Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Seven miles from Mexico

Sound hot? It was. I ran near our friend's house in Chula Vista, which is seven miles (as the crow flies*) from the Mexican border,** which was the distance of my run***. I ran at 1:30 in the afternoon. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it wasn't.

I was thrilled to get out and run. My chest is not hurting nearly as much and I discovered that chasing around a three- and a five-year-old bothers it as much as running does. I have found that running is my "me" time; my solace. It is time alone when I don't feel guilty for not doing something. If I take some time for myself at home by reading a book or watching a movie, I end up feeling like I should be doing something more productive. When I am running, I don't feel that way. If I tell my kids or my husband that I am going out for a run, they say, "have a nice run." If I were to say I was going to go shopping or go for a walk or hang by myself for a while, someone would want something or want to come along. Three-year-olds don't really understand the concept of "mommy time," but they do understand "going for a run."

I was prepared for a warm run. I brought my hydration belt (or "tool" belt as marathonman calls it). I think I am definitely going to get the twenty ounce handheld bottle because I went through two ten ounce bottles on my run today. Not only did I have plenty of fluids, but there was a little bit of a breeze that helped cool me off. I think I am acclimating to the heat pretty well. I sweat way more than I used to. By the end of the summer, I should be able to give Terri a run for her money. I had a bit of my own puddle in my wake today.

I didn't feel super speedy or strong, but I felt fine. I did a couple short fartleks just to see if my feet could move faster. They can. I am looking forward to my sharpening phase of this training coming up in a few weeks, when I can do a few miles at race pace or faster. I think for a seven mile run after taking an entire week off, I didn't do half bad.

After my run, I joined my family at our friend's house to swim. I feel a little bad for not showering before getting in the pool. Sweat isn't bad for pools is it? I figure that my husband and his buddies use that hot tub every week after basketball, so one little runner girl isn't going to make a difference.

Happy Running, everyone!

*according to Google Earth.
** actually, I write this for dramatic effect. Where I live is right around eleven miles from the border and I can see Mexico from my house. However, even those few miles further south seem to make a difference of a few degrees.
***no, I didn't run to Mexico. I ran around a nice little lake and some neighborhoods.

9 comments:

Lindsay said...

wow 1:30 in the afternoon in this summer heat! i would have been diving in the pool with my running clothes still on :)

i think a 7-miler after a week off is great! i personally would have been wimping out for a shorter distance, but i'm a bit of a sucker for excuses.

looking forward to getting to know you before/during/after ragnar! :)

Irish Cream said...

1:30 p.m.?! Dang, you are brave! I have thought about doing the same thing in a desperate attempt to acclimate to the July heat, but I'm too scared! Glad to hear your chest is starting to feel better, though!

Oz Runner said...

that would be fun to run to mexico if you wanted to....glad the injury isn't keeping you from getting your miles in....

Anonymous said...

Taking some "me time" is important, a lesson that I know logically but have a hard time following myself. I think it's good if we all keep reminding each other of that importance.

I saw an article online today about not showering before getting in a pool, among a multitude of other "sins" that just made getting in a pool sound like a depressing and miserable experience. I stopped reading it!

Irene said...

I've often said that running is my "me time." I think, as a mom, it's a great way to have that time just for yourself.

Luckily, it hasn't been extremely hot here yet, and depending on where in Chula Vista you ran, you get some cool bay and ocean breezes. It kind of sounds like you ran near Eastlake or Bonita, since you mentioned a lake.

Erika said...

Good job getting the run in.

Running is my "me time" as well. Shoo always asks me if I'm going to win whenever I go out to run. I always say yes, 'cause hey, it is a win to get some quiet time by myself. LOL

MCM Mama

Unknown said...

Maybe you should start going shopping/to movies/girls night in running clothes and just calling it a "long run":) Great job on your sweaty 7 miler. I think sweat in a pool is perfectly acceptable!

Unknown said...

Maybe you should start going shopping/to movies/girls night in running clothes and just calling it a "long run":) Great job on your sweaty 7 miler. I think sweat in a pool is perfectly acceptable!

Unknown said...

i'm thinking of getting a handheld bottle too.

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