Too Hot

Today I had my first heat related running issue. Because of the lightning I didn't head out till almost 10:00. The humidity was awful. Luckily I passed a splash pad twice that I was able to cool off with. I ran out of water so stopped at a gas station to get more. 

Once home and in the shower I was panting and couldn't stand up so I just sat under the cool spray for 20 minutes. I drank more water while I sat on the couch but ended up throwing it all up. I feel fine now but have no desire to eat anything even though all I've had is a piece of toast before my run.  

I am very much looking forward to cooler weather 

Running on Vacation

With less then 6 weeks to go before my first half marathon, I knew that I couldn't let vacation derail my training. The problem was going to be that my 10 day  vacation was going to include 4 travel days. Planning was key.

I knew that Mom had a built in running path on the farm, leading to the cabin. Each way was just under 1 km, so doing the trip twice would be good for my regular runs.  I got up early the first day I arrived and headed out. I'm used to running on sidewalks so the long, wet grass presented a challenge. Also trying not to trip on fallen apples, twigs and rocks made for a slower run. 

The next day we drove 6 hours to Gatineau to visit family. As luck would have it my Aunt lives right next to a beautiful National Park with beautiful trails.  

I still needed to get in my long run - 16km. Before leaving I had mapped out an easy route of streets I was familiar with.  The only thing I hadn't accounted for was construction and the lack of sidewalks. So I had to borrow Mom's van and map out a new route that I could hopefully remember. 

. 

My first attempt at my long run was cancelled after only 7 minutes because of lightening.  I headed out at 6:15 the next morning in the hopes of beating the heat.

My run lasted 2:30 hours and was only very hot for the last 30 minutes.  The run ended up being just under 15km, but I just didn't have Irvin me to go any further so I walked the last kilometre. 

So training is still on track. And only 25 days to go!! 

10 reasons it's okay to be last

I ran the 6 miler Dartmouth Natal Day Road Race today.  It's a 2 mile course that you loop 3 times and has some nasty hills in it, including the last 200 meters to the finish line, which by that point is your third time going up the stinking thing.

Along with the hills, it was a pretty hot day out, hitting 25° C by the start of the race, with no breeze and very little shade.  I knew that it was going to be a struggle, and I joked about being last, not thinking that I would actually be last.  Not only was I last, I finished 8 minutes after the runner before me, who I hadn't seen since the starting line up.   This race attracts a lot of fast runners, and the winner today finished the 6 miles in a speedy 30 minutes.  I finished in 01:35:08.

I eventually figured out that being last is not the worst thing, even though it sort of felt like it at first.

 Here are 10 reasons that made it okay to be last today.

1. I got a personalized escort from the route marshal on her bike.
2. All the people that were lining up for the parade that starts after the race become my personal cheering section.
3. Getting cooled down by the guy watching the race from his front yard who had his sprinkler out to let runners cool of in a spray of water as they went by.
4. Having all the water to myself at the last water stop.
5. Having amazing friends who waited more then 40 minutes after they finished the race to cheer me on at the end.
6. Having the announcer and time keepers wait for me to finish so that they could encourage me up the last hill and through the finisher's chute.
7. Having an amazing and supportive spouse who talked me down of the ledge when I burst into tears when I get home.
8. Even though I took walking breaks, I kept moving and ran more than I walked. 
9. Finding out when I entered my time and the route into MapMyRun, that I actually ran faster than my last 5 training runs.
10. I FINISHED!

July Review

July 2015 
Ran 13 times for 77 km. Longest run 13km

June 2014
Ran 3 times for 7 km. Longest run 3km

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July Review
Once again I didn't quite reach my goal of 15 runs and 90k.  We had a lot going on in July, dealing with some big family news.  While I love running because it gives me time alone with my thoughts to try to work through things, it doesn't always jive with getting through the day and everything that needs to be done.  I was able to get all my long runs in, so I'm feeling good overall about my training.


August  Goals

Run 13 times for 114 km. Longest run 18 km


August plans

I have one race planned for August - The Natal Day 6 mile Road Race.  August is going to be a tricky month to get in all of my training.  I leave for vacation on August 6th and don't get home till August 16th.  During the trip we are taking a mini-trip, which will involve 2 days in the car, and then 3 days visiting family I haven't seen in 25 years.  I still plan on getting in some runs while I'm away, including 1 long run of 16 km, but I will miss out on my 15 km long run.

42 days till the Maritime Race Weekend Half Marathon!