It's coming to the end of August. 7 long hot days left. I've been quiet this month. I would like to say it's because I had my head down and my feet on the pavement but I can not lie, I really haven't. I have had some issues with getting out for my mid-week runs. I was talking with a neighbor and he mentioned that I run this way one certain days and that way on other days. It kind of set me back, first off I run early enough that I didn't think anybody was paying attention to my "habit". Second, as a woman, I have always been taught to not make your life into a pattern. The guy creeped me out to the point I decided to run after work. So for the first week it had been about 100 degrees out everyday so I didn't run. I did keep up my long run and some strength training. A week later I got a nasty sinus infection so once again all running aspirations were off.
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| Dawn over downtown Houston |
I have managed to get out to some of the best summer races in Houston. Early in the month I hit up the Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer 5k. It's hosted by the Runner's High Club, who also puts on a few other notable races in town. They do the Run Wild 4th of July 5k and the Aliana Dixon 5 miler on Labor day as well. Their races a very well organized from swag bag to finish line. The LHC is held at the Downtown Aquarium so there is tons of free parking and at dawn when the lights are twinkling on the rides it a very pretty sight to be seen. This was my 3rd year running it and not much changes from year to year, only my ability to block out the uphill at the beginning and end of the race. The fountains at the end are quite delightful. Another bonus is any prerace warm up can be done along the Buffalo Bayou which is paved and lighted and a hidden gem that I like to take advantage of when I can get a chance to.
The second August race I ran was the Kingwood 10k (there is also a 5k option). It is a "perfect" timing race. Marathon training has gotten to 8 miles and this race is right at the cut back week in my schedule. Memorial Herman is the title sponsor for the race and they make sure runners are taken care of. Not many races will do cold towels for their 5kers but this one does and twice for 10kers. I would have liked there to be a water stop at the 1st 10k turn around, just past mile 2 but other than that no complaints about this race.
School starts back this week so my laziness towards getting up for the morning run will have to end, no more extra hour to sleep in, being back by 6 am takes on another meaning. I think that with having to get out by 4:30 my creepy neighbor will be less likely to see me and being out in the cover of darkness will help combat the heat issues again. The schedule this week calls for 4 mid-week runs and a long run of 9. I am also going to run the HWP 5k on Sunday followed by the Aliana Dixon 5 miler on Labor day. I am actually looking forward to September and long run mileage getting back to half marathon distances. It's really time for me to lock things back up and get truly serious about what I am working for. My mid-week bread and butter runs become more important and therefore I need to take them more seriously. The first of the 3 bridge series is coming up, Kemah. It's the hardest of the 3 so of course I am looking forward to it immensely.
