Hot Fun

The heat is on! This week was a warm one and looking ahead we've got more of the same to come. The weather this year has been wacky, from that polar vortex in January, to all that rain in May and June, and to this blast furnace we are currently enduring. What's a runner to do?

We adapt and make the best of it. There were early morning runs and late nights on the patio listening to music and hanging out with the boys. Lots of hydration. Summer is all about fun, right?

The week in review:
Sunday: Stampede 5k 27:12 2d in AG
Monday: Five Parks Yoga Flow
Tuesday: rest day
Wednesday: run 5 miles
Thursday: Strength training, bootcamp, and EAD weekly challenge
Friday: rest day
Saturday: run 3.1 miles

Forearm stand aka pincha mayurasana

Running was a mixed bag. On the one hand, I had that 5k on Sunday where I ran my best time since the Cocoa Classic in December. The cool weather that day was a huge factor in my success. The heat was back on after that and running was a challenge. On Wednesday, I did a really good job of holding back on my pace and finished a 5 miler feeling pretty good. Saturday, not so much. Even though I ran a 10 m/m pace, the heat and humidity crushed my soul. Or maybe it was the lack of sleep the night before. Whatever it was, I finished 3.1 miles and walked the rest of the way home.

Wednesday's 5 miler

Strength training continues to be a bright spot for me. Coach Sammy Jo had me work on snatches for the first time ever. She told me that she wasn't sure I had it in me, but I proved her wrong. While the weight was light this week so I could master the technique, she promised me that she'll add more plates next time. I was pretty excited about this! I also worked on one-legged box squats aka pistols. So hard.

The weekly challenge was either 300 ft of vertical rope climbs (20 climbs) or 300 ft of seated rope plate pulls (20 15' segments using a 45# plate). I opted for the plate pulls and completed all of them. To which Sammy Jo said it was "too easy" and to expect some rope climbs next week.  Bootcamp was the usual mix of fun. At the end we worked on pullup progression. I opted for kip swings. My hands were talking to me after all that pulling!

Off the road, we continue to make the most of summer. The warm nights really make sitting outside on my patio really inviting! It was even cool enough for Tom to build a fire. No s'mores, tho.

As you read this, I'm lining up for another 5k. I originally and optimistically signed up for the half marathon distance at this Christmas in July race last March when I thought I'd be all trained and ready to go. As always, I'm glad I had to option to drop down to the 5k. If you want to know how it went, be sure to check my Instagram for updates. I'll post a recap on Tuesday.

Hot runs in the morning and cool nights on the patio /via @oldrunningmom #runchat #running 

How was your week? Hot enough for you? Are you struggling with running in the heat? Do you like to hang out at night while it's still warm?

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown.