The Heat

All systems go
The sun hasn't died
- Imagine Dragons, Radioactive

I went running outside this morning while my son was doing football conditioning and let me tell you, it was hotter than a motherfu**er out there. And humid. I felt bad for those boys out there doing sprints and assorted other torture. I went about 3 miles and sweat about 2 gallons from each armpit. In all, a good workout. Then I went out and ruined it all at lunch with a client. Damn job!

Breathe

That's all I could think about during my mile-high run in Denver this morning. I did my 4 mile route down to the church - 2 miles downhill and 2 miles uphill. I did great on the downhill. Enough said. I couldn't help but think about the last time I ran that way. I got home from my trip to find my Buddy dying. So I thought about him for a bit. He was a good kitty and he had a happy life. Ten I ran by this beautiful meadow with some horses in it, and I was reminded about how as a small Catholic girl, I believed I had video cameras in my eyeballs, so whenever I would pass horses or other really cool animals, I would close my right eye to record them. I wanted to keep them with me forever. Then I felt a little guilty for dedicating all of my recording space to animals, so I started using my right camera for godly things like churches and statues that I found pretty. It's only now that I realize they are the same.

Outside Good?

Bitter, bitter mouth
Spitin' out seeds of doubt
-Calexico

Earlier this week, I ran 3 miles on the treadmill in Chicago, trying out my plan to avoid the summer heat.  I like air conditioning. I like TV.  There is only one problem with this plan.  Running on the treadmill is awful.  I hate the accounting of running.  I don't want to know my pace, I don't want to know every time I pass another hundredth of a mile.  I can't stop my mind from doing all the "until I can quit" calculations.  And all the "I don't think I can stand another x minutes or x miles".  Or worrying about the number of laps by the little red dot which represents me.  And I don't like the fact that if I quit there is no consequence (like having to walk home).  All of my thoughts about the treadmill can be summed up by turning the blog over to my 3 year old niece.

"Don't like it"

Thanks.  I'm back.  So I ran outside today.  4.5 miles.  It was hot and muggy and wonderful.  I just ran.  I had no plan other than I wanted to run more than 3 miles (check) and that I wanted to decide between Janie Jones and Complete Control for a song by The Clash for my new playlist (fail).  Instead, I'm starting my new playlist with Cruel by Calexico.  My new favorite band from Tucson.  Enjoy.  BTW - 316.5 miles done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t46dvudrp8

That's fine

And I said that's fine
But you're the only one that knows I lied
- Ed Sheeran

I ran into this little guy on my run this morning in the rolling Castle Rock neighborhood. The hills are not easy although I ran about half of them with my lungs near exploding. 35 minutes, maybe 2.5 miles. Gorgeous sunshine and a gentle breeze. No lie!

She swore and said we are not
We are not shining stars
This I know
I never said we are
- Fun, Carry On

So today I went for a run in Denver at around 815. It wasn't too hot but the sun sure is intense here. And the altitude, aye! So I ended up doing about 2 miles in a field along a railroad track. Then I took the kidlets and neice/nephew to a place called Dinosaur Ridge where you can see actual dinosaur bones and tracks. It wasn't as cool as it was chalked up to be, but it was a 3 mile hike around the area up a fairly steep hill. We ran down, so I'm crediting myself 3 miles for today. I took yesterday off but did run 2.5 and 3 in Mon and Tues. Good month so far.

This is why I love my gym

After a sweaty treadmill run and nerd workout, I can go relax by the pool and enjoy the view of the mountains while reading or playing words. It was ungodly hot out there this morning so I didn't last too long, but it made for some nice relaxation. I swam laps yesterday instead of running, which was a nice change.

The Letter B

I'm gonna run and I won't brake
For nothing and no one and just wait
'Til I feel like myself again
-Brendan Benson

I was going to run on the treadmill today, but my "gym" isn't open on Sundays. But I would not be da turd deterred. I ran 3 miles through the neighborhood.  Early on, I took inventory and my legs hurt, my lungs hurt, it was hot and I was sweating like crazy.  So now we know that not really running for a month isn't the best training strategy.  

Today's run had my iPod set to Brendan Benson, which I enjoyed, and I made it around the 3 mile loop in about 27 minutes.  I'm going to give it a B-.  But as the man says, I just have to keep on running until I feel like myself again.  Or I can spend the next 3 months running inside.  I think I'm going to try plan B.

Central Texas Run

This carrion has been forgotten
left for dead in the sun rotting
-Alkaline Trio

I ran 4 miles in the Central Texas heat.  I thought I was getting an early start, but it didn't matter.  I had a partner for the first part of the run, my small companion was running the half mile out to the mailbox and then was going to bring the mail back to the house.  But there wasn't any.  And so as he turned around and I started to set up on the rest of my run - it happened.  He fell down.  Who falls down early in a run?  Oh yeah.  I guess it must be hereditary.  Anyway, he was OK and ran most of the way back as I followed and then I turned around and did the rest of my run.

I ran down the rural road that leads to the highway.  When I got to the turnaround point, there was a line of buzzards in the road, enjoying a dead squirrel in a very orderly fashion.  I thought that I could turn around early and leave them alone, but I decided that I wasn't going to let them deter me from my route.  So I did all that I could to look strong (I didn't want to give them any ideas) and forged ahead.  They moved and I made it to the turnaround point.  And then had to go back through them.  Not feeling strong.  Luckily, this is Central Texas, and so a giant Dually (yep - that's a thing - big truck with dual rear wheels on each side) came down the road and moved them out of the way. 

I struggled on the way home.  It was hot.  And I haven't been running enough.  Oh yeah, also it was hot.  And there wasn't anyone passing out popsicles.  Anyway, it puts me at 309 for the year.

Not changing

The reason that I'm here
Is the same through all these years
Not changing
Not changing
Not changing anything at all
- Imagine Dragons, Coming Home

Even though this morning was perhaps the worst mile I've ever run, I will still keep running. Bf had me up before 8 on a holiday when we had agreed to sleep in. According to him, we did. So I was at the gym at the ungodly hour of 8:15. Maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic, but it was hard. We haven't worked out together in a long time though, so I'm glad I got up. I did an excruciating mile on the treadmill at incline, and my heart was racing and my lungs couldn't seem to get air. My body just takes awhile to get going. Then I switched to the track and did a painful nerd mile. So two miles today. Yesterday I went about 10am and had a great workout - two miles at incline and a third nerd mile on the track with 20 reps every three laps. So anyway, 11 miles for the week so far. 500 here I come.

Hell

you can go to hell
it'll suit you well
and melt your cold black heart
- The New Amsterdams, Ex's and Oh's

It was 119 degrees in the gym when I went running tonight.  Wait, no, that was outside.  It was a tad cooler inside.  I did my first two miles at 2 and 1 incline, and I was sweating so much my arms we shiny.  Yeah, gross.  I did my third mile on the track with some strength training mixed in (aka the nerd workout) and it was much cooler there.  It was a struggle to get through that last mile though.  The first day back is never hardest - it's the second that kills.  I probably ate enough for two or three people last week - full meals with dessert provided at every meal and fatty snacks in between.  I ate out of boredom and tiredness mainly, which is unfortunate.  And I am feelin it this week fo sho.