I saw him!
I got out for my 6 miler yesterday morning. Damn it was hot! It was about 75 when I started but it hit 88F by the time I got back home. I took it really slowly. I didn’t want to kill myself, and I also know that my long run paces have been faster than they should be, especially if the midweek runs are faster. I needed to keep it slower than 9:00, and ideally around 9:40.
Well, I tried my best but I just get thinking about stuff and when I think about stuff that pumps me up, I end up running faster. If there’s one part of my training that needs discipline, its holding to a planned pace. I may be able to get away with running too fast starting out in a 5K, and then just (barely) hold on until the end, but in the marathon that’s going to be a disaster.
I ended up with a 9:05 overall pace (54:27). Since there were alot of overly speedy spots, and some really slow spots, I’m not happy with how the pacing was. I’d like it to be steady and even, or atleast closer to it than what I did.
About a mile into the run, I saw another runner coming towards me down the road and I knew it was the same guy I had seen in the winter. The same guy who footprints I had seen in the snow following the same route as me. Passed and did the wave thing. I wondered if he knew I had been running out there for a year as well. He was that “runner” kind of person that looked like they had been running forever, running with no shirt, no headphones, and shades. If I could just get to the no-shirt phase (and get rid of the farmer’s tan), I’d could be that guy. Uh, and if nobody noticed the stubby legs.
I think I am getting aclimated (sp?) to the heat. Its still dreadfully hot, but I think I am getting better with it. We spent yesterday afternoon at Fossil Park near Toledo, digging up fossils in an old quarry with the cub scouts. Actually, everyone stayed home except one family, probably due to the heat. I put on sunscreen for the first time in years but it didn’t bug me like I thought it would. Wore my giant farmer’s hat that I got for Daddy’s Day from my wife. Good call on that present. :) I felt really good the whole time. It was hot, but I wasn’t really feeling overheated.
Temps hit about 96F but my truck thermometer said 103F. My son was pretty hot and I made sure he had water to drink. I had a bottle of Gatorade and I wonder now if he should have had something like that because he was really hot and tired. His face was really red as we walked back to the truck. I was wondering if it was sunburn. I got him some raisins and fresh cold water. He was feeling better once the AC was going. Then we stopped at a roadside stand for fresh strawberries (which I think were from a hothouse), and I think that helped even more. The redness had gone away after that too. Maybe Gatorade for the kid too? Not sure if stuff like that is good for kids.
Hope the heat isn’t too bad where you all are. We’re off to the gym for crosstraining today.
June 26th, 2005 10:49
Wow, I hear you on the heat! It’s crazy isn’t it! Not good chocolate weather…
June 26th, 2005 14:14
It was cooler today in my area, only 89F! Tomorrow is supposed to be back up over 90F. When I first started training for my marathon I had a hard time maintaining a constant speed, but after a couple runs I got into the groove. Now I’m having the problem of keeping the speed down, not good in the heat we have been having.
June 26th, 2005 22:13
We’ve had really abnormally cool weather here - foggy in the mornings, 60s to 70s in the afternoons. I can’t complain, since I’m 7 months pregnant. Though I’m gearing up to start whining as they say it’s going to get a lot warmer by Wednesday this week.
I SO know “that runner”! I will never be a “natural”, but I just tell myself that having to work at it doesn’t just build muscle - it builds character too! Yeah, I know, it’s pretty lame as far as mottos go, but I’m just trying to throw myself a bone here.
June 26th, 2005 22:48
Heat? Yeah, hear you! Last summer for us was quite chilly and this is a different story altogether!! I’m surprised each time I go out in the heat these days.
Seems like your son would be ok tolerating a few swigs of Gatorade as long as he wasn’t chugging it like soda or something. Water and fresh fruit sounds just as good though.
And by the way, fashion sense kind of dictates that if you’re running with your shirt off, it decreases the focus on your stubby legs. Hey, women have to make these kind of trade offs all the time! (does this make me look to busty or does this make my butt look too big?) :)
June 26th, 2005 22:52
It takes awhile for kids to get aclimated to the heat. You may have to just try to keep him cool by putting a wet hand towel around his neck next time.
June 27th, 2005 01:06
1) just go sans shirt. just do it!!! hey, i did. and all was good. besides, don’t you usually run completely alone on the trails? why wouldn’t you?
2) i think it may be time to leave the kid at home with some video games (like my little brother!)! (is he old enough to stay home alone?)
June 27th, 2005 01:08
oh yeah, and 6 miles in those temps is nothing to laught at…nice work.
June 27th, 2005 05:51
Just discovered your blog and am enjoying it, as I am training for my first 1/2 marathon. You don’t mention black flies. Here in upstate NY, they will eat you alive, this time of year (and they don’t care whether you use bug spray or not). Keeps me running pretty fast, to get away from them!
June 27th, 2005 09:04
I couldn’t resist another comment about the “that runner kind of person that looked like they can run forever.” When I run I look more like “that runner that looks like they need oxygen at any moment!” Luckily looks can be deceiving, I occasionally leave a few senior citizens in the dust;)
June 27th, 2005 09:36
take it off!
It is really hard to pace yourself when you are running alone, and in this weather. Maybe you should get together with the ‘runner’ and run with him.
June 27th, 2005 10:23
I won’t be running without the shirt until I get rid of the little roll around my waist–or at least until it stops bouncing with each stride.
And I think a little gatorade is OK for the kid on a really hot day.
June 27th, 2005 11:55
Good work for even getting out there in that heat to run! And I also vote for running with your shirt off…as long as you don’t wear the farmer’s hat to go along with the farmer’s tan. Then people may look twice :-)
June 27th, 2005 14:35
Guys are so lucky - they can run without shirts *sigh*. Per Dr for Nikayla, Gatorade is not only ok it is often recommended when a child is sick and dehydrated. I quickly replenishs what they’ve puked up. However, it is best diluted and don’t overdue it.
June 27th, 2005 17:25
Yep, it’s in the mid-90’s here, but I’m a big wimp about it. I wish I could be magically transported from the office to home so I don’t have to go outside at all.
June 27th, 2005 18:44
Heat. That’s why I don’t like in MI any longer, my dear Jon. You poor thing. Now if it would only stop raining here…
June 27th, 2005 19:01
How bizarre to be reading this entry while sitting next to a heater while my toes are numb with cold!
Do you run with headphones Jon? I am thinking of trying to run without them when I get back into running in a few weeks but not sure how i will go.
there is a runner in our area who sounds just like yours. I love to watch him run, he is amazing
June 27th, 2005 20:53
Toledo,, thats such a cool name for a place, my niece and her hubby moved down there,, did you find any fossels? They do digs around here, suppose to have found some pretty incrediable stuff. Got to watch the kids, and yourself,, heatstroke sucks big time!!, oh yeah,, get rid of the farmer tan! :)
Heather
June 27th, 2005 23:27
Hey, Jon, thanks for visiting my blog again! You are the most dependable commenter–you always leave encouraging and entertaining comments. I see your comments all over the place, which I think is great. Thanks for taking the time to read and leave your thoughts.
Hope all is well and I look forward to reading about your upcoming exploits!
Take care.
June 28th, 2005 07:53
Toledo, Ohio - I once spent a year there one day…
I’m sporting the farmer’s tan, too - we hit the beach this weekend, and the white belly stood out for miles.
Oh yeah.
June 28th, 2005 10:18
I am a wimp when it comes to direct sunlight. Here in Atlanta I am forced to get up at 5:45 am to aviod the extreme heat + humidity. Not to mention the air quality sucks (lovely brown smog). Keep up the detication, and you will find your pace.
P.S. Take it off!!!
June 28th, 2005 22:53
Yikes. It was hot at the Fossil Park. Africa hot.
If not Gatorade how about some really cold apple juice or the like? It should have some fuel and various electrolytes that would go beyond drinking water.
June 28th, 2005 23:34
Oh, and I’ve got the farmer tan thing going too. I refuse to run shirtless because I live in mortal fear of skin cancer. I grew up in So Cal and I had so many sunburns..
June 30th, 2005 23:41
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity, they say. Actually, it’s both, don’t you agree?! It’s hard for me to run slowly too; I need to be more disciplined about that.