Too Hot to Function

Unless you live in Seattle or have not left your house in a week, you are likely being tormented by the ridiculous heat wave scorching the country right now.  Well today, it officially hit us here in DC.  I have been hot since I walked the dog at 7:00.  And even running on the treadmill tonight, in a temperature controlled environment, I was still feeling the heat permeate from the window in front of me as a ran.  (Yeah, our windows are crap.)  I was so not feeling my run today.  Furthermore, I am completely dreading the long run scheduled for Saturday (as the low Friday night is only supposed to get down to 81.)  If I'm lucky, when I head out the door at 6:00 a.m., it will only be in the low 80s.  Yuck.  I'm over this heat, and wishing that I still lived in San Luis Obispo.

Miles logged: 5.65
Miles I was supposed to log: 3
Pace: 9:15 / mile

Pour a Little for My Fallen Homies

It was over 3 1/2 years ago that we bought our treadmill.  At the time, I was trying to get pregnant but had not yet been successful.  I started walking 2-3 miles a day on the treadmill, and within the month, I was pregnant.  No kidding.  Clomid did nothing for me except to make me hormonal, crazy and stressed out, but a little bit of physical activity, and all the sudden I was knocked up.  I walked all of the way through a particularly complicated pregnancy, which I am quite positive kept me healthy enough to handle all of the randomness that happened health-wise during that time in my life.  I took six weeks off post-partum to recover from my c-section, and then back to it.  When after a few months, I decided I wanted more of a challenge, I threw a little bit of running in during my daily walk.  By the boy's first birthday, I was running 5 miles a day, and the rest (as they say) is history.  Today, I run because it keeps me healthy.  I run because it makes me feel strong.  I run because I can.

All of this to say that I think my treadmill is close to death, and that makes me sad.  I figure I've logged a little over 4680 miles in the last 3 1/2 years, about 2/3 of which were on that treadmill.  My mechanic is working on it now to see if we can coax a few more months out of it, but if it lasts that long, I'll be impressed.

Miles logged: 6.35
Miles I was supposed to log: 6
Pace: 9:30 / mile

Boom-boom. Boom-boom.

Today, my quads feel like massive tree trunks, and I am totally feeling the lunges I did yesterday.  I didn't run so much as I stomped along on the treadmill.  Hopefully, tomorrow I will feel normal again.

Miles logged: 5.65 + a whole lot of downward dog to stretch out my legs after the run
Miles I was supposed to log: 3
Pace: 9:15 / mile

"Hello Michelle. It's been 286 days since your last yoga session."

So yeah... Saturday when I said that I could have run for miles and miles more than my scheduled 12, well it's good that I didn't because today, I was sore.  Not hurt sore, just tired-muscle sore.  So I opted to just do a slow and easy short run and then augment my workout with strength training.  (Subsequently, my strength training program of choice was Wii Fit, which reminded me that it's been 286 days since my last session.  Oops.  Best intentions and all that.)  I have a feeling that this is the week that I will start cutting down on the mileage of weekday runs to so that I can better recover from the long weekend runs.  At this point, my plan is to listen to my body and play it by ear.

Miles logged: 3.5 + strength training
Miles I was supposed to log: 0
Pace: 9:40 / mile

Pack Mentality

Today I had one of those runs where I just kicked butt. I ran 12 miles, and when I finished, I felt invigorated, strong, and that I could go on for quite a big longer.  (5 more miles? 10?)  That would of course been completely stupid to do just 3 weeks into my training, but this feeling is exactly what keeps me going at this.  Raah!

I opted to run with a local running group this morning, which no doubt contributed to the energy of today's run.  There is something about trotting along in a group that helps me push on ahead more easily and with less concern for the passing miles.  I've run with this group a few times before, but typically, things like wanting to sleep in later, logistical challenges, or not liking a particular route have kept me from participating in their group long runs.  That said, today shows me that I'm better off to just suck it up and make it happen because I'm liking the feeling of this whole group-run thing.

Miles logged: 12
Miles I was supposed to log: 12
Pace: 9:30 / mile

Thud

Today, I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and got my run in. Go ahead and pick yourself up off of the floor.

Miles logged: 5.65
Miles I was supposed to log: 3
Pace: 9:15 / mile

You Get What You Get

I got my hair cut today (on a lark I might add.)  It's not quite what I asked for.  I wanted a short bob, but I got another shoulder length bob with layers... that I hope I don't have to go back in a week and get fixed like I did the last time because my hair had that 90's Rachel / mushroom look going on. 

I have to confess that the strong desire to come home and do a trial run fixing my new haircut was almost enough to distract me from running.  But I managed to exhibit some self control and do what I am supposed to do.  That is all.

Miles logged: 5.65
Miles I was supposed to log: 5
Pace: 9:15 / mile