After an assigned and required rest day Monday, it was time to get on it!  Tuesday I hit the pavement during lunch to get in my training time.  Summer is NOT over in Dallas, and that made it seriously difficult for me to get through this leg.  It was not my best performance running-wise, but I finished it. 

Distance 2.68 mi, Duration 0:38:09, Pace 14:14 min/mile, Speed 4.2 mph.

Wednesday was supposed to be another rest day, but I needed to get in a good walk to boost my mood, and get some fresh air.  It was a brisk walk, that gave me some good distance at lunch.

Distance 2.76 mi, Duration 0:46:00, Pace 16:38 min/mile, Speed 3.6 mph.

Today’s run was much better.  I was able to take my lunch a couple of hours earlier, so I could get out there and beat the noon-time heat.  It still was not easy, but it was so much better than Tuesday’s run!!

 Distance 2.52 mi, Duration 0:29:29, Pace 11:42 min/mile, Speed 5.1 mph.

Each morning I put in about 2 miles of dog walking, as well. So that also contributes to my training.  Pup and I run a little, but it is not at the intensity that I run, on my training runs.  He is too young still to run the distances, and the walk is more for him to sniff, walk, and do his business. 

Saturday or Sunday will be a 3 miler.  I can pick which ever day I wish.  As time gets closer to the date of the Half Marathon, I’ll start trying to focus on doing the long weekend day runs, on Sundays.

The day after heavy ran is never fun to run in, ESPECIALLY in the Texas summers. I just could not get comfortable in my breathing. The air was thick and steamy. It did not help that I kept encountering lawn maintenance guys mowing down all the grass from the heavy rains. The exhaust about made my lungs freak out.

I made it though. 3.3 miles in 39:12. I had to walk a lot of the last 1/4 to 1/2 mile.

 The summer heat makes it REALLY difficult to get running in.  Now that my mornings are filled up by walking the new pup, I have to get my running time before the  hottest time of the day.  Even at noon it is just AWFUL.  The humidity keeps a thick film on your skin, and it feels like you can never get relief.

Today I was lucky enough to take an early lunch and get my running done before 11:30.  It still was a steamy run, but at least I didn’t end up feeling like my shoes were melting to the pavement. 

I did notice that my breathing was feeling a little tight at 1.5 miles.  This was reminiscent of when I was bike commuting to work one day in September of ’08.  I ended up having an allergy induced asthma attack that lasted over 45 minutes.  Definitely a scary situation that required an emergency trip to an Urgent Care facility, along with a breathing treatment, and an inhaler prescription.   Luckily this was not the same thing, it just felt as if it was going to start happening.  I was able to normalize my breathing and make an attempt to not stress over it.  That helped me get past the sensation and the subsequent flash-back.

I finished my run and again felt no pain in that bone in my foot, that was injured the first weekend of July. 

3.61 miles in 44:14
Avg speed – 4.9 mph
Avg Pace – 12:15 min/mile

I am going to focus more on getting on a training schedule to compete in the Half Marathon portion of the White Rock Marathon.  I still believe I can accomplish this!  I will set my sights on doing a full marathon after this hurdle is crossed.

A Good solid outside run!

After wrapping and taping my foot, I took off for a solid pavement pounding run.   I ventured into a neighborhood which I had not really explored before, and ended up running up some surprising hills.  As I cut over on one street, I caught sight of something that really bothered me; a squirrel and her baby in the road.  

At first I thought that they were both dead, but as I slowed down,  I realized that they were both alive, but for some reason were not moving.  After carefully investigating, I found out that the momma had a hurt leg, and it looked as if it laid there to watch over it’s baby.  I truly believe that she would have died laying there just to be nose-to-nose with her baby. 

I dribbled some water at their mouths from my water bottle, and immediately after that the momma took off across the road, dragging an injured leg behind her.  I carefully picked up the baby, and took it over to where the momma was hiding. I tried to just speak calmly to the momma, and gently pet the baby in my hand.  It was sweet when the baby closed it’s eyes, as if it were completely comfortable.  Of course when I stopped petting its little neck, it started squeaking REALLY loud!  Scared the crap out of me at first!  

SQUIRREL!!!!!!

After careful consideration, and a semi-anxious phone call or two, I decided that it was best to leave the lil one with his momma.  She needed him, as much as he needed her.  Luckily they were able to get into a secluded spot in some bushes.  

I really hope that they are ok!