I’m proud to say that I ran three out of the four mornings I was in Florida.
The sweat was REAL, y’all. Each morning, I tried to run by 8am, knowing that would probably still not be early enough, but that it was as early as I was ready to concede on vacation.
Thursday and Friday went great — I had a speed workout on my plan for Thursday, and while my paces were all over the map, I got the miles in. Friday, I just had 4 miles on deck, and it was fine. I found this pretty park (Delnor-Wiggins, if you’re in the Naples area) and zoned out listening to Jillian Michaels’ podcast.
Saturday…Saturday. I’d had a call on Friday with Regan, our NYJL fundraising director (of awesomeness) about fundraising strategies for the marathon, and I was so psyched for my first long run.
I got out there around 7:45…and it was hell from the first few steps. 85 degrees, 85 percent humidity, no cover from the sun. I fought and I fought and I fought for 3 miles, and I couldn’t get my pace (which should have been around a 9:30ish or faster) below an 11:00 mile.
Every single marathon training season, I’ve started out shaky and picked up steam when I realized it was do or die time. This time, I’d resolved not to do that and start out strong. I tried to pull out all my mantras and tricks and convince myself running through this would make me physically and mentally tougher, but I just wasn’t having it. I ended up walking back to the hotel another 2 miles, semi-defeated.
I wasn’t going to let it ruin my day, so I emailed Jess and told her what had happened, and that I would try again on Tuesday morning. Thankfully, it’s “only” 8 miles, so I know I can realistically do that before work.
It was frustrating, and I was frustrated with myself, but I’m going to choose to look at it as a revision, instead of a setback, and move onwards and upwards (and earlier, and earlier.) I just checked out the weather for Shelter Island this weekend, and it’ll only be a high of 80. WHEW.
Newfound respect for Florida runners!
I’ve been on this Earth for 30 years and have lived in Florida for all 30 of them. The heat and humidity is a combination that you never really adapt to. Lately I have found the evening time, around dusk, to be much more tolerable.
I cannot do that florida humidity. My parents love it, but no thank you! I’d rather run in 10 degree weather than anything over 80.
It seems as if I just can’t run half the distance I normally run when it is warm outside; so annoying at times..
It’s amazing how many races I have run in Florida when I am awful in humidity. Especially my first marathon being Miami. The more experienced runner now laughs at my stupidity.
My sister just moved to NYC from Miami and I have no idea how she trained down there!
I’m so impressed by your dedication! Lately I have really fallen off the workout bandwagon… need to follow your challenge’s lead and get back on track.
The heat is so tough. I know a lot of people prefer the mornings to avoid it, but I’m so not a morning person, so I have been trying evening time and it has been better for me. Or I try to go to the lake and run for a cooler breeze when it is humid. It’s tough no matter what though, in my opinion. I can’t imagine running in Florida right now.
We swim at Wiggins Pass on Tues & Thurs! You should run with us when it gets hot, next month!
I hear you, I absolutely hate humidity. Unfortunately I live somewhere extremely sweaty so most runs in summer are done at 4.30am, even on holidays. It’s a struggle but I’d probably pass out from heat exhaustion if I didn’t do it then.
I visited Texas last year in August – oooooooof. It was 100 every day, and I even got out the door around 7-7:30am every day. (That was super early by my standards – I was still on night shift!) It was hoooooooooooooot. Serious props to southern runners, I don’t think I could do that early round. Some people said they basically live by freezing water bottles and running super early. Spring marathons would be my jam if I lived down there!
It’s so much harder when you’re not used to it, and you definitely have to adjust your expectations for workouts heading into that.
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