Running with Nuns

Last week, I did the Ringling Bridge Run.  The weather was great (in the 40s!) and during the flat parts, I ran pretty well.  I did not do so well on the bridge/hilly parts, which was kind of annoying.  While I was on the last part of the uphill, I was reminded that probably I could have done very well if I had done this race right after being in Australia.  Ah well.

Today was the Run with the Nuns.  This race did not go so well.  Now, as runners know, one of the annoying things about running is that you can be fine one day and not so fine the next, and often you don't know why.  I think that today's not-so-hot race can be traced to a few reasons and I wanted to share those with you in case you are trying to solve that eternal mystery of 'why did I not run faster':

1) I dressed for the start instead of the finish (and not even that): you should always dress for the temperature at the end of your race and not at the start.  This is especially important in places like Florida where the temperature can increase dramatically from start to finish.  Trust me, you won't be cold for long because barring truly cold conditions, once you get going, you will warm up.  I dressed for it to be in the mid-50s, which it was at the start.  Somehow, I missed the fact that it was humid....will I ever learn?!?  It was 57F with 93% humidity this morning--so close to the threshold of ick (only 10 units less, in fact).  I think that I was fooled because last week's race was far nicer.  However, it was also an hour earlier to start, which would have helped.

2) I did not sleep enough last night: stupid Stephen King.  This is what I get for starting Cujo the night before (and I couldn't finish it the night before because I had to get up for work).  Now from what I understand, one night of insufficient sleep isn't a disaster.  But I think that generally I did not get enough sleep over the past week.  So that was my bad.

3) Crossfit yesterday was nuts:  here is the description of the workout:

Teams of 4:
Run 400m (2-25#)
400 Deadlifts (135/95#)
Run 400m
400 Weighted Sit-ups (25#)
Run 400m
400 Jumping Lunges
Run 400m
FOR TIME
Teams must carry 2- 25 pound plates throughout the workout. If plate touches the ground, the entire team must complete 10 burpees at the time of the penalty (during the runs, the plate must be kept above the waist. During the exercises, the plate must be kept above the shoulders)

I almost quit during the second 'run 400m.'  Seriously.  It was one of the hardest workouts I have ever experienced in my entire life (if you're curious, I did not contribute fully, which is to say that I did closer to 50 deadlifts instead of 100.  You know what?  50 is still a lot).  And I was not exactly nimble this morning. So I don't think that this helped the race.  But it will help in the long run, as I'm pretty sure that it was Crossfit that helped me get my PR on the marathon.  Lost the battle to win the war, in other words.

However, it doesn't really matter why I didn't do so well because here is the t-shirt:

That is precisely the type of t-shirt I was hoping for when I signed up for this event.  Mission accomplished.

Back to the grind (in this business, the treadmill)

Things that didn't happen:

1) I didn't fall off the face of the earth, despite the fact that my blog might have led you to believe that.
2) I didn't suffer from some catastrophic injury or other impediment that kept me from running (okay, there was a bout of tonsillitis in there).
3) I didn't quit running.  Okay, I did for a bit.

After the Philadelphia Marathon, I felt kind of lost, runner-wise, and wasn't sure what I wanted to do next.  I discovered that Concept 2 has rowing challenges that you can do on the rowing machine and decided that this would be a fun change of pace.  So I completed the 100k challenge for the holidays, meaning that I rowed 100k between Thanksgiving and Christmas break (actually a bit earlier, since I left the rowing machine on December 20).  My most proud achievement was setting a 5k personal record that also put me in the top 50th percentile of my age group.  So awesome to not suck at a sport!  So different than running!  Also, I got a certificate for finishing the challenge.

Speaking of running, I am back at it.  It took me a while but then I figured out what I wanted to do: trail racing.  And some random races that I had always wanted to do, but hadn't had the opportunity.  For instance, I am running the Ringling Bridge Run in Sarasota next weekend, then the Run with the Nuns in St. Pete the weekend after.  Mostly for the latter, I just want the t-shirt.  Other races on the calendar include Gasparilla (5k), then I am getting into the real trail runs.

I chose two: the Long Play (I am running the half-marathon) and the Croom Fools Run (16 miles).  I am not crazy enough to try the ultras for these events.  The trails, though, should be fun and something a little different to keep me motivated.  Depending on how I am feeling about life, I may also add the River'n'Rapids again.  It's the week after the Croom Fools Run, and I don't want to be.......er........foolish.

Also, I have a new dream in life, which is to do the Keys 100 Relay.  You start in Key Largo, FL and you end in Key West, FL.  It's in May and the weather will be torture, but you can do it as a team and you have a support van.  I love everything about this idea (okay, I don't love the weather part).  Unfortunately, I am already booked for that weekend this year, but I am so totally doing it next year.  That is on.  If you want to be in my relay team, let me know.  I've already talked my stepmother into this craziness.

Apart from that, looking to get back to Crossfit soon (I had a forced hiatus because I was out of town, then the tonsillitis) and I will be taking scuba lessons starting Monday.  So keeping busy, even if not keeping at the blog.  Hopefully that we go better!

By the way, I was reminded tonight with my first treadmill run that gosh darn it, it is hot when you are not acclimatized.  You would think that I would know this by now.