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!!