I Knew I Wasn't Crazy!

This past spring, I dedicated myself to keeping my training up because usually, I start to slack off around April and May. Warmer weather and the intensity of the end of the school year takes a lot out of me, and I start to slide.

Comparing my spring/summer mileage from 2015 and 2016 really puts into perspective how hard I worked to keep my fitness up this summer.

But this year, I wanted to keep my fitness level up so summer running wouldn't be as hard. I was more consistent than I've ever been! So why has running seemed so hard?

The answer came to me in this article:

Click here to read it.

That's right; I'm not crazy. We've actually had a more brutally hot summer this year than ever before, and our winter last year was sadly mild and very short. I don't think the temperatures dropped into the 40s even once.

I'm not going to preach about global warming here, although I think it's absolutely real and absolutely accelerated by human impact. No, instead I just want to take a moment to bask in the fact that I wasn't a whiny baby for nothing this summer, and neither were you guys.

But let's take a minute to acknowledge that global warming is freaking bad and we should all be concerned about it for more reasons than just the effect it has on the quality of our runs.

The heat has been real and its effects can be dangerous. It impacts our breathing, our stamina, our heart rate, the rate of sweat evaporation (when we're dealing with humidity), and our recovery. The mild winter meant many allergens never completely disappeared, so allergy season was longer and nastier this spring, too, causing those of us with asthma and allergies to suffer more than usual. 

So if you've been feeling less than peppy on your runs lately, know that your complaints are legitimate and your effort will pay off when it cools down again!...If you're lucky enough to live somewhere that cools down.

Because now I have to cross my fingers and hope it ever really does cool down, because Florida is starting to look like maybe we won't have an actual winter again for a long time.

Have you depended on the treadmill due to heat this summer?

Would you rather run in heat or cold?

What's your #1 tip for running in the heat?

ABK

Attitude Change

Wednesday, when I reluctantly went for my first run in ten days, I started at a walk. Part of me was scared to break into my usual warmup pace...I just felt like this run was doomed to be difficult. A punishment of sorts. I expected to berate myself the entire time, This is what you get for taking ten days off.

I was surprised, then, when it had the opposite effect. I didn't have a set distance planned; I just wanted to get moving and break out of the slump I'd fallen into. If that was all I got out of the run, I would have been happy.

But in fact, I got more. I hadn't realized how much junk has been swirling in my mind lately. I must be more stressed than I realized, and not exercising obviously compounded the issue. It almost felt like my brain was waiting for this run to happen so it could finally have a chance to dump everything and examine it and reorganize it and put it to bed.

I loved chasing the last rays of the sun as they shot out from behind the trees. The entire evening just felt serene.

I wasn't looking to have any epiphanies on a run that I wholly expected to be awful, but that's just what happened!

Anyway, I decided I'll be running the 10k this weekend after all. I know if I don't I'll never let myself live it down. I'm not at all in shape for it, and I originally wanted to PR this race, so it will also serve as a humbling reminder not to let my training fall by the wayside.

The Monday after the race will mark the start of my two-week run streak.

Losing motivation as the weather heats up is normal for me, but I really want to combat my tendency to give in to lethargy. I want to stay active this summer! I feel like I have a realistic plan to get myself back on track.

Have you ever experienced a totally unexpected aha moment on a run?

ABK

"I just need a cookie on a string in front of me and then I couldprobably run ultra-marathons."

That was the subject-line of an email I received from a close college friend, but we'll get to that in a moment.

I've been dutifully cranking up my miles; you'd think I'm running in the double-digits based on the amount I'm sweating these days, but it's just the humidity. 

Mm, sweat! The sure sign of a good run!

Am I the only one who thinks the more she sweats, the more accomplished/cleansed she feels?

This was what the sky looked like - without any editing or effects - before my run. I've never seen clouds like that!

After my run last night, I tried Vega Sport's recovery accelerator drink in Tropical. I really loved the flavor, and I'm definitely less sore this morning than I expected to be based on how I felt post-run. This is probably something I'll try again.

Alright, onto the real topic of today's post. My friend Caryn has just recently gotten into running. She has a certain way with words; after receiving this email from her, I just knew I had to share it with the blogging world. Her questions are in black, and my responses are in purple:

In response to [this blog post]: THINGS I WISH I KNEW NOW, BUT I AM SURE THEY WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO ME IF I JUST KEEP RUNNING Yep. Rule #1 - keep at it, don't give up; it'll all come to you in time.

1. When will I figure out the breathing rhythm? You could actually research HOW to breathe while you run, but counting breaths confuses me. I recommend that when you start to feel your shoulders getting stiff, or if you're hyperventilating and feel winded, take a DEEP, SLOW breath and let it out SLOWLY. Breathe like that until you feel better. Fast steps =/= fast breathing.

2. I am clearly not stretching enough beforehand, but when will everything stop hurting as soon as my running shoes touch the pavement? I am fully aware of the location of the following muscles/tendons: Achilles tendons, vastus medialis, and tibilais anterior. I know their names, because I made Alex teach them to me so that I may swear at them properly when they start to hurt. I am always polite to the body parts I insult. Don't stretch before. Stretching before is 90s gym coach theory and it's just plain wrong. Your muscles are getting accustomed to movement, so some pain is normal. Stretch AFTER a run, to keep yourself loose, and avoid sitting on your ass for hours after a run; move around a normal amount. Take rest days during which you stretch or do some yoga. Don't add too much distance too quickly. (Add about 5 minutes to your workout at a time, and don't add more than 10 minutes to your workout in less than a week's time. Go for time, not distance, when you're just starting out.)

3. Why are hills assholes? One cannot run down a hill comfortably in shoes or uphill without wheezing and straining. Assholes. They're assholes because they love you and want you to be strong. For now, walk hills. As your breathing gets easier, you'll be able to run them without a problem. Some tips: when you run UP, use your arms like you're pulling a rope. When running DOWN, lean forward into the angle of the hill, don't try to lean back.

4. Parking lots are flat, but also exceedingly boring. I must figure out a way to make them entertaining. Why the hell are you running in parking lots?! No wonder running is so painful. Talk about boring. Go park at a library or other public building that has some nice sidewalks and run there. Use google maps to figure out your route before you go.

5. Dogs under the age of five judge you on your pace. Dogs are assholes.

6. Running with your firefighter boyfriend is not a good way to determine a decent pace. Especially when he is 6'4" and you are 5'7". (ok, fine 5'6.5") An "easy" run should be at a pace that you can talk during. A "hard" run means you can only get a few words out and you're annoyed to be talking. Also, consider doing intervals. Run for a minute, walk for a minute, etc, for 30 minutes total. That way you're not expecting your body to just know how to run out of the blue. Intervals are freaking life savers.

7. Letting said boyfriend tell you that he will match your pace and believing him, because honestly, he is going to look like an injured gazelle, still graceful, yet obviously stinted by something, that something being you, and you will most likely end up feeling like a stubby-legged warthog, trying to escape a pride of lions; out of breath, sweaty, smelly, and suddenly aware that you could be dying at any second. (See above breathing rhythm issues, thus feeling of dying.) One day you'll be able to run with him. I like running with Matt because our paces are similar even if our strides aren't. I take two steps for his every one. Give it time; you'll get there. For now, maybe don't run with him because it's discouraging. Maybe he could bike or skateboard while you run, and he can go out ahead and come back a bit, etc.

8. Why can I walk correctly at a 20-inch step, and then when I start running,  cannot expand past what feels like a choppy jog, a fully reduced stride? Again, I shall refer to this as a warthog run. Proper form means you shouldn't be LEAPING. You want your steps to be small but quick. If you're listening to a metronome (go download an app pronto), a "normal" runner runs at 160 BPM. An efficient runner runs at 180. Small steps, fast cadence.

9. Dirty rap songs are motivating in a disturbing way. While I do not agree with how you treat your bitches and hoes (hos?), your deep bass and caustic rhyming keep me going, until my lungs refuse. DMX Party Up is like, my favorite running song. Other weird music habits: sad 90s ballads and musicals. If you know ALL the lyrics and can sing along and zone out, the run is a lot more fun.

10. Remember death metal is scary at night. DO NOT LISTEN TO IT ANYMORE FUTURE SELF. Only in car rides. While holding hands. During the day. Also no scary audiobooks.

11. When can I qualify myself as a runner? The minute you decided to try, put shoes on, and got out the door. Opinions differ on this, but I think I considered myself a runner when it became something I NEEDED in my life in order to feel fulfilled and complete.

12. Will you be my fairy"running"godmother? Is that too forward of an awkward question? I'm honored and humbled to accept this awkward and forward request. Do I get a wand?

What was your biggest obstacle when you first began running?

Why did you become a runner?

What words of wisdom would you offer Caryn, and other newbies?

ABK

Personal Responsibility

Since returning from California, my running has been in a weird place. A mostly bad place. But I'm trying to replace the idea of "bad" runs with "disappointing" runs or "tough" runs. Any run is a good run because it gets you out there and helps you make progress. Right?

I know my trouble is 90% mental and 10% environmental. Here's why. In California, I was easily running my longer mid-week runs, so I know I'm physically capable. However, I missed my long run while away, and when I got back to Florida I was back in the outdoor-running-state-of-mind.

After one successful 5am run this week, I laid out clothes for the next...and they've stayed there for 3 days.

I miss running outside. The treadmill is boring and tedious, and I admit, I feel less like a "real" runner when 90% of my runs are indoors. But summertime in Florida refuses to cooperate with me. Even when it rains, it's so steamy and humid that I have trouble breathing. My legs have felt heavy and sore on every outdoor run since returning home.

Only in Florida do you see skies like this behind you while skies ahead are bright.

I don't have the option to complete morning runs indoors because my gym doesn't open early enough. I don't want to go to the gym after work because I'm too exhausted.

Running outside - and alone - at 5am is kind of terrifying. And, despite the early hour and lack of sunlight, there's still 90% humidity.

I need to start carrying water on shorter runs in this climate, but I've been putting off getting a fuel belt because I'm afraid I won't like it.

This week I really suffered for my lack of hydration and being on my feet all day. I've been living all summer in flipflops and running shoes; after my first day back at school in work shoes, my feet cramped up and turned into crazy claws for 15 minutes, until Matt fed me a high-potassium smoothie.

The long and short of this is that I have no one to blame for my slacking but myself, and maybe I needed to take some time off because the anxiety and change in schedule that accompanies the beginning of school have left my energy stores empty. But I also don't want to make excuses or allow myself to continue on this path and then have to bow out of the marathon.

Ready for open house to begin! Check out those under-eye circles!

It doesn't help that my last three runs in my new shoes have been less-than-great. Like, uninspired. I go out excited and within a mile feel tired and heavy; there has been some low-grade pain in my legs that I think could be from the shoes. I've been slower than I planned, and had to cut my runs short so that I'd have time to get home and shower to get to work on time.

As much as I want to love them, I have to wonder if I just need to get new Kayanos instead of sticking with the Adrenalines. But maybe it's all in my head!

(This is why I hate shoe-buying.)

As of right now, I'm not at all on track. This needs to change. I'm the only one who can change it. Being behind and knowing I have a plan to follow is stressful, so I'm taking my training into my own hands and ignoring my actual training plan for now.

Goals for this week: 
    1. Run at least three weekdays, at least 4 miles.
    2. Complete my long run.
    3. Complete a real crosstraining workout at the gym.

Once I'm back in the habit, I know getting up early to run will be doable and even easy at times. But this week I've had zero energy. And I hate to admit it, but admitting it will force a change.

Above and below: my post-Open House classroom looks more lived-in and normal!

Besides, I don't want to lie and say things are going well when they're not. This blog is a place for me to ruminate on running: the good, bad, and the ugly.

Now that I've gotten the whining out of my system, it's time to move forward.

How do you motivate yourself out of a slump?
Share some words of wisdom/inspiration!

ABK

26 Down...

One of life's greatest tragedies, I think, is that people rarely live their dreams. How many people have you met who wanted to make a name for themselves and really accomplish everything they set their minds to, but never put any effort into it? How many of us really grow up to be what we wanted when we were kids?

Matt and I have a dream for our future. We want to own a catamaran and spend a few years sailing the world, maybe taking on charters. I could run races and write in different countries; he could get back to his art.

I mean, this should probably just be the new definition of the word "freedom".

Ignore the fact that I'm terrified of water.

Today, we took our first step in realizing this dream by stopping by a company that gives sailing lessons. It was a bit out of our way, and I wore my running clothes because we planned to go to the gym right after. But as we drove home, we passed one of the nicest parks in our area, and I was inspired to do our run there.

The first thing we saw was a redheaded woodpecker. Can you find him?

I only had one mile on the schedule today because yesterday's run was pretty brutal and I was still sore from the heavy workout I did Tuesday. We ran along the boardwalk of the park, over the water (the park is aptly named Lakes Park), then finished our drive to the gym. It was a beautiful diversion, and next time we'll plan ahead and do a longer run there.

It was overcast but humid, a balmy 89 degrees.

Because I'd only done a mile, I spent some time on the elliptical (I use it backwards to work those muscles we usually neglect) and finally braved the stair-stepper. I did six minutes on the rowing machine and called it a day.

I can't believe there are only 13 days of the run streak to go! I think next week I'm going to start upping my mileage two or three times to prepare for my first week of marathon training. It's looming (but in a good way)!

How often do you switch up your usual routes?
What is your long-term life dream?
How's the weather been in your neck of the woods?

ABK

I Wish I Knew Then...

Tonight's run had me chanting in my head that old saying:

Quote by Scott Tinley

It was steamy hot, a good 86 degrees, and still sunny. I had planned to go later but ended up being pushed out the door a bit early. My calves were the good kind of sore in the beginning, the anaerobic-exercise kind of sore, and I pushed to the end with an average 9:32 pace. Not too shabby.

Sun and heat are my Kryptonite, but I won this round.

I've been thinking lately that I'm in another growth stage, and while sometimes I feel I'm starting from zero, there are definitely things I benefit from knowing now that I didn't know when I first began.

When I began running, I wish I knew...

1. Every run is not going to be the epitome of freeing/awesome/spiritual. Conversely, every run is not going to be sluggish/painful/shuffling/draining. Running is 90% mental.

I wish I had known progress was slow-going, even once you've gotten some races and long runs under your belt. Running takes work.

2. Walk breaks are acceptable; planned intervals take the defeatist feeling out of walking.

3. Strength-training is so important! Even if you're just doing squats and leg lifts, keep your hips, butt, and core strong to avoid injuries, especially in the knees. On a related note: a foam roller will become your best friend and the best $24 you've ever spent.

To see more about my hip-strengthening routine, click here!

4. Don't overdo it. Rest days aren't a reason to feel ashamed. Smart runners let themselves rest and recover.

5. The right shoes are everything. Have your gait tested, check into the store's return policy, and don't settle for something that costs less if your feet protest the decision. Also, learn to lace your shoes in a way that's comfortable for you. Look into orthotics if necessary, and remember to track your miles, because depending on what surface you run on, you'll need new shoes every 300 to 600 miles.

I wear the Asics Kayano, but that doesn't mean they're right for everyone.

6. Baby powder, Vaseline, Blister Block...apply liberally. Chafing happens, and sometimes it's permanent.

7. Name brand running clothes are nice splurges, but Target sells some pretty awesome gear. Shoes should be expensive; the other stuff doesn't have to be.

8. Black bottoms are key, especially if you have a nervous race bladder.

9. Pee before you run. Scratch that. Pee multiple times before you run.

10. Neon socks, bras, tops, etc, make you faster. This is a proven scientific fact, people.

Someone should really do a study on that, but I guess it would be pointless since we all already know what the outcome would be.

11. Mix up your runs. Do some slow, some fast, some longer than others. Try new paths. Don't let yourself get bored.

12. The right music can change a run. Keep your playlist updated and mix up the order of the songs once in awhile to keep it from getting stale. And don't be afraid to run unplugged once in awhile, either.

13. Running before the sun comes up and running in the rain will make you feel super hardcore.

14. Learning to eat the right foods at the right time takes some trial and error. Running on empty can be just as terrible as running on a too-full stomach.

15. Running groups are usually less scary than they seem; they love to welcome new people, and the friendships you'll make with other runners are some of the most intimate you'll ever have.

Bonus: I wish I had known that running can become an addiction, a go-to cure for all that ails you, a spiritual and mental respite from your hard days, a way to celebrate your good days, and, simply put...a way of life.

What do you wish you had known when you were a new runner?

What valuable things have you learned?

ABK

The Truth About Effort

I read an article recently on social media and the effect it has on running. For the most part, I think facebook, twitter, this blog, and DailyMile keep me motivated and accountable for my training. But there's a weird phenomenon created by social media, and that's a false sense of knowledge of the inner workings of peoples' lives.

I read all kinds of articles that explain studies that show facebook depresses people because they never feel as popular as their friends. That looking at photos of parties/weddings/vacations of which we weren't a part causes us to feel our own lives are lacking. Of course, the studies also show that people only post photos of the good things in their lives, so what we see is completely incongruent with reality.

But this isn't just about being popular. Posting about workouts can be motivating to yourself and others, but it can also be misleading. I realized that recently as post-Thanksgiving guilt has friends seeking running tips. I've received multiple messages asking for tips/advice, and many of these friends seem to be under the impression that running is easy for me. They talk about seeing my runs on DailyMile, or the photos from my races, and they are both admiring and intimidated.

Both of these are silly reactions. Running is not easy for me. It never has been and never will be. Even my "easy" runs take effort. Even runs that go well and leave me feeling unstoppable are difficult. No matter the distance I'm running, a little more than halfway through I feel completely defeated and exhausted; it takes a lot of effort and self-talk to keep me going. If any factors are off, no amount of mental coaching can keep me going.

Couldn't even bring myself to 20 minutes

Today's run is a good example. I meant to go three or four miles at 7am, but I didn't get going until 8:15. It was still cool out, especially in the shade, but was warming up quickly in the sun. K had a race this morning that I wasn't feeling up for, so I was running alone for the first time in months. Because M had my car for an early-morning paddle-boarding adventure, and because it was late, I decided to just run from home, taking a well-worn path that is a constant mental battle because it bores me. All this week M has had a nasty cold, and it has finally rubbed off on me, so my breathing has been off and my head has been tight with congestion. Basically, I had a bunch of factors working against me, and three miles quickly became 1.8. Every step of this short, rather pathetic run was difficult. (On the bright side, my groin and knee felt fine!)

Considering this is our first week back after taking two weeks off, 14 miles for the week isn't bad (and I'm still going to try for a longer run tomorrow in much cooler weather), and my pace on this short, sad little run is perfectly good to me. I'm not letting this run get me down. But the point stands: running isn't effortless.

I think people new to running don't give themselves a chance to get better when the running itself doesn't get "easier"; if they don't start out at 8-minute miles and the ability to run for 30 minutes straight, they feel like they've failed. But running is about slowly building up and improving at your own rate. Friends may look at my running and see that - when in the midst of training - I'm hitting 20+ miles a week, but viewing those miles altogether is a lot different than running them one by one. A final weekly report shows the miles, but doesn't show the strain, sweat, and pain that goes into them.

What I'm trying to get at is that we all start somewhere, and we all have our off days. Running isn't about getting to a point where it's easy. Most runners, when they start to feel it's too easy, set a higher, more difficult goal to meet. Easy isn't what makes it worth it. I don't want people to think training is easy for me. It's a struggle. I have to force myself into it. I'm always glad I've gone once I'm done with a run, but I don't do this because it's effortless. Anything worth doing is going to be hard.

We shouldn't fear effort. We should embrace it. Running isn't easy; I do it anyway. I don't consider myself a good runner, a strong runner, or a fast runner, and I don't really want other people to think of me that way, either. I'm not proud of being "good"; there's less to be proud of if you don't have to work for it, in a way. I'm proud that, despite how hard running is for me, I do it anyway.

ABK

When is it Quitting? When is it Compromise?

Last time I wrote about having a bad run, the badness was due to specific circumstances of that day. Today's awful run was a combination of things that began earlier this week. To start, the last run I had was Tuesday night, when pending election results sent me into a nervous tizzy and I sped my way along a very quick 3-mile route with M at my side.

After that run, I happily slept through four mornings when I could have run, but chose not to. Yesterday night, M and I had a bit of an impromptu date-night, which included buffalo wings slathered in rich, syrupy sauces and a ludicrously large hard cider. Needless to say, not a really great dinner the night before a long run.

Oh, extreme allergy conditions? Great.

So there brewed a dangerous storm. Then, this morning saw some rookie mistakes I should have known to avoid. For one, I checked the weather and knew it would be sunny but cool (in the 60s) when we started the run. I dressed for cool weather, forgetting that the sun actually still creates a warmer "feels-like" temperature in November, and hardly four miles into the run I felt fatigued and overheated. I found I needed a walk break early on, probably because my starting pace was in the mid-9s. Our long runs have been in the mid-to-low 10s, so this was a ridiculous pace to start off at. My legs were heavy and uncooperative, and I wasn't able to get a good breathing rhythm going. This is probably due to increased allergies; although the high allergy count is for indoor allergies only, anything that affects my breathing triggers my asthma, and I've been feeling short-breathed and congested for day. This is possibly also caused by the bad bout of Red Tide we've had in the area.

I should pause here to mention that K was sick last week, so she opted for a 6-mile run, and SB and I planned 11. We all met up together, but K took off on her own early on. About four miles in, I dropped back from SB. Putting in music and setting a slower pace helped until I got to mile 5. At this point, I came to my water bottle. I only dropped off one bottle today, so by the time I got to it, I guzzled it down, leading to a cramping and sloshy stomach. At this point was the turn-around, but I couldn't fathom running the bridge a second time. Instead, I headed off down an alternate route, and I was able to shuffle-run until the main turning point, but pretty soon after reaching the next main road, I gave up on myself. I walked nearly a full mile, paused at the park for a drink, contemplated asking an early-morning tennis player for use of his cell phone to call M...

I ran from the park, knowing my car was 2.5 miles south, and instead veered off on the mile route home. I woke M, and he drove me to the car. The 11-mile run became 9.1. The time was laughably slow; I apparently walk at a 20-minute pace. I felt discouraged, even more so because I gave up on myself and 1) allowed so many walk breaks and 2) cut the distance short. While these decisions were probably good for my overtaxed body, I can't help but hate myself a little bit for making them. When it is quitting, and when is it compromise?

We need to learn from our mistakes, of course, and I think I have. If I know early during a crucial run that things aren't going right, it might be best to change plans early and salvage the run as best I can. I need to adjust my running plan later in the week if the plan earlier in the week changed. I need to trust my instincts over the weather report. I need to plan my pace better from the beginning, and I need to stay hydrated.

Even knowing all these things logically, I'm still feeling moody and regretful today. This was not how I wanted my final long run before our Half to go. I'm actually not feeling like this will be detrimental to the race, and if anything it's given me a chance to see how I run in the sunlight for a long distance. But all those walk breaks...man, those are what really get me. I always feel so worthless, like I've let myself down and allowed my mind to beat me back. I've been making such amazing progress, and it was like the little Negative Nancy in my head wanted to prove she still exists.

Alright; I get it. And I'm going to shake this off and redeem myself this week and kick butt on Sunday. And then I'm going to take some mental rest, because training is starting to eat my brain, and I think that's mostly what made me weak today. On any other day, in usual circumstances, I could have run through the funk. Today, my brain got the best of me. That's all there is to it. Time to move on.

ABK

Dr. Piper Legacy 5k

On Thursday morning I dislocated/severely sprained/possibly broke my left pinky toe.

Last year I definitely broke the same pinky toe (I heard the crack); I've never had a broken bone until then, and it's so stupidly inconvenient. I rested the toe for about six weeks, which of course messed with my schedule. But this was all before the "be more consistent" NY Resolution that started this blog.

Thursday was a rest day, and as I stumbled out of bed to get ready for work, I kicked a suitcase I'd left in my path. I heard no crack, but the pain sent me to the floor, and I could hardly dare look at the toe. When I finally managed to scare up enough courage to face the damage, I was overcome with fear and pure, deep anger at my own stupidity. The toe was sticking out to the left, a tiny wayward soldier wandering away from the strictly-lined ranks of its peers.

I groaned and hobbled to the bathroom to get ready for work, all the while mentally berating myself for being such a slob. The suitcase had been used Sunday night when we stayed with friends in the face of Hurricane Isaac. Why was it still in our room, still packed, still in the most inconvenient place ever?

Bruising Thursday afternoon.

I strapped my pinky toe to its buddy and went to work. By the end of the day (throughout which I iced, compressed, took ibuprofen, etc) my foot was grossly bruised and painful, but not crippling. I decided to run our scheduled easy run on Friday morning because I had the first race of the season on Saturday.

The first mile was painful, and I knew I was overcompensating with my good leg when the quad went tight. But I pushed through the 2.5 mile run at a respectable pace; by the end, my toe was easy to ignore.

It hurt badly all Friday, but the bruising had changed and seemed less intense, and I convinced myself that running my race was a great idea.

Bruised & swollen after two runs.

It's weird about runners, you know? The way they want to ignore an injury even though it means they'll miss training in the long run? If I could just take a full week off, I bet I'd be back on track without any problem. But I don't want to take a week off. My plan was: run the race Saturday, then rest Sunday and Monday. 

The 5k itself was, in fact, great. I woke up with minimal bruising and iced my foot on the way to the race. The first few walking steps of the morning were excruciating because my foot was stiff. But once I got moving, the pain melted away. I ran at an easy pace the entire time, refusing to push myself too hard.

It's funny, because I stopped feeling any pain at all except for a couple times when I put my foot down wrong. My right leg didn't feel like it was overcompensating. My gait didn't seem uneven or affected.

The worst part of this 5k (which benefited the Dr. Piper Center for Social Services) wasn't my damaged toe; it was the heat. A 7:30 race is excellent in winter, but in the last days of summer it's a brutal endeavor. The sun was up well before we started to run, and with the sun came the expected heat and humidity.

The last 5k I ran was in June at the same time of day. That race saw me walking and struggling to finish at a sprint (which I like to do). My time was 33:16 for that one. Today's 5k was a much better experience. It was a road race, which is my preferred terrain, and I was able to avoid walking. I finished at 30:26; my original goal for this race was to come in under 30, but with my injury I felt my time was respectable.

K and me pre-race.

And the best part is that I know once the weather cools down, I'm going to be much, much faster.

K and M both ran today, and K blew me out of the water with a time of 27:41. M pushed himself to keep her pace for the first mile and ended up falling behind us both. He ran the middle of the race with me, which was nice, but he's not very happy with his performance. He definitely didn't run his usual race today.

M and me pre-race.

I came in 32 of 85 women and 82 of 162 total runners. I almost always place dead center, so these results are consistent. I do think running in the mornings made this race easier than it would have been if I were still running in the evenings.

 I'm looking forward to continuing my training for the Half. Our next race, according to our training schedule, is Oct. 6, which gives me plenty of time to heal and meet that goal of another sub-30 5k.

Now it's time to enjoy a long weekend filled with family, elevated feet, and tons of grading.

ABK