Success.

Tonight's 400 calories in 38:00 on the (beloved) T-mill was a success.  I barely noticed that I was even running.  It was still about 80 degrees, but the heat barely registered.  I've been blaming everything on hydration (and stepped up water consumption; I at least a liter of seltzer a day before I run (or bed if I'm taking a day off)) and the heat.  What I changed today was eating a snack about a half hour to 45 minutes before my run, which is terribly unusual for me (I like to run on an empty stomach or at least wait two hours after eating).  Could this be the lynch pin in my summer training?

I'm still calorie conscious as I've dropped exactly ZERO lb. these few weeks (while running 12-ish miles and netting about 1400- 1800 calories daily).  The birth control won't be out of my system (or even begun to be flushed) for another month, so maybe it's still affecting my metabolism.  I've taken to checking my body fat percentage a few times a week to see if my muscle mass is increasing.  So far, just establishing a baseline (about 30%).

Will put in paperwork to the gym tomorrow!  I hope it goes smoothly (as the membership is for us, but the funds are from a parental unit whose last name no longer matches mine), smoothly enough for an afternoon swim before dinner with the Spanish teacher!

Crap.

Too hot, I guess.  I like to run pretty empty-stomached and had finished eating by about 2:00 today.  Around 8:00, I had a fruit leather.  So by 10:00, I was sure I wasn't too full of food to run.  I set the (beloved) T-mill at 400 calories over 38 minutes, and felt pretty strong until just after the first big interval.  Queasy!  I hopped of with ten minutes to go.  Boo. 

Tomorrow, my window to run is something like 3:30-4:30 (garage sale clean-up/husband time, AM; James Taylor and Carole King with my mom, PM), which is likely to be HOTTER. 

Today's problems and tomorrow's solutions:

1. Heat- Okay, I can't fix the weather.  But maybe I can convince the Writer to haul out a box fan and position it for me.  May also try wetting my hair before I run.

2. Hydration- I had a couple of drinks last night (as I do every night lately, because I don't have to work!) and may not have properly re-hydrated throughout the day, especially for this kind of heat.

3. Sloshy belly- Eat more throughout the day.  I had a small breakfast and was STARVING by lunch, of which I then ate a ton.  I'd also been feeling some digestive upset in the morning; perhaps eating something gentler (or taking some Pepto) would have helped.

Still not feeling very confident about running on the roads, or about joining the running club.  Their next meeting is Tuesday, so I may just show up and ask some questions (and join the pre-meeting run?).  I could use some solidarity, I guess...they also have a slower division/sub-club.  They might turn out to be my people!

Now to shower off my shame...

night running

After moving to Northern Virginia from Charlottesville five years ago, I ceased my night running because I didn't feel as safe running in Arlington as I did in the neighborhoods around UVA. My outside runs stayed in Arlington neighborhoods and the Custis trail for two years, then to the W&OD trail for another two. Most other runs occurred on the Ballston or Tysons' Gold's Gyms treadmills. There were a couple of 5:30 a.m. runs in Arlington (before I was used to an early schedule) and a few night runs on the Fairfax W&OD with a boyfriend who, unlike me, wasn't afraid of being accosted on the trail at night. When I first moved to Boston, I was still a major Nervous Nellie while walking around my neighborhood in the day, so I didn't even consider running around it at night. Thank goodness that's changed! I got a lot more serious about running during summer 2008 and soon grew to cherish the blazing heat and humidity that accompanied my training runs.

Last night I went on my second night run of the winter. Armed with a Patagonia Capilene baselayer, InSport tights, pants, ski hat, and my 2008 Boston Marathon volunteer jacket, I trotted out into the Central Square cold. I'd skipped my CRC track workout (which I should go do right now, in fact) because I felt like crap, but my roommate convinced me to just go outside and go around the block. Her wily powers are good...when used for good. Like she said, there were plenty of other runners scooting around, and I ended up scooting down to the river, over to Harvard Square, and back to our apartment. I could get used to this night running. I'll stick to the well-lit and well-traversed areas (no going east of Prospect Street for me, I've already been harassed there in mid-day), get some more UnderArmour and enjoy this cold scooting!