Tough week, I found out I'm tough

It has been a while since I posted.

My running quantity has been slowed a little since the London 1/2, but I am still getting out there. I have been trying to fit in runs between gardening, Cub Camp, helping my wife with her online course and work.

I went out Monday night. It was still hot and humid at 10pm and I had a 9K with 12X 250m intervals planned. Well the heat had other ideas. I ran just over 5K with 3 1/2 X 250m. 1/2 way through my 4th interval, all my power ran out. I turned right at the next corner and ran home. I had fluids, but the heat zapped everything from me.

The next night was cooler. I decided on a 10K tempo run. I have a 10K coming up on June 24th, so I wanted to test myself. I ran a consistent 6:15/K for the entire run. My legs felt tired for the first 3K but my legs got into the run after that.

Last night I did a hill repeat workout. My legs felt like 2 tree stumps. I started with a 2K warmup. My legs weren't into it. I got to my 'hill' a 250m with a 8% grade a 20m rise in elevation. It is a decent hill, it take me aprox. 1:47 to climb it. I wanted to do 7 repeats, since the last time I did 6. My first 3 times my legs just didn't want to go, but I kept telling myself, just one more, just one more. The 4th time up I was up to speed, the 5th was faster, 6th was the same as the 5th, and the 7th I really pushed it and improved another 2 seconds.

All three of these runs started out really rough. A year ago, these runs would have been cut short, real short. With all the running I have done, all the tough spots in races, namely the 28K mark of Around the Bay have improved me and my running. I know that running through these tough spots will only help future tough spots. I know when to cut it short. If I think that it may lead to injury or in the heat, it may make me sick, I will stop.

Borrowing a quote from Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller, "Tough times never last, Tough people do"

Coming up, June 24th I have the "Peachbud 10K" in Grimsby. Last year this race was on one of the hottest days of the year. It was 35C / 95F, but with the humidex it felt like 45C / 113F. There were people all along the route with hoses sponges, showers setup. It was a fun race. This year I am better trained for the distance so I should do better. This race has pretty cool draws. They raffle of a cruise for two for the Run in the Sun Cruise. They also raffle of 6 bikes.

I started looking more seriously at trail running. I wanted to start tomorrow but the weather may not cooperate. There are a couple of trail races I would like to try but I want to get on the local trails first.

I made mention of my intentions on Twitter and received a great deal of advice and encouragement. What a great source.

Time to fly.