second sweats

There is a phenomena in running that my husband & I have dubbed the "second sweats".

Second sweats happens after you have already run and have already showered. You're nice and clean, smelling fresh like a daisy and then BAM! You're sweating. Your internal core temperature is rising with every passing second. That clean shirt you just put on? Soaked. Ladies, let's not even talk about your bra and underwear.

Second sweats makes me claustrophobic. The idea of even putting on clothes makes my skin crawl. However, since I'm not a nudist, I needed to find something that was loose, comfortable, and strong enough to stand up against the dreaded second sweats.

Enter the house coat.



*photo courtesy of Walmart.com*



I know, I know. Only grandmas wear house coats. Mine actually doesn't but that's because she is a hip chick. I am not a hip chick. I am a 32 year old, mother of 3, suffering from claustrophobia due to second sweats and I LOVE my house coat.



Now, the house coat doesn't eliminate the second sweats. It merely makes them a little more bearable. Cold showers help but the only way to avoid them it to take time after your run to FULLY cool down. Who has time for that? I do not. I will, therefore in the privacy of my own home, wear my house coat proudly while chanting "DOWN WITH THE SECOND SWEATS!" 

Race Report: Chick-fil-A 10k

I'm sorry that this race report is a little late. I've been unmotivated to do much these days except run and sit on my couch with a book. The baby is not sleeping through the night and while I am getting a decent amount of sleep, interrupted sleep is not my friend.


Enough about me. Onto the race!


I have nothing but good things to say about this latest race in the Chick-fil-A racing series. Registration was simple. The website was efficient, well organized, and most importantly, pretty to look at. The price, at $30, was at the top of my 10k scale but not overly outrageous.


The race itself was held in Anderson, S.C., with the start and finish in the same parking lot. There was ample parking, conveniently located steps from the finish line. It was a small race but had a great atmosphere. There were TONS of volunteers and everyone was upbeat and helpful.   


There were activities for kids, which as a running mother, is a huge plus. My kids weren't actually with me for this race but if they had been they would have been all over that bouncy house. There was great music playing and the announcer was doing his best to keep the smallish crowd involved.


I enjoyed the course. It wasn't too hilly or too flat. It would have been a bit of a nightmare if the sun had come out from behind the clouds but thankfully it was overcast, although a tad bit humid. The course was clearly marked and there were volunteers at every turn (of which there were quite a few) and Sherriff deputies at every street crossing.


My running partner and I BLEW AWAY our goals for this race. We came in at a blistering 1:06:17. She set a PR and I beat my own goal by 5 minutes.

Overall, it was a great first back to running after having a baby race. Low key, relaxing, and successful. I feel far more confident about training for the half I have scheduled for October. It's going to be a great racing season!