A Tough Run

Yesterday Julie and I ran 8 miles around noon. It was HOT! It truly was a miserable run. It is just April! I don't even want to think about running in July and August. Usually when I run I feel great, like I really could just keep on running forever. But not today!

The first couple of miles were ok.....we were going pretty slowly, but by mile 4, I was dying for a break! We stopped at 4.3, and drank water and ate some GU. I really wanted to just get in the car and go home! But 8 miles was the plan, so we began to run again. Between miles 4.3 and 6, I really didn't think I was going to make it! My head hurt, my knee hurt, my side hurt, and I felt like I was going to throw up! I racked my brain trying to figure out what was wrong. I ran 8 miles last week with no problem. Did I drink too much cofffee this morning? Not enough coffee? Too much breakfast? Not enough? Was I already tired from running 6 miles on both Monday and Tuesday? I guess it was the heat. This was really our first hot day, and here we were running in the glaring sunshine at noon!

I perked up a little bit at mile 6. The GU must have kicked in.....but by 6.5, I was wilting again. Not even Adam Lambert singing Play That Funky Music White Boy (downloaded on my iPod) could inspire me! (Yes, my favorite idols this year are Adam, Danny, and Kris....yes I have their some of their songs on my iPod, and yes I vote for them each week!)
The rest of the run had me glancing at my watch every tenth of a mile, wondering when the misery would end!

Finally! We saw the car when we were at 8.2, and mercifully we walked the rest of the way.
I felt somewhat better when we stopped, and Julie said, "That was a tough run!" So, it wasn't just me! It must have been the heat.

I am sharing this experience in the hopes of encouraging my friends who have recently begun running. Some days are great, some days are ok, and some are just plain miserable! Don't give up!

I am resting until Monday!