Weather - 84 degrees, sunny, humid. First warm day with high humidity, it made for a tough long run. I should mention that I ran between 1:00-3:00pm. I started out strong, running 6 1/2-7 1/2 minute miles, but after 45 minutes I was losing too much water and felt dehydrated. I was running figure 8 loops in Busey Woods, so I left the woods and went to the spray fountain in the park and soaked myself. I felt I would be fortunate if I could run 90 minutes. When I got to Carle Park I soaked myself again, and repeated this when I arrived at Meadowbrook Park. I checked my watch at this point, 91 minutes, I kept running, slugging out each minute. At 1:45 I wanted to stop, but after all of the prior work I decided to gut out another 15 minutes. I passed my house at the 1:50 mark. I stopped the watch, went inside and drank a glass of V8, a glass of Bolthouse Farms Blue Juice, ate a banana covered in sunflower seed butter, and finished it off with a glass of cold water. When I went to the sink to splash cold water on my face I looked in the mirror and saw that my running shirt was covered in white salt stains - that is not a good sign. I resumed my run and was able to complete the 2 hours. I slowed considerably during the final 5 miles, probably 8 1/2-9 minute miles - it was like hitting the marathon wall, but way too early. I stopped at Cardinal when I finished and did strength exercises and stretching, then walked 10 minutes home. #196 z.m. - #109 | 