Texas Summer Heat Run

I ran 9 miles today at 7:30 a.m. and the temperature outside was 80 degrees!  I had two things going against me as I headed out.  I didn't eat my banana cause we were out (forgot to check when I got home from work yesterday) and the heat.  I knew it was going to be a hot run so I decided to work on hill/strength training today.  I also took a ton of water to hydrate both during a after my run.  There is a neighborhood close to where I live that has about 4 streets of killer hills.  These are the same hills I trained on when I was getting ready for my San Francisco Marathon last summer.  It really helped me get ready because that was my second marathon ever and the one that qualified me for Boston this year.  Besides, I figured while on vacation this summer, I ran the Rocky Mountains and the Swiss Alps for a total of two weeks.  Although it wasn't easy, I was able to run and make it in that high altitude.  I read that if you run a least one week in high altitude, it can trigger physical and mental benefits that will last for several weeks after you return to sea level.  It also helps you boost in race performance.  So, I thought....GAME ON!  Keller Killer Hills (which is what I call them) I'm back home!  Let's do this!  I didn't focus on pace, just form and endurance.  It kicked my booty, but I finished little under 9 min. per mile.  I'll take it!  Running/hiking on vacation definitely helped with my training.