If you’ve been reading for a while, you might be thinking “Why is your blog called ‘Runners Fly’ when all you talk about is books, cats, pumpkins and football?” Okay, okay… I’m linking up with Marcia for her monthly Runfessions. Let’s talk about running!
The first thing I have to runfess is… it’s hot here. Ha! No kidding. It’s Florida in August. We’ll be in the 90s (with “feels like” temps in the 100s) until the end of October. Running is all about heat management. It’s bearable first thing in the morning, and if I’m running later, I use ice. On Tuesday I ran 10 miles, and wasn’t able to get started until after I dropped my daughter at school. After five miles I stopped at my car, where I had ice in the cooler. Ice went into my bra (and I held ice cubes in my hands as well) as I started the second half of the run. It works well- but I’m looking forward to the days where I won’t end every run completely drenched from sweat and melted ice.
Next runfession: I’m in a race conundrum. I’m signed up for a race in March (the same one I did last year on my birthday) but I don’t have anything on the schedule before then. I had originally planned to do a 50K in November that was close to where I live, but that race was cancelled (grr). It’s tricky to find another race, because it involves taking time off from work, and I’m already taking other days off around the holidays.
There’s a 50K I could run at the end of January, but it depends on whether or not my daughter makes all state. I can’t take time off for both- if she makes all state, I’ll have my annual January Tampa trip. If she doesn’t, I’ll run that race.
The last thing I’ll runfess is that my “hip” pain has settled firmly into my hamstring, the EXACT SAME pain I had a couple years ago. Remember that? My hamstring just ached all the time. Running didn’t seem to make it better or worse. I even ran a 50 mile race and it hurt the entire time. I had several treatments and adjustments from my chiropractor, but the thing that finally relieved it was that I stopped doing all hamstring-focused strength training. I cut out lunges, split squats, Bulgarian split squats, deadlifts- anything that put stress on the muscle in the eccentric position.
I ran pain-free for about a year, and then! I decided I “should” be doing lunges, and guess what… the pain is back. Needless to say I have once again stopped the offending exercises- don’t ask me why, but apparently my body doesn’t like lunges- and I’m hoping this achy hamstring will go away, as it did before.
Is it still hot where you are?
Do you have any races coming up?
Do you like lunges? – No! They are evil!!!
Top photo by Rajiv Bajaj on Unsplash
27 Responses
I really don’t know how you do with running in Florida in the summer… and having to start late, too. Not only do you have heat, you also have humidity. I find that so hardcore, even with ice!
We have a VERY hot summer here in Switzerland and I was running at 5am to escape the heat. Compared to what you are doing, I’m a wimp!
You will get that training done for your March race, with or without a race beforehand. Remind me, what distance will you be doing in March?
i really should be running at 5 am- but I’m not. I don’t want to run in the dark or get up that early- so I guess I’m the wimp here!
I have some different distance options for the March race… I’m still thinking about what I want to do with it.
I’m here for the cats and books! And your running life is so interesting – the runs, the trails, the 60 miles!. Just keep on writing whatever!
I’m trying to get a walk in every day. This summer was not good for exercise, so I need to start small. It’s cooler lately, but the bugs are still active.
Aw, thanks. Don’t worry- I’ll still write plenty about cats and books : )
A daily walk is great. Your body will be happy! And I’m envious of your cooler weather, even with the bugs.
LOL. It was really nice here earlier this week but today it’s back to being gross.
I love lunges. 🙂 But, it’s good to figure out your own body and adjust accordingly.
I have no interest in racing. I just want to run and feel good at the same time!
Running and feeling good at the same time is a good goal! And, my “races” are more like long meanderings, lol.
I admire your tenacity running in hot and humid florida. I wonder how i did it when we lived in jakarta but now I can’t and need cold!!!
Yes, I remember you ran in the heat! It’s all what you’re used to.
Hey, I wasn’t complaining about the books and pumpkins, Jenny! Lol!
Ha ha… plenty more where that came from!
Ummmm…yes, it’s still hot here! In fact, we are under a heat advisory as it’s supposed to be 105 today. But it goes down to 96 on Sunday with some storms moving in so I’m excited for that. You know it’s been a long summer when you’re excited for 90 degree temps haha!
I wish you lived in AZ as we have a lot of ultras coming up in the next several months so you’d have plenty of options!
I also wish I lived in AZ!!! Well, you never know… someday???
I marvel at how you run so far in that Florida heat! Your ice strategy is a good one. I runfess that I’m at the point in the summer now where I’m quick to head for the treadmill if I can’t get out early – I’m so over the humidity and ready for some cool fall running.
You seem to do so well with your training do you think you need a race before the race?
I ran on the treadmill today! Sometimes I can face the heat, and sometimes I can’t.
I’d like to do a race in January just for fun, but if I can’t, I’ll do my own 50K, like I did last year.
My blog hasn’t been about running for quite some time so there you go! Haha! Way back when I partially ruptured my hamstring, I had to just leave it alone for a good long time, so yes, staying away from lunges sounds like a plan. It hasn’t been crazy hot here, but I am SO over all the tornado warnings. It’s like I’ve lived all summer in my basement. Ugh. Fingers and toes crossed for All State!
Yes, I know- my sister lives in your area and they’ve been in their basement numerous times, and lost power twice. It’s been quite a summer up there!
when I ran the Chicago half marathon years ago, I put a bunch of ice in my hydration vest to keep me ‘cool’. it sort of helped!
that’s crazy that exercises that are meant to strengthen your hamstrings actually make it worse! I’m not a fan of lunges and I can’t do them very well with my metal-toes, so no not a fan haha!
It’s hot and muggy here. Then it’s cold. Then it’s hot again. There’s an entire population of people who have no idea how to dress for the day haha!
Ice definitely helps a lot! And, you can join my anti-lunge club : )
I have really struggled with lunges in recent years, and have had a weird “thing” going on for awhile on the outer hip area/outer hip flexor . Squats aren’t issue-free, but definitely are much more issue-friendly for me right now.
Yes, squats actually seem to help me! Okay, you can be in the anti-lunge club as well.
Why do you ask? I of course have lots of races on my schedule. LOL
Good idea to avoid those exercises that make your hamstring hurt.
There are ultras in Fla according to my friend but you’d have to travel.
I know- and that’s the problem, it would involve taking multiple days off work. But, you’re right, there are lots of good ones. The one I’m thinking of for January is near Sarasota, so that would be fun.
Lunges used to mess with my knees, so I went through multiple periods where I would stop doing them. I learned a few ways to do them differently that helped with my particular issue — for instance, standing as though I am on train tracks rather than on a balance beam — and enjoy (“enjoy”) them much more now. I also recently discovered that I have been doing them wrong the whole time, though — I thought I was supposed to be “working” the BACK leg, when it seems like the front leg is the one that should be doing all the work. WHOOPS. I feel like I need to go back to Remedial Exercise Class or something!
How frustrating that your November race got cancelled! I hope you find another one to fit in that spot.
I could probably use a remedial lunge class. I was trying to be really careful, and did them while looking in the mirror. Fat lot of good that did!
I prefer to do reverse lunges. For some reason, forward lunges bug my hip. I am seeing a chiro in 2 weeks to address the hip pain. I had an assessment at OTF and a few different muscles aren’t firing and it’s causing pain in the hip I had surgery on in 2016. It’s always something, isn’t it? I’ve been doing short 3-4 mile runs while we are at my parents this week. It hasn’t been humid so the runs have been pretty nice. I actually wish it was a bit warmer but of course it gets hotter next week when we are back home. But the boys will be here so they can enjoy some hot days by the lake.
It’s hot forever. I’m so tired of it.
My body hates lunges, mostly because of my mental ankle flexion, or lack thereof. However. I’m doing my best to reincorporate them, or at least build up to where it’s not the worst feeling in the world. Hopefully, I get a little of that mojo back.
Books, cats, pumpkins and football are great! Haha. I actually started my blog due to travel but I also had a second blog for running! After a while I decided two was too many so I merged them and my regular blog talked a lot about running for a while too! Many of my OG blog friends became friends through running! However, if you look at my blog now…not much mention of running! We all go in waves! It sucks to hear that you are still in pain! I sometimes get foot pain after long days of hiking or running, and I did go to the podiatrist years ago, but he said there really is nothing I can do about it. All I can do is hope it doesn’t get worse! Getting older sucks!