Tag: heat wave

Week 35- Back To

Upcoming Races-

  • SLO Ultra 5 Mile
  • Rock n Roll San Jose 13.1???
  • Rock N Roll Las Vegas 5K
  • Rock N Roll Las Vegas 13.1!!!!!

I ran 4 days this week!  And bought a bed!   I don’t know which is more exciting.

Ok, truth, my miles were still super low but 2 of those 4 days were still technically when I wasn’t “supposed” to be running.  Combine that with our crazy heatwave and I was pretty stoked.  Until I looked at the overall number.  Then I felt a little bummed.  Apparently I’d done my math wrong somewhere, I thought I’d run more.  Boo.

Back to the bed.  My freakin’ bed is breaking me.  My back hurts, my arms hurt, my left hip hurts.  Sleep is just no fun.   To be fair- my left hip can often be fussy- I sleep on my left side.  I went to another bed store to check out more options.   Blech, less blech, yuck, too soft,  wait.   Wait a second- no left hip pain?  Sold!  It’s some sort of hybrid- memory foam and springs.   I can’t even remember who makes it right now, I just want it but instead I have to wait for it to be shipped and then delivered.  Boo.

Back to running, my miles were a bit of struggle this week.  I feel like that break made me lose so much fitness.  Well that and a lackluster July due to conversion.  I’m also not using either inhaler right now because it can still have a reaction with the meds in the antibiotics.  Never taking those again.  So each run has been super slow and a lesson in breathing.   But the doc gave me the all clear to run on Thursday as long as it’s slow and easy, so woo hoo!


Monday-  3.2 miles  It was 100 degrees in home town so I ran in work town which temp wise was about 30 degrees cooler but a super dense marine layer moved in so I was a little worried about how my lungs were going to react.    I kept it super slow and walked whenever I needed to.  I might have run longer but a man popped out of the bushes in the eucalyptus grove and scared the crap out of me so I hightailed it back to my car.   I think he was just waiting for a ride but it weird-ed me out.

Tuesday- Rest


Wednesday- 2.5 miles.  Miserable miles.   It was over 100 degrees after 6.  My shorts kept riding up into non existence.  My pack kept either trying to choke me or the bottle was smacking me in the back of the head.  My breathing was nuts considering I was barely moving.  Finally I decided I was doing more harm than good.  Why I thought a 5 miler was a good idea with temps like that when I wasn’t even technically supposed to be running anyways? Who knows?


Thursday- 2.3 miles All clear!  However it was 101.  So in deference to the heat and the migraine I could feel coming, I just stuck to 2 laps of the lake path.  Either way, it was still better than the day before.

Friday- Rest  Migraine City, baby.  Fun.


Saturday- 6.22 miles I planned for an 8 mile long run but when my alarm went off, I was a little too ill to run (stupid stomach),  I managed to get out the door by 9 but with the temp predicted to hit 112, I knew it was going to get hot too fast.   I signed up for the #RunforTexas virtual run to help raise funds for those affected by Harvey so I knew I was making myself finish a 10K.  To make sure I took it easy, I ran 1 min, walked 1 min which actually put me around a 12 minute pace. Who knew? This was working out ok until 4.8 when my stomach forced me to stop for a bit.  So I parked it on the sidewalk for a few minutes hoping it would calm down so I could continue.   Funnily enough- there was a bright red Corvette for sale on the road side about 20 yards up from where I was sitting.  It was getting a lot of attention from drivers passing by.  I was trying not to stereotype but by the time the 4th car had stopped to check it out- #midlifecrisis anyone?  I finally got up and ran on.  I slowed a bit more, but finished the 10K.  It was 98 when I finished.  8 miles wasn’t happening.

Sunday- Rest  I thought about running but couldn’t get a handle on the weather.  It was 100 again but we also had thunderstorm and lightning warnings.  The humidity was intense and the sky looked weird.  Rain is cool- lightning, not so much.   The rain did come, the storm mostly hit southern county though.

14.2 miles for the week.  Better than previous weeks but not what I had somehow convince myself I had done.  Oops.  Well, at least I’m not a rule breaker anymore.

How was your week?

Any funny run stories?

 

Rambling On 14

Howdy people!

I kind of fell of the grid there for a bit.  I kept meaning to post all week but then just never followed through.   I’ve had a very short attention span all week.  Oops!

3 day weekend ahead!! Woo hoo!!!! Who has plans?  I am going to try and avoid this crazy heat wave we’ve been hit with.   I need to attempt a longish run somehow but Saturday is showing a high of 110.   Yay.😒

I also need to go bed shopping.  Partially Doc’s orders now too.  Need to figure out what part of my tiredness is from my shitty bed and what is thyroid based.  I was like great, can insurance help pay for it then? 😛  Plus bed shopping sucks.  How do I know what feels good? It’s 5 minutes in a store- totally awkward.  Bed stores should have sleep overs.  You like this bed? Alright, come on in on Friday night- 8 to 8.  Sleep a whole night on it. That will give you an idea of how the bed sleeps.

I love my Escape in all ways but 2.  I miss 2 things about my Altima and the day I bought it just popped up on Timehop so I’m feeling nostalgic.  The gas tank.  That car had a 19 gallon tank and damn I miss that.   I get the same gas mileage now but with a smaller tank I feel like I am in the gas station all the damn time.   And hills- that car ate hills for breakfast.  Whereas the Escape cries big crocodile tears.  I live at around 1000 elevation and work at 50.   Depending on which way I go to work I can get up to 2000 and down again.  The Altima purred.  Seriously, it was a source of pride that my tachometer was rarely above 1500 RPM’s.  If someone was tailgating, I knew I’d lose them on the hills.  This one?  Not so much.  I call it names when driving over the grade.  It’s getting better though.  I’m a firm believer that you can train a car.  I said that to mother once and she said I was a nuts.  😛

And the news just gave a heat warning again.   Oh joy.  They even canceled all the high school sporting events due to “excessive heat”.   Home town may break a record high.  Yay.

What are you doing this weekend?

 

Week 25- Speed Bump

Upcoming Races-

  • Rock to the Pier 10K
  • Salinas Valley Half Marathon

So, I may have underestimated just how much work and brain power I was going to need for this system conversion.  I fell a little off the workout wagon last week.  Ok, a lot.   By the end of the week, my brain was fried.  In fact, in a training class on Thursday I asked the dumbest question.  Seriously- everyone turned around and stared at me.  It took me a moment or two to figure out that I was basically confusing an apple for a granola bar.  Total blonde moment.    I’ve only been in the business for 10 years, I felt like an idiot.   Grrr.

Combine work training with the heatwave and I had a serious lack of motivation this week.  I kind of just wanted to sit in my comfy chair on the floor and do nothing.


Monday- 2.3 miles In an effort to adjust to the heat I bypassed the lovely 60 degree weather in work town and headed for the lake path.  It was 94 there which wasn’t pleasant but it wasn’t horrible either.  I was also crawling though.  I probably walked more than I ran.    I was truly surprised by how many people were out walking their dogs.  It was too hot for them!

Tuesday- Rest First day long training session.  Somehow I stayed awake throughout the whole thing!  My hand cramped from taking so many notes.

Wednesday- Rest  I had planned on running but by the end of the day I was just not feeling it.   When work ran late, it seemed like a sign.  I went home.


Thursday- 3.1 miles  Second all day meeting.  This is the one where I asked the ridiculous question.  I also left this one early as I had a DR’s appointment in another town to get to.   Traffic on the freeway was ridiculous, there and back- I was literally yelling in my car.   By the time I got home I was so over it- I did not want to run.  At all.  I sat around for 30 minutes before forcing myself to change and at least attempt a few miles.  It wasn’t an amazing run but it wasn’t horrible either.  I was glad that I followed through though.

Friday- Rest  I was so stinkin’ tired.  I was having troubles finishing my sentences, I was  very happy to see 6:00.  Bring on the weekend!

Saturday- Rest I wandered around SLO with my mother and did some shopping.  For once I managed to go to the Running Warehouse and Not spend any money.  It’s a miracle!  Can’t say the same for Banana Republic or Dick’s though.  😛


Sunday- 10 miles Once again, I got out the door too late.  My stomach wasn’t having it and I didn’t start until 8:00.  Still too late.   In the first 1/4 mile I was distracted by a CHP who I thought was pulling over a car as they came off the highway and I was on the lack of shoulder in the way.  In my haste to get out of the way I ran into a tree branch.  Oops!  1/4 mile later I was passing the cemetery and was glad that I had made plans to meet up with my mom at the end of my run on the other side of town as I could tell they were preparing for a funeral.  I always change my route if I know there will be a service- they don’t need me running by.

The temp wasn’t bad in the beginning but I was riding the struggle bus by mile 5.5.   I welcomed the longer walk break in mile 6 when I walked with my mother for a bit but those last few miles were uncomfortably warm.    I had hoped for a fast finish since I had the aid of a slight downhill but in reality I crawled mile 10.

15.4 miles for the week.  Zero cross training.

This is shaping up to be a very low mileage year and it kind of bugs me.  But obviously not enough as I haven’t made a drastic change yet.  Grrr.  I also don’t see it changing anytime soon as the busyness at work is only ramping up for the month.

Here’s hoping this week is a little more steady.  I already know one of training sessions was postponed so we’ll see how that affects my schedule but I am keeping things very flexible.    But I need to be flexible and steady.

I think I can, I think I can.

How as your week? 

Has summer arrived in your area?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The SF Marathon Training Week 13

13 weeks in and the title got a little shorter.  😛

After my last post, this recap may be a little boring.  But I was so excited about my 20 miler that I just had to share it.   Thanks for all your thoughts!   So let’s see how the rest of week 13 went.


Monday- 4 miles.   Home town was a comfortable 106 so I sucked it up and ran in work town.  I love the views there but feel so awkward.  I don’t know why I am so concerned for customers to see me.  I kept the pace nice and easy but it took me 3 miles to warm up.  My last mile felt the best which was funny as it was all uphill.


Tuesday- Rest.  I’m somewhat sticking to a day on followed by a day off running plan as it seems to keep my shins less aggravated.   Plus a rest day meant that I could participate in BibChat- my first as a BibRave Pro!  😃 😃   I’m looking forward to learning more and participating with BibRave.


Wednesday- 4 miles.  I’m sensing a pattern here.   I got off work early since I had to work Saturday.  Home town was still an oven so I headed to a new path in work town.  It kind of rocked.  I still felt super uncomfortable but I am going to work on pushing those limits.

Thursday-Rest.   I actually wanted to try a few miles to break in my new shoes but it didn’t happen.   I had an eye appointment at the end of the day and the dilation messes with my eyes.  I already have issues with too much brightness, even sunglasses weren’t enough protection post appointment.  I stayed in a dark room until they calmed down.  It wasn’t entirely a waste though.  I spent some time working on the blog.  The SLO milestone was still there- oops.  And now I have a discount page!

Friday-  Rest day.   I worked the late shift so I tried to sleep a little later in preparation for the weekend’s plans.   Wishful thinking, right?

Saturday- Rest.  Again, seriously?  This was intentional.  I knew I was planning a huge (for me) long run on Sunday so I was hoping to rest my legs.  I worked in the morning but things went well so we were able to get out on time.   I ran a few errands, rested the remainder of the day and hydrated like it was my job.    I also probably ate all the wrong things, oops.


Sunday- 20 miles.  Hell yeah!!  I am still riding high on this one.  I actually did it, woo hoo!  You can read all about that here.

28 miles for the week.   Could have been better but could have been worse too.   This week’s focus was on the long run and I would say mission accomplished.   Now if I could just stop talking about it.  😛   Sorry!

Food wise, things have been a little rough.   I would say I am around 40/60 right now.  My nighttime snacking has gotten a little out of control.  Oops.  I really need to get a handle on that.   I say as I eat a cinnamon bear…or 3.

How’s your weather?

What candy is your weakness? 

 

20- The White Whale

If you had told me 2 years ago that I would be training for a marathon, I would have laughed at you.  If you had said that marathon training would happen during a CA summer, I would have responded with a “hell no”.  Had you said that I would get up early on a Sunday morning and go run a 20 miler by myself- I would have told you that you needed to have your head examined.

And yet, that’s exactly what I did.

While I was set on following Hansons, I admit that I had planned some adjustments to the long runs.  I had hoped for a 16 in April, 18 in May, 20 in June and a second 20/22 in July.    16 in April was a success- ran it with Heather and Ashley.  18 in May?  Yeah, that never happened.  Could I pull off 20?

I stuck to the training plan for April and May.  Then I got hurt- since then I’ve been taking it easy on my weekday runs and focusing on the long runs.   The long runs are about the only part of Hansons I’m still doing but really I’m just doing my own thing.   And my own thing really wanted to do 20 this weekend.   Ok, maybe want is not the right word.  😛

Is it sad that one of my biggest worries about this run was getting myself out of bed in the morning?   It’s been averaging in the 105 range here so I knew I would have to head out early.  But I want to sleep in!  I set my alarm and just hoped I wouldn’t hit snooze one too many times.

When you turn your trunk into an aid station
I still haven’t quite figured out how to carry enough water comfortably so I set my car up as an aid station.  I had extra water, Gatorade, Nuun and Honey Stinger chews.  I had a change of shoes, a change of socks and a fresh shirt.   It pays to be prepared right?  I had a looped route planned- 5 miles, then 10, then the last five.  I told myself it was less intimidating if I only thought about each loop at a time.


I started my run around 6:15.  I had hit snooze a few times.  Oops.  I started the run in my new Brooks.  It’s one of the reasons I planned my first loop as a short one.   I walked around 3/4 of the first mile just to make sure I didn’t have a sudden bloody blister problem like the last time I tried to break in new PureFlows.     Everything felt ok so I started running.   I am never out that early, it felt odd.  I thought there would be multiple other people put beating the heat but there wasn’t.   I was feeling pretty good so my first loop ended up being just shy of 8 miles.  I hit my car and filled my water bottle back up and ate 2 chews.

Time for loop 2.   People were starting to appear!  It was also warming up.   My loops were actually comprised of 3 smaller loops around neighborhoods- I could tell it was getting hotter faster than predicted so I looped the top one twice on the second big loop as it was the part of the route with the least amount of shade. I figured I should get it out of the way before it was full on hot.    I also threw down a 10 minute mile in this loop. I never felt like I was moving that fast.   I had only used 1/2 of my water bottle on the first big loop, now I was only halfway through the second loop and I knew I was going to run out.  I made another course adjustment and was able to hit my car just shy of 16 miles.

Manual dexterity was tricky as I was super sweaty so instead of pouring water into my Orange Mud bottle, I just switched bottles.  😛  I was also feeling some chafing around my sports bra, so I took one of those extra socks, got it wet and shoved it in my sports bra.  Classy right?


Loop 3.   I won’t lie I was getting a little tired but overall I felt pretty good.  I hit 16 miles in 3:03 and I was pretty stoked- that was faster than my last one!  I might actually finish 15 minutes before my projected time of 4 hours!  Then came the last 4 miles.   Oh holy heatwave.  It was only in the 80’s but it felt like 100 to me.   My legs were tired but felt like they had more miles in them, my stomach was decent but holy crap, I was hot.   I went through almost 23 ounces of water in 4 miles.  The loop turned into more of an out and back up a hill and I kind of crawled.   But I got it done!!!


20 miles in 3:53:13.  I was still under 4 hours!  And considering mile 17 was 13:10 and 18 and 19 weren’t much faster, I’ll take it!     I walked a little ways back towards my car and took advantage of a shady spot on the path.  I plopped myself down and just sat there for a while.   I was kind of surprised at myself.    Holy crap people, I ran 20 miles- voluntarily.  By myself.  On a Sunday.  I actually followed through and got my ass out of bed early.   I don’t know who I am right now.  


I ended up dumping a bottle of water of over my head to cool off and took myself through the McDonald’s drive thru for a much craved Diet Coke.  It tasted amazing.   😊😊

Ever surprised yourself with a run?  Or anything really?

What do you crave after a hot run?