Blisters and heat are not for me

It just... Well, hot. Hotter than hot. The temps for this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are 104.
Read it again. 104.
Oh.my.word.
What's that gotta do with running. This girl does not mix running with heat very well and I am having a hard time with it.
Today's 5-miler was a near disaster but I got through it. Paces were off in that there was lots of walking involved. Was it the heat of just the mental ge of it all? Who knows!
I do know that I hate blisters and there is one that keeps popping up on the right side of my big toe nail. I have tried bandaids when I run but it's doesn't help. Any suggestions cause it hurts like hell.
Tomorrow I get to get my drill on with the dentist. That might be worse that today's run. Good news is they have cable and Wimbledon is on. I hope I can see over that big drill in the back of my mouth. Yuck.

Tip Over speed is 2

On the bike, I know that tip over speed is 2mph...in that, if you go that slow...well, you tip over.

So, what is the slowest you can run without tipping over...almost found out on hill repeats today.  

Last week, I only ran up half way on the hill and completed 6 repeats.  

Not today!  I decided to run the whole hill no matter how slow I had to go.

I did not in fact tip over but man, I came close.  It was so steep.  It went up and sort of (I say that losely) leveled off and went up again...you get the picture.  It did that 3 times.  

I was able to complete 3 repeats with jogging back down and covered a mile doing that.  

Hell hill repeats done. 

I really hope this helps strengthen my legs.  

Long run last Saturday was close to 11 miles.  Had good pace in there.  Not too worried about that just yet.  

One week down.  19 more to go!  Woot!

wow- yasso's

Let's start off my putting this out there...running at 6 am is MUCH MUCH better than running at 9 am outside.  I know it wouldn't seem like that big of a difference but it makes about 15-20 degrees of difference.  And it is much more shaded.  

Yesterday I had a 5 mile tempo run on tap and didn't get started (out of laziness) until 9:00.  Brutal.  I got it in and I ran my pace but ugh ugh ugh.  I was ready for it to be over.  On a positive note, I ran this solo and I know those kind of runs are going to help me mentally be strong.  

Today's run, I ran with a friend-neighbor.  It was 3 miles but included 2 yasso's.  We did the first mile and a half up hill and 'easy'...how is up hill ever easy?  but anyway.

Then we started the half mile repeats.  She is trying to get back into shape and I knew she was a good runner.  But today I found out she ran track in high school way back when.  and half mile and mile were her events.  great.  Anyway again,  it was great having someone to help pace me.  We ran the two repeats in 3:59 and 4:04...which was GREAT!  A little faster than I needed but I will take it!  

And to close...the cooler temps at 6 am made for a HUGE difference.

I look forward to a much deserved rest day tomorrow and then a good long run on Saturday.  

My favorite moment is when I walk in the house and my Cupcake immediately says, "Mommy go running?"  and I said...yes!

Day 2--cross training

Today is day 2 of SMT (savannah marathon training). My schedule calls for cross training. I am following the advice from Run Less Run Faster in doing non weight bearing cross training to give the legs the appropriate rest they need. So, I hopped on the stationary bike at the gym. I used an app by the makers of LoLo. They make GREAT interval apps for gym equipment. Anyway, this one is for cycling. It is no joke. My legs were jello when I got off. I got in about 7.5 miles on the bike and I did a few arm machines. Feeling good on day 2.

Oh and I pulled out my geriatric compression socks last night to wear while I sleep. My shin was noticeable yesterday and I wanted some blood circulating down there. So I slept like grandma in her socks. I walked into cupcakes room this morning... She usually points out my shoes or socks... She wasn't quite sure about these. Lol!!!

Ice Ice Baby

And so it begins...Training that is!  Yep, today is the day.  Got my plan all mapped out in pencil.  Watched two marathon movies to get me pumped up this weekend.  (cheesy, yes, I know but hey, whatever).  And what do you know...Day 1 is here.  

Started the day off getting an email from coach.  Everyone needs words of encouragement and it came at just the right time.  I literally was heading out the door for my first training run.  

I did 2 easy miles and then 1 mile consisting of hill repeats and recoveries.  The hill I chose was short and steep.  Did I mention steep?  Its one of those where you grit your teeth and grunt and say, son of a b**** as you get near the top.  Ok, maybe only I do that and maybe I am the only one who would think its hard.  But, it was.  I can see feel in my legs how this is going to help strengthen them which is the whole freakin' point.  

So, yay for me and yay for training.  

*queue Vanilla ice....cause I am having to ice my shins to keep some nasty splints away.  All my running peeps are stove up and injured.  I told them to keep their hurts to themselves.  

this week a dud

This week has been a dud...as far as running goes.  Mr. Weatherman has really cranked up the heat and I just wimper. 

Come Monday...gotta put on my big girl panties cause I got some training to do!

I ran at my local running store on Wednesday.  They have a big group run/social on Wednesdays.  Lemme just say...melt.  The heat/humidity was ever present.  Time to acclimate!!! 

Love free stuff!!

BUT...they did have some tables set up with Nuun samples.  I have been hearing about this so it was great to try some and get free samples!!  I also scored a free body glide sample!! yee-ha!

Other than that...I have been a sloth.  With being out for the summer from teaching, I though I would have all this time and really get my running on.  Well, all this time makes for real laziness.  I mean I am still in my pjs, drinking coffee at 10 a.m.  pa.the.tic. 

Next week I start fresh.  Even though about getting up at 5:30 to hit BodyPump. hmmm.... we will see about that.

Oh and I re-committed myself to logging my food on My Fitness Pal...I made some new "friends" there to keep me going. 

Brang it!

all mapped out

Eeee!!!  I have my plan for Savannah all mapped out....training, that is. 

Got the okay except for a few things here and there from coach Mark.  

So, starting Monday, we are a-go.

It is an ambitious but doable plan.  

I was looking at marathonguide.com the other day and looking up my times.

Kind of funny...back a few years ago (ok, 9), I ran 3 marathons.  I first two were in February and May.  I ran those with times almost the same as the one in February.  But I was actually trying to RUN those and this year, I ran/walked the whole thing Galloway style.  

Then the third one that year was in Dec. and it was my PR by 30 minutes from the first two.

It gives me hope to see those numbers.  I might can run another good marathon.  Good by my standards, maybe not someone else's.

Here we are and 20 1/2 weeks out from Savannah.  Bring it!

registered

In honor of National Running Day...I registered for Rock n Roll Savannah Marathon.

(never mind that I saved $20 on registration today!)

So excited. So nervous. So everything!  yippee!!

I worry about the heat in Savannah in November.  But oh well.  It is what it is.

Met up with fellow blogger, Yo Momma Runs yesterday.  So fun!  

Hope to meet up again!

Also, ran into old college friend who is also running in Savannah.

So, maybe those were the signs I needed to go ahead and register.

done.