August 7
Hi Runners!
I am home. We had a great time in DC, there is so much to see and do.
Even though I had access to my dh's laptop while we were there, I didn't have time to check in or post, he was using the computer whenever he had a chance to squeeze in work.
I did run while in DC. The humidity was something to wrangle with, I was born/raised in the west, and have lived mostly in dry areas. Holy crap!!! Running in humidity is like running against a wall. I was surprised at how much more effort it requires.
My first run was in the hotel fitness room. I did a 50 min interval run. The next day I ventured outside and did a 40-60 minute loop around the US Capitol down to Lincoln Memorial and back up the Capitol mall and returned to our hotel. I repeated this loop again the next day. Then I took two days off, mostly because of our itinerary and also my knees/hips were aching from all the walking. I did the loop one more day, and was out running when the Marine Corp was running too. That was interesting. My last run was an interval run on the treadmill at our second hotel near Dulles, like Sydney mentioned it stopped at 60 minutes...just stopped. Weird.
Before I left for DC I had only run outside one other time, and NONE with other people running, being amongst others running was inspiring. One morning the sky was completely clear, the sun was just coming up, everything was dewy and clean smelling, there were about 20 other runners out spread over the route, I thought it was so beautiful.
My food choices were pretty good considering, I did have hazelnut gelatto one night after a nice meal in Alexandria (Old Town, near the wharf) and a Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice Cream bar the night before we left, other than that and lots of microwave popcorn, I was able to make mostly healthy nutritious choices.
I miss lifting weights. I swear I already see atrophy. I only did the circuit you gave me once, Morningstar, but I did do a handful of push ups every morning after my run. BTW I loved the circuit, very effective, but I often was short of time, so I had to let it go.
Mstar, it is funny you mentioned running with the pack and HRM, because I had the exact same thought one morning....while slogging through humidity...and noticing how it spiked my heart rate. Sorry that work/home life is such a roller coaster. I am pushy and opinionated too - and I have to agree - others equally promote their viewpoints just as assertively, they just have different strategies that aren't apparent to them or they are blind to them. The subconscious is a wily thing. A personal day/sick day is a great idea, some distance and perspective, or at least a long cozy nap on the couch, is a good thing.
Alisha - we have a lot of wild life too! It is one of the reasons I haven't embarked upon finding running routes in the national forest. Mountain Lions!!! oh my!! well, that and Mexican cartel marijuana growers.
Last night, on our drive home from SMF, we had a large non-domestic cat run across our path, a fox - running about 90 mph, a jack rabbit, a skunk and then an owl!
Christine - you have progressed to week 4!!! That's awesome. Then you add extra workouts to the same day!! Having nice weather makes a huge difference, doesn't it, mostly with moral, but also makes running more enjoyable too.
I love to travel, I think I could be on the road for months at a time, but being home is divine too.
I need to unpack, do laundry, and de-cat fur the house (vacuum). I was going to lift weights this morning, but I think I need a down day. We had a long delay at Chicago Midway. Our plane taxied out, was getting ready to take off, then we heard a rather obnoxious squeek and a malodorous smell came through the a/c vents. We taxied back to the gate, waited while mechanics looked at the plane, de-planed, waited around, then were told they were going to give us a new plane at a new gate...we all had to get back on the first plane to get our stuff, and move over to the new gate. It was chaotic, but I have to say everyone behaved very patiently and orderly. So despite the three hour delay, it wasn't a big deal.
Hi to everyone else!!!
ETA: Oh, btw, morningstar, you're not boring. All I talk about is nutrition and fitness too! LOL. (if I am not talking about it, I am thinking about it even when I am talking about other stuff.)
Keep it up! You WILL make it, I promise! I know what you mean about the humidity! 