Join me as I travel around the country to fulfill my goal of running a marathon or half marathon in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia!

Friday, May 27, 2011

I want a sub 2 hour half marathon time, but...

My current half PR is 2:07 so it will be a challenge for me to get a sub 2 hour PR this fall, but I really want it. I'll have to train hard and I'm all for doing that, except for this: 

Yeah, summer hit DC with a Chuck Norris type roundhouse kick. I have no idea what happened to spring. We literally went from winter to summer in a matter of days. 


When I got off work yesterday I went for a 3 mile run in that miserable 90 degree heat. I took Trixie (the dog) with me and we both struggled through the 3 miles. I'm sorry, I might be delusional, but didn't I run a marathon earlier this month? Now I'm struggling through 3 miles? Sweet.
Today is my last day as Trixie's mom. She only escaped once while I was watching her, so I call that a success. Clearly, I'm not ready for children any time soon.
How do you guys train throughout the summer? Am I going to have to give in and spend un-godly amounts of money for a gym membership just to run on that evil treadmill?!

Maybe I should just make a shirt that says "Running in the Summer Sucks" Well hopefully, I'll just win one of Kiley's awesome home-made shirts that say "Running Sucks" because that sounds close enough to me. Go enter her giveaway! (or don't so I have a better chance of winning) ha. Just kidding ;)

Isn't the shirt cool?!

18 comments:

Run with Jess said...

I've been struggling to get a sub-2 also! I got as close as 2:03 this past spring... maybe this fall! I have a hard time with the adjustment to summer running as well. I start running earlier in the day (like 5am kind of crazy!) to avoid the humid temps. Although I can't complain it was quite chilly here today at 40 degrees when I ran, but we're suppose to get 90's by Monday. ugh.

Britt @ Chicago Runner Girl said...

You've got that sub 2 hour half in you, I can feel it lady! That weather does suck though. I have a really hard time overcoming extreme temps. Sometimes all I can think about when I run is how hot it is and how uncomfortable it makes me. The trick is apparently you aren't supposed to think about the temps, but that is easier said then done.

I have recently been coming up with full proof mantras for any and all situations. So I would say maybe come up with a hot weather mantra so that when you do begin to be overwhelmed by the heat you have a thought that you can distract yourself with. Why can't it just be a nice 60 degree day with a very light breeze and patchy fluffy clouds for every race? Is this too much to ask for?

Erin @ UntilYouTri said...

Oh man, I HATE the heat. Well, let me correct that. I don't hate the heat, my body hates it! I try to love it and you would think that running in it all summer would make me adjust to it, but I never do. I always feel gross and not quite myself in the heat, yuck! I just went for my first 3 mile "jog" (yeah I was movin horribly slow) after my half ironman and it was 90 and humid and I was miserable. I was also thinking the same thing about how I should feel better because I just did a big event!!

Julia said...

AHHH! agreed...the warm weather has been rough! I totally underestimated how much of a difference it would make to run in the heat again. wow. I have yet to truly train in the summer because last summer I was not really running much yet...I am anxious for this summer though!

You will get that sub 2 though! I know you can do it!

Stephanie F said...

hahahah Trixie. At least you feed her. I mean, you feed her, right?

Heather Elliott @ the desire to run said...

You can totally get that sub-2. I know you want it bad enough. That heat sounds awful though. I was struggling in 30 mph winds the other day but now I think I should just be thankful it wasn't hot.

Sam W. said...

hi from another running sam :)

you can totally get that sub 2 hour half!!

happy weekend!

Quinton J said...

I’m with Britt (not with her…like we’re a couple or anything)…I just agree with her. You’ve got a sub 2 in you. Running in extreme weather is tough…no doubt…we get hot like and that in the summer and drop to minus 22f in the winter (I think the ‘f’ is for wt’f’). Anyway, just tell yourself that those training runs are supposed to be tough…weather included…because they make you tougher for race day. Throw in lots of intervals and some bad-ass tempo runs and you’ll get your sub 2. I even promise.

Jen @ Run for Anna said...

I despise running in the heat! The only way I can run in the summer (once it's summer here... still pretty cool where I live) is to go early in the morning. But, I run at that time, anyway, so it's no big deal for me.
I agree with everyone else! You can get to sub-2!! :)

Unknown said...

Oh wow..yeah my goal one day is sub 2 but I don't think I'll ever get it...haha I'll just hope to get closer and closer to it each time!
And I'm sorry about the weather...my first half was in 75 degree weather and I thought I was going to die..I can't imagine any hotter! Good luck!

A Prelude To... said...

A sub 2 is on my life list :-)
I'm oh so close!
YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

Kiley said...

Thanks for posting about the giveaway!

That weather looks TERRIBLE. how about getting up EARLY EARLY & getting your workout in before the heat kicks in full force. I've been getting up at 5:20 to do mine (not because of the weather, but to get it in before my man goes to work). You can totally get a sub 2 hr. You're so close already!!

Rose @ Eat, Drink, and Be Meiri said...

Running in the heat sucks. YOu guys get humidity out there too, don't you? UG.

Pam said...

I have to switch to mornings in the summer, even though I'm typically an afternoon runner. It's still hot and humid, but at least there isn't scorching sun. I also don't plan on having an early fall goal race. Late fall/early winter races allow for cooler longer runs. Good luck with you half marathon goal!

Richelle said...

I hate running in the heat, too, but I do it as part of my Ragnar training. Two of my three relay legs were during the day and were hot, so I needed to get my body used to the conditions. Yuck!

Michael said...

Best of luck with the sub 2!! I just hope one day to have a sub 2 1/2.

Running in the summer is hard. I just do my training, early, and I mean early in the morning as in 4:30-5:00 am....but it can still be 85 degrees and 100% humidity. It's tough, but it makes you stronger!

Education: Exploring Online Learning said...

DC Summer running - It means up at the crack of DAWN. You'll hate it. I'm serious. Then, fall will come and it'll be cool and all of a sudden you'll be shocked that you drop from 2:10s in the heat to a 1:55!

And if you ever want to run together in the summer, let me know :) Teacher + mommy + summer = Free to run. Are you doing Marine Corps?

Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman said...

You can totally rock a sub-2 hour half mary!!

I have no doubt whatsoever!