Worst. Run. Ever.

It was yet another beautiful day up here in Northern California.  It's been so lovely to be able to expose my skin to some Vitamin D.

The outside thermometer in my car after work.

Wednesdays are circuit days, so I come home before going to the gym.  All day I told myself that since it was so nice out that I would just run to the gym instead of hopping on a treadmill before class like I normally do.  Well, the run turned out completely awful because of several mistakes I made.  The first being that I haven't taken a day off from running in a VERY long time.  Since two Saturdays ago when I took my sort of rest day.  The second mistake: I ate a good snack.  The third mistake of the day, but not really a mistake because it was the best decision of the day, was laying in the back yard for an hour trying to get some color in my skin right before I was going to run.  The boyfriend came outside with me and we laid there and chatted and played with Moe.  I definitely got some sun.  I am so blessed with Portugese skin that gets color even if I'm only in the sun for 2 minutes.

My two boys.

I was trying to get Moe panting, because then he looks like a real dog.

I came inside from laying out and immediately hopped into my workout clothes.  Since it was so hot, I put on what I have now dubbed my "Portable hydration station" and took off on what was supposed to be an easy 5 mile run to the gym.  

I knew it was going to be hard even before I started.

Well, from the minute I started I knew I was not going to run 5 miles.  It was HOT.  I don't know how people who live in real heat run.  I was dying.  I couldn't get my breathing right.  I was running too fast.  There was a lot of wind (warm wind that did not cool me down).  I hit literally every red light on the way, so I had to keep stopping and waiting.  I got fed up and told myself to just make it to 3.1 miles and then I could walk.  And that's exactly what I did.  I was pretty upset with myself for awhile, but then I realized that I had done a good thing and listened to my body when it was mad at me.  I don't do that very often.  Plus, I still had my hour long workout ahead of me.  This was just the warm up.  I ended up running more than 3.1, but I'm not sure how much more.  Probably about a mile.  I didn't track it.  I pushed myself up a couple of hills, just to get hill work in.  But I was SO hot and sweaty by the time I got to the gym.  It was the worst run I've had in a very long time.

I did get to take some pretty Redwood pictures though.

Redwoods quite literally in someone's backyard.

When I got to the gym, our circuit class was outside, just as I had expected.  I was still hot and still tired and I could feel myself not working very hard.  We had to run, do lunges, squats, deadlifts, ect and my heart just was not in it today.  I am hoping that I am feeling better about working out tomorrow.  I have definitely decided to take a couple of days off next week right before the race so that I come into the race feeling ready and not worn out.  Thirteen point one miles is a long way to go while feeling exhausted.  I also won't be laying out in the sun before hand.

Circuit outside.

Boyfriend picked me up from the gym.  Actually, that's not true.  I walked a mile to the grocery store where he was and then got in his car with him.  My face definitely feels like it got sun.  I love this feeling.  We went to my dad's house for a lovely dinner of grilled cheese (gluten free of course) sandwiches, salad, watermelon, and soup (perfect for a very hot day...).  It was nice.

Dad preparing the sandwiches.

Boyfriend made himself and my step-mom margaritas and put matching straws in the glasses...

My plate, of course.

I am hoping to wake up refreshed and revitalized.  Tomorrow is back day at the gym.  Maybe I won't warm up with my usual 2 mile run on the treadmill and make my way over to the bike section.  Who am I kidding?  I probably won't do that.  Biking is hard.  :-D