Well my friends, it is that time of year. Here in the south, the distance racing season is over. You up north may be saying “huh? What is that crazy girl talking about, we are just getting started!” I may be crazy, but you would be even ore crazy for running a half marathon or marathon (heck even a 10k) past April. Yesterday, it was 87 degrees at 1:30. Yesterday morning at 6:45 on my run, it was 67 degrees (the sun wasn’t above the trees yet!) and it was 96% humidity. Friends, I love running, but I have absolutely no desire to die of a heat stroke. True there may be a 5k in my future before fall, but that’s even questionable.
This problem leads me to a conundrum. What do I do all summer? We have the shortest spring race season ever (just when I was starting to get faster, too. Darn!) and I have no plans to run distances in the heat and humidity until October (oh yes, it will be in the upper 90’s till October) so I am trying to figure out what to do with myself.
Well, that’s not entirely true, I know what I WANT to do, but the problem is, will I actually be motivated enough to do it. Looking at a goal race that is five and a half months away is a really difficult thing for me to wrap my brain around. Sure once it gets close I am sure I will get the bug to train hard, but right now I just feel kind of “eh, I’ve got time.” But I know if I keep that attitude, I will keep having mediocre race times and then will be kicking myself for not working harder.
Never fear, I have a plan! well…loosely. I have a few ideas rolling around but before I decide on any concrete training plan I wanted your opinion. So tell me, how do I keep off season motivation in the hot summer? I want to continue (if not step up) my lifting routine and really work on my speed. Jen has given me a few great pointers already for my interval training, I just hope I can force myself to stick with it. It’s going to be a long hot summer……You got that right Keith Urban.
QOTD: I need your help! Give me your best tips, ideas, motivation for the long hot summer, and I may post some of them in a future blog post!
PS Look how short my hair was two Easter’s ago!
For my run yesterday, it was 27* at the start. Crazy! I can understand not wanting to run/race in the heat and humidity though – it just drains you so fast! I always try to incorporate new programs into my routine when I feel ‘blah’. I hope that you find a way to stay motivated through the summer!
for the last couple weeks I have been following the Drop 10 Challenge that was in the April and May issues of Self Magazine http://www.self.com/drop10/2012/workout#slide=1 . It has 3 run days and 2 toning/circuit days each week. 2 of the run days are intervals with the last being a “long” run type of workout (maxing at 6 miles). The toning workouts involve some weights and are great total body workouts. I have really enjoyed this change of workouts and think you may like it also, just to break up the monotony of lifting at the gym all the time. I have noticed that I am getting faster, despite the heat and humidity.
We raced Sunday morning in NOLA and it was so HOT! The race started at 8:30 and by a half a mile in I was feeling the heat. Ended up finishing with a 30:09, which is about a minute over my PR that was set at the evening Halloween race last year.
thats how I felt at the pensacola half. I ran 10 minutes slower than NOLA and I trained harder for this one! lol!
In my off-season I totally change it up. Running takes a back seat and I focus on things I don’t do much of when I’m in the thick of running season. Hit the weights, focus on flexibility, core, whatever. They all will help your running when you get back to it.
I would say if strength training is something you want to focus on, switch gears and make that your priority. Supplement with treadmill sprints (such as HIIT workouts) to work on your speed. Just my two cents. 🙂
I’ve started interval training with Tone It Up and SELF Magazine’s “program” and it is really helping my speed and burning more calories.
I think you should totally host a virtual race for us southerners! We can do it on the treadmill this summer. You would be the perfect virtual run host!
Alec
interesting. not a bad idea!
I think the focus on strength and speed is a great one. I just like setting mini-goals, you could set goals for a push-up challenge for yourself or something like that. Or how long you can hold a plank. And have fun, different speed workouts to keep running interesting. Lots of options! And I know you’ll stay on top of your game. 🙂
Our off season, I guess you could say that, will begin soon. There are quite a few races in May, all with early start times, but that’s about it. It’s so funny calling it the off season though because that makes it sound like I’m a real athlete or something, hehe. Me, I’ll probably just do a lot of treadmill running, yoga, weights, and coaching track, so I’ll still be busy and active. You could always try to find a race to travel to, like one up north where it stays cooler longer?
Aww thanks for the shout out! If you and the treadmill can become bffs your off season training will lead to in season success. I know you can do it!
It looks like a lot of people are having the same rut right now. I think upping your strength training is the way to go. I just started refocusing on that, and it’s amazing how much more I look forward to that part of my work outs! Also, have you considered looking into other classes offered at the Y? Pilates, spinning- two of my favorites- and it can help to have someone else telling you what to do to get you in gear and focused.
sadly my Y is a “neighborhood Y” and zumba and yoga are it.
I definitely understand the heat and humidity! I live in Alabama, so I know how the southern heat can be. I would love to hear your plans for the summer. I just started seriously running this past October, so I need some ideas! Weight training sounds fun and I do have a treadmill, but the treadmill is SO boring!