Hello from Florida! I knew I was not going to have time/liquid in my body to run 20 miles in ‘one go’ so I planned to do a back to back long run while I’m here. (Two longish runs on consecutive days, but not as long as a standard LR for the distance.)
So, yesterday I did 15 and today I made it to 14. Eh. It wasn’t a great run, but it was 89 degrees and 70% humidity. CRAZY. Only crazy people run in this weather. And I am one of them. Admitting it is the first step.
I was dripping sweat so hard my feet were squishing water sweat out of my shoes. Do you follow RunEatRepeat on Instagram? Because you can enjoy the squishing noises there. You’re welcome.
Today on my run I saw my first alligator in the wild too! Added bonus of the torture! There was a baby alligator in this water here:
So, 14 miles in the Florida heat…
I am not going to complain about the distance or weather, I know it’s part of the deal. But, for .06 seconds I was disappointed in myself for a so-so run.
Then, I remembered my favorite quote from Deena Kastor in Spirit of the Marathon. It’s the best marathon movie ever! Super inspiring. Watch it if you’re a training for a race.
Anyway. In the movie, Deena Kastor (who I am super tight with because we met in Maine, no big) was training for Chicago up in Mammoth Lakes, CA and it was super windy. She said that would be her worst nightmare if the weather was windy on race day but, “Can’t say I didn’t train in it!”
Yes.
Race day might be HOT or rainy or windy or cold or monsoon-y.
So, you have to do your best during training to roll with it. Yes, make allowances if the weather is extreme. Yes, cut yourself some slack on pace in extreme heat or cold or if you’re not feeling great. I know it sucked for me today and I didn’t keep a good pace.
But, give yourself credit for training in it.
Sleep a little sounder knowing you are ready for anything on race day.
This reminds me of this old Nike ad I love:
Then, reward yourself with Nutella on your oatmeal. I did.
And celebrated with champagne.
And we enjoyed some gator bites and nachos at the bar. Yes, I feel bad eating lil gator’s family. But, there’s a 50-50 chance it was really just salty chicken.
Spirit of the Marathon – you can watch the movie on Hulu here for free!
Question: What would be your WORST NIGHTMARE on race day – Heat, Cold, Wind, Other?!?
I’m catching up on missed blogs but I’ll comment anyway. 1). My 10-year-old asks to watch Spirit of the Marathon every night. 2). I had nightmarish weather for my first half marathon, it was on an airport runway (always windy) during a windstorm (!!) and with the windchill it was below freezing! 3). My friend convinced me to sung up fir that race again!!
Weather is the least of my worries. I have always had 3 fears: being late, having to poo while in the middle of the race and coming in last (I’m not very speedy). None of these things have ever happened. Thank goodness!
UGH! I just had a race nightmare last night. I’m doing a half (slightly) out of town this Saturday and dreamt that I forgot all of my pre-race food. Man that stressed me out.
I actually had this dream on Sunday night: I ran the Nike Women’s Half Marathon and was so exhausted, I went straight home to nap. I realized after a bit of time, I forgot to get the NECKLACE. talk about nightmare.
My worst race day nightmare wouldn’t be weather-related as like you said, I have trained in it all. Mine would be having uncontrollable stomach issues right at the start of the race. You would not believe how much sleep I have already lost over this as I’m preparing for my first full this November. Ugh
I trained for my last marathon in the brutal summer heat of Texas. After that, anything cooler is a dream race!
And I agree – Spirit of the Marathon is a must-see for all runners!
You’re right, only crazy people run in this Flordia heat, myself included 🙂 This evening’s run in the rain was actually kind of comfy!
My worst nightmare for race day would be very windy and rainy.
My nightmare is sort of coming true 🙁 MCM has changed their policy and are forbidding hydration packs and some belts. I’ve done all of my long runs with a camelback because I find I need small sips more often – now with a month to go and only 2 long runs left I have to figure out a new plan. It’s my first marathon (and last!) and now I’m scared.
Oh no! I didn’t even realize that! I need to look up their new policy – I’m going to be there!
My worst nightmare is that my ipod breaks during the race. Oh wait, that just happened this past weekend(!!!) at the Ottawa Army Run half marathon. All I can say is thank goodness for entertainment organized along the route, and prepare yourself for an upset customer in your near future Apple Store…
Rain used to be my race day nightmare. Especially living in Oregon–you can’t guarantee it won’t rain even in August! But now, my race day nightmare is INJURY. UGH
I should have ran this weekend, but threw the book of excuses and didn’t. Good for you on slogging it out.
External conditions on race day don’t bother me as much as internal ones. Mainly pooping. I don’t want to poop my pants.
My worst nightmare on race day is…..having an upset stomach….you know, lower stomach…. 🙁
I hate humidity-it kills me! However, since my marathon will be in November, I’m more afraid about the rain… it would just make me so sad 🙁
Race day nightmare: belly problems. Love that Nike ad!!! It’s so vintage Nike.
I adore this ad – thanks!!! Heat is definitely my worst nightmare … and I used to live in Miami and now live in Dallas … oops! I once correlated my race times to the temperature (nerd alert) and it was such a clear pattern that I do WAY better when it’s cooler! Crazy!
I do not run well in heat, but I wouldn’t say that’s my worst nightmare. My worst nightmare is mid-race *womanly issues*…and yes this nightmare has happened…oh the joys 😛 But hey, I figure if I can finish a race with that happening, I can survive any race – and also remember to be better prepared in the future.
I think my worst nightmare would be freezing cold and rain. That is one thing I STRUGGLE mentally pushing through.
PS: I spy a Ben!
Yep! He’s been MIA too long up in here 🙂
probably wind. even though it might not slow me down as much as heat or hail, the mental effect of it is terrible! i keep thinking i have to “push against” the air each step
amazing nike ad. i needed that. 🙂
Glad you liked it!
Love love love that nike quote! I remember falling in love with it when you first posted it a while back! I live in Florida and man oh man it’s been hard this summer but I just try to push myself but not over do it and not beat myself up for “sucky” runs because at least I did it! My worst night mare is for race conditions – I don’t know possibly really humid or wind though I’m more use to humid. Well rain, rain might be worst. I don’t want to get pneumonia!
As an Alabama runner, I deal with those crappy conditions 9 months out of the year. I LIVE for December through February 🙂
Worst race condition is wind–especially running INTO the wind. It’s awful.
Somehow, I have never seen that Nike ad before. Completely inspirational! Love it!
I think my biggest fear on race day would be wind, because it is so hard once your shoes get soaking wet. I can handle heat, cold, and wind!
There’s nothing pleasant about humidity. Nothing.
I hear ya on the heat. I am a northerner living in the south. At the start of every summer I think I am dying, but somehow I make it through each year. It is really hard if you are not use to it. Props to you for knocking out a double!
Huge thanks for the tip that Spirit is free on Hulu. I am in need of some inspiration!
I hate running in the cold! I get stiff and everything feels like it hurts and it is just no fun for me at all.
Yes! I feel like being cold is painful.
Worst nightmare would be shorts that cause chaffing and its most likely due to humidity and heat. OWWWW. I did that for a tough mudder and wanted to kill some one.
I feel ya on that!
L-O-V-E Spirit of the Marathon! I may or may not watch it once a week on Hulu…
Rain!!!
I’ve been training on hills; I would be really sad if my course suddenly sprouted some hills. I’m running the Dallas Half, which is pretty flat, so I’m hoping the land doesn’t decide to sprout some bumps or anything 🙂
Ha! I hope it doesn’t sprout hills for you either!
Humidity, hands down!
I am running a marathon in November in Fort Myers after much contemplation because its still hot here in Nov. I figured, oh well….if its hot and humid, at least I trained in it. Worst race conditions would probably be a cold race because I can handle heat, but not cold.
Good luck Leonor!
The worst would be down pouring rain and chilly temperatures. I hate being wet!
Yeah, wet and cold is rough!
Wind is the worst! It’s never too hot over here so I haven’t tried running in heat and humidity. Hope I’ll be able to try it some time 🙂
I am pretty resistant to heat and just have to be careful of my low blood pressure, but I seem to have a particular ability to have race days on the first day of my period…and i BLEED!! Once it was one of THOSE races, plus the heat and I almost didn’t finish, let alone classify.. any advice?
Wind is the worst if you’re running into it; but the best if it’s behind you! 🙂
I’ve run out before and thought “Wow! I’m fast today!” and then turn back around and realize it was the wind!
Wind! It is the worst. I’m in Missouri where the summers are hot and humid and the winter’s are cold(though usually not too brutal of a cold). I usually don’t get to pick what time of day I get to run so I just go with the temp regardless but I hate when the wind blows so hard it’s all you can hear and you feel like you are running in place.
Yes, I thought I was the only one who felt like they are running in place against the wind!
I would say haze! You literally can’t breathe. Then again, if there was haze…I wouldn’t be running outside and I’ll be stuck with hate number 2, dreadmill!
Welcome to my training conditions! I tend to get out before the sun comes out for my runs (I’m in Miami!… even hotter!), that way at least the sun won’t kill me. But then it’s still a million percent humidity. I figure it’s got to be better on race day in November!
Miami must be brutal in the summer! You’re tough!
Yep. Heat would be my nemesis. It used to be wind. Then I decided I disliked heat more.
I love Nike. That’s a fact.
Nike has the best ads!
I think humidity might be what I dread the most, but wind is pretty brutal too. I don’t love running in the cold, but for a race, I would rather be cold than hot.
Me too for races cold is better than hot. But, I also dislike freezing after…
I do not like the heat period and hate running in it. Sun, heat and humidity kill my runs.
This notice has been posted about my upcoming race next Saturday. Race stoppage due to a bunny crossing the road feels kind of nightmarish …
Special Notice: There is a possibility of wildlife encounters along the race courses – if wildlife (bear, elk, cougar, wolf, coyote, deer) is sighted along either the 10 KM or the 22 KM course, the location of the sighting will be communicated immediately to the RMO. If the race has commenced and the lead vehicle at the head of the race slows, you MUST slow down and stop if required, behind the lead vehicle. DO NOT pass the lead vehicle. In the case of a wildlife situation, the race start may be delayed, or stopped by course marshals, Park Wardens, or RCMP and/or an alternate route will be implemented.
Ah! Good luck and stay safe!!
Full race review will be up by next Monday…including any adventurous animal encounters!
wow! That’s kind of exciting! lol
I hate the heat!! It makes me so grumpy and slow!
You’ve been lucky with your wildlife sightings!
Way to slog it out. I try to never complain about heat or humidity. Before I know it, I’ll be running in the snow and cold again!
My biggest race nightmare is wind for sure, especially during a tri where it can really mess with you on the bike!
I know! I wonder what animal I’ll see out here next 🙂 Hopefully a soft kitten…
the timing on this post couldn’t be more perfect. While I spent all summer training in soupy hot and humid NYC conditions I just got back from a week in the center of this nation. I completed 5 half marathons in 5 days in 5 states (South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska). And let me tell you each day was a completely different ballgame weatherwise AND terrainwise. My friends and I discussed at length our favorite and least favorite conditions. Let’s just say that wind can be challenging when you are running a 2ish mile loop 6 times and there is 1 hill that is going up and INTO the 30mph winds between mile 1 1/2 and 2. So half my splits were a minute and a half slower. But then the next day running in 90 degree heat on a ranch with not a tree for shade in sight was also pretty brutal. I’m going to say humidity is the worst condition for me runningwise. Wind would be a close second.
Wow! Great job on those races!!