I think I might shrivel up and die. No, really.

I had a great training week last week...did just as I had planned and took my easy days completely off rather than running 3/4 miles, and also took advil and iced my shins and ITB.  Ahhh.  I've been taking it easy-ish this week as well, and hoping to go back to full speed next week (or at least add back into my schedule one of my "easy run" days).

BUT...can we discuss hydration?  OMG.  Last weekend on Saturday I did a 5 miler (with the double jogger) in 95 degree weather and humid (head index 105-ish), and on Sunday I did 10 easy miles in 92 degree weather, again a high heat index.  I was very happy with my times!  Look:

However, it has taken me 3 days to recover from the loss of fluids.  I was, of course, sweating buckets, literally BUCKETS.  I took my 4 year old to use the restroom after the run on Saturday, and she started screaming like a bee stung her or something!  In panic mode I responded "What is WRONG?!?!?!" and she said "MOM YOUR SWEAT IS DRIPPING ALL OVER ME!!!"  [as I leaned over her to hold her up on the toilet so she wouldn't "fall in"].  Lol...oops!  So the ridiculously hot and humid weather combined with the fact that my still-nursing 9.5 month old drinks a whopping 40 OUNCES of breastmilk a day leaves me struggling to stay hydrated.  I finished my 32 oz Nalgene bottle of water during the run on Saturday, and as we walked the remaining part of the loop we were on, I started stealing water from the kid's bottles!  Now THAT is bad.  On Sunday, I brought my Nathan handheld bottle, but of course, two miles into the run I discovered that not all of the dish soap had been rinsed out.  Soooo, I pretty much just took big sips and swallowed as fast as possible for the rest of the run, but I couldn't bring myself to finish it all.  So gross.

I drink NUUN like it's going out of style and of course water.  I add tons of ice to my smoothies.  But there are times, especially with back to back runs like that, that I just can't catch up for a few days.  Ugh.  I hate it, and it makes me feel sooooo blah.

In stark contrast, it is in the 70s this week.  It's weird and awesome all at the same time.  I am getting ready to head out for my mid-week 8 miler, and I can't wait to see how it feels running in the cool weather.  I'm tempted to try not to even glance at my garmin to see my pace, and just to check it when I get home.  I try not to get bummed out about my pace slowing down in the atrocious NC summer heat, but that is SO hard.  It would be an awesome confidence boost if I saw my pace pick up a decent amount just due to the temperature and humidity dropping.  If that happens, then COME ON FALL!! 

Me at present

Since there is no way I can ever "catch up" on sharing my life to this point, I decided I will just start with the present, and share past as opportunities present themselves.

So, I am training for my second full marathon: City of Oaks Marathon 2013.  I ran my first full in November of 2011, a few days after my middle child turned 1.  My goal was just to finish, and I did in just under 5 hours.  With another pregnancy and childbirth under my belt, as well as a few more half marathons (one at 10 weeks pregnant with #3, and three this past spring from 6.5 months post-baby to about 8 months post-baby), I am hoping to finish around 4 hours this time.  This will be a HUGE PR for me, as well as a huge confidence boost!!  I have really gotten comfortable with the half marathon distance, and had a PR this spring of 1:56:00:00.  <<yes, is that crazy or what?  I have never had such an "even" race time, and probably never will again!

This is me post-race (6.5 months post-baby #3) with my ultra-supportive husband and kiddos!  Not the best pic, but at least we are all in it!  HA.

This training cycle I am following a modified version of Hal Higdon's Advanced 1 Marathon training plan.  I have used Hal Higdon's intermediate plans in the past, and I am comfortable with them.  Right from the beginning I had concerns about running 6 days a week though.  I generally need more "rest" days than the average runner, or at least feel like I do.  My standard is to run 4 days a week.  So bumping up to 6 was a big increase for me, as was the mileage (going from about 20-25 miles a week on average...I know, I'm a minimalist), up to 35.  Well, last week my shins started bothering me as well as my ITB on the right side.  Too much too fast I'm afraid. So, I this week and next week I am cutting out the easy run days and replacing them with full rest days.  Also icing, stretching, and taking Advil.  I ventured into the world of compression socks, in an effort to help my shin pain, and holy smokes!  I might never look back!  I seriously thought I was going to HATE them (in general I am not a fan of restrictive clothing of any kind.  At all.)  But O.M.G. they are like heaven.  The first time I put them on, when my shins were really sore, I almost decided to sleep in them.  Wore them the next morning for 13.1 miles, and felt amazing.

Good thing procompression had a sale this week, I snagged another pair for 40% off!  Those babies are not cheap! :-O

After traveling for business on Monday and Tuesday of this week, I have some catching up to do regarding my workouts.  I generally have no problem getting runs in while I am out of town, but it just didn't work out on this trip.  The good news is I got a lot of rest to recoup from my long run last Sunday.  It's looking like a long and moderately hard treadmill run of 7 miles for me today, complete with compression socks and probably some Beastie Boys on the ipod.  YES!  It's hot here in NC, and I am dehydrated from traveling (I'm also still nursing my 9 month old), so I'm hoping I can minimize the fluid loss by running inside today.  Let's do this!

Help a sister out:

1.) How do you go about increasing the intensity of your workouts, or total weekly mileage?  Do you follow the 10% rule?  I need tips...I have the desire and drive, so holding back to be "cautious" about potential injury is REALLY tough!

2.) Are you a compression sock fan?  Give me the good, the bad, and the ugly!