This Week's Theme has been Acclimatize!

Now that Spring is finally arriving and staying around, warm weather running is upon us once again. For me, this will be the first time I've actually trained outdoors because last summer I spent the season in the gym on the treadmill trying to run more than 2 miles without falling over. It wasn't until I got my Garmin 305 for my birthday in November that I got outside once and for all.

And just like November, I found out this weekend that my body can't just go from running in temps in the high 30's to temps in the mid 60's without some push back. Yesterday I got just about 5 miles in and it hurt! Now, I went out way too fast in the first 2 miles, which I need to work on for my racing strategy, so that probably had something to do with it. But it was in the high 60's yesterday morning when I got out and that temperature change took its toll. I didn't really run super slowly, but those 5 miles felt awful.

Today I wanted to get a nice 10 miles in before my parents arrive for lunch and with the temps a little lower, I thought I might reach it. But alas, no. It was still in the mid 60's (thanks weatherman for saying we'd be lucky to crack 60 today...it's 70 out right now so thanks for that forecast) when I got out and warmed up as I ran. It got more humid out too, as we're supposed to get lots of rain this afternoon and evening. So again, I was struggling by mile 5. I soldiered on and got to 7 miles before calling it a day. I'd walk for a while but my heart rate never was able to come back down enough and would shoot back up as soon as I started running. So, I think my body needs a week or so of these higher temps (even running in the morning when it's in the 50's will help) to acclimatize to the season.

On a better note, my new shoes feel awesome and will make their predecessors proud. I'm going to keep my old pair in case I just feel like running in them from time to time over short distances but with my new shoes, my legs don't feel nearly as tired or sore after 7 miles as they would with my older pair.

So, now it's off to the Rusty Scupper here in Baltimore where I'll meet up with my parents and get treated to a seafood feast! Then we'll go to Annie's recital at 5. After that, I'm off the hook for any family obligations so I'll return to my reading or CFA studying...probably a little of both.

My schedule for the work week is pretty stable but this upcoming weekend I'm going to my prep school's Alumni Weekend, which takes up all of Saturday and parts of Sunday. So we'll see what kind of runs I can get in while I'm at home. Once I have a better idea of my time for the weekend, I'll post my goal workout schedule for the week.