TLT

Location: Bear Creek Park
Distance: mine = 8.6  (SMARTlite = 10, SMART = 12)
Temp: hell

* I got to Bear Creek Park late.  I overslept, I-10 was closed at Gessner, and then I turned onto Eldridge instead of Highway 6.  By the time I got to Pavillion 6, the group was finishing up the 2 mile warmup.  oops.  Steeeve had me do a mini-warmup - 2 laps around the parking lot, which amounted to maybe 1/2 mile.  We did silly walks, then Steeeve explained the day's torture agenda, aka workout:

    • Run 800m at 10k race pace, recovery jog for 3 minutes, then start another 800m.  Repeat three times. 
    • Run 2 miles (SMARTlite = 2, SMART = 4)
    • Run 800m at 10k race pace, recovery jog for 3 minutes, then start another 800m.  Repeat three times.
    • Run 1 mile cooldown. 
  • The first 800m was OK.  The second 800m was difficult.  The 3rd one was ugly.   I may have pushed myself too hard at the beginning.   I ended up running with Barbara and Maureen.   When we started on our 2 mile loop, Barbara reminded us to run it easy.  Nooooo problem here, Barb. 
  • I need to work on my pacing….specifically, adjusting my pacing based on race paces.  For example, when Steeeve told us to run at 10K pace, I just kinda knew my pace should be slower than a 5K pace.  But I think I need to know more than that….like how fast I should be going, what it should feel like, etc.  
  • As we were finishing the 2 mile segment, I felt my calves starting to stiffen up….even though I had only run a total of 3-4 miles by that point.  I also had a throbbing headache.  I'm sure it was the heat - I was completely drenched in sweat….so drenched, the backs of my ankles were getting splashed by sweat dripping from my shorts (ewww).  I was also craving salty popcorn all of a sudden.  Barbara said she was planning to stop at the 800m starting point for some water.  Nooooo problem here, Barb
  • When we turned the corner onto Bear Creek Dr, the most beautiful object was waiting 500ft ahead - the Strider Igloo cooler, filled with ice cold water.   The moment I drank that cold water was worth every single penny of my Strider membership.  Group training runs?  eh.  Individualized coaching?  eh.  Friendly people?  eh.  Ice cold water on 95 degree runs?  priceless.
  • After a few minutes next to The Beautiful Cooler, I decided to head out again.  Barb and Maureen were still recovering, but I knew they'd catch up with me.  Plus, I wanted to get it over with.  Sure enough, by the time I finished my 4th 800m, Barb and Maureen had caught up.  The 4th and 5th 800ms were hard - the sun was higher, so the heat was more intense.  My headache was gone, but my legs were still stiff.  Somehow, my last 800m felt better than the rest….I think the idea of finishing was what fueled it.   Or maybe it was delirium from the heat. 
  • After the 800ms, we had a 1 mile cooldown…..but I decided to run the 2 mile loop again since I had missed the warmup in the morning.   I jogged through the parking lot to pickup my bottle of Cytomax, and headed back out.  Wow, that was NOT fun at all.  I tried imagining that the air was cold, crisp and thin, instead of thick, heavy and humid….but all that was in my head was *&%^#*@.   Somehow I made it back to the parking lot.  I passed the fast SMART group on the way back in, and I think Steeeve said something encouraging, but all my brain could process was "wahwahwah".
  • Afterwards, I felt great about finishing the workout, but also drained - I felt drained at Panera Bread afterwards, and on the drive home.  I slept for THREE hours when I got home.  The heat really zapped me.  But, there aren't many things better than finishing a hard workout (other than a Strider Igloo full of ice water, that is). 

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