Running in the Middle

Was a great evening for a long run.  Started out a little fast and it was still quite hot out.  Had about 4 really good miles, but mis-calculated where I thought there was a drinking fountain on the new trail.  Turns out there were just picnic tables at the spot I thought I could get water.  So had to go back two miles before I could get a drink.  Felt myself over heating and getting dehydrated and that sucked.  

Saw a huge rattlesnake on the side of the road, about four feet long and pretty fat.  That was enough close encounters with Nature to last me the whole summer.  Had a nice drink finally then finished out my eight miles feeling better but a little sloshy in the tummy.  Now that its getting hot I need to be more careful about staying hydrated, I didn't feel so good after I got home and I knew I had gotten too dehydrated.

Took two days off and gave my right foot a little rest, its been acting up a bit.  It felt much better on todays run. One mile warmup, three mile tempo.  Last mile wasn't really a cool down, but it was uphill and slower.  Got some new tank tops for running and so far they are pretty good. It feels strange to run in something new, I'm such a creature of habit with my running wardrobe.  I seldom switch it up.

Went easy on myself and just did a comfortable 3 miles.  Happy National Running Day to everyone.  I'm pretty sure there were a bunch more people than usual out on the trail tonight.  

I tried a new kind of workout today, thanks for runners world magazine.  I found the biggest hill in the neighborhood and did hill repeats.  Its a quarter mile long with 140 ft gain, and I did it up and down 5 times.  Did a mile or so warm-up and cool down and that was a great workout.  My legs felt a little like jelly after I was done, which is not usually how they feel.  So I think I must have worked them in a new way, how exciting.

Had to push my long run to Sunday morning instead of Saturday.  Spent all Sat morning at the SLC Farmers Market vending veggies with my brother.  We have an Organic Farm in Orem and we bring produce to market all summer long.  Did 11 and should have started an hour earlier because it started to get pretty hot.  This run started super slow because I was so exhausted from a big day on Sat.  But was a true progressive run with each mile just a little bit faster all the way till the end.

Nice morning, just a little bit windy.  Almost got up early enough to beat the heat, but it was pretty warm at 7:30am for this time of year.  Had a good 5 mile run.  One mile warm-up and 4 miles hard.  I have a 5k on Saturday and I'm getting anxious about it already.  I must be the queen of pre-race jitters.  I don't even know why I get that way, its just a fun run I'm doing with my sisters and sister in -law.  I just hope I can make my goal.  My last 5k was a 8:07 avg pace.  I really want to get this on 8 flat or under.  Great, now I'm making myself more anxious thinking about it.

3 easy miles on the treadmill.  Pretty hot in my garage, it was a major sweat fest.

Met my sister in law at the Orem Library.  We did a half mile warm-up jog together nice and easy.  Sadly I did not have my heart in the race, I was feeling really disappointed that my two sisters that were going to run it with me bailed at the last minute.  I was going to try and break 25 minutes today but I just didn't have the drive in me.  Did my 3.06 according to my garmin, didn't race so much as I just ran it.  Finished with a decent time for me, but I know I'm capable of better.  Guess I can't read too much into it, there is always another day and another race to do my best.  Did 2 miles easy when I got home to losen things up a bit, that was mentally refreshing for me.

This race was really poorly organized by the way.  Poor firefighters were trying their best but things were just really going badly for them today.  They had their timing all messed up because their computer guy did not show up.  They were not able to get the results posted or give out the age division awards.  Sent everyone on their way and said they would post it online and mail out awards to any winners.   

Started out this run a little faster than I thought I was going to because I was tired from a really lousy nights sleep.  Still did 6.6 at a moderate pace and had a good run.  Started to get a little hot at the end, its going to be a hot day.  At least I get to go to the pool today and cool off.

5 mile tempo run, felt good and had lots of energy.  Problem with my right foot in the midfoot area.  Not along the bottom of the foot, a little higher up.  Not sure what is going on with it.  I think its been coming on slowly for a few weeks.  Felt pretty sore after my last run, and even more sore after this run.  Felt fine while I was running, but started to hurt after I stopped.  I hate injuries, and I have a half marathon in 3 weeks.  Please don't be a stress fracture, Please don't be a stress fracture.

Last week my running schedule was a little messed up because of the issues I was having with my right foot.  However it seemed to calm down on Saturday and I was able to have a really nice run this morning.  Did 10 nice and easy and my foot was feeling pretty decent and I was really relieved about that.

It started getting hot really early this morning, in fact I'm not sure if it ever really cooled down from yesterday.  Had a nice and easy slow 5 miler and wore my brooks pureflow to see how they felt after a long time not using them.  I wanted to see if they alleviated my right foot pain in any way compared to my vomeros.  And I have to say my foot feels way better after this run then the previous runs in my vomeros.  But the pureflows still bother my joints of my large toes, they just seem to rub or be cut in a way that irritates that area.  So now I feel like I have to go back to the drawing board with my shoes and figure out something totally new.  Running the hobbler half in about 2 weeks and hope I can get this figured out.

Got out early this morning and beat the heat.  It was nice and cool and a beautiful morning.  Ran 1 mile down to my friends house, then we did 3 on the canal trail together.  Its so great to have my favorite running buddy getting back into the groove of things after she has had her baby.  Then 1 mile back home from her house.  

Loosened the laces on my right shoe to try and alleviate pressure on that side but ended up making myself get a large blister on my pinky toe.  Guess that did not really help too much with the situation.

Got up at 6 but was moving kinda slow this morning and did not start my run until 6:50am.I should have gotten up an hour earlier, it started getting hot after the first half hour.  I felt really great on my run today, the miles just rolled by so smooth and easy.  I enjoyed myself and tried to stay cool.  Stopped at every water fountain along the trail and drank and doused myself.  This seemed to keep me going strong till the end.  I feel ready for my 1/2 in two weeks, crossing my fingers that it is a little cooler that day then it was today.