The good, the bad, & the ugly

Big ups & downs in training this week. Actually, it started last week w/ the long run, which started out great, but ended really crappy. This heat is really getting to me during these long runs. Last week I didn't start until almost 5:30 am & that really cost me. We only did 10.5 miles, which was through River Oaks which meant lots of shade, but those last 2 miles were in the blazing sun & it was SO f'ing hot I had no energy left to go very fast at all. I pretty much strolled back to the park.

Oddly enough, Tuesday's practice with temps equally as hot went really well. This was the week to do 1/2 mile sprints at the track & again, I'm pretty steady w/ times. The only "problem" was that it was VERY windy, but only on 1/2 the track. Of course, that 1/2 was a headwind. However, that wind was also a Godsend because it felt FABULOUS. We did 6 ea. 1/2 mile sprints. Here's how I did:

1 - 7:14:27
2 - 6:59:36
3 - 6:57:65
4 - 7:07:23
5 - 7:01:79
6 - 7:01:82

Total time: 42:22:12
Avg. pace per mile: 14:07

I have no doubt if I didn't have that headwind that at least 5, if not all 6 sprints would have been under 7 mins.

As for my pool workouts, they're getting better & better each day. I've really picked up my speed walking in the pool & I'm getting definite muscles in my upper arms from working w/ the noodles. It's great!

Then there was today's long run. In a word... it SUCKED. The route was to the GRB downtown & back, w/ a pitstop from Waugh to I-10, then 2 miles worth of hills & parking garage runs, with a total mileage of 17 miles. This time I was sure to start right around 5:00 am & those first 10 or so miles were great. I felt strong, I was keeping up a great pace, & I didn't feel too hot.

Then the sun came out in full force.

By the time I was about 12 miles into the run, I was feeling extremely dizzy & nauseous. I couldn't walk a straight line & my mind was very fuzzy. I stopped for a good 15-20 minutes at the water stop to rest & cool off. It was there I decided to skip the I-10 portion of the route. I knew if I did those 2 miles, which were in direct sunlight, I would probably pass out, so instead my coach, Valarie, my teammate, Jonathan & I starting sloooowwwwwly walking back to the park. I was feeling better, so I decided to do the parking garage on the way in.

BIG mistake. The dizziness & nausea came right back. I had to sit down on the curb & was doubled over from the nausea. Thankfully the water was SUPER ice cold so I kept pouring it all over my body. After about 5-10 minutes, I felt better so I walked back to the park. I felt like shit. I still feel like shit.

I hate summer.

Confirmed

This message is generated as confirmation of your recent registration on Active.com. You have been successfully registered for the following:
Registration:	2008 Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon & EP5K
Purchase Date:	08/22/07
Category:	Aramco Houston Half Marathon - 13.1 Miles
Event Date:	01/13/08
Name:	Erin Nies

If you've ever wondered...

... what 2-1/2 months of running in the rain & mud does to your shoes, it looks like this:
Which is why I now have these:
Yay for tax free weekends!!!

Sweet!

I learned something today after my long run (which was crap-tastic, btw)... apparently chocolate milk is the perfect recovery drink! We decided to test the theory today & 4 of us chugged down a nice cool glass with our breakfast.

Ya know what? It works! I feel great! Better than I ever have after a long run. Who knew?

Color me happy!

OH! Another thing that made me happy... Luke's Locker on West Gray is offering EVERYTHING in their store tax free this weekend, no matter how much it costs! I went right over after breakfast & bought myself a new pair of running shoes & a ton of Clif Shot-bloks. Awesome! :)

It's Official...

Congratulations!

You are now registered for The Nike Women's Marathon, a race to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Sunday, October 21, 2007
Race Start: 7:00AM
Union Square, San Francisco, CA

RACE PACKET PICK-UP:

Race packet pick-up will be at the Expotique in Union Square (Geary between Powell & Stockton Streets). Parking is available in local garages. Please plan your travel to allow for time to pick up your race packet and experience our interactive Expotique. Please note, there will not be an official packet pickup race morning.

EXPOTIQUE HOURS
Friday, October 19th
11AM - 7PM

Saturday, October 20th
9AM - 5PM

**You will receive a confirmation postcard in the mail one month prior to the race. You will need to bring that confirmation postcard to pick up your race packet.

Surprising myself

I'm really surprising myself these days with how much I'm improving each week, even despite the scorching heat. I would've thought the heat would slow me down a lot, especially during the Tuesday night trainings when the temps are at their hottest, but so far that hasn't been the case at all. My 1/2 mile sprints have remained identical for the past few weeks (avg. pace of 14:11/mile) & my parking garage runs have been faster each time. Yesterday was the best yet!

Temperature: 98º
Heat Index: 107º

6 reps:
(1 trip up & down garage = 0.6 miles)

1 - 6:27
2 - 6:23
3 - 6:23
4 - 6:33
5 - 6:29
6 - 6:21

Total mileage: 3.6 miles
Total time: 38:39
Average pace per mile: 10:44

That's more than a minute faster per mile than the last time, 2 weeks earlier.

The only thing that is NOT getting better is my rash. It continues to get worse & worse. I've tried various creams & balms, but nothing is making it better. Oddly enough, the problem is really only on my right leg. I'll appear on my left leg immediately after a run, but it goes away once I cool down. The right leg, however, is a never-ending rash. It doesn't itch... it hurts! It feels like a combo of sunburn & "road rash". I think I'm going to have to see a dermatologist. At least now I know that this sort of rash has a name. Hopefully a doctor will have a cure. Otherwise I'll never be able to show off my legs again!

Surviving the heat

Is it Autumn yet?

This heat is getting pretty rediculous. Every day I find myself wishing all that rain would come back so it would wash away all this God-forsaken heat! I thought last Saturday's 10.5 mile run through Tanglewood was a hot one. That was down-right freezing compared to this past Saturday! We did 16.5 miles (including hills) & I honestly thought I was going to have a heat stroke. I started just after 5:00 am & by the time I finished 4+ hours later, the heat index was already at 106º. If it weren't for my coach putting giant coolers full of ice water out every 2-3 miles, I'm sure I would have had a heat stroke. I must've poured at least a dozen glasses of ice water over my head & down my shirt. Plus, about every 5 minutes or so I'd pour more water from my fuel belt over my head. It was miserable!

When I was on my way back to the park after completing the parking garage, I heard whistles & yells. I looked across the street & saw my old coaches on the deck at Biba's diner waving me over to them. I ran over to say hello & they told me I needed to quit running & join them because it was too hot. As hot as I was, I couldn't allow myself to quit. I had to finish. They kept trying to convince me to stay, but I stood my ground.

You see... this past Saturday was a special anniversary for me. Exactly 1 year ago that day (August 11, 2006), I bent over to pick something up off the floor, & suddenly couldn't stand up. That was the day 3 discs in my lower spine decided to rupture & thus began weeks of barely being able to walk, followed by months of terrible pain & physical therapy. I lived on my living room couch because it was too painful to sleep in my bed, I could only move my feet a few inches with each step because to walk a full stride was excruciating & I was taking prescription drugs to help with nerve damage.

Fast forward to this past Saturday & I was determined to prove to myself that I was finally strong enough to do every damn thing my coaches & Mother Nature could throw at me. And prove it I did. And I am even more determined than ever to get even stronger. I will not let this injury define me.

16 miles...

... with hills

106º heat index.

*passes out*

Words of Advice

1. When you buy a new sports bra & are about to wear it for the 1st time during a long run, DO NOT forget to put a good coat of Body Glide on around your chest & back. I, unfortunately, forgot to do this Saturday & ended up with my back sliced up from the bra rubbing against my skin. I didn't even know that had happened until I got in the shower & the hot water hit my back. YEEEE-OOOWWWW!! Lesson learned.

2. If you happen to live in an area that has received a year's worth of rain in about 2 months, I have two words for you: Bug spray! Embrace it. It is your friend.

3. When deciding which marathon to run, it might be a good idea to look ahead at your training season & see if it happens to fall during a time of year when merely stepping outdoors basically feels like you're stepping onto the surface of the sun.

4. If, after reading #3, you still decide to go ahead with your decision to run an "Autumn" marathon, & you're attempting to do 1/2 mile sprints in the hottest months of the year with temperatures with heat indexes of 110º or higher & 90+% humidity, it's a good idea to take your fuel belt bottles the day before your run, fill them with water & Gatorade, & stick them in the freezer. That way, when you run & the water begins to melt, it's EXTREMELY refreshing to pour the SUPER ice cold water over your head, shoulders, arms & legs. And of course, what tastes better when you run than ice cold Gatorade?

Last, but most certainly NOT least...

5. If you're at a public health club/gym & are using the steam room/pool area & feel your nose begin to run, DO NOT (& I cannot stress this enough) under ANY circumstance begin to blow your nose INTO YOUR BARE HANDS over & over again for a good 10 minutes, while also PICKING said nose, then walk to the drinking fountain & take a drink while placing your booger filled hands on the nozzle. And PLEASE don't continue to blow your nose INTO YOUR BARE HANDS again & then place your booger filled hands on every railing & door knob in the pool area & steam room. Go downstairs to the locker room & get a friggin' tissue & blow your nose like a NORMAL human being! (Yes, I really did witness such an atrocity at the gym yesterday. I'd have strangled the woman who did it, but you know... boogers. *shudders* Did I mention that at one point, she rubbed her booger filled hand all over her bare belly? *pukes*)

In case you missed it...

... The Houston Chronicle ran an article on my friend, TNT teammate, & cancer survivor, Jonathan Nitsch. That kid is a true inspiration. I'm proud to call him my friend. :)