running for my mind

6.5 easy miles on the usual out and back. 

Whit joined me on rollerblades this morning pushing Grey in the stroller. It was fun to have them there. They would fly past me on the downhill sections and I would catch them on the rises. On the flats it was easy for them to cruise along so it helped me push the pace a little on the second half.

6 miles in a new pair of kicks today. I stepped out of my comfort zone of the Brooks PureFlow and purchased the Kinvara. I really like the PureFlow 1, but I don't really like the new model. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find the original PureFlow so I am moving on...slowly.

Had a good run for sure. I didn't have any pain at all. Decided to push a couple miles in the middle. I wanted to do some speed work, but didn't want to go too crazy because of my race on Saturday. I still don't know what my strategy is for Saturday, but I think I am going to have a goal of simply sub-1:30.

5.5 with Adam in the heat of the day at 4pm.

Was fun to get out and get the legs moving after hours of studying. Pushed Grey in the stroller and at times with the light breeze I felt like the stroller was a giant parachute! Going to try and get a few miles tomorrow in and then head to Boise early Friday morning..

HOT! 

Went out for 4 miles at 5pm to see how the heat would feel because my race on Saturday is late in the day and I expect to start running the half marathon at about 4pm. Predicted temperature is 86 degrees and sunny! I pushed the pace a little to get a more accurate feel of what it might feel like Saturday.

I felt alright in the legs, but my lungs were burning up. My chest, at about the top of my abs, was hurting significantly. I didn't feel great at all. My nutrition and hydration were not great today so I think that was definitely part of it. The race has water stations every mile so that should help. 

With the heat, I think I am going to start out at about a 7:00 pace and work myself down from there. I just don't know how much the heat is going to effect me. I know I will run faster than training days because of it being a race and having people around me so maybe that will balance out the heat. Nevertheless, it should be a fun race and I am excited for it.

Was a really hot run in 96 degrees. I didn't feel great, most likely due to the heat. But, I was able to hold my pace through about mile 9. Then I started feeling pretty sick and was even starting to weave a little here and there. I had to dig deep to finish and our relay team took first overall. It was fun to be on the podium. 

[I will write a longer race report later]