Updates

Okay, so I'm preparing to lock myself in for the 50 mile run. I'm not sure how I'm going to get the training in, but I'll give it my best effort. You'll see that I updated my blog with a few helpful tools.

1. The first helpful tool is a playlist off of my iPod. You're welcome. I don't know that any of my readers (outside of Natalie who appreciates my love of music that other people hate) are going to appreciate this, but at least I can listen to my music when I go to my blog. I will probably hear from trigirl82 "Every time I go to your page I hit the stop button." as I have heard before with other music choices. Moving on...

2. Fitday.com is a very helpful nutritional site. I've used it before, but it's been about two years. It's time to go back. I think part of my goals for the 50 mile run might be to join the six pack band wagon simply for the reason that it might be so hot and humid that I will want to run in just my Texas flag sports bra and nothing else...well some running shorts probably, or panties (great word), one or the other. If I have to keep track of what I'm eating every day, it might prevent me from eating ice cream sundays every night (you think I'm kidding).

3. Map My Run seems to also be a useful tool. This is mostly so I can post my exercises on a calendar and know that someone might be looking at them. If they are or if they aren't doesn't really matter. The fact remains, if it's on a calendar for the public to see, it might be more motivating to try harder. I don't completely know my way around this site yet, but I think it will be a pretty useful tool. I've heard good things.

4. The last link is just an ultra link I found that seemed informative. Even last night when I ran 6.71 miles on a gravel trail (a much easier trail than SunMart with the sand traps and whatnot) I got rocks in my shoes. Made me think about the different equipment that is needed for trail running. Nothing that different I suppose...some trail shoes, but also some shoe guards or dirt guards. I don't know the name of them, but they keep the junk out of your shoes. I saw some people running with them last year. Probably not necessary. BoySmile ran without them and didn't seem to have problems.

It's HOT here. I think I'm getting used to it though as it got down to 85 during the 'hurricane' and I put a sweatshirt on. However, running is brutal. My body has yet to get sore from doing any run here (possibly because I haven't reached over 7 miles), but my cardio is exhausted trying to cool down my body. I've never sweat so much in my life. I can't drink enough to keep up with the amount of sweat that I am producing. At the end of the run my clothes are completely soaking wet (and I didn't urinate myself thanks). It's brutal, but do-able. The good news is EVERYBODY SWEATS a lot here. I used to think it was just me since I'm new, but it's everyone. You just get used to it. I tried to take a picture of my shirt after I was done running last night, but you can't really tell that it's soaking wet. It's supposed to be a light purple, but it's a dark purple. Not as impressive in the picture as it is in person. The post-running ritual for everyone at the park is to stand around, towel themselves off, put their garbage bag on the drivers seat so as to prevent sweat saturation, put the towel on top of that to soak up some of the waterfall flowing off of your body, and then drive home. It's very sweaty. Hopefully December will be much better than this. I hear things get better in October.