.  I just wanted to get the damn thing over with and now throw-up.

The first 2 were just terrible. I felt like I was breathing through a straw and the heat made my arms feel prickly. I didn't think I would make it around another time after the second one.  But, I did another one, and another one- dying the entire time- but staying consistent(ly slow).  For real- it was 105 degrees and I had NO business being out there running at any pace.

The one good thing being in Baltimore next week is at least it will be cooler! I won't know what to do with myself when I breathe in some cool crisp air...

Heavy legs

I got a pretty intense sports massage yesterday, and today my legs feel like I ran 15 miles. I went running today, just 3, but it was like running with cement blocks for shoes. Was I supposed to take a day off? I can't remember. . . Oh well.

The Summer Wind...

Well, It's not summer yet, but it is beginning to feel like it!

I left work early today to go running at the trail.  Before I left, I checked the weather and it was 88 degrees. I realized I forgot my hat, so I was hoping that the sun wouldn't be too bright. Being a native New-Yorker my body does not tolerate the blazing Texas afternoon sun too well.

The sky seemed overcast, so I figured I was in luck. However, once I got out I realized it was going to be one of those runs...the kind of run where you know your body just isn't ready for the sun and the humidity yet.  My body hasn't adapted yet, and the sun stings and even breathing is more difficult.

The first half of the run was actually really nice; it was very sunny, but the shade of the trees felt cool and refreshing. I would run from the heat, under a tree and actually feel the temperature drop. I reminded myself to enjoy this because pretty soon it will be hot everywhere, including the shade.

I stopped halfway at 2 miles for a drink, and went back to running. But,  little by little I felt my energy being zapped away. I remember this happening last year and acclimating to the afternoon heat and humidity took some time.  I suffered a few headaches and stomach-aches last year trying to get used to running in the Texas afternoon heat. 

I was dragging by the time I reached the car, and when I looked in the rear view mirror I looked like a tomato. I didn't actually feel as bad as I looked, but I wondered if people that I passed were concerned for my health. I saw a few other busted people too, though. There was some serious sweating going on out there today.