Slomohusky v. VegasHeat

For this early AM - VegasHeat is the winner - for now. I have beat it all month long. I have shattered my personal mileage goal for the month, and the month is not over. However, this AM, I just did not have it. The air felt stale and hot at 5:00 AM.

The day before and through the evening a headache was bugging. Plus, sick kid. Meaning I wanted to make sure I was not next on the family sick list. It started with son number two over the weekend, now son number 1. I also noticed going into my first run for the week on Monday - this might be a light week. The legs feel okay, but a little heavy right now. No knee, ankle or foot pain at all. The legs bounce right back from each run. Yet, Monday on my grass, hill repeats - I felt tired, sluggish and slower than typical. I ran the next AM for a 6 miler, which seemed sluggish as well. Yesterday, was my usual midweek day off. It looks like I will extend it another day, unless we have a thunderstorm tonight.

A year ago I ran during a thunderstorm here. Great experience. Near midnight sky lighting up every few minutes or so, and the occasional rain. Felt refreshing and exhilarating at the same time. They are expected this afternoon. I am hoping we get some tonight. It will definitely clean the air. Each location I have lived has a different smell to it after a Summer Thunderstorm. Seattle actually smells the best after one. Topeka - the Midwest is muggier, and the air has that smell to it. The desert - smells like clean dirt or dust, with a hint of Rosemary here and there. Rosemary bushes are a popular landscaping shrub in the desert. When they get wet or trimmed you can really smell them. Nice smell which makes me want to eat some Roasted Greek Chicken.

Anyway, my battle with the heat. I finally bought some Tech T's. Yeah, I admit I have been running all this time in cotton. Go ahead - Ha! - laugh at me. It actually feels kinda cooling after a few miles. The shirt is usually soaked after 4-5 miles (which my wife finds really disgusting) and the wetness feels refreshing on my skin if I happen to get an AM wind. Happen to get one? Every other run more to it. Anyway, I have given in and purchased two - very bright retina burning orange and angelic white. Will see how I like them. Also, hopefully done something towards Hydration problems. I bought a Camelbak bladder pack. I know most roadrunners shy from them. More of a trail runner and biker thing. However, the Heat (running low 90's at 4:00 AM) is constant here. In my longer, more than 7 mile runs - I am guzzling through it all. It is a 50 oz. bladder. Hopefully, this should do it, plus I have my handheld Nathan as well. I am an odd runner in that I like to hold something while running. Sometimes I will pick up a handful of twigs or pick wildflowers and hold them. Other times I will hold my cell.

Anyway, mileage - my goal was 70 miles this month, and I am at 72-73 miles. My long run will be Saturday AM this week - hopefully near 14 miles. So, yeah!! I will blow my goals away for the month. Nice feeling. It is still slow going, but at this point, I feel some personal success. I will feel even more success if after I get closer to the 18 milers in training - I do not have any injuries. 13 years ago in my training for my last Full Marathon I started having issues around that training point.

Heat smeat?! As Sting said to Kyle Mclaughlan (sp) in Dune - "I will defeat you!" Well, actually he didn't by the end of the scene. However, I will (defeat the Heat) and I also sing better than Sting. Frankly, I think I can act better than him as well. He is a really great musician though and well, just plain cool. I miss The Police a lot. Speaking of cool - Chris Isaak concert next month.

Hey, some thunder - I need to run.