Half-Marathon Training in the Summer

Participant ribbon from one of the local summer fun runs.

There was once a time when I really relished a long summer run. Not so much anymore. Thank you, Shreveport.

In New Jersey, there might be a “heat wave” where the heat index exceeds 100°, maybe once a year. I can’t even believe I used to complain about this when it only lasted a week or two, max.

Now, I live in a constant heat wave for six months every year. This means there are some new challenges when training during the summer months for the famed fall marathon (or half) season.

I’m currently training for the Women’s Running Half Marathon in Nashville, TN, and I hate running on a treadmill. After battling, (yes, battling), two previous summers in Louisiana, where I felt faint, dizzy, and nauseous, after almost every run outside, I think I finally have it right this third time around.

I’m sharing my tips for running in temps that make your life miserable, so it’s not as miserable.

• Hydrate fully an entire day before a long run (anything exceeding 5 miles) with lots of water, a lot of watery fruits and veggies, and skip anything carbonated or heavily caffeinated.

My two favorite choices for staying hydrated.

• Set the alarm for 5:00am (or earlier). This is the hardest part, but also the most important. You need to already be running while it’s still dark out. Once the sun has been up and blazing for only a mere hour (around here it rises a little after 6am), it will begin to feel like the fires of hell have been unleashed upon you. Think you can just wait until the evening when the sun goes down? Think again. That asphalt you’re running on has been baking all day and will continue to radiate heat like a fry pan.
• Expect that your pace will dramatically slow down. No, you’re not out of shape (okay, maybe just a little), but the heat is going to take a lot out of you, and your first mile is going to look a lot different than your last mile.
• Under absolutely no circumstances should you wear any article of clothing made out of cotton when going for a long run. This is a classic rookie mistake. Google it for horror stories.
• Bring water with you on the run. You can invest in some fancy gear, but I think that’s cumbersome. I usually just carry a baby 8oz water bottle with me and refill it at water stops as I go. The best (free) water stop in Shreveport is here:

A BIG thank you to the residents of this development for letting local runners stop here for water!

• Lastly, don’t overdo it. Hitting a mileage or time goal isn’t worth it if you’re feeling awful.

Happy running!

Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon

On Sunday morning I completed the Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon. The weather was hot and humid (check out the hair), but the course was gorgeous and the spectators were fantastic.

On more than one occasion I saw families outside their homes handing out cups of beer to runners. I was tempted a few times to take them up on their offer but I knew if I stopped running for even a second, that I would end up lying down on their front lawn and begging them to call a cab to take me back to Shreveport (note: my legs are still sore from Sunday).

I am not one of those vain runners who thinks that they look good while racing. I'm just posting pictures as evidence.

It was my 7th half marathon and I finished in 1:55:18. Not my best time, but not my worst time, either. I’m just glad I finished. The finisher’s medal is a metallic carving of cowboy boots. How Texas. It made the 13.1 mile trek worth it.

Still standing, a true measure of a successful race.

‘Caged’ airs on MTV

Remember when I signed up for a cross-fit class and accidentally completed a workout with these guys? The MMA fighters from the MTV reality show, Caged (full story here)?

photo from the Shreveport Times (article here)

The season preview aired on Thursday night and of course, I watched the first episode. It flips between the towns of Minden and Shreveport and I would say it’s like any MTV reality show, so if you want some sweet camera shots of reality life in Shreveport, then it’s worth tuning in.

Plus, if they air the episode of the guys working out at Peak Physiques, you may see some girl struggling to keep up in the background and that girl might be me.

It’s STILL football season

Living in SEC country for the last 6 1/2 months has me convinced that football isn’t just an obsession in the South, it is an actual organized religion. In fact, I’m pretty sure that true Louisiana locals actually bleed purple and gold, and not just because their t-shirts say so.

All of the local businesses, including grocery stores and gas stations, have turned into their own little Tiger Towns, selling LSU gear and apparel. How about a new jersey with your produce?

Windows are painted with colorful renditions of purple and gold tigers. Front lawns are adorned with flags and other tchotchkes. The radio stations offer listeners prizes for calling in and admitting ownership of the most outrageous LSU gear. One listener called in to describe a room in their house painted with purple and gold walls, a football turf floor, and a tiger ceiling fan.

What I’m trying to say is that these people are dedicated beyond comprehension. They make the efforts of the most zealous Notre Dame fan look apathetic, at best.

I was starting to get really sick of football (have I mentioned that they are equally fanatical about the Saints?) but then I saw this trailer for the BAMA vs. LSU rematch and I got excited. The game isn’t until Monday but considering we sang the LSU fight song this morning at work, I felt this video was necessary to share before starting your weekend:

Clearly, we’ll win. The Honey Badger takes what he wants and he’s not going home disappointed on Monday.

Ice Hockey in the Deep South

You wouldn’t think ice hockey would be a popular sport in a place where the temperatures hover around 100° for half of the year, and you are probably right. Yet there is a small community of hockey players and I happen to know one of them.

As a supportive fiance, I went and watched a game one night. I even filmed a video that shows less of the hockey game and more accurately depicts my lack of understanding of the game, as well as my inability to focus and follow the puck.

Fortunately, I don’t have any aspirations to work for ESPN.

God, Guns, Guts

It’s unfortunate that I didn’t have my camera with me while grocery shopping today because I came across a blog-worthy bumper sticker adorning the side mirror of someone’s pickup.

This is all I could manage to capture on my outdated blackberry camera.

It was an image of an American flag with what looked like illustrated bullet holes through it stating:

God, Guns, Guts

Made America Free.

I wonder if any Yankees have a similar message on their car. I’m guessing probably not.

The most anticipated game of the season

This is funny because prior to moving here, LSU and BAMA weren’t even on my radar but oddly enough I find myself a little nervous about tomorrow’s game…

 

And on the flip side, I’m also feeling better about Notre Dame’s season, considering this recent article in WSJ, NCAA: Why Notre Dame – Wake Forest is the real game of the century.

MTV in Shreveport… In other words, my big television debut

About a month ago, when I was still bursting with enthusiasm to try absolutely everything in Shreveport and was buying Groupons like they were going out of style, I purchased a Groupon for Peak Physiques. It’s a no excuse, push your limits, workout space that offers evening classes. Like most normal people, I decided this was exactly the type of thing I needed to be a part of in a new city.

Weeks went by and I found myself reluctant to go to the classes. Until tonight. The Groupon was about to expire and I decided to buck up and just go.

When I arrived I was assured that I could go at my own pace, that I would be able to keep up, and that the hour-long class would be an intense leg workout. Since I was a runner, I was told I should be fine.

I felt good about all of this until I noticed the camera crew filming several completely shredded patrons in the center of the space.

“Um, are you guys filming a YouTube for your Facebook or something?”

“No, MTV is filming a reality series on MMA fighters.”

“LSU Football players? Why are they training here?”

“No, MMA Fighters. Mixed Martial Arts. You know, cage fighters?”

“Oh. Yeah, sure.” (I have never seen a cage fight in my life. I’m still unclear what it involves).

“Don’t worry, they won’t film you.”

Famous. Last. Words.

The instructor called everyone together and I was the only female. That’s right. A team of MMA Fighters and me. At that moment I wanted to go home so badly but then the thought of the alternative – running in 92° again – was so unpleasant, I figured that there was no way this could be worse.

The workout started with a fast-paced warm-up and quickly progressed into a level of intensity that left my body trembling. At one point, as my lanky, uncoordinated body  hobbled through suicides, lunges, burpees, bear crawls, and box jumps, I felt unsure if I was going to laugh, cry, vomit, or emit a combination of all three. I’m pretty sure in my state of delirium I murmured something about seeing spots and having a ringing in my ears.

And then, miraculously, the hour of torture was over. As I struggled to catch my breath and say silent Hail Marys that I wouldn’t end the night in the LSU Emergency Room, I was approached by one of the MTV guys. He needed me to sign a waiver so that they could use the footage with me in it.

I almost died.

My big television debut involves me wearing ratty workout clothes, with frizzy hair, sweating profusely, and on the verge of going into cardiac arrest.

I’m pretty sure they’ll probably cut the footage, but if not you can look for me in the new MTV series, Caged, airing in early 2012 (likely February).

According to Variety.com:

“Caged,” which takes places in rural Louisiana, examines twentysomethings who gather to fight in cages — all the while trying to figure out what to do with their lives.

The MMA website claims it’s the Jersey Shore of the South. The irony is uncanny.

My new favorite running partners

The best part about having a running trail next to grazing pastures is that there are seldom other human beings around to bestow judgment if you spontaneously sing aloud to your iPod. The worst part is feeling guilty about eating cheeseburgers.

Here is a very rudimentary attempt at using the video camera feature on my  iPod nano (proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks) to capture the cows that I run by almost every single day. Notice how it escalated into a staring contest.

 

The obligatory football post

After witnessing one of the most depressing home opener games in my life…

… words cannot express how grateful I feel to be living in SEC country. FINALLY, I have a decent football team to support.

Considering the fact that the LSU campus is 3.5 hours away in Baton Rouge, I was happy to see that state pride runs deep in Shreveport on game day. Tiger Town, the superstore for all things LSU-related, was swarmed with people on Saturday morning, reminiscent of the Notre Dame bookstore on any given football Saturday. The selections were picked over by the time I arrived but I was able to find a semi-cute kids t-shirt to wear to the game watch.

Geaux Tigers!