Heat Training?

At the beginning of this month, I joined my wife as a member of the YMCA. I was content with just running outside, but the heat is too much for me. If you ask my wife, I am a heat wuss. Whatever! I'd much rather be in the cold weather and have to bundle up, than be in the heat and not be able to ever get cool.

Anyway, I have been getting my inside workouts done at the gym, even if it is only 30 minutes at a time. Today, I thought I would try some "heat training". I've never really heard this until this past year. It makes sense, so I went out in the hottest part of the day for a run. Mistake! I made it about 1 1/2 into my run and called it quits. I decided to finish up my workout tonight, so I went out for a 6-miler. Didn't quite make it, but I went about 5 1/4. I think I underestimated how hot it still was at midnight. I am guessing it is still mid 90's out there. Ugh! I will be so glad to see the fall and winter this year. Anyway, my training for the Tulsa Route 66 marathon continues. I haven't signed up for it yet, but I am still using as my goal and for training motivation.

I am working every other weekend now, but the Oklahoma Landrunner Club has started there weekend marathon training again. I am going to try and join them when I can. I also recently found out about a running group for Tuesday nights at the Chesapeake Boat House. I will join them once the heat lets up a little. Hopefully, next time I blog there will have at least been a cool front come through and I will be able to complete all my outdoor workouts. 

Until next time.

The Heat is On.

So, I'm just getting into the swing of the night shift at work. I am still struggling with what to do on my days off though. Do I try to stay up all night and be productive, or do I try to sleep at night and spend most of the day awake. For the latter, I would definitely have to take up napping. As this question keeps stirring in my head, I think about all the things I should be doing while I am off work. Laundry, yardwork (with my trusty headlamp), working on my scooter, and training for the marathon in November; among other things. I can make lists, and have the best intentions, but then more often than not, I tend to sit around Googling or catching up on the shows I've recorded on DVR. And then, of course once I do get to the point of going to sleep I feel bad for wasting all that time.

Enough feeling sorry for myself. I am finally back to running on my nights off. I have given up trying to workout/run on the days I work, because it never tends to happen anyway. I went running tonight and it was a mild 89 degrees outside. A much preferred break from the 100+ degree weather we have been having and apparently will be continuing to have for awhile. I am doing fine with the 3-6 mile runs, but when I start trying to fit in my long runs I may run into some mental struggles. In the past, I have trained with the Oklahoma Landrunner's Club on the long run days. They have a pretty cool set up, with water stops every 3 miles or so, and it is always easier to do the long runs in the company of others. The problem with this is, they always run on the weekends, and it is usually at 6 am. I have to work every other weekend and I don't get off work until 7 or 7:30 am. I am hoping to find some other runners that have the same dilemma as me, and we can help each other out.

No matter what happens, I will still keep training and I am sure I will be in better shape than I was for the Oklahoma Memorial Marathon last year. Maybe once the weather cools off a little, I may try to start doing 2-a-days. Just need to know my limits. Until next time...

Night Running

I am preparing myself for a 7pm-7am shift, and tonight is my first shift. I tried staying up last night to somewhat prepare my brain for what was about to happen. Around midnight, I started to get weary from doing Sudoku puzzles, so I thought I might go for a run. I put on my running gear, complete with arm and ankle reflectors, as well as a headlamp.

I have always enjoyed running during dusk/dawn, but I don't remember the last time I ran in the middle of the night. It was nice. The weather had cooled off after a short rain storm earlier in the evening, and the wind was blowing at about 15-20 mph. A much needed change from the 100+ degree weather I was trying to run in during the previous weeks.

I am not sure if it is the safest time to run, but I am definitely a fan of night running. If the night shift turns to late nights/early mornings on my days off, I may try to make it closer to sunrise. Maybe 4am runs or something like that? For now, I will just run when I can and try to keep some type of a regimen going. If I can get my mileage in, and a few intervals in I think I should be good. I will just have to see how it pans out.

New Grad, New Job, New Goal...

I am not really sure what everyone's reasoning is for blogging, but I am starting a blog basically to keep myself motivated. It also might actually help others in a similar situation as myself. I just graduated with my RN from OSU-OKC and I have a new job at OU Medical Center working the 7p-7a shift. I am starting a training program for the Route 66 Tulsa Marathon in mid-November 2011. I have never blogged before, and I feel a little narcissistic doing this, but here it goes. Follow along if you so choose.