Beating the heat and olympic spirit...

I've said it before...it's not fun to run outside in the heat and humidity.  When my husband got home from work tonight and I changed to get a run in he asked "how far are you going?" I said "not far, just 4-5 miles tonight."  He said, concerned, "you know its hot and humid out there...not really great for a run."  I said "don't worry, I'm heading to the gym to run on the treadmill." 

So maybe there is more than one reason I've willingly taken to the treadmill when I loathe the machine so much.  Yes, it's hot, but more importantly, they have the Olympics on about half the tvs in the cardio room, so I can indulge in keeping up with all the events while logging the miles.  Not sure I'll be quite as motivated for a treadmill run after the flame is extinguished...but I guess I'll take it while I can.

Tonight was a good run.  I hit a nice rhythm and kept on trucking while Access Hollywood recapped a number of the days events...and the lighter side of the Olympics...and then caught a bit of a handball game.  I admit, I know nothing about handball, but it kept my eyes occupied during my post-run mile rowing.

In all, I've got basketball, swimming, boxing, volleyball and a few other events while logging miles.  Not a bad way to while away the time if the scenery isn't changing over the course of 4-5 miles, right?  I'll take and look forward to the fall weather as I stare down four more days of running this week - two of which will be outside in the humidity.  Happy trails!!!


Stats -
Miles:  4.51
Time:   37:02 (average pace of 8:12 per mile)
Location:  Naval Support Activity Annapolis Fitness Center
Feeling:  Nice rhythm for a treadmill run, hamstrings started tightening a little at the end

Logging the week...

I'm behind logging my runs, again.  Are you surprised?  It's been a hot week.  After sweating it out royally on Monday while pushing the jogging stroller, combined with the fact that I had to stop running with the diva until I found a better mosquito repellant (she seems to  be a focal point for every mosquito in Annapolis and has a bad reaction  to the bites), I took the rest of the week inside on the treadmill.  That also gave me the opportunity to add in more rowing, so not altogether a bad thing. 

Since my last post I had two days of treadmill running - today and Wednesday.  Nothing spectacular ever happens on the treadmill, well maybe never.  Today I actually had a great groove going.  I'm not a great treadmill runner.  On the roads I post some good times because I can have my ups and downs in pace on my own.  The treadmill is unforgiving if you change the pace without also changing it on the machine.  That's why I sometimes have troubles putting up decent times and longer runs on the treadmill.  I just don't run the same exact pace, down to the second, mile after mile.  Today, however, I seemed to have it going on.  I had a nice rhythm and the US vs Lithuania Olympic men's basketball game to keep my brain from getting bored, so laying down 7 miles didn't feel like a chore with the treadmill under my feet.  (I can't say the same for my treadmill run earlier in the week...it was a chore.)

Something else I enjoyed about the last two running days was the opportunity to row.  I like to row...in small amounts.  Like the treadmill, it can get boring after so long because unless you have something to keep your mind busy, its really just back and forth.  I didn't put up huge numbers, just a mile rowing on Wednesday and a mile today, but its a good change in exercise for the shoulders and helps me try again to break into cross training.  Can I keep it up?  We'll see.

This week hasn't been spectacular with logging big numbers or outside runs, but I will still hit the number of miles I need to keep on track with my resolution....after the Dog Days 8K tomorrow that is.  Hopefully the heat waits until later in the day to set in.  Happy trails!!!

Stats - (Wednesday)
Miles:  4.01
Time:   33:35 (average pace of 8:22 per mile)
Location:  Naval Support Activity Annapolis Fitness Facility
Feeling:  Just trying to get in miles and destress

Stats - (today)
Miles:  7.16
Time:   60:00 (average pace of 8:22 per mile)
Location:  Naval Support Activity Annapolis Fitness Facility
Feeling:  good rhythm, legs were sound, and didn't tire...AWESOME!