Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Wednesday Workout Update

After a fairly decent summer, weather-wise, the extreme heat and humidity hit Texas with a vengeance last week.  On the one hand, we were lucky to have it hold off until August.  On the other hand, UGH.  It made for some pretty awful running conditions.  I mentioned on Friday's post that my run the day before was rough, and it was...but Saturday's run?  It was like running through a hot blanket of air.  Which makes it hard to breathe, and to move, and mostly made me question my ability as a runner.

We had 4 miles on tap.  It was 82 degrees, with 93% humidity.  My running buddy Loretta and I started out deliberately slow, doing 1:30/1:00 intervals.  I felt OK for the first mile and a half, but then it felt like I couldn't catch my breath.  We got to the 2 mile mark where we refilled our water bottles (and got a little extra break), turned around and headed back...and then, my chest tightened up and I REALLY couldn't breathe.  I told Loretta I had to stop, and the more I tried to catch a breath, the more I couldn't.  You can imagine the panic and tears as I fought to stay in control...poor Loretta, she was having a good run until this.  But I'm very glad she stayed with me and helped to calm me down.  We ended up walking most of mile 3 before I felt decent enough to get back to running for the last mile.

When we got back to the park, I could tell that I wasn't the only one who'd had a rough time out there.  This weather is not conducive to running, not at all.  Hopefully next week it won't be as bad.  I then had to put on my Organizer hat and get the last few people signed up - this was the last day of registration.  Julia went around snapping pictures, and I have to tell you, I looked a lot happier in this picture than I felt:
My shirt was wetter than when I pull it out of the washing machine.  Thankfully I remembered to bring a dry shirt to change into for when we went to Blue Baker.

Before all that misery, we took a group picture - here's most of our members (we are officially up to 50 this year):
My running club peeps!

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The weather still hadn't let up for Monday's run - we had 40 minutes, easy, on our schedule, and believe me...Amy and I took it easy.  We were doing just fine but then a big brown thing flew at me from some bushes and hit me in the side of my eye and I screamed like a banshee because I thought it was a bat and then Amy screamed and it got a little crazy.  Turns out it was a cicada, which, don't Google it unless you like bugs.  So that was pretty gross.  But hey, it took our minds off of the heat!

We decided we needed coffee when we were finished, so went to the Starbucks.  While we were there, Amy realized that she was wearing her "coffee capris" which made the morning perfect:
Here's Amy, looking impeccable.

22 comments:

  1. LOL: seriously they put a tag in the capri with this on it? Hilarious.

    Girl I feel sorry for you you had such a hard run last Saturday. Not being able to breathe must be very scary for you. You would be such a happier runner if you would be living here (and me too because we could run together :) ) I am more than impressed that you run in this heat and humidity. Remember that a lot of people wouldn't even try it so be proud that you do.

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    1. The tag on her capris made me want to go back and read mine, although I tend to cut them off (except when I forget - HA).

      Believe me, I wish we could run together, too!

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  2. ahhhh you are making this nonrunner but walkwalker want the orange hoka too.

    xoxox

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    1. Yeah, this runner runner would love another pair...Hoka sponsorship, where are you?? ;)

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  3. I wanted to let you know that after reading you shoe post on Monday, we went to buy my husband new shoes and he picked the Hokas. He also bought a pair of New Balance too ( just in case). I don't know what that means but it made him feel more confident having a back up pair that where more "traditional" running shoes!

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    1. OK, that is awesome. I hope he loves the Hokas...and I'm laughing at his need for the traditional shoes. Who knows - next time, he might just go all in with the Hokas! :)

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  4. I am sitting here laughing hysterically at the vision of you and Amy jumping around and screaming (sorry). Lord knows I've done that same sort of hysterical dance myself on several runs. Mostly these days though I'm skunk dodging as my runs are in the dark again.

    As I've *ahem* aged, I've developed a bit of weather induced asthma. (This may also be a touch of allergies.) It's a real thing. Very cold or very hot/humid conditions make it kick in when I'm running. I got my doc to prescribe me an inhaler and find if I use that it keeps my chest from feeling so tight. I even will carry it with me if I'm worried I'm going to tighten up. Maybe you could get one too?

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    1. I figured my runner readers would get a good laugh out of that story. There's something about darkness plus speed that makes things extra startling!

      Good idea about the inhaler. I have had that same chest tightness in very cold weather...I'll ask my doctor for one.

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  5. I don't know how you run in that heat and humidity. Hats off to you and your running club for such dedication. I guess when you find a sport you really like, then the obstacles of weather take a back seat.

    Just like Helen said in her post, I have asthma issues when I bike or hike in really hot weather and must use an inhaler. I haven't had any issues in cold weather, but normally I am skiing instead of biking or hiking.

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    1. You said it perfectly - obstacles (like weather) do take a back seat when you really like a certain sport. That said, I wish I didn't have to deal with such obstacles for so many months out of the year!

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  6. You would kill for our morning temps Shelley - this morning it was 59 degrees and I don't think in the last two weeks it's been warmer than 65 when I leave the house at 8 am - an no humidity!

    Glad you didn't push it and your friend was able to get your through!

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    1. You are sooooo lucky with those morning temps! Jealous, very jealous.

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  7. Hi Shelley ....you are one trooper to keep on trucking' in the heat & humidity! Take a big bow but also remember to take care of yourself.

    Let's hope the weather conditions become more tolerable for you & your running buddies.

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  8. So behind in my blog reading. Catching up now, and wanting to send a hi. Love the colourful Hokas!!! And your knitting projects! Big hug to you Shelley, and little hugs to the little rat family. They ARE cute!

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    1. Thanks for reading, Roz! And for appreciating the cute ratties. :)

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  9. I hate the feeling of trying to breathe in humidity. It's almost like being under water or the air is starved of oxygen.

    You should see how I shimmy on the bike when bug lands on my chest while riding after it slammed into me. Or the times when I have been mouth breathing and sucked in a bug. Uber yuck.

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    1. Yeesh, I can only imagine the bug issues on a bike! At least when I get hit, I'm not in danger of crashing or falling off my bike.

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  10. It must be so helpful to have all of those friends to run with! I just hate taking off a wet sports bra! Ugh, it's enough to keep me from getting back into running and we don't have your Texas heat.

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    1. Well yeah, that isn't fun...but pretty much everything is soaked after a run.

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  11. I must be a weather AND an exercise wimp. You are one dedicated runner! I admit I laughed at the bug incident, but empathized too. Riding my bike on the back roads some years ago I flushed a pheasant out of the brush and she flew right in front of me. I had to climb a tree to retrieve my heart which had rocketed out of my chest.

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  12. We've only had a few high-humidity days this summer. Very strange but not entirely unwelcome.

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