Tropical Storm Edouard has been kind to us runners! We've had rain storms for days in a row; when it's not raining, it's cloudy. Rain + clouds = lower temperatures!
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| With humidity it felt like 78 to me, but it was a shock to see this temperature on the app! |
True story: I took a three hour nap Friday night and then went to bed at 10:30. I actually think this helped get me up and going at 4:30am when my alarm went off for my run. I may make Friday-night-naps a thing.
Due to my week off last week, I only scheduled 8 miles for my long run this weekend. I woke up at O'Dark Thirty and started my run in steamy post-rain darkness, but when sunrise started, the clouds overhead opened up a bit and I was treated to some light drizzle.
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| Cloudy and drizzly...just how I like it! |
I ran without water in order to avoid chugging. I ate a ginger chew along the way and a Salted Watermelon Gu. (It was yummy, but I much prefer the Salted Caramel flavor.) By the end, my mouth was super dry. I would've stopped at a McDonald's on my route and gotten some ice to chew, but I felt kind of bad/awkward about doing it.
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| You know it's rainy when my run-selfie is blurrier than usual! |
The run went really well. At the end I started to take a short walk break every mile because I was hitting the wall - I probably need more fuel next time. Actually, I need to eat a better dinner the night before. (I had a tiny bowl of pasta Friday night, and that was it. I just didn't feel very hungry, but I paid for it Saturday morning.)
I passed quite a few running groups as I was finishing; it makes me wonder why they all start their runs so late!
That evening, Matt and I headed up to St. Pete with his mom for our last Rays game of the season. I love going to games after a long run; it means eating ballpark food is totally acceptable! (The Trop lets you bring in food, so we brought Jimmy Johns to save money and keep it healthier...But you know I had to have dessert!)
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| I had to break $100 to get Dippin' Dots. Worth it. |
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| We got free Joe Madden Potato Heads. Our baseball collection is exploding... |
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| Matt also got some more autographs pre-game. |
We played the White Sox and won it 3-1. Afterward, we did the "center field shuffle" and exited the stadium through the field. It was a nice way to end the season.
I'm really excited for training this week. My plan for my long run next Saturday is to just go for 3 hours and see how far it takes me. I'll use the same 8-mile loop that will let me stop for water without having to carry it with me. I'm also putting out feelers for my local running friends to come join me for part of the run so I'm not alone the entire time. I'm really looking forward to it; I think changing my plan from miles to hours is taking some of the pressure off of the idea of the long run, but I think realistically I'll still hit 16 or 17 miles.
Of course, that makes me nervous for how long the full marathon is going to take me, but I'll worry about that when I get there! After all, long runs are supposed to be slow, right?!
What time do you usually start your long run?
Do you prefer loops or out-and-backs?
Do you collect anything? Besides running stuff, of course!
ABK
Don't hate me but what are Dippin' Dots??? Lol. I have a question: How did you find the transition back to school with training and blogging? I am finding it super hard to read blogs and create posts. :( Maybe once marathon training settles down I'll get back on track.
ReplyDeleteDippin Dots are literally freeze-dried ice cream. They're mostly amazing because of the novelty lol.
DeleteI left a comment on your post re: getting back into blogging and training with school. It took me a good week and a half.I just felt so burned out and mentally drained and needed a full break before I could get back into it.
I've learned that if I start a run any earlier than 5:45 I will not be tired and miserable the whole run no matter what time I went to bed the night before. I also need to start eating better dinners before my long runs! I'll run a loop over an out and back any day!
ReplyDeleteTiming really is everything! I usually don't like to eat a big or filling dinner, so maybe I should have a bedtime snack to help with morning energy!
DeletePaul and I were just talking about Dip 'n Dots- we haven't had them FOREVER! Although I much prefer good old fashioned ice cream.
ReplyDeleteI prefer regular ice cream too, but the novelty is fun! No more for me until baseball starts again in the spring!
DeleteYay for running!!!! It sounds like you had an amazing Saturday!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYay for naps. On Saturday, after Gunshow picked me up, I went home, showered and napped for like 3 hours. It was amazing!
Post-run naps are the best. I never understand runners who run long and then DO stuff. I require naptime!
DeleteI always wondered why running groups start so late too! One group that I've thought about joining starts their long runs on Saturdays at 8:30am! No way I'm ever *starting* my long run down here when the sun's already up!
ReplyDeleteI like loops! They make me feel like I'm reaching mini milestones during long runs rather than thinking "oh man I need to get to 6/8/10 miles before I can turn around."
For real. There are running groups I'd WANT to join but their timing is just weird/late for a long run. I don't want to be finishing my run at 10am.
DeleteI wish I could be an early morning runner! I just don't have any willpower when it comes to the snooze button unfortunately! I agree! Fuelling is so crucial to your performance, I guess it's just a case of trial and error.
ReplyDeleteI've had to train myself to get up early...I figure if I can for the races, I can for training. And I hate having a LONG run hanging over my head all day, and have to worry about eating and timing and socializing, etc I'd rather get it done and enjoy the rest of my weekend.
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