"You're just sleeping away the summer"

Such was the accusation that Michael threw at me today when I announced around 2:00 that I was going to take a nap.  In my defense, taking a nap after a long, slow, hilly and HOT run seemed like a great idea and an appropriate way to spend my afternoon!  Unfortunately, the hefty dose of caffeine in the huge Coke I consumed after the run prevented the anticipated-nap, so I finished reading "King Lear" which is definitely not good nap-time reading.  I don't want to ruin it for anyone who plans to read it, but just remember that it's a tragedy, so you can figure out how it ends...

Back to this running business though.  The month is almost over, but June gloom has, sadly, passed us by.  The days are now sunny and hot, all day long.  While I really enjoyed the cooler mornings for most of the month, I also know that running in the heat is par for the course at this time of the year, so I need to just deal with it!  Of course, rather than easing into it, I had a long run scheduled today and took the plunge, finishing up twelve slow and painful miles.  I'd say that I enjoyed most of the runs this summer, even when I was a bit tired and felt slow.  Today, however, I cannot claim that I enjoyed this run.  Perhaps this was a good reality check before Vineman?  For the first time in a while the run was just plain painful (sorry for the bad alliteration).

It probably did not help that even before I started out at 11:00 am, I was dreading the run! My two-hour class served as a great distraction, but once that ended, it was time to hit the trails, nerves or not.  I'm not sure if other people get nervous before long runs/rides, but I almost always do, especially when I know that they will be a challenge.  Maybe that's good, maybe not.  I'm not sure.  No doubt the fact that it was also already hot - or felt that way to me - did not calm my nerves.  Can I keep talking about the heat?  And starting out with tired legs (what's with this week?) and a very long hill didn't help the experience, but mile 1 actually ended up being my slowest of these many slow miles.  I really did expect the run to get easier, and I think that mile 7 felt pretty good, but not much about it was easy.  As the run continued, I kept making different deals with myself - that I could run 10 miles, and it would be okay; no, hit 11 miles; come on legs, you can make 12.  At my most optimistic, I hoped to run a whopping 13 miles, but ultimately I settled on 12 really hot and sweaty miles.

I definitely did not feel 'good' while running or even right afterwards, but this was a good reminder that I might have to suffer mightily during Vineman.  I picked out a tough course for the day - lots of hills and somewhat challenging terrain at times - so that makes me feel confident that I'll be able to handle an easier course, even if it's hot and even after a long swim and a long bike, but we shall see come race day.

I did, however, enjoy the large Coke that I, in a rather impromptu way, decided to get on the way home.  I haven't been to McDonald's in ages, but the golden arches beckoned and I couldn't resist - it seemed like a good idea at the time.  I'm still surprised that I didn't end up with an entire Happy Meal or at least some french fries, and I probably would have ordered something else, but the menu seriously overwhelmed me.  The Coke did hit the spot and gave me enough energy to make it through the afternoon, and I didn't even take a nap!

Although one might be tempting me right about now...