let's talk... about running

I feel like we haven't talked about running in awhile. Which you know is kind of the main focus of this blog so....

let's talk about about running!

Every summer I say that I will NEVER do this again. I will NEVER train for a marathon during the summer. But here I am, once again, training for a full during the summer. And not only for a full, but for a 1/2, and a trail 20k. And that last race? The 20k? It's billed as the toughest race in the South. A hilly, curvy course with a ridiculous amount of elevation change - it's definitely going to be a challenge.

Is it hot where you are? It is very hot here. Like fry an egg on the pavement kind of hot. I've been using my treadmill 2 days a week so that I can sweat in my basement at 9 am instead of sweating outside at 5 am.  I have discovered "Call the Midwife" on Netflix and between the tears and laughs, the miles fly by. The other three days of running consist of me slowly making my way around town and hoping that I don't look as terrible as I feel.

It always surprises me how hard it is to run during the summer. I always forgot how heavy the heat can be, how it envelopes you, and how it can suck your life force away. Coming off 50k training, I was putting up big numbers and now I'm lucky if I can run 3 miles outside without falling into a heap in the gutter.

I constantly have to remind myself that this ALWAYS happens. That I spend the summer whining and complaining and then fall comes with the cooler weather and running is fun again. Putting in the hard work now means that I can reap the rewards later.

Part of the problem is that my calves HATE summer. As soon as the heat hits, my calves seize up like bacon on a hot frying pan. After a few years of this nonsense, I realized that my primary issue is my water/banana consumption gets all wonky during the summer. It might be all in my head but I believe strongly that bananas are the key to happy lower legs. I've been home for over a week now and I'm pleased to report that they are much better and I ran practically pain free this morning. I have, however, seem to have developed a slight case of shin splints which at this point is just annoying. I haven't had shin splints since 2006, when I was training for my first marathon. I keep having flashbacks of me icing my shins while watching Gilmore Girls - which ironically enough could be me again in a few months (thanks again Netflix!).

I'm looking forward to the kids starting school next week so we can get into a routine - one that includes me going to yoga and trail running once a week. I know what it takes to make me happy :)

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