My second article was published over the weekend on CultureMap. Please check it out. It’s called “The Aha Moment.” I will be contributing articles every other week, so keep checking back for more!
Labor Day at the Beach!
I spent my holiday weekend in Destin, Florida. I was here already once this summer, and now I’m back again with different people.
Beautiful beaches, hot weather, great restaurants, relaxing!
Running: Trail vs. Marci
There is a great running trail that goes on for miles and miles. On Friday, I tried out my borrowed Garmin aiming for a 4 mile out and back starting at 7:15 a.m.
Let me tell you why this was one of the worst runs I’ve ever attempted:
-It was already hot, no breeze
-I forgot my iPod in Houston and borrowed one, not my music, but anything was better than nothing.
-I taped my right shin like I usually do, and it started coming off by .5 miles, so I had to stop, take off my shoe and sock and throw it away. I was already too sweaty when I put the tape on.
-There was sweat in my eyes, I had no hat or sunglasses to stop it.
-I slept 4 hours the night before.
-I was new to the Garmin and lost the signal once.
I ended up completing 4.2 miles, but I walked the last 1. I had never been so sweaty and hot and it was a miserable run. I had a piece of toast with peanut butter and jelly and a peach after I came back. Pardon the iphone photo, I was too hungry to find my camera! And I ate part of the peach before I took the picture.
Here were my thoughts as I was running:
-Why am so slow? My legs feel ok! Ouch! Salt in the eyes, I need to start wearing a hat. I need a new hobby. How will I ever run 13.1 if 4 is too hard today? Why am I so slow? My legs feel ok!
The trail clearly beat me down at this run.
Now let me tell you about two days later!
I went out at about the same time, with no distance in mind and I hadn’t even decided if I would walk or run. I wore a hat, had my Garmin again, didn’t even try taping my leg, used better earphones on the borrowed ipod, and had a light breeze on my side.
I took off running very slow, far slower than the treadmill. I did the same 4 miles out and back, and then I kept going! I ended up completing 5 miles in a very long amount of time but I ran errr jogged the whole thing.
Thoughts while I ran:
–This is kind of enjoyable. Beach on one side, lots of people outside exercising, this is nice. Why am I so slow? My legs feel ok! If I can run in heat, I can run when the weather is nicer, right?
I clearly beat the trail this time! I came home from this run and had a bowl of Oikos Vanilla with a banana, Fiber One, and Uncle Sam’s cereal. And munched on a half bagel before I left plus coffee.
I am really happy with how my legs are behaving outdoors. I know I can run further than 5 miles, but I have been inside for so long, that I am starting with low mileage outside. And I am hoping for cooler mornings soon since it’s almost Fall. Also, the hat saved my run. It was night/day from the other, and very necessary.
Here are some more pictures from the weekend: Cartwheels on the beach, breakfasts, lunch wrap, dinner salad, and pretty scenery.
Good job, atleast you finished! Running outside is harder to run than on the treadmill. I’ve had the worst run of my life yesterday because I ended up doing it when the sun was up. Big mistake! Slow, hot and humid. Legs were heavy and breathing was out of control. Once the weather gets better, the runs get easier! Maybe you should try running outside most of the time? Just to get you used to it. I was the same-but tired after mile 1, MILE 1!!! How the hell am I going to do 13.1?? of course, I’m blogging about that today
It’s amazing how the same run can be so different! You should be really proud of yourself for getting back out there after your first one wasn’t ideal.
Oh I am so jealous, I love Destin!! And that UT hat is awesome. Glad to have found each others blogs.