August Heat

So, running in the month of August isn't fun.  It's the hottest month of summer here in Texas and really makes training tough.  I can't believe that just 3 weeks ago, I was in Thailand doing my morning runs watching the sunrise on the beach.  Don't get me wrong, I love being back home, but this heat sucks!  The last couple of long runs have been a struggle, but I honestly think that training in this heat is what makes me a faster/better runner when cooler weather comes along.  In fact, when I run in the cold, I don't even feel like I sweat until I'm done and I'm soaked. 

Today I was scheduled to run 18 miles.  I started around 6:40 a.m. and the weather wasn't hot, yet.  I decided to hit Trinity Trails and do some hill work around my alma mater of TCU.  I was doing good up until mile 19.  I crossed an intersection and some guys drove by and honked at me giving me ojo and making me trip and fall!  I landed on my hands and saved my knees and elbows.  I didn't bleed thank goodness.  I just picked myself up and kept going.  I didn't even look back at them, I was embarrassed and pissed! Coming back, the sun was out and in my face.  This is when it gets hard.  My pace was all over the place.  It always is whenever I do hill work so try not to sweat it if I don't get a negative split.  My goal is to just finish last 3 miles faster than when I started.  The summer heat gets the best of me and just can't go as fast as I want.  I have to listen to my body and hydrate more often.  My number one priority right now is to keep up with my training schedule and not get injured before Chicago Marathon. 

I guess you can say that I'm now training for both Chicago and New York Marathon since they are 3 weeks apart.  I hope it's not a mistake and sometimes worry about what did I get myself into?!  I have never done this to my body before and hope I can handle it!  Plan to go hard for Chicago and coast NYC.  I even asked Hal Higdon for his advice on his Facebook page and he said that sounds like a good plan.  I have also asked other people who have done this and they said it's doable because I already have the training and I'm in good shape.  I hope they are right.  I just got to stay positive and keep on going.  So far, so good!   I did get a black toenail today. Oh well, that's not my first one.  I went to get a pedicure and yes, I got the dark nail polish :)   My pace for 18 miles was 8:10 per mile.   I'm happy with it even if I fell on my face...LOL!