Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Workout Wednesday

Greetings and Happy Wednesday to you all!  Is everyone getting a ridiculous heat wave ?  I am trying not to complain because I complain about being cold, but dear God, I was not built for a heat index of 110+.  I seriously don't know how people live in places where it's like this every day in the summer. 

But in the words of Lupe Fiasco (yes, I am quoting a hip hop artist), the show goes on. 

Despite the fact that it was in the upper 90's with a heat index north of 110, we still forged ahead with the planned workout at run club on Monday.

Would you like to know what getting your *ss kicked looks like?

The green line at the top is elevation, the blue line below is pace.




We did a 2 mile warm up, 2 miles of hill repeats (4 repeats), and a 2 mile cool down.  It probably doesn't look that tough on this graph but believe me when I say I felt like I was running up a freaking mountain.  I don't know how you trail runners do it! 

But I finished the workout.  My pace sucked but considering the conditions, I'll take it.  I was so gross when I finished, I need a new word for "hot mess". 

I do love how this run club is pushing me out of my comfort zone...  but I do hope it's SIGNIFICANTLY cooler when we do this workout again - which I will refer to as "The hills of death" in the future.

I am not sure if I will do 'workout Wednesday' posts each week...  I don't want to bore you non-runners to tears, afterall.  So I will probably post them sporadically.

How do you stay cool and hydrated during extreme heat?  Fortunately my new place has central air (thank God!).  I also drink water like it's going out of style and eat a whole lot of watermelon!

25 comments:

  1. Lisa, you actually are a MACHINE.

    I can't really deal with anything above 25celcius. I am Scottish, I am made for wind and rain and cold. Which even in summer we seem to be getting a lot of (I contemplated hot cider yesterday. It's July!!).

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  2. I was so gross when I finished, I need a new word for "hot mess".

    Can we just take a moment and enjoy how awesome that line is?

    Good for you for finishing! I can't believe you all still did that run in the heat! Yes, definitely water, and gatorade too - that'll help restore your electrolytes so you don't get dehydrated!

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  3. I've been turning to pickle juice lately after hot runs... that's pretty much all summer here and it is gross! I stop around mile 5 and literally wring cups of sweat out of my jog bra because it gets so heavy and wet it's useless as a bra. Disgusting.

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  4. I hate hills! Especially in this heat! My saturday group run is supposed to be especially hilly - I am not looking forward to it!

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  5. Kudos to you for that workout in this heat. Even air conditioning can't really be adequate enough in a room full of sweaty people! Stay well hydrated!

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  6. This is exactly why I stick to the treadmill in the Texas summer. It has been over 98 degrees for the past 2.5 months so there's no way I could exercise outside.

    Glad you didn't die on your run. Those conditions seem extreme!

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  7. Can I just add that I adore you quoted Lupe Fiasco in this.. Ha, so good.

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  8. I felt so zapped after my run on Monday that I think I'll hit the treadmill here in a bit for my hill work this week.

    There was an article in the most recent Runner's World about how drinking slushies or eating a snow cone or popsicle before a work out when it's hot out can help cool your core temp more than just hydrating with water.

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  9. Wow, can't believe they made you run hills in these conditions! The worst is the humidity, though! I don't ever remember seeing it this high - with water running down the windows and having to run the windshield wipers at night when driving so you can see! I mowed lawn last night - with a push, not a ride-on and it was brutal, but not as bad as running! HYDRATE!

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  10. That is hot! It was warm for a few days here but we are back down to 20C with a chance of rain today. Boo! I guess that is what happens when you live near the mountains.

    But, awesome workout on your part! I think I would have quit after the first one!

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  11. It's supposed to be SO hot today in Chicago--I can't believe it! I ran last night but today I think I'm going to work out inside. In addition to the heat I also worry about getting too much sun. I also have trouble staying motivated when it's so hot out...maybe I need to join a running club!

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  12. It has been crazy hot here too! It's supposed to be a little cooler here today, which I think is going to be a bit of a treat. I've actually been lazy since this heatwave hit us and barely worked out - I justify it by the fact that I'm sweating just doing nothing, so that's good enough. Ha!

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  13. You are amazing. Truly. I would have wimped out on that work out. When its that hot out, I don't really leave my house. Even the dogs don't want to be out in the heat. So glad that you have central air in this new place.

    I love some watermelon in the summer. Or any cold berries actually.

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  14. You ran in this heat?! Im impressed, I sat on the couch and sprayed myself with water, then spent about 2 hours in Target spending money just so I could enjoy the AC!!

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  15. It is so so hot in Winnipeg as well! And humid. Thank goodness for central air.

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  16. Funny, I was actually going to write about running in the heat (and how much I HATE it) but you beat me to it. Besides, my running posts don't seem to be very popular.

    So I will just say it here. You ROCK! I hate running in the heat. I tend to run a couple times a week in the crappy home gym at my hotel and then I just buck up and run outside the rest of the time. I wait until about 730 to go, although that means it's pretty much dark when I am done.

    I am still having trouble figuring out how much water to drink beforehand...enough to hydrate but not too much, or I get cramps!

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  17. Way to go you. Seriously.

    And to stay hydrated? Water. Water and more water. A/C. And pools =)

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  18. Yikes!!! That was an intense workout. The heat would have done me in, I HATE running in the heat! And the humidity blegh. I will take high temps but humidity is the worst. SO long story short - GOOD FOR YOU!! I'm glad that you're enjoying your new run club so much and it's pushing you out of your comfort zone!

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  19. You are one heck of a trooper. :)
    Right now if you want to run outside its has to be at 4:30am. That is when Chris goes and he even comes back complaining of the heat at that time. He now joined my gym and is suffering on a treadmill until fall.
    We keep cool with the pool, pool, and more pool time and of course Pellegrino with lime and margs!

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  20. Everywhere in the south has central air. Well, everyplace where you would want to live. I know I downplay that kind of heat when trying to tempt you to moving to the south, but yea, it's that hot for the entire summer here. What your normal summer temps are we get for about 2 weeks in fall and 2 weeks in spring. 8 months of the year it is hotter than that, and 3 months it is colder than that. but not by much.

    Be sure you pack enough water in for a tough hot run like that!

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  21. ugh. i was supposed to start the couch to 5k again this week but my brand new excuse to not, was that it was waaaay to effin hot this week! i am kind of scared for buffett tomorrow and the 108 heat index. yikes. hopefully my sunscreen prevails.

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  22. As always, I'm mega proud of you!!!! Wow!!! It's so stinkin' hot this week!!! And I've already been in 4 different states and 2 different countries and each one is FREAKIN' SCORCHING!!!

    I DO plan to get back on a good running schedule once I return home, though :) You will continue to inspire me!!

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  23. The heat may be the main reason I got a gym membership. It's just too hot to do anything outside after 8am anymore! I could never go for a run in that kind of heat - especially an intense run! You're amazing.

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  24. We have central air too, and that is a lifesaver! I also am like you, and drink a LOT of water.

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  25. Awesome!! I live in Texas and it hard to work out the heat!

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