Mother's Day Low Key 4 Mile Run and my latest workouts

I’m suffering from a little bit of writers block.  Training for a race always gets me excited about running and workouts.  It also makes for easy blog content.

I’d like to race more often but money and time are two things I’m lacking right now.  Lately, my lunch time workouts have been strenuous because I’m fighting with the sun.  

I can only run 4-5 miles at time on my lunch break outdoors. Before it started getting too warm I could usually fit in 5-8 miles.  If I try to run any longer than 5 miles I’m dancing into heat stress territory.  I know when I’ve gotten too much sun, if I’m still sweating an hour after my run and my stomach feels crampy.

I’m trying to make do by driving to a park and running for a half hour. I still enjoy running but, I’m not getting as much mileage in as I would like.

Friday 5/9  I drove to Sunset Park and ran just under 3 miles (2.78 miles @ 8:20 pace).  It was pretty warm out.

Saturday 5/10 LVTC Low Key 4 Miler-
This was held at the Sunrise Picnic Area near my home.  I got there and I ran a mile to warm up and did some strides and stretched.

There were several other events being held that morning so this event had a very small turnout. I ended up being the overall leader.  Here are my split times.
Mile 1-7:06
Mile 2-7:06
Mile 3-7:07
Mile 4-6:47

I liked how even my splits were.

Sunday 5/11 Rest Day (Mother's Day)- I had a nice day with my family. We took the kids to the park and had a picnic and then we let them play in the splash pads.

Monday 5/12     I ran 6.2 miles @ 8:34 pace.  This run was not fun. I think I was still sore from Saturday's 4 miler.  I felt like I was running way harder than what my Garmin was telling me.  It was 75 degrees when I took off and close to 80 when I came back.  The heat sucks a lot of energy out of you, I'm just too stubborn to realize it at the time.  I felt like crap the rest of the afternoon.  My stomach was crampy from the heat.

Tuesday 5/13 4 mile treadmill run and strength training.  I ran a progression run on the treadmill.  I started out at 7.2 miles per hour then after 2 minutes I kicked up to 7.5, I kept increasing the speed every few minutes.  I ran 4 miles in just over 30 minutes.  I also ran at a 1% incline.  After that I did some lat pull downs, push ups, rope bicep curls, push ups, and kettle bell squats, and some sit ups.

Wednesday 5/14  5 Miles @ 8:15 pace  I felt like an extra from the walking dead.  I drove over to Cornerstone Park.  I ran two loops in the park and then I headed off on a jogging path.

 Normally I see other runners and walkers out but there was no one else around and it felt creepy.  It was 79 degrees when I left and closer to 85 when I finished.  This was another frustrating run.  I love running outdoors but, the heat is getting to me.

Thursday 5/15  Rest

Friday 5/16  4 Mile treadmill run and strength training.  I ran another progression run and then I did some Roman Chair leg lifts, push ups, lat pull downs, lunges, kettle  bell swings and some sit ups.

Saturday 5/17  Rest, a heat wave came in and the afternoon temps hit 100 degrees for the first time in Las Vegas for 2014.

Sunday 5/18  6 miles in the heat..... I almost didn't take my hand held bottle with me. I'm glad I did  The humidity was only 9% and it felt like a blow dryer was blowing on me.  Your sweat just dries almost instantly so I was just pouring water on my head and drinking water all throughout the run.  6.11 miles @ 8:44 pace.

Monday 5/19  I drove out to the Pittman wash and I ran a 4 mile progression run. I ran 2 miles out and 2 miles back in.  There was 162 feet of elevation gain on the way out and 155 feet loss on the way back in, which explains the faster second half.  Here are the split times:
Mile 1-9:05
Mile 2-8:40
Mile 3-8:03
Mile 4-7:24

Tuesday 5/20 Rest- I got a surprise invitation to lunch from my husband.  We don't get to meet to often for lunch so it was a nice surprise.  We didn't do anything fancy.  We went to Port of Subs.

Wednesday 5/21  Another Rest Day-  I didn't feel like running...... I couldn't decide what to do. I didn't want to go to the gym at my workplace. I also didn't want to fight with the sun.

Today I'm ready to just go outside for a few miles.  I promise I won't keep complaining about the sun. I'll come to terms with it next month when it really gets hot.  We have about a month left before the school year ends. Traffic will be much lighter in the mornings, I’m thinking of switching back to AM workouts before work next month.