Monday: 5
Charlestown, RI. Drizzly warm run with Brady and the deerflies. Burlingame North and North Camp. Best part was a dip in Watchaug Pond at the docks, where there are never any deerflies. Water is a little warm, but still feels good.
Tuesday: 1 walk, 10 run
AM: Westerly, RI. Weekly WLT mowing crew. Today was weed-whacking and clearing out an old foundation at Sunny Acres. All went well until I hit a yellow jacket nest without knowing it. They let me know they were there, when one bit my arm. Smacked him, and turned back and saw a torrent of his family was none to happy with me. Dropped the weed-whacker and ran out of the foundation. Two more stung me. Hurt like a mother. Swelled up pretty good before I was able to clean it up and the swelling went back down. Had three welts for a couple of days.
Late AM: Richmond, RI. Asphalt / dirt road / trail run that Matthew had mapped out. About 80°F at the start, about 85°F at the end. Debated taking Brady or not, but once I saw there was a river about every 3 miles or so, went for it. At every river, he would just lay down and soak, and I let him take all the time he needed. Once he exited the river and we started running again, he really did fine. There was one stretch of open sunny uphill asphalt about Mile 9 that he really slowed down on, but I did too, and fortunately the final mile was shaded Arcadia Trail. Post-run the three of us fully soaked in the nearby Wood River.
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| Cooling off on a hot day |
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| Just off Arcadia Road. I never even knew these falls existed. |
Wednesday: 9
AM: Westerly, RI. Local roads and trails with Brady. Thrilled that there were no deerflies at Champlin.
PM: Westerly, RI. Final Fun Run of the year. Where does the time go? Was shooting for a sub-18, but ended up with 18:09. Not the fastest course with 21 turns, and the 80° heat didn't help. I know, excuses, excuses!
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| Start of the final fun run of the year. My stance looks terribly awkward. |
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| Passing through Mile 1 |
Thursday: 10
Westerly, RI. Early (6:30am) run on the beach, OAB from Weekapaug Breachway to Watch Hill, with Matthew and Brady. Ran three miles with shoes before stashing them at the west end of Atlantic Avenue, then barefoot the rest. Refreshing dip in the ocean at end of run.
Friday: 6
Charlestown, RI. Run with Matthew at Ninigret Park. We were limited in our route options, as much of the field was blocked off for the setup of the annual Seafood Festival. Sweaty mess. Sick of this weather.
Saturday: 12
Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Beach to Beacon 10K race, including warm-up and cool-down. Separate write-up to follow.
Sunday: 14
Charlestown, RI. Recovery run with Matthew. Wanted to run an 18-miler, but the weather continues just to be brutal. When it's 80° or more by 8 or 9am, and then factor in 90% or humidity, this is just a horrible recipe for running. While there are a few runners who profess to prefer heat and humidity, various scientific studies have shown these conditions, especially at 80 degrees or higher, to have a negative performance factor for runners. Such was the case today (80°F at start, with 90% humidity). My legs were already sore from yesterday's race. When I added the heat and humidity, I just found it harder to breathe, and by Mile 2 my running clothes were pretty much soaked. Gross. Matthew had planned out a 14-mile road route CCW around Watchaug Pond and then dipping down into Quonnie. Fortunately, he had also planned out a stash of drinks and GUs at Miles 8 and 12. Ice water tastes so refreshing in the heat! Long soak in Watchaug Pond post-run, and despite the warm water temperature, that felt good as well.
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| On a more positive note than my whining about the heat and humidity, today I picked the first two cucumbers out of our garden this year. Less work to just buy them at the store, but something satisfying about picking your own produce. And it always tastes better! |
Weekly mileage: 68
Weekly synopsis: I would summarize it as a good running week in lousy weather conditions.
Weekly highlight: Beach to Beacon race. Not my fastest 10K race and not the time that I was looking for, but not terrible either.
Weekly lowlight: Terrible weather. Constant heat and humidity. I seriously miss the weather in Iceland and have had it with summer weather here.
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