Summer vacation

School is out and I am one happy librarian!  I love no school!  No schedule, no need to be anywhere at a certain time.  Unfortunately that will change in July since I'm teaching summer school, I don't really think of alarm setting for summer school since it is not a full day of work. Since this is my first no work week I thought I would get lots of stuff done at home and my running would be awesome. Yeah not so much. I've cleaned out half of my kitchen cabinets (don't be jealous) and have taken lots of naps. I've also been able to sleep in this week, which is odd, I normally never sleep past 7am.  

Well with all of that sleeping ( I must be deficient in sleep) I have not been running much.  I did go to run club last night and I thought I was going to die running in the heat.  Marathon training starts next week and those first few weeks may be a bit brutal if last night was any indication. 

In between my naps I've discovered the joys of fruit in my water. Yumm

I bought some frozen raspberries and added them to my water today. I have been putting strawberries in my water too. It really has helped me drink more water.  And really we all could use a bit more water in our day. 

I'm going to have to set my alarm for a morning run tomorrow.  No excuses!  

Humidity sucks

Last week was the start of marathon training (did I just admit that I am training for a marathon?! Yikes!)  It also was the beginning of a humid summer.  I now remember why I hate running in the summertime.  The heat and humidity make me feel like a brand new runner...it is so draining.  Combine the heat with the fact that it has been raining everyday for over a week..I am starting to feel like a drowned rat.  If I am not wet from the rain it is sweat..(Don't worry I will be complaining about the need for rain and the horrible sun and heat in a few weeks)

Last week it was so hot I ran through the woods at run club and then turned around and ran back because it was so hot and I wasn't doing the last half on the hot pavement.  The nice thing was when I was coming back I saw a deer just hanging out.  Who thinks of a deer a few miles from DC?  It was obviously a city deer because as I told a family very quietly about the deer (thinking that some city folk would love to see a deer)  the kids basically yelled, yep that's a deer.  The deer just looked up at them and was like "Hey".  She didn't flinch at all.  Oh city deer.

This weeks run club was much better.  Some drizzle and a little breeze made it pretty enjoyable..I was able to pretend that the sweat rolling down my back was rain.

What do you all do to combat the heat and humidity of summer?

summer running sucks

Every year I forget how much I hate running in the summer.  I know I said I do not like running in the cold cold temps, but really running in 95 and above is torture.  I'll take 30 and below any day. 

I have not run in a week because I hate the heat and running. That and I lost electricity on Friday night from the crazy storm that hit VA.  My electricity wasn't back until Saturday night. I know what does that have to do with running?  I couldn't bring myself to die running in the heat to have to come into a warm house.  Then my air was broken when the electricity came back.  That is now all fixed so I went for a brief run this morning. 

I woke up after the first night sleeping in my bed since Thursday.  Ah it was so nice to not have to sleep downstairs on a couch b/c that is the coolest place to sleep.  So after a very restful nights sleep, I got up and got dressed.  It was a beautiful night the previous night so I'm sure that it would be a fabulous morning for running.  Turns out that I was slightly off.  I waited too long to run.  8 am during the summer feels like noon running.  I guess when the humidity is hovering around 50%.  I thought I my face was going to catch on fire for the heat that was coming off of my body.    I guess I need to start to turn on the alarm clock and get up super early.  It doesn't help that we are having a heat wave, but really that is not that new for July. 

Looks like I will be running tonight at run club.  Then I have a 4th of July 5K to run tomorrow.  Sooner or later I guess I may actually get used to running in hell. 

Every day is a Saturday

So School is out!!  Yeah..except I have signed up for summer school.  I figured it is easy money and it is only 3 weeks in July for 4 1/2 hours a day.  Right now everyday is a Saturday!!  I love not working during the summer!!  I am still trying to get back into the groove of running/working out.  I have been a regular at run club and I did go to the gym this morning (followed by run club this evening).  I have made a promise to myself to try and watch my portions and what I am eating this summer.  So far it hasn't been that bad.  Fingers crossed.  I gained a good 5 lbs the last few weeks of school, so I am working on getting rid of them, which would be easier if I was in the mood to workout.  I think I may take Riley on a nice hike tomorrow if the weather is nice.  Since I have been out of the blogging world for awhile I am going to leave everyone with some pictures of what I have been up to. :)  Enjoy and happy running!

National Harbour

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ festival

SRC anniversary..fun fun fun

Occoquan Craft Festival..I did not eat this heartattack waiting to happen

Gary's shirt..he hasn't missed a run club in 2 years.

The teacher corner at run club (although Megan, Becky and I are the only teachers..)

I thought we were supposed to stick our tongues out

hot sweaty mess

Last weekend before my summer ends

This is the last weekend of my summer vacation.  So sad.  I am back to work officially on Wednesday, but I will probably go in for a few hours on Monday and Tuesday.  Well summer it has been nice knowing you.  I know I shouldn't be complaining but I really love my summers off.  It is the perk of becoming a teacher. 

My run on Friday wasn't bad considering the low mileage I have been putting in.  I ran 4.6 miles.  I would have run longer but my dog escaped the tennis court that I was running around and headed for home.  I have no idea how  he got out, but I figured I might as well head home.  So I walked my 1/2 mile cool down and took a shower.  So much for my 6 mile run. 

So I took Saturday off and now I have to run 6 miles today.  I hope the rain stops so I can run outside.  All this rain is making me just want to take a long nap all day long.  I am feeling like I want to be a hermit.  So I guess it is a good thing that school starts back for me this week so it forces me out amoung the living.  Looks like 5 more weeks until the Rock N' Roll Philly Half Marathon.  Ugh...not sure if I am ready for that one yet.  This weekend I am supposed to run 7 miles..so that means I really need this run today. 

Back to running

So I got back from PA yesterday and after 4 1/2 hours in the car I did not feel like running.  So today has to be the day that I start back up again.  It feels like forever since I really ran.  I know I ran a few times when I was in PA and once or twice when I was in VA beach but nothing really regular.  I am counting last week as my low milage week so today I need to either run 4 miles or 6.  If I run 4 miles I then have to run 6 tomorrow.  If I can pound out 6 miles today I will take tomorrow as a weight lifting day (I hate to lift weights! Grrr).  We will see what the gym holds.  I would love to run outside but it is raining, so we will see what the weather is like in a few hours and I'll decide if I want to run around the 'hood.  I hate trying to get back into the swing of things after such a long time off of a schedule!  One more month till my first 1/2 marathon..kinda scary.

I went into work today to unpack some things at my new school.  It seems like summer went by way to fast this year.  I am going to try and go back into work on Monday to finish putting some things on my wall before my assistant comes in.  I hate trying to figure out a new system in a new school.  The only positive is that I have worked at this school 4 years ago so I am not totally in the dark on how things run.  Still it is a pain. After putting some stuff away I went to lunch and then came home and baked some oatmeal chocolate chiop cookies.  Did I need to bake the cookies??  Of course not, but they are yummy!  I hope I don't eat them all before tonight. lol