On Thursday evening I went for a run around the lake path, a route I’ve probably put hundreds of miles on over the years. Some short, some long; it’s still home to my fastest unofficial 5K and once held a race that actually gave me my one and only first over all female win.
However that was years ago and this was not a race. All my runs start with at least a 1/2 mile walk. I know it drags down my overall pace but it’s how I warm up so I don’t care. Much. On this night I passed a woman running that I had never seen there before but let’s be honest I recognize the dogs more than the people. We passed each other going opposite directions during my warm up walk. We later passed each other again once I had started running. Only this time she yelled “hell yeah” and gave me a high five.
At first it made me smile… then I started to wonder. Was it a “hell yeah” in runner solidarity or do I just look so damn new out there? More like a newborn fawn these days than a runner?
I’ve made no secret that I’ve been riding the struggle bus since Big Sur. First my back and hips were causing issues then my left foot has been a jerk for the last month. Motivation has been lagging. Hell, the scale has hit the highest number I’ve ever seen. Oh and random asthma attacks have joined the party.
I don’t really feel like a runner anymore. I feel like a fraud.
Running is hard. Getting out the door is hard. Not giving up is hard.
I think that’s part of why I like the medals so much even if that seems petty. They remind me that I can do harder things. They’re a visual I can hold onto when I’m struggling through a 4 mile run. But then that also frustrates me. Why is it so hard??
I don’t want it all to be easy just a little less huffing and puffing would be nice.
I’m not new. But I am. I’m a runner… even on the days I’m not.
It’s one foot in front of the other, right? And repeat.
Last week was the first of the big work trips and I was super nervous about it. I was driving down to San Diego on Friday and back on Saturday. I’d never driven that far by myself before. I was only freaking out a little. Ok, a fair amount.
I prepared plenty of podcasts to keep me alert- thanks Bibrave and This American Life- for some reason I can only seem to listen to podcast on long drives. But the drives went well if not tiring. As well as possible poor food choices. 😛
Monday- Yoga I wasn’t feeling too great so I passed on running after work and just headed home. I did complete a yoga video later in the evening though.
Tuesday- 4.47 miles/ yoga Haha, should have paid more attention to the GPS before I stopped my watch. I set out for a few miles and just tried to focus on how I was landing my left leg so my foot wouldn’t hurt. I ended up re-lacing my shoe twice but overall it was a pretty decent run.
Wednesday- Yoga I meant to run, it fit my schedule better but for some reason I can’t remember I didn’t.😛
Thursday- 2.25 miles I had a few things I needed to get done before the next day’s trip but I wanted to get a few miles on my legs. However my feet were so not on board. Now, both feet were hurting?! What? Even yoga sounded like a bad idea-just painful.
Friday- Drive/work I left my house around 5:45 in the morning and drove. Unlike the race trip to San Diego, I made good time and arrived around 12ish. Then we worked until after 6 and it was off to the hotel. Originally I had considered running in the hotel fitness center but I was so tired that I crashed pretty hard once I found the hotel and then ate dinner.
Saturday- Drive home This time I wasn’t so lucky and this drive took longer. I hit so much more traffic through the Burbank- Ventura area.
Sunday- 5 miles I was hoping that my feet would allow me to get a good 6-8 mile run but my lungs had other ideas. I had a freakin’ asthma attack in mile 3. I was in denial at first but soon had to admit that it was real and that I really did need my inhaler. And then again. I was toast. I tried to run again but it was just a farce. I slogged my way home and called it at 5.
11.7 miles for the week. Boo. I am so behind where I need to be for the year and I need to figure out what is going on with my feet.
Last week was a typical work week. I got in a few miles, did some yoga (say what?), probably watched too much TV, probably ate too much food, definitely consumed too much popcorn while watching Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Oh and I Twitter stalked the Western States results. As one does.
Monday- 2.32 miles I headed for the lake path after work hoping that the combo of the dirt trail and the flatness of the loop would be good for my foot. It was a little warm- mid 80’s but I was only out there for a short time so how bad could it be? Good lord, I was sweating so bad in those short 2 miles- what gives? 😛 However, as long as I focused on my form and how I landed on both my ankle and my left foot, it wasn’t a bad run. I was feeling a little encouraged.
Tuesday- Rest I wasn’t going to be stupid though and push it.
Wednesday- Rest I was actually supposed to attend a business mixer after work but I ended up feeling super nauseous and sick to my stomach towards the end of work so I ended up just going home. Which sucked because I was planning on running after the mixer too. However when I got back to town, I realized those plans would have been scrapped anyways as town was blanketed in smoke due to a brush fire on the army base.
Thursday- 3.14 miles It was 60 degrees in work town and 100 in home town, where do you think I ran? Yeah, I never claimed to be a genius. It actually didn’t feel that hot but I tried to be smart and made sure I took walk breaks consistently even if I didn’t feel like I needed them. I also made sure I had plenty of hydration on me. Overall, this was a decent run and I only one odd twinge from my foot.
Friday- Hey, migraine, I didn’t invite you to the party.
Saturday- Yoga My migraine was still an unwanted visitor when I woke up in the morning and it never really eased up. It was another really hot day so I wasn’t going to push it with my head already being on the edge. Instead I started a yoga series in the evening.
Sunday- 5 miles/ yoga Temps in the 80’s felt pretty marvelous after the previous few days. I wasn’t feeling like running though so I kept putting it off. Truthfully I just wanted to take a nap. But I made myself change and lace up my shoes and get out there for a few miles. I told myself to do 3 but I was feeling ok so I ended up doing my neighborhood “easy” 5. I shouldn’t call it that… the hills make it feel the opposite of easy. I later did the second yoga video.
10.5 miles for the week. Well, at least the number is going up and I think my foot is starting to cooperate. Fingers crossed.
Fueling and I have a bit of a rocky relationship. I have a tendency to run with just water. Want to know a little secret? I ran Big Sur on zero fuel. I realized a few days before that the pack of gummies I shove in my pack every race day but never touch was actually expired. Oops! I don’t eat breakfast before races either. Part of it is because I am always concerned about my stomach acting up and part of it is that it has never seemed to hinder me.
Yet, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t missing something. So, occasionally I try to step outside my tiny box and try new things.
Ok, though- in truth- on the rare occasion that I ran with pumped up hydration- it was good ol’ Gatorade- the orange flavor is my jam. Mix a bottle with some water and that would be my “last minute” race prep. The Endurance version was new to me though and the flavor even newer. Just in time for the heat of summer, Gatorade is introducing a tasty Watermelon flavor to the Endurance line.
And tasty it is. I was actually super concerned about the taste, I Love watermelon but hate watermelon “flavored” things. No worries here! I love the taste! It does not taste like it is watermelon flavored, it just tastes like watermelon! I was hard pressed not to drink it all at once. Also, I generally run with luke warm water so I was curious what it would taste like when ice cold. The answer? Even better. I had a migraine while at work recently and I was trying to hydrate well. I had the Gatorade Endurance Formula with me at work so I figured why not? Ice cold Watermelon Gatorade Endurance was kind of amazing.
So what makes Gatorade Endurance different?
Along with no artificial sweeteners or flavors
I love the taste and it makes me actually want to drink more while running. Which is great as summer has made its presence known and it’s over 95* most days in home town. That’s half my struggle right there- making myself drink the hydration when I know I should.
How about the Gels?
I am not a huge fan of gels. I normally can’t choke them down even with water which is why they have never been my fuel of choice. That is so not the case here! In fact on first taste, I wondered if I even managed to taste any it was so subtle and smooth. In fact I had, it was just so easy and the new Mango flavor was tasty, I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even need to drink water after it. Who knew??
As for energy- I haven’t run a real long run since San Diego. So I used the gels more as a pre-run boost. Which considering how tired I’ve been lately was probably a good idea. At first I didn’t think it was making any difference, then I noticed I was holding a 10 minute flat pace on 100* runs on my running portions without trying. These days, that’s fast for me but we’ll leave that for another post. Hey now, maybe there’s something to this fuel thing? I am looking forward to trying it on my long runs.
Ok, so some potential downsides-
If you mix the Endurance Formula powder with super cold water it tends to clump. I’ve noticed this with most drink mixes though, it’s probably why I drink mostly barely cold or room temp water.
I wish the scoop was a little smaller for smaller mouthed bottles. I made a little bit of a mess when I forgot my soft flasks and had to use a plastic water bottle one day.
Right now they are both only available to buy online or at a few specialty retailers. Ok- this actually isn’t a drawback for me- I live in tiny town, USA, so would be ordering online anyways but this could be a factor for someone else.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like the new Watermelon flavor from the Gatorade Endurance line and I am going to continue to work on my fueling with the Mango Energy Gels- I have big race goals this fall.
How do you hydrate?
Want to hear more thoughts on the new Gatorade Endurance Formula?
It’s almost July, people, how??? I mean, seriously? It’s almost fair time. Give me a funnel cake! Well, in a month. But in reality I am in denial that the fair is almost here… and that the year is half over.
I did it again. I committed to a race out of town on the same day there will a local half in me hometown sponsored by my work. Oops.
Speaking of work, I will be traveling for work at the end of next week. Not gonna lie, I’ve never driven that far by myself so shout some podcast options to keep me alert on the long drive.
Summer heat has officially, fully arrived. Which also brings fire season. Can it rain at night?
Something angered the Instagram PTB and I’ve been shadow banned. Me? I’m boring- what the heck did I do??? Grrr.
Slacker Runner 