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!
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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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