Ten Things Tuesday

1.  Tuesday = easy day, but it also = Stephanie overslept day, whoops! I needed the sleep, and decided I would not miss 1 second of running in the heat.

2. I headed to the gym around lunch time, since I was on the treadmill and it is easier I decided I would push a little harder than normal for an easy day and ran the last 2.5 miles at half-marathon pace, felt great!

3.  Today's schedule called for 7 miles. Did 7 miles at 1% incline, 1:05:20, or 9:20 average pace

4. I do have a half planned for 3 weeks before the marathon and I have a lofty goal of running a sub-2:00. I have kind of over-looked this race, just assuming marathon training would give me enough endurance that I could speed up for 13 miles. I guess I really should keep my focus on only 1 race at a time, how do you juggle 2 races with time goals like that?

5. Getting in those few miles at my goal half marathon pace was a confidence booster and got me to thinking that I should probably do that during one of my easy runs each week, or even my long run if I have the energy, that couldn't be that harmful right?

6.  I took the pup on a longer 3 mile walk this afternoon and it was uber-hot! I know it has been hot for weeks, but I kind of forget about it since I run before dawn and spend all day inside. As rediculous as it sounds, it makes me happy to have my summers on the coast in Jax where we at least have a breeze rather than my previous land-locked Gainesville.

7.  I do consider myself a bit of a freak when it comes to the heat. I have gotten questions from runner and non-runner friends about how I deal with the heat, and I don't feel like I can ever give good advice. Here's why: I grew up in the hot and humid state of Florida so living through and exercising through 90 degree temps with equal humidity is nothing foreign to me. For years I played and coached in gyms with no a/c and used to run stadiums with my best friend in the summer sun. I have never before changed my plan because it was too hot/sunny/humid, I just learned to work through it since there was not really another option.

8.  I say all the above because to run in the dark in 77-81 degrees is actually pretty nice for me, the humidity sucks sure, but for an already sweaty person what's a little more sweat.  Am I praying for the fall, cooler temps, and no humidity? Absolutely! But I can handle the summer I think better than most just because I have handled it my whole life, and that I love running in the heat, but it doesn't really bother me too much. My recommendation to those struggling with it, I guess would be run in the dark when possible, drink more water than you think you need, and don't be afraid to use the treadmill when it really is just too hot to run- it will be come August!

9.  Onto a weekly dose of new aches and twinges- The outside of the ball of my foot (does that make sense) has been painful for a few days (almost as if I had been wearing a too tight pair of pointy toe heels- which I have not). I hate to do it again, but I think it may still be the shoes. I never exchanged them, and haven't had any issues with blisters since then, but the ball of my right foot (just above where the nasty blister was) has been hurting and I can't figure out why or what to do about it, besides switch to new shoes.

10.  I have actually already ordered my next pair of shoes which I have tried on probably a dozen times, but since I have had asics the stoer recommended I stick with the brand since I hadn't had any problems, well now there is a problem and they will be no more. I was trying to get this pair to the 300 mile minimum since they are still new, so hopefully the foot twinge subsides, and I can put in another 5-6 weeks on these before switching.

Mile repeats on deck tomorrow- should be interesting, Happy Tuesday!