96% Humidity

I'm not sure if it was correct but my thermostat said 96% humidity.  I ran up to 17 minutes with my interval training and then I was lucky to run 1 minute.  I hit a wall hard.  Strangely enough I ran 3.24 miles in 37.2 minutes, even with my erratic running in the end.  This makes me believe that I was running a pretty fast pace in the beginning.  I wonder what it would have been if I was able to keep the running up.

An acquaintance of mine started running after she swore she would never run further then her 25 minutes a day.  She loves working out, taekwondo, P90X and now running.  I told her in June that I was training for the Disney half marathon and if I could do it she could.  That I hate running but I'm doing it.  No no she said, I could never run that far.  I bumped into her yesterday and she is now running back to back 20 miles a day, 7 minute miles, and will be running her first marathon in October.  (She lost a toenail and is losing another one .... weird.)  I feel quite confident that she thought, damn if Joanne is doing it should be easy for me :).  I know that is true and I'm happy for her but feel she is stealing my thunder.  Sigh, I still persist.


I thought of her on my run today, thinking that perhaps I can push myself out of my boundaries and make the get past my 5 mile wall that I have not past.

3.24 miles in 37.2 minutes
11.43 minute mile

Starting a New Training Program

Since my foot got me off track for a bit, I needed a new plan to keep me motivated and goal oriented.  I found a half marathon training program the Marathon Rookie website.  I copied it over to a spread sheet and put in dates instead of Week 1, Week 2, etc. I like it this way because I seem to be able to visualize what is going on in my life during these months.  This week is:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday 3 miles
Wed:  rest
Thurs:  3
Friday: 3
Sat: Rest
Sunday: 4

So I did a bit more then 3 miles today, I did 3.24 in 38 minutes.  The last half mile I felt really sick, like wanting to throw up sick.  When I got back I saw it was 70% humidity.  It had just rain and the temperature was 80, so steam was coming off the road and I guess it was hard for me to take.  Luckily I was in my last half mile.  I thought of George S. Patton, "....the body is always tired..."

And I guess I will see you tomorrow for my next 3.24 miles.

Running in the Heat

As most of you know this summer has been a scorcher.  I've decided to take it easy.  My girls are showing their sheep at the fair and we just moved into a new house.  I am frazzled.  I've decided to just run a couple of miles every other day.  I continue to go to taekwondo which we do some running there as a warm up.

Starting next week I hope to get up before the sun to run.  We'll see.  I almost think I need a week to recover from this week.  Alas, with the new house I think we will be constantly moving for a month.  I want to go away for vacation but when the hubby is stressed he gets sick.  Of course, if I don't get away, I'm going to go insane, so what do I do?

Running in Humidity

I stepped outside and I could feel my skin tingle, it was humid out.  As I started my run I could feel the thickness of the air.  In less then 15 minutes into my run, a drip of sweat came down the side of my head.  In less then 30 minutes, it was dripping in my eyes.  I didn't expect to do well.

My accomplishments today ..... mmmm, I ran 4 miles in humid weather.  I was able to do 5 continuous intervals of 5/1.  I figure when I get up to 7 intervals I will be able to do the 5 miles again.

My obstacles:  I ran slow, 4 miles in 51 minutes.

My mantra was take it easy and it appears I did.  I'm disappointed that I seem to get worse and worse with each passing day.

I just read the Runner's World magazine, link below, that said that for each 5 degrees above 60, can slow your pace by 20-30 seconds.  Wow!

I've been looking up tips of hot humid running and I found these sites pretty good:
Runner's World: Beat the Heat - this one relates to me the most.
Cool Running: Hot Weather Running
Tips for running in the hot humid weather

Ran 4 miles, not so well

I ran four miles yesterday in 50 minutes.  That's pretty bad.  I was hoping for 46 minutes maximum.  My instructor at taekwondo wants to start jogging Monday and Friday mornings at 6 am.  I'd like to make it but I don't think I can get up that early in the morning.  Plus there is another mom there who would like to run with me but I think she is a slow runner. 

I've also attached the BeeWell Music to this Blog.  I'm going to try it out.  Supposedly you can download 5  songs per week to go with your running.  I think they're free.  If it works out I'll keep it.

Lastly, my foot seems to be doing better.  The orthopedic said that the tendon was too stiff, so every chance I get I've been stretching it.  And I try not to sit on my foot anymore but keep it on the floor so that it is flexed most of the time.  The mornings are the worse but this morning.  Not so bad.

K, so my kids are harassing me.  I think I should try more pictures on this blog.

4 miles in 50 minutes
12.5 minute mile ..... not as bad as I thought. :)

BeeWell Challenge at BeeWell for Life

I just joined .....

BeeWell Challenge at BeeWell for Life

It looks like a great program. Not only does each mile help Breast Cancer Research, it gives you tools to keep track of your progress, recipes, and calorie intake. No I'm not getting money from this site. ;-), I really don't make anything from this blog. I'm just trying to bring tools to help you to keep running and just letting you know what I'm up to. :)

3 Week Hiatus - Can I start up again?

I know I haven't written in a while. I was continually having foot trouble. I took three weeks off to rest it but it didn't improve. I finally went to a foot specialist. He said it's just sore and I can still run. He told me to stretch before and after running. I was just stretching before. He said to continue to ice it and I can soak it too.

So after 3 weeks of not running I went out into this hot summer to run. I was nervous because well I didn't know how fit I was. In those three weeks I also had a summer cold. Go figure, nothing during the winter but sick as a dog in the summer. I didn't know if I should go back to the couch to 5K or do my normal 5/1 run/walk split and for how long or what. Everyone was telling me I'll have body memory.

I had to make a decision if I was going to start up again. It's not easy, there was too many unknowns. I decided on 2 miles and do 5/1 and see where it takes me. I decided this run is to see how my body does and determine a plan of action afterward. My hubby asked if I wanted him to run with me, I said no, I need to find my rhythm.

Although my breathing was regular, I felt my stride was irregular, my steps were heavy and cluncky. I know that sounds funny but that's the best way I could describe it, cluncky.

I'm happy to say, even though I need to work on my rhythm, I was able to do 3 sessions of 5/1. My last one was straight up a hill that's pretty steep so I broke it up. That part of the run I usually break up. I'm ready to do 3 miles I believe, 4 miles by next weekend and maybe 5 miles again by the following weekend. So I might be a bit behind schedule but I think I can catch up.