I don't know how people run in the heat!

I took a two-week hiatus from running. It was not intentional, but sometimes life (and laziness) gets in the way. This past Saturday morning, after 15 days off from running (but not walking and weight lifting), I got back out there. The night before, I saw that the temps were going to be in the low 70s around 8 or 9 a.m., so I figured I was good. But apparently with a 12-hour lead time, weather.com could not get the temps right. By the time Bailey and I set out for our run at around 8:40, it was nearly 80 degrees with about 75 percent humidity and a real-feel temp of 80 or 82. Yuck.

Usually when I start running, I picture myself as this in-shape, attractive, nice-bodied 30-something. I had no such illusion this time. I was miserable about 5 seconds into the hot run. Bailey was racing down our hill, and I was ready to stop. But I soldiered on. She stopped to relieve herself early on, which was somewhat welcome, and by the time we got to the big hill at the end of the first trip, she was barely moving. I actually had to kind of pull her. When we got to the top of the hill, I stopped for a few second to catch my breath. I was pleased with the 6:17 time. Probably one of my longer times, but the way I felt, I figured it would easily take me 6:30 for that .6 miles.

Running back down the hill was a kind of relief. I don't remember much about the run back home, just that I was anxious to get back and drop Bailey and her BM off. Bailey must have been anxious too; she really pushed us that last tenth of a mile; we finished that half in 6:02.

Once I de-leashed her, I gulped some water, wiped the sweat from my forehead, and tried to apply a little more sunblock to myself, which was pretty pointless as sweaty as I was. After that several-minute reprieve, I got back out there and did the same run again. Nor surprisingly, the second revolution was worse. I ran 6:25 the the first half and an awful 6:53 the second half, but considering I had taken two weeks off and that it was hot and humid, I was perfectly happy with those times. I finished the run with another approximately .6 miles; I did that in just over 7 minutes and on mostly flat surfaces, so it was probably a little further. But even if not, I will take the 3-mile run in about 36 minutes.

I find it unlikely I will run again this week; maybe I will just go back to running weekly. I have been walking Bailey daily for about 1.2 miles. Plus I walk several days a week at work. And I have been keeping up with weight lifting.

I need to do better with eating, but I will take the victories where I can get them and just be glad these legs still move!

Finally back out there

Just as I suspected would happen, the first week my kid is out of school meant no running for me. I had hopes of running with my brother while visiting him in NC late this week and through the weekend, but time and the ridiculously hot (96 degrees!) weather conspired against us.

Fortunately, I managed to get a run in yesterday. Even better for me, a creature of habit, it was the same running route I normally take, thanks to sending my kid to vacation Bible school at her school. I ran just over two miles, which was less than I would have liked, but I did end the session by running up the 65 steps between lots five times, so I am pretty satisfied. Since it was before noon, it was not as hot as it was when I ran eight days earlier, but the humidity was still up. Up so much that it rained ever so slightly near the end of my run. I would have been happy for something a little stronger/harder.

Glad I was able to get that run in. Not sure when I will run next. I hope soon. I really miss it!

End of the season run

Today was my kid's last day of school for the year, which also makes it my last day of running my regular route.   :-(

But I am happy to report I ended the "season" on a high note. I am guessing I ran a little over four miles; since my run took about 40 minutes and I tend to average about a nine-minute mile, that seems about right.

I felt pretty good throughout the run. I don't remember my knee hurting at all, and perhaps my running backwards down a couple of the steeper hills helped. Of course, I was hot and very sweaty with the high humidity again, but I did not feel awful as I did when I ran earlier this week. Could it be that I am getting used to it?!

The timing of my run probably was a factor. I typically run around 2 p.m., or just before, but because today was a half-day for the kids and I was already at school, I began my run at just after 10 a.m., with about two bites of a pop-tart and a generous-sized mocha in my belly. Not ideal, but it is what it is.

I am glad that I had a pretty productive week of exercise, definitely one of my best this entire school. I really think running steps in between regular runs gave me an edge. And as crazy as it sounds (at least to me), my thighs seem toner today than they did earlier this week.

I am such a creature of habit, and now I won't have my running route/routine. I really should have run a 5k race by now. But, alas, I did not, so I just have to hope I can get a run in around my very hilly neighborhood when I can. Maybe I will try the local track. We'll see.

Fingers crossed.

Maybe it takes weeks.

After yesterday's lackluster run, thanks to the weather, I decided to run up (and jog down) the 65 steps between the upper and lower parking lots near the school. And just like yesterday, it was tough from the get-go.

I decided to run up 10 times before stopping for about 10 or 15 seconds to suck down some water. I made 5 more trips before another brief water break, and then watered myself again after 4 more runs. I managed to run my last set of steps at a pretty good speed, though I was hurting, so incredibly hot. I was partly buoyed by the older gentleman I passed on trip number 19 who said, "That is great for your leg muscles." To which I replied, "Not so much if I have a heart attack."

Afterwards, I walked around for about four or five minutes, as I typically do to cool down after a run. But for the first time in a long time, my legs were actually shaking. Not sure if it was because I really pushed myself, because the heat and humidity were high again, or a combination. I just know it was not a good feeling, and over an hour later, while at the park, I felt kind of crappy.

As I said yesterday, I have no idea how people who live in high humidity/temp areas run outside. I just know my body is pretty far from adjusting.

I must think it is still winter

Twice, maybe three or four times, in the past few weeks, I have run in clothes that are better suited for temps that are 10 to 20 degrees cooler. Who in their right mind would run in a long-sleeved t-shirt when it is almost 70 degrees? Yep, that would be I. The black polyester pants that work well in 50-degree temps also were making me rue the day that I wore them (which was yesterday).

But it is more than just the recent memory of two feet of snow that keeps me pretty well covered. I am just not a fan of shorts. Particularly ones that I can run in. I like my legs just fine. When they are covered up. Hopefully I can get over that soon.

But this is Pittsburgh, so we should be fully prepared for several dozen more 40-degree days. Then those polyester pants and long sleeves won't be so bad.