Early Morning Runs

One of the things I said I need to work on is Sleep and Nutrition.  I think this is going to be a key to my success, amongst many other things. 

I think everyone thinks I am nuts but the only way I'm going to get through this training is if I do early morning runs.  At first I wanted to do early morning runs in order to allow myself the rest of the day or that night to be social. Now I realize I need to do early morning runs to avoid the heat.

There is nothing worse than overheating on a run.  Everything else feels fine but the sun is beating down on you in 80 degree muggy weather and you feel like you are going to pass out if you don't get

some shade.  The most annoying thing about this is that it causes me to take breaks when normally I wouldn't.

I am much more prepared for running long distance than I ever was when I trained for my last three half marathons. New to my running gear:

• Running hat that doesn't hold the heat in (this is important and I learned my lesson my last half marathon....)
• Belt with water bottles and a place to put my keys, bus pass and phone
• New sunscreen that is sweat proof.  This is also key. I realized my sunscreen wasn't working because I was sweating it off
•  Running shorts that don't cause chaffing on my legs.  Sounds weird but this is the worst and really painful if it happens.

Today I woke up at 8 am, didn't make it out of my house until a quarter to 9 and the heat was already on its way to being too much.  The hat was probably helpful and my face wasn't burning from my sunscreen this time but the main problem was that apparently 8 am wasn't early enough. I stopped three times because I was overheating and I needed the shade to cool off.  I even poured water on myself at one point.

I heard training for a marathon was a time commitment but I already see this being an issue for going out on a Friday night. I guess I might need to become one of those people who call it an early night on Fridays.


This week I ran a total of 20 miles.  I was told I was supposed to start at that but I think I am fine.  From here it will just keep increasing.

Only about 3 months left!