It’s Friday, at last!! Are you as excited for the weekend as I am?
It just seems to be the perfect time to share my latest “Runfessions” as part of the link-up hosted by Marcia’s Healthy Slice. It takes on the last Friday of each month. I thought joining in would be a fun way for you to get to know me better, as I tend to hold back a little bit on some of the less refined parts of race training! So without further ado, here we go!
[bctt tweet=”What are your #runfessions? Let’s be honest! #runchat #bibchat”]
My Runfessions
I’m Still Hating Summer Running
I don’t know what it is, perhaps the high frequency of 90-degree days we’ve had the past couple of months, but running has been really, really tough this summer.
I know I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but summer running is a miserable experience for me! It probably hasn’t helped that I had several training runs in the late morning/afternoon timeframe rather than in the early morning or late evening. Of course, I do know how to run in the heat without dying – but sometimes that’s just not enough!
It’s gotten so bad that I daydream about running in cool weather again. Where are the 60’s and 70’s? Fall will be a wonderful time to run and to race. I know we’re getting closer, but these days of 80 and 90-degree weather seem to be endless! We’re going to have another heat wave in September, I just know it! I live in Philly, not Florida, geez!
I’m Slacking on Injury Prevention Exercises
I know I’ve been bad about this, and for some reason I refuse to do the right thing. I need to do my prehab exercises – you do prehab now so you won’t be in rehab later!
I haven’t been foam rolling. I’ve barely been foot rolling. I’m not doing my hip stretches. I guess I’m just being lazy.
It is SO important to keep on top of your prehab. I’ve been having some unpleasant shin pain and foot pain, and I know I’m not doing enough to keep it at bay. I’ve been fortunate to be injury-free for almost 2 years now! But I have to keep doing the right things, or else I’ll be dealing with another nightmare…
I also need to increase my cross-training, which I have tried to do and failed most of the summer. Beyond a couple of yoga classes, a couple of boot camps, and some kickball games, I haven’t really done a whole lot. The good news though is that training for the Tough Mudder is picking up, and my teammates are getting serious about being prepared!
I’m Worried I Won’t Get that 10K PR
From thephilly10k.comThe Philly 10K is just 2 short days away. And I have to runfess – I’m scared! I’ve been training for several weeks, but I just don’t feel ready for this race. I haven’t really been hitting my finish time targets for my last few races due to the weather, I missed 2 training runs this cycle (and I still feeling guilty), and I’m facing heat and high humidity first thing in the morning. Can I really PR in these conditions?
My speed work just didn’t feel speedy enough. I don’t know if I can hold my paces for as long as I need to, and I’ll be running the race alone so I won’t have a support system to keep me on pace.
My goal for this year was not to obsess about race times. And surprisingly, I haven’t, haha! But now I’d really like to take a couple of minutes off of my 10K time. I want to PR! But I don’t want to make a rookie mistake and start out too fast, only to chug along the rest of the race. I’ve done that too many times with 5K’s (which is why I don’t really like 5K’s).
I’m sure I’ll have a good race and it’ll be fun, no matter what my finishing time turns out to be. Sometimes I can be such a head case! I just don’t know how I’ll feel when the big day comes…
What runfessions would you like to share?
I’m also linking up with Jill Conyers at Fitness Friday!
I have a 10k on Saturday, and I should be able to PR because my last PR is from April 2013 and I have actually beaten that time on training runs….However, the weather will be a big factor and its also a hilly course. I have also been battling a cold lately that I think will impact my performance. Good luck in your 10k- hopefully there is some good weather this weekend!
I hope you had a great race last weekend!
I agree with you, it’s been a tough, hot summer for running. Try to be conservative the first half of your 10k then if you feel good unleash the awesome. You can do it! Thanks so much for linking up!
Thanks, Marcia! Yes, this summer has been a killer! I’m glad I had enough in the tank to get it done on Sunday!
I’m not a summer runner either, but I’ve made a lot of progress this summer. It’s so easy to be lazy on hot summer mornings when you don’t want to run.
I know!! It’s tough to get out there, that’s why I try to go as early as possible on the weekends so that I don’t regret it later in the day.
I’m so with you on running this summer – it has been a slog! I agree with Marcia – try to take the first half of your race on the slow side and then let it fly the 2nd half. Good luck!!
Thanks Michelle!
The heat and humidity have been a killer this summer. I’ve had to do some late morning runs as well and they’re not exactly confidence instilling when your pace is so much slower from the heat. Wishing you cooler temps and perfect conditions for your 10K!
Thank you Carly! Thankfully the humidity wasn’t too bad at all…still super hot though, haha!
I’ve also been slacking a lot on injury prevention, but know I need to step it up with races starting again soon! I am already feeling a few nagging sore spots again…
Ahh those sore spots are trying to tell us to get back to work! Hopefully we’ll both get back at it!
I”m so bad about those injury prevention exercises…hence the injuries..when will I learn?
It’s tough because you learn, but then you get complacent again. It never ends!
I am with you! I am tired of summer! Bring on some fall! and now this summer I am doing a virtual run and I haven’t run in a week 🙁 good luck! and have FUN! That is what I am hoping for!
Thanks Mary Beth, I did have fun! Yeah I’m so ready for fall – except football, NOT looking forward to that LOL!
Does anyone ever really love summer running? I can’t think of a runfession. Surely I must have one right?
Have an awesome weekend Janelle!
Haha, I actually do have a friend that loves summer running…so weird!
I love summer (considering MN winters!) but hate the hot, nasty running! We need days that start cool so we can run but then get nice and hot 🙂
Right?! Looking like you jumped in a pool after a hot, sticky run is NOT what I consider a good time, lol!
This summer has been extremely tough! It’s difficult to hit target paces in the heat and I wouldn’t feel bad about that. They say it makes for great fall races times. Good luck on your 10k this weekend!
Thank you! I’m really looking forward to seeing how it goes this fall!
Good luck on your race! You got this!!
Oh those pre-injury activities- so necessary but yet so easy to neglect. Heading to stretch and roll now…..uumm maybe later 😉
Thanks Tamieka! Haha, I hope you did go stretch and roll!
I’m hating summer running, too. I’m over the hump that was July, when running in the summer was just impossible, but I can’t wait for a break in temperature and storms!
Yes, I need things to hurry up and cool down! Ugh and Florida has to be tough!
I’m with you on injury prevention! Man, it’s my goal to weight train twice a week…..for like 15 minutes. Not that bad, right? Well, I think I’ve achieved that maybe once. Usually, it’s once a week, this week, not even that. Ugh! I just get so bored. Also, I’ve eaten way too much junk food lately. Is that a runfession? It definitely affects my running!
I’ve been bad about the Twizzlers, and junk food is definitely not good for running! I really need to motivate myself to do anything that isn’t running….it’s crazy!
I’m right there with you, I hate summer running! And I haven’t been prehabbing either. I’m committing myself to starting back up this week! I will if you will 😉
Yes, let’s get back on track, I’m totally with you!
I’ve been slacking off on yoga and eating too much chocolate 🙂
Too much chocolate? Impossible! 🙂
I’ve been slacking on my prehab too… shhhhh don’t tell my PT! And I’m a coach. And I’m coming off injury. I think it has to do with the fact that I used to do these things with my husband while watching tv, but with our crazy schedules, we haven’t had that TV time! I need my TV time, apparently!
Haha, I won’t tell, promise! Getting that good routine is so key, that’s why I’m not prehabbing like I need to!
I didn’t runfess today because I couldn’t get a post together before I left for my weekend out of town…
But the good thing about summer running is that it puts a lot of gas in the tank for the cooler weather!
Yes I think I’m starting to feel the benefits of training in the awful weather we had this summer…I feel faster! 🙂