Marathon Training Monday - Week 7

(Exhibit A: 2 hours running in 90% humidity = an incredibly stunning butt angel.)

Everyone's been talking about how a scorching summer has suddenly arrived since Labor Day. It's been a relatively mild season this year; all the heat and humidity we're used to seeing in June-August was only hinted at throughout a few days. Then the first day of September arrives, and the heat index shoots up close to 100 degrees. This weather, combined with speed work, made for a difficult week of training! 

Monday (Labor Day): 1 hour STPT workout (swim) + 1 hour yoga
Tuesday: 1 hour, 20 min run (8.59 miles)
Wednesday: 1 hour gym cross-training
Thursday: 1 hour run (6 miles)
Friday: 1 hour vinyasa flow class
Saturday: 2 hour run (12.5 miles)
Sunday: OFF

TOTAL MILEAGE: 27.23 (+ ~2 miles from STPT workout)

Garland and I made it back from sailing in time for me to attend the combined holiday workout with SEAL Team PT. We were told it'd be a water workout, so I came prepared in old shoes and a t-shirt. Turns out we were actually given the option to swim the entire time, up/down/across the James River, or a combination of swimming + running. I chose to do nothing but water, which felt so refreshing and kind of like "playing" instead of working out. A $10 outdoor yoga class popped up on my Facebook feed last week, so I also went to that Monday night. The evening heat felt good on my muscles, and the backdrop of the fading sun put me in such a peaceful mood. Fitness is so much better outside!

Tuesday morning's run: 83% humidity. It started with 30 minutes of intervals on Brown's Island (look at those perfect little speed humps pulled from my Garmin data!). They kicked my butt, but I felt almost---dare I say?---relaxed for the remaining hour even with tempos on bridges. Total time: 1:19:54; average pace: 9:18; fastest mile: 7:48; slowest mile: 10:23.

Wednesday was a boring cross-training workout at the gym. I forced myself to do "a lot" (ha!) of arms and abs. I hate doing this stuff by myself, but I wanted a 100% running-free workout. Thursday's morning run was through my old neighborhood, staring at Dogwood Dell and around the museum district. I abstained from the prescribed speed work and just had an easy, maintenance run. Garland wanted McDonald's afterwards so I opted for an iced coffee for the sake of comparison---I was sadly disappointed by Chick-fil-a's new iced coffee last week! And now I'm even more disappointed because McDonald's wins. Total time: 55:43; average pace: 9:17; fastest mile: 8:54; slowest mile: 9:34.

Friday was a yoga class at Om On Yoga, a new-to-me studio. The class was insanely fast-paced, I loved the spunky instructor, but would have preferred the workout for a Wednesday rather than a long-run eve. They have an amazing package deal for new students (30 days unlimited for $45!) if anyone in RVA is interested! Garland had a law school social at a brewery that we attended right afterwards, followed by a late dinner at Noodles & Co. C-A-R-B-S.

Before we knew it, our 5:00AM alarm was going off. Garland and I stepped outside into a pre-sunrise, drenching 77 degrees. The humidity during our 2-hour run was 93% at its worst. No amount of Body Glide could prevent the Camelbak from chafing my shoulder and back. Once again, I ignored our speed work instructions and attempted to run by feel the entire time. Taking the heat/humidity into account, I think it went well. The last 3 miles were torture---all I wanted to do was walk and guzzle water---plus I forgot to eat anything for energy (bar, jelly beans, etc.) during the run, so I was literally running on EMPTY. Group runs are a necessity in situations like this to keep me going! Total time: 1:57:11; average pace: 9:22; fastest mile: 8:35; slowest mile: 10:07

Post-run breakfast was Chick-fil-a because our beloved Dairy Bar was closed (for the best, I think, since I had wedding calories to save for). I tried a chicken + egg on a sunflower seed multigrain bagel. I think I just found my new favorite quick, high-protein breakfast! If only it was also stuffed with fruit and veggies...

We headed up to Leesburg after our run to attend a special wedding with my college friends and sorority sisters. Although hot and humid, it was so wonderful spending time with people I haven't seen/talked to in years! The wedding and reception was beautiful---a perfect laid-back country wedding, complete with a barn, horses and sliders for dinner. 

The 12.5 miles plus the hours of dancing in wedges definitely did a number on my foot, though, so I'm trying to convince myself to have a "rest week". I'm considering not running until next Saturday and joining the YMCA again today to do some water running instead (tughhh so boring!). It's hard to dedicate myself to playing safe when the aches and pains are so far and few between...