Trust the Training Schedule (Runs 34 & 35)

Run 34 was schedule for Thursday (June 26). I worked a long day, so I planned on running Friday morning (even though my long run was scheduled for Saturday morning--usually Friday is a rest day). I ended up running in 80 degree heat, Friday night, battling the Hoopfest set-up crowd (which included a set of guys in matching jumpsuits who appeared to be closely watched while they worked). The run itself was not too bad, but in a desire to go out to dinner, I ended up barely stretching, and I didn't hydrate well enough post-run.

I slept later than I planned on Saturday (I was not intending to go to team practice this week), so I couldn't run through the park and downtown, as it was covered with basketball courts and around 200,000 people. So, I ran down Riverside towards People's Park and over into Peaceful Valley. The route was very hot and very hilly, and I struggled to maintain a decent pace. It was around 85 degrees. I managed to get in 54 minutes of running, according to Nike+.* I did stretch and hydrate after, but I would not count that as a quality run.

*I alternate between a pair of Asics and a pair of Sauconys. I bought two little pouches from Grantwood Technology so that I could use the Nike+ sensor with my iPod and not run in Nikes. The pouches lace to your shoes and seem to work great. They are around $6, and they are available on Amazon.

Morning Person?

I am trying to get my runs in during the morning, but I am failing in week two. I am just not a morning person, but I know once the weather gets (and stays) hot that I will want to be running in the morning when it is still cool outside. I completed Sunday's run in the morning (around Hayden Lake--beautiful run), but Tuesday's run was at night (a loop around Browne's Addition that I like). Tonight's run will be at night, as well, since I didn't crawl out of bed until seven.

Since I'm only doing 30-40 minutes runs right now, I can usually hydrate a bit (about 4 oz.) and head out the door. As the runs get longer in the next 22 weeks, I'll have to figure out what works for me hydration and food wise and does not upset my stomach. Right now, I'm loving the Propel Endurance--lower cal with not much sugar (see Running Tip #1) and a bit of caffeine to get me out the door.

Sunday and Tuesday's runs were energized by the following artists on my little green nano: Pat Benatar, Mary J. Blige, Motley Crue, Lily Allen, Saul Williams, Jamiroquai, George Michael, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, and The Chemical Brothers.