Running from the Heat Wave: 8/15-8/21

[limewave]

Switching gears from mountain bike training and into 1/2 Marathon training.

Ran 7.5 miles yesterday at about a 9:15 pace average. It felt surprisingly good. I'm really looking forward to this race

[skhill]

Sounds like a good start to HM training, limewave!

The heat has finally broken here today-- it's actually seasonally hot, not crazy hot today!! This morning's 4 miles were *so* pleasant...

Sat. night we had our biggest 5k of the summer here. Or it would have been, if it weren't for the thunderstorms that started rumbling through, about an hour before race time. They were expecting 5000+, and about 2500 showed. That's ok, made for less crowding at the start line. With all the rain, I couldn't see through my glasses, so I took them off. Without them, I couldn't see where I was putting my feet (in an ankle deep puddle, one time). It didn't help either that the race started and ended on a stretch of freshly paved road, which was very slick in the rain. So I had to run a bit slower than I had hoped to; finished in 26:42, 20th in my age group. I'll take it-- it's a whole lot better than I did last year!

Tomorrow morning's supposed to be downright cool; I can't wait to get out there and run...

[OakLeaf]

The heat broke here today, too. What a beautiful day.

Pity it was mile repeats day. I dread them more than any other workout. They're like the Ghost of Races Yet to Come, commanding me with a sinewy finger to look on the results sheet.

Three today; maybe four next time, depending on how I feel.

[Jolt]

25-minute (I'm not sure how long the loop is, maybe 2.5 miles) barefoot neighborhood run today after a thunderstorm blew through. Not that hot here today, but humid. I decided to wear my heart rate monitor today which I hadn't done in a while. After the first ten minutes of the run, I had a hard time keeping my heart rate out of the 180s and 190s without slowing down to a walk (which I did do on the hill that always kicks my butt). Not sure why it still tends to go so high when I've been running for as long as I have. It drops pretty quickly during the first minute after I stop, and resting it's in the low to mid 50s, so it's not like I'm out of shape. So why does it shoot sky-high while running?

[WindingRoad]

Gonna be back to the running thread soon girls.... in transition with school. Found out there IS a running group at my new school, very cool!

[katluvr]

So after a dismal run on Sat AM I am trying to refocus & find my "joy of running" again. I made it to the gym after work (the heat her is more than oppressive) and had a date with the treadmill. I was scheduled for a 30 minute run. I just it easy with a slow warm up then a steady 5.3 mph. Felt like a comfortable pace & I felt pretty good. Headed back to treadmill again & did a "hill program", did a pretty low level & again a slow warm up to 5.3 mph. Again i felt good. I think I'll try & get out early & brave the heat outside tomorrow. Can't wait til we see 70's in the AM again.
K

[skhill]

Today was supposed to be a rest day, so I planned on sleeping in a bit (all the way to 6am!). But my dog and cats don't understand the concept of "sleeping in"... It was so nice out when I let the dog out that I decided to run anyway. It was just a gentle 3 miles through the neighborhood, as the various backyard chicken flocks were waking up (they sleep later than my cats!).

Tomorrow's schedule has me doing my first 10 miler in a couple months; and isn't there something exciting about those round numbers?

[limewave]

Apparently I'm still recovering from last week. I missed my scheduled 5 mile run earlier this week and didn't get in my bike rides.

Today is a new day! Right?

Got up and did 5 miles of speed work before the oppressive heat set in. It felt really good. After each set I wanted to walk or quit or cut the workout short. But I pressed on, doing each set to my fullest ability and bettered my goal pace times!

[OakLeaf]

Well, I think my magic 8-ball was a little ambitious today.

I did 20... we'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Maybe I was a little dehydrated before I started out (very possible), maybe I just need to route in a water stop even with my new 3-liter pack (also very possible). I ran out of water with about 3.5 to go, so not catastrophic, but I sure could have used a bit more.

Yes, if I had been having any symptoms or if I'd run out farther from home, I would have stopped at someone's house and asked (or stolen water from their hose if no one was home).

[Jolt]

25-minute neighborhood loop first thing this morning to avoid the heat; it's actually 2.25 miles not 2.5 as I had originally estimated (darn!). My heart rate shot up even faster than it normally does--maybe first thing in the morning isn't such a great time for me to run!

[katluvr]

I did one of my speed work routines from when I had an online coach a couple years ago. Did it this past Wed on the treadmill, only did 4 speed intervals instead of the 5, but overall very happy with my performance.
This AM was 5 miler with my running group. I still find myself running alone. Anyway considering the heat index at 6:30 this AM was about 96. The mileage was really only 4.8 and my overall pace was 10:56. Not bad for me considering the heat. I long for 70 degrees.
I plan to go swimming later today. I am toying with the idea of a tri in December, I have a swim "lesson" Monday. I guess that is a whole other thread.
K

[skhill]

Got in my 10 miles this morning. I decided to try out a new route, in an area I'd only traveled by car/bus before. It was great, if hilly, until I made a turn onto a road that I knew had a fair bit of traffic and no sidewalk. What I didn't realize was just how hazardous the road was-- it used to be a little country lane, then got swallowed by the city. It never got widened, tho. Two narrow lanes, with hedges/bushes/drop-offs right next to the pavement at times. I survived, but I'm not going that way again!

8 miles in, I was wishing I'd brought something to eat, but kept slogging on and made it home, shortly before the rain started. All in all, a good run, and a good start to the weekend!