The first thing I should runfess is that I seem to have forgotten what month it is. When I went to write the title of this post, I thought “March- no, May, no, APRIL…” Got it right on the third try.
Anyway, it’s the last Friday of APRIL, and that means it’s time to join Marcia for Runfessions. I do have a few! Let’s get started.
Running has been confusing lately. Most of my runs have not been enjoyable, and I blame strength training for that. I’m making my way through Caroline Girvan’s Iron Series, and after a lower body workout, my legs are trashed. The next time I run, I feel like I’m wearing 20 pound ankle weights. I have to remind myself that this is the time to prioritize strength. I have no upcoming races… or do I???
I runfess that I have my eye on a 50K in November, the Treasure Coast Ultra. It’s in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, which is only about an hour from my house. The timing is great, the location is great- training for an ultra in the Florida summer will not be great, though. The trails down here get pretty terrible, unless you like running through a swamp. Well, I’ll figure it out.
The last thing I’ll runfess is that it’s already too hot for me, and summer hasn’t even started yet. We had some beautiful running weather over the winter, and now we’re going to pay for it, big time. I’ve been taking some of my runs to the treadmill in my lovely, air conditioned gym. Sigh. It’s going to be a long summer… but once again, I’ll figure it out. I’ve gotten through 26 Florida summers so far… this one won’t kill me (right???)
Are you looking forward to summer running?
If you lift weights, how do you work it out so your legs are fresh for a run?
27 Responses
I don’t run, so I can’t answer your questions. I will be interested to read what others say, though. I hadn’t thought that weights would make running more difficult. Maybe you’re doing too much? Again, I don’t know. I admire you for being able to run in the summer in Florida. Thank goodness for a/c, right?
AC makes living in Florida possible!
I run before CrossFit, but still, if we do anything leg-heavy, I feel it for the next two days. I find that the legs start to feel a tiny bit better once I’ve run for 20 minutes or so. But you are right, they never get to the point of actually feeling FRESH!
Yes, my legs will be sore for two full days after leg day. Oh well- unlike you I’m not training for anything big!
I hear ya on the balance of leg work (and glutes, ugh!) whilst running. The Drake half is over, but DAM-to-DSM is May 30th, which isn’t that far off. I’ll figure that out, but it does get tricky!
Kim, you always manage to figure it out!
Jenny! It is also too hot for me. IT IS 60 WHEN I RUN. I am a sweat-er, and I am going to need to shower twice a day this summer, I started running in September last year, so I have no idea how I am going to do it all summer long…
60 sounds like heaven right about now. We won’t see 60s again until… next winter, SOB. Don’t worry- you’ll get acclimated to the heat. Summer probably won’t be your favorite running season, but you’ll survive it.
Ok. I go to the gym and use the machine but never the leg ones. I focus on hips back arms abs.
I save my legs for running.
Happy to hear about your new race.
I’m looking forward to warmer morning and no more layers. I’m sure I’ll be complaining about the heat soon. Tell me to shut up. lol.
Well, we wouldn’t have to complain if the weather would just stay perfect. I vote for 502 at night and 70s during the day, year-round. Is that too much to ask!
Lol, I’m constantly confused as to the month/ day/ year.
Ha ha, me too. But I can usually get the month right at least!
We had some 100 degree days back in March which is unheard of even for here, but this month has actually been quite pleasant! But May is when we normally start hitting the 100s regularly so it’s probably coming to an end soon. I signed up for a race at the end of September so once again I will be training through the summer, after giving myself some time to just run for fun after my big race that’s coming up! But with yours in November, you probably don’t need to start really training specifically for it until a few months out, so maybe later in the summer? At least that’s what I do, now that I’ve done several ultras I just keep up a base of running year-round and ramp up my training 12 or so weeks out from the race so I’m not burned out training at a higher level all year!
Yes, I won’t start really training for this one will August. August, September and October are super hot months down here though. What is your September race!
My race in September will be my first ever timed race! It’s 12 hours on a 6 km loop…but each loop has 2000 feet of elevation gain! And it’s on a mountain so it will likely be somewhat technical. So I don’t really have any distance goals but I would like to keep moving the whole 12 hours besides stops at the aid station!
I love that you have your sights set on another 50K!
I runfess that I definitely struggle to find a balance between strength training and running. Right now it’s not too big of a deal because I’m not training for a race – when I was racing I’ll admit that I tended to skip leg day.
Me too! And I kept promising myself that I’d focus on legs when I didn’t have a race coming up… so here I am, sigh.
We’ve had warmer weather up here, which means that I can’t compute that it’s still April. I keep thinking that it’s June. I’m alright with that!
The November 50k sounds like fun, and I can feel your mouse finger hoovering over the “register” button. No, training in the summer won’t be fun, but if you sign up, I know you’ll figure it out.
How many weeks do you have left on Iron? Just 3 or 4 right? Keep plugging away toward the finish line!!!
Great question- I’m up to Day 11, but I’m only doing 4 a week. So I’ve got a while to go!
I’m over here loving that I was sweaty during my outdoors workout on Tuesday. Yay for warm weather! BRING IT.
I write the date about a dozen times a day in my job and I still have actually published blog posts with the wrong month in them. Oh, well. Calendars are not in my skillset.
Yes, calendars are hard, lol.
When I was training for my 10 mile race, I had to mess w/ the days of the Iron Series workouts so I wasn’t doing legs before my long runs. It was so annoying! Now that I’m not training for a race, I don’t have to think about that as much. Phil asked me when I was going to start to run outdoors and I don’t really know when I would fit that in because my priority is getting to as many OTF classes as possible to make the cost of the membership worthwhile (it’s $150/month so not exactly cheap!). I am sure I’ll figure out a way to work some runs in but it is tricky. But now that Paul can bike, he could bike alongside me while I go for runs around the lake so maybe I will do a double workout some weekends, meaning OTF in the morning and then a run later.
I have a hard time keeping track of what day of the week it is, let alone the date, let alone the month!
Yes, last time I did Iron Series I kept switching days around, and it does get really annoying. I switched a lower and upper body day in the first week this time, and it was a huge pain trying to get back on schedule (then I had to switch a couple more, etc.) From now on I’m going to just plow through!
Yes, it’s going to be tricky for you to fit in running now. Do you want to? You could just keep doing what you’re doing if you’re enjoying it.
I loathed running after a heavy leg day. It was just awful. I’d train legs before a rest day or easy run. As you know our summers here are about a minute long but yes, summer running is a beast. I can’t even imagine ultra training over a FL summer.
Yes, I know exactly what your summers are like! You get some very hot and humid days. Maybe you should put off running till the fall : )
I am looking forward to summer running, but that’s because of the weather here. When it isn’t summer, I don’t run outside very often. Good luck with your goal of signing up for another long run. Yikes.
I am OVER the heat. Why can’t it stay pleasant???
Another 50K sounds right up your alley!