Heat Training Begins

We did not travel to Texas for heat training.  We came out to visit family.  But just simply standing, or sitting outdoors, I breakout in a sweat it’s so dang hot out here.  When I wake at about 7:00 AM, it’s already over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27C). By late morning, it’s triple digits until about 8 PM.  Then it’s in the 90’s for the rest of the night.  See.  Perfect for heat training.

I know for many runners that running in 83 degree weather is not much.  But for me, a heat sensitive gal who runs mainly in the coastal hills of California, heat is a big problem.  I never begin a run in 80 plus degree temperatures back home, and one with little shade at that.

I took it nice and easy today, running through the ranch fields first.  Thousands, I mean literally thousands of grasshoppers flew and hopped out of my way as I made through the grass and virtually everywhere else that I ran.  There were little ones, yellow ones, brown and red-striped ones, giant brown ones.  And they’d fly into my legs, sometimes my arms.  And when the big ones hit my hand, I’d have a little “freak-out” moment.  The big grasshoppers were about four inches, the smallest about an inch.  A truly amazing sight.  The only way to avoid the critters was to run directly in the middle of the country roads.  (Which I did not do often)

Heading off the ranch 

I started off slow and ended slow today (slower than usual).  I also carried a thermometer and took my temperature regularly.  Through out the 8 miles, my temperature increased a maximum of 1 degree, but only for a short while.  It mainly increased from .2 to .5 degrees in this heat.  And I was able to quickly bring it back down by drinking fluids.  I also noticed that my temp came down quickly when I ran through shade.  I plan to take my temperature regularly as I train in the heat while I’m here.  I’m not sure what I’ll discover.  Mainly, I just want to be aware of my body and know what if feels like when its overheating so I don’t do a repeat of my little heat exhaustion drop out from Bulldog last year.

Pretty flowers everywhere, even though this part of Texas is in a terrible drought.

The beautiful lonely roads of Texas countryside

One of the large grasshoppers

A quick pose before acres upon acres of fields, no people, no cars, no other sounds except my feet hitting the ground.

A stop at an old cemetery

8.02 miles (12.9 km) run today.  I drank my entire 64 fluid ounces of water and one small bottle of gatorade – this amount of fluids is unheard of for me back home for this distance of a run.  I barely drink this much on a 15 mile run back home.

Back at the ranch, I was giddy that I got in my first heat training run.  Then I crashed hard and fell asleep before heading off to the water park in town. 

My Bright Idea

Today (Tuesday), I left California, and being that I’m not a big fan of flying, I’m always coming up with ideas to help me sleep during the flight.  My hope is that I will sleep the entire flight and wake up upon landing.  (ha, ha!).

So I stayed up way, way past my bedtime, a little past 11:30 pm, and I woke at 5:00 AM.  Then I went for a road run.  I didn’t have time to put in miles on the trail, otherwise, I surely would have been asleep on this flight instead of writing this blog.

I was on the road in my local resort town at 6:00 AM.  The skies were very cloudy and absolutely empty.  Even the harbor, except for the one jammed packed fishing boat was dead.  I think people are catching onto June Gloom – no rush getting to this resort town. 

Backyard photo as I lace up shoes:

Dana Point Wharf

Marina

I didn’t put in many miles, thought that doesn’t mean I didn’t work up a sweat.  I remember when this exact route through the campgrounds, Doheny Beach and the wharf used to be my long run.

Though my lids are heavy, I still haven’t slept a wink on this flight.

Looking forward to some out of state running.

Miles run today: 5.77

So, so, so didn’t want to go!

Being that I will be travelling soon, I jumped out of bed at 6:00 AM, dug through my overfilled drawers for some running gear in a pitch black bedroom (we have “black-out” shades).  I ended up pulling out a tank that I never wear.  Then I sat on the couch and drank two cups of coffee, so much NOT wanting to the hit the trails this morning.  I just didn’t have the energy.  At the same time though, I knew this would probably be one of my last runs in California for a while.  And so I got into the truck at 6:45 AM and headed for Aliso/Wood Canyons.

The lot was full when I arrived, the street curb also filled with parked cars, all with adventurers unloading their mountain bikes. 

Fake smile before heading off onto Aliso Creek Trail

I really felt horrible to start.  Not sick, not necessarily sleepy, just tired.  But I kept on plugging away because I KNEW eventually, I would begin to feel better about this run and end up LOVING IT.  Really, I knew that.

Just before turning onto Meadows Trail four mountain bikers raced onto the trail.  I thought to myself, dang it – they’re probably gonna ride to the top and turn around to fly back down.  That meant I had to catch them!  Drag.

Entering Meadows Trail

The four bikers were long gone as I made my way on the rolling part of Meadows.  As I began the climb, I could see that they were a good half way up to the top.  Several other bikers made their way down Meadows at high speeds.  And that’s when I thought to myself, Sh*t!  I just remembered that last night as I lay down to sleep I had decided to go up Mathis instead of Meadows.  I know I sometimes say Mathis is harder.  And many times I’ve claimed that Meadows is the hardest way up.  To tell you the truth – it depends on my mood.  Meadows is a switchback, which I prefer mentally.  It is also mainly a single track, which I love.  But the grade is greater than Mathis and the climb is longer.  Mathis on the the other hand, obviously is shorter, and it levels off in places, and even has a few little downhills.  But it’s no single track and there’s no switchback about it.  Still about a quarter of the way up Meadows I wanted Mathis.

About here I began to feel better (I came from left through Aliso Canyon).

About here, climbing even higher, I felt good!

I finally caught the bikers at the top of Meadows.  We all stopped at the kiosk to adjust, drink up etc.  I took those dang long sleeves off.  And eavesdropping on one of the bikers telling his friends of a trail he would take them on in Stockholm, I had to laugh to myself when he said the trail was “flat.”  I couldn’t help think of my running buddy (I won’t mention any names!) who brought me on many “flat” trails.  LOL.  I added my two cents to the bikers, “I wouldn’t trust the word ‘flat’, it’s more a relative word.”  They laughed.  One of them particularly nervously. 

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, finally feeling GREAT, despite the fact that it appears that Meadows chewed me up and spit me out.  Perhaps it did.  If so, that was just what I needed:

I am so glad that I made it out to run trails this morning.  Bunnies were out in abundance.  No snakes, though as soon as it warmed up, they probably devoured some of those cute bunnies. 

I ran all the way in feeling strong, and happily waved to the ranger I spoke with before taking off on my run this morning.  I think she’s beginning to recognize me. 

Miles Run this morning:  11.73

Flashback Friday

 

I’m guessing 1977 / 1978