Hot Trail Run & Bike Fail

The humidity won yesterday's battle. I went back to the Elk Grove Forest Preserve for a run, with the intention to do 2 loops to get in 15-16 miles since I will be traveling this weekend and unable to do a long run. Mom came with her bike too so she could get in her own exercise biking around while I ran and so she could hold water, Gatorade, and Gu for me. Unfortunately, nothing turned out quite as planned.

I ended up running 9 miles in 1:13:40, so about an hour short of my plan. At first I was disappointed with myself for not just pushing through it and I knew I wouldn't be able to get it in any other day this week. But I figured 9 miles in that heat/humidity at the pace I was going was still a very quality run! I also impressed myself with my ability to master a very consistent 8 minute mile.

Mom coming to the trail with me means I have a personal photographer. Putting my hair in a very tight bun was a way better decision than a ponytail flopping around all hot on neck. Anyways, when my intention was to do 2 loops, I wanted to do the first a little slower and then try to do my 2nd loop faster than my first. My splits for 9 miles were: 8:31, 7:59, 8:00, 7:59, 8:02, 8:01, 8:03, 8:14, and 7:50. I felt strong and relaxed but it was very hot and humid. Even when I stopped after the 9.1 miles when I met mom to take my Gu, I intended to keep going, but then the thought of finishing 6 more miles on that loop was very overwhelming.

Catherine has been telling me a lot about varying your paces during runs instead of always running the same pace for each run. I think this is what I'm going to really try to work on over the next few weeks. I can't keep running 8 minute miles for every run because then my body will get too used to it. Luckily last week, I had the 2 races which were a little faster and the long run that was closer to 8:10-8:15 pace. I was with other people for each of those runs which forces me to change it up from my normal pace. When I'm alone, I get too comfortable with the standard 8 minute pace.

Even though I didn't go as long as planned, I can't really consider it a failure since it was still a good, longer than normal run. Mom's bike ride wasa failure though. About halfway through the loop, she hit a bump and got a flat tire. This meant she had to walk her bike back the rest of the loop which was really miserable in the heat with all of the bugs too. They will really get you if you aren't moving fast enough.

When we got home I made a great salad with hard boiled eggs and obviously drank a lot of chocolate milk. Bailey ate my 2 packs of Gu that were sitting out. So now she owes me $3.