But I’m not stupid.
Several of you suggested cutting my 20 miler short or rescheduling it, Beer Geek included. In fact, he offered me the option of running it Saturday morning while he watches the kids. Since I have two meetings this week and I’m volunteering at a race on Friday night, this was a huge offer on his part. He’s already doing the lion’s share of the kid watching. But, I’m taking him up on it. It’s supposed to be much cooler on Saturday, plus I can start running at 6ish am instead of at 9:30am. I’ll be done before the day really gets going.
Today I figured I’d try for 8-10 miles, but as soon as I walked out the door this morning to take the kids to school, I knew that wasn’t happening. It was already quite warm and humid. Despite a week in Mississippi and warm days here, my body is not at all ready for this kind of weather. When I headed out the door around 9:30, it was already in the low 70s, humid, and really sunny. I set a goal of a minimum of four miles and a 10:00 minute pace. I ended up managing 5 miles in 50:45, with mile 5 being by far the slowest.
Had I planned to do 20 miles today, I’m pretty sure I still would have been done around 5. My Wisconsin blood just does not like warm weather, despite living in the south for the last 25 years LOL. By rearranging my schedule, I was able to have a “successful” run and know that I will still get a 20 miler in. The race in May starts at 6:30am. The chances of the first couple of hours being too hot are slim and hopefully by then I’ll have acclimated to the weather a bit. I will do this marathon, I just might not do another. I really enjoy running up until about the 15 mile point. After that it just sucks. I’m beginning to wonder why I would take something I love to do and make it a chore?
Coming soon: A GU giveaway!!!
Glad to hear you were able to switch things around a bit to fit in that 20-miler before it gets too hot. What a great hubby! :)Yes, if running becomes a chore when increasing those long runs, it's not worth it to me! 🙂
Glad you were able to re-schedule thanks to a supportive hubby! Saturday sounds like it will be much for favorable. Also, I think it's a great idea to get some long run practice around the same time that your race will start (for fueling, etc.)
Good job on your 5 miler! Switching your long run sounds like a smart plan.
Rescheduling almost never crosses my mind – probably why I'm injured all the time. Glad to hear you were smart about it! 🙂 I hope it's cooled-off for your 20-miler by the weekend.Also, I might now volunteer instead of run Friday night (darn IT!) so I'll look for you! I'm the short mad girl with the lumpy IT bands.
Yes, this weather is (almost) as bad as snowpocalypse was for running. I did 10 this morning at 8:00, and it was already pretty warm. I hope you're just feeling the grind of training, and not seriously considering giving up marathons???? Hang in there:)
it's gonna be a beautiful weekend!!! So it will be good for a 20 miler! Are you volunteering at crystal city 5k? I was considering it this friday!
I'm glad you found a way to rearrange your schedule! Yea for beer geek!!!I had a day trip to the DC area and was worried you actually were running in this hotness 🙂
Beer geek is awesome :)Good luck with the 20-miler and I guess you don't have to decide right now if you'll ever run a marathon again 🙂 …hang in there!
Nice call rescheduling the run – glad your husband is so supportive!
Excellent decision – Beer Geek deserves a special beer.
I'm so glad you rescheduled. Today is not a day for a 20-miler!
I am so with you on struggling in the heat! Blech!
That's why I've been sticking to half marathons in the past few years. Running beyond the 15 mile point gets tough for me too. Still, the full marathon just has a certain allure…Good job re-arranging the schedule! Very nice of Beer Geek to assist.
Great that you could reschedule…and it's awesome that your marathon starts so early in the a.m.! I like training in the heat, but for marathons, my body definitely needs the cooler temps to perform, so I feel you on that.
Funny you should say that we make it a chore, you're so right. I'm looking down the barrel of two marathon's back to back in six days and I'm wondering what the hell I was thinking! Ha!Good luck with the 20 miler – I'll send cool temps your way 🙂
I hear ya sister! The humidity sucks…that is how it is has been the last couple of mornings. At 5:30 it is 68 degrees and 85% humidity. If I were walking, then it would be ok, but running…yeah, I am a sweaty mess when I return.
Running in the heat is so much harder. Heat + hymidity is worse again. I'm glad we're seeing the weather cool now – heading into Winter. (But I say that with a 31 C day predicted)
in my mind, when something you love turns to a chore, it's time to rethink your strategy. i don't ever want that to happen to me, that's why i'm sticking with half marathons. it's all love…
supposed to be MUCH cooler this weekend! You should tantalize yourself w/ the promise of a smoothie or something!
What a wonderful hubby!
sounds like smart planning. I admire you for doing the distance – not sure that I could do it 🙂
Great idea! Good luck!
I am the same way as you are in the heat. My body just doesn't know how to perform well with anything over 75 degrees:) Sometimes you have to rearrange schedules to make it work!! Have a great run today:)
Totally the right move. My friend went on a 20 miler on Monday and has been hurting all week because the weather was so killer in DC. It was a bit of a wake up call, he was like, I totally could have gone at 6am…I think I'm done with my afternoon runs until the fall.
Awesome that you could reschedule! Yay for the hubs! We are having a heatwave here, too. Bleh!
I agree, marathons always start to look like so much work once you reach the 15 and 16 milers but they are worth it! Nice job listening to your body regarding the heat, it's not worth doing it and suffer like crazy!
Good luck on the 20 miles! I'm hoping that the 6:30 am start will leave most of the heat out of the way – but it means the race starts at 3:30 am my time. boo.