What happened to running?

Is this a post about running?  Well, not so much.  But it is a post about my frustration because I'm not running as much as I'd like to be.

Life has gotten a little more hectic and less conducive to running in the last month or so.  About 4 weeks ago while walking home from our neighborhood pool, we passed a home for sale and commented that more space might be nice.  Ten days later our house went on the market and we had an Open House (same day as the Hottest Half).  Three days later we had an offer.  Now we're 'under contract', and I'm stuck at the house waiting for various service techs to show up during a 4 hour window. 

Wednesday morning I actually ran laps around our block while waiting for a plumber.  It's half a mile around our block, so I figured the most anyone would have to wait was 4-5 minutes.  I think I got 2.5 miles in that way, but running laps around your block (a) gets moderately boring and (b) makes the neighbors wonder what you're doing.  Yesterday I managed to squeeze in 3 miles before the girls woke up.  I've been doing 2-3 miles on the dreadmill when I can (but oh how boring that is).  This piecemeal running is not ideal.  I miss getting 4-5 miles in at once.  I'm hopeful that I'll get back into a better routine and soon.  I have only been going to Stroller Mates when I'm teaching which means my overall fitness is suffering - not just running. 

I've also had to apologize to every friend who's moved in the last couple of years - for my own ignorance and lack of sympathy for all the stress it entails.  Wonder Woman moved not that long ago, and I had no idea.  Since Angel Girl was born, the majority of our moves have been from one rental to the next until this home.  Even then it was buying only.  I think what's frying my brain is the selling and the buying all at once. 

Race Report 8/14/2011

Race:  Hottest Half

Distance:  13.1 Miles

Time: 2:07:33

Finish:  Overall:  474/1373, Age Group:  17/102

Comments: This was my slowest time for a half marathon yet.  I had anticipated taking it a little more slowly given the heat and humidity.  I knew I'd actually be walking through water stops.  But even knowing that, I still wanted to finish in under 2 hours.

We got a brief respite from the heat the day before the Hottest Half which meant it wasn't as hot as it had been (39 consecutive days of triple digit weather), but it was very humid.  Much more humid than it had been. 

I dropped my water bottle around mile 9.  I was apologizing profusely as I picked it up, and when I started running again another runner started chatting with me.  He ended up talking to me until we crossed the finish line.  I learned all about his kids (all grown), and he got to hear all about mine.  He was about the same age as my dad, and thankfully, he was funny. 

Lessons Learned:  Don't start at the back.  I know they say that it doesn't matter with chip timing, but it does.  If you're way in the back, you get stuck behind the walkers.  I spent the first mile just trying to get out from behind people.  Then the race bottle-necked on a bridge, and I probably walked 100 yards . . . slowly.  I know not to start at the back, but we'd just come out of the port-o-potties when we heard the gun go off. 

Hottest Half

I'm scheduled to run the Hottest Half this Sunday with My Neighbor.  It may truly be the hottest half.  We've had 40 consecutive days of triple digit heat.  The record is 42 consecutive days. 

We've been under either a Heat Advisory (temps over 105) or had an Excessive Heat Warning (temps over 110) pretty much every day.  The predicted low on Saturday night is 80 and the predicted high on Sunday is 104. 

I've decided to freeze the reservoir in my Hydrapak and wear it during the race.  That will allow me to focus on sports drinks at the water stops and keep water handy for most of the race. 

Anyone else running the Hottest Half this weekend?  Are you traveling or do you live nearby?

Hills

Have I commented on hills much?  Probably just randomly.  I know I read somewhere that a "hill workout" should be part of my regular training.  But like many things that should be part of my training routine, I don't always find them practical with a stroller.  I would include hills in this category of "not practical" although I have an idea or two about how I could include them. 

I have two routes with quite a few hills and I try to run them once a week (ok, maybe every other week - they really kick my rear...and quads...and hams...).  I find even the smallest, inconsequential looking hill to provide plenty of challenge with both girls.  I also find downhill to be a challenge because control is easier said than done. 

I ran at a nearby lake recently and I'd forgotten how hilly it is out there.  Yikes!  My Polar HRM really liked it as far as calories are concerned.  It was a fabulous workout and should probably be a regular route in my training schedule.

I've also considered parking the girls at the bottom of a hill while I do a short hill workout as part of a daily run.  I would probably need a few extra snacks and/or toys while they're sitting still.  And I probably wouldn't try it in the heat we've been having lately (unless they're in the shade and there's a breeze).  It could work, right? 

I've worked in some hill repeats on the rare weekend solo run, and I like the variety.  I have a couple of hills nearby that are great for it.  Any advice on hills?  How often?

Podcasts

I've started listening to podcasts on my long runs.  The pro is that I find them very distracting and entertaining.  My favorites are Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me and Car Talk (just FYI, I have no interest in cars but Click and Clack are hysterical!).  The con is that I run slower listening to podcasts than I do with my music.  All my run music is up tempo, dance type music (go figure), and I tend to run with the beat.   But long runs are supposed to be slower, right?

I just saw that Another Mother Runner has some podcasts, so I've downloaded those for my next medium-long run.  When did 8-10 miles become not a long run?  I'm not sure . . .

Do you have suggestions for how to get out of the house without the kids for a long run?  My strategy lately involves getting up very early on Sunday mornings and leaving before anyone else is awake.  The main downside is that I am too tired to fix my hair for church and have been wearing it in a bun (which is actually OK because it's so hot, I don't want to use heat in way, shape or form to fix it) AND I am fidgety during church.  Me and my 4 year old are bouncing in our seats during the service.  But I digress.  I typically leave Hubby a short list that says something like please feed the girls and get them dressed (I have to lay out the clothes, sometimes food suggestions too).  I would like to leave water on the front porch and stop back by the house once or twice, but I'm fearful I will also get at least one girl in a stroller if I do that.  ;)  It's happened before.  I don't mind doing long runs with Little Miss Spitfire, especially if she falls asleep, but I know Angel Girl's max right now is about 45 minutes and then she just wants O-U-T.