1 Vacation, 1 5k, 1 lost toenail

We just got back from our annual trip to Wisconsin to see family, I didn't do as many official workouts as I planned, but I did carry my 30+ pound toddler around a lot (so that has to count for something, right?)

About a month ago, I started looking for a 5K to run while we were there and came across the Oshkosh Sawdust Days 5k.  My husband signed us up (along with my brother & sister-in-law). I thought since it was in the morning it would be cooler than the last 5k I ran the week before. It was a little cooler, but more humid.  There was a surprisingly small group of runners (90-100 max).  I thought I could finish the race in under 30 minutes, since it was along the water and flat.  My 1st mile split was 9:30 and doing a quick calculation in my head, I thought I could do it.  Then the thirst and heat hit me.  I quickly regretted that I did not bring water with me. I hit the first (and only water station) and I felt ok, and then I started to feel myself overheat.  Instead of running on the road, I started running on the sidewalk to try to catch some shade by the trees.  I decided to walk a little to catch my breath and cool down a little, so my mile 2 split was 10:45.  I abandoned all plans of a sub 30 min 5k, instead I re-focused and thought about the last 5k time and decided I just had to finish ahead of that. My husband was feeling better than I was so he finished ahead of me and then met me at about 500m out to run it in with me and push me to the finish line. I ended up finishing it 4 minutes ahead of of the previous 5k but most importantly, I finished.

As I was getting my socks on to head to the race, my toenail peeled 90% off.  After I ran my first half marathon in May, it definitely was discolored and I had a nice blister to go with it.  I had been keeping an eye on it, so I wasn't so surprised that it decided to part ways with my toe and it didn't hurt.  So I taped it up and ran the 5K and then the next day I peeled it right off. So I met 2 of my three goals for the run (1. finish, check. 2. don't finish last, check.  3. don't lose toenails, at least the new one is starting to grow back...)

Triple H: Hot, Humid and Hilly

I do not do heat well.  At all.  So trying to run in the heat has been interesting.  I've been reading lots of articles and working on acclimating myself to the heat, but it's definitely a challenge. My running partner and I have been doing our runs at 6:30am to try to beat the heat and I've been running at a slower pace to get my body used to it.  Here are some things I've learned so far: 1. wear shorts (I don't like running in shorts because they inevitably ride up and then I'm trying to run and get my shorts to cooperate-I've tried 2-in-1's, short shorts, longer shorts and have settled on pair and have sucked up my issue with them riding up) 2. carry water 3. wear a hat and/or sunglasses 4. liberally apply sunscreen. Or run inside.

So I did Body Pump yesterday morning and then did a 5K race last night.  The race was at 7:30pm, there was a nice breeze (82 degree, 60% humidity, compared at 90 degrees earlier in the day) and I felt alright so I lined up and off we went. I felt pretty good at the first mile and my pace wasn't too terrible.  Then I saw the first hill. If I had planned ahead I would have looked at the course to see that it was going to be hilly but alas, I did not. So I tried to push through the first one, "I can do a hill, no problem" I said.  But it didn't end. Once I got through one, there was another around the bend. What goes up, must come down, right?  Well the downhill only meant another uphill.   So it probably wasn't the best idea for me to do Pump in the am.  Since it was so hot, I ran with a bottle of water (which I finished before the race finished) and was pouring sweat and sunscreen when I finished.  I finished the race. So I won against the heat. Now I have experience to know how to run smarter for the rest of the summer.