What was I thinking today... misery likes company.

What happened?

I am so sick and tired of this stupid weather! I am sick of the 70+ degree temps. at 5:30 in the morning, and the 95+% humidity at the same freaking time. Every endurance athlete knows that heat and humidity plays a major part in training during the summer in some locations, but to what degree depends on where you are and how conditioned you are to it.  The pic of the sorry soul at the top of this page is a testament of what humidity can do to you.

I have been running and or riding all summer and have either been lucky or better prepared for my long training runs as I have not had too much of a problem with either the heat or humidity. Until today.  The picture at the top was taken just after my 11 mile long training run this morning. I had planned on doing 16, but some pain in my leg and the over bearing humidity claimed the rest of my miles.  Sure it sounds like a cop out, but I have proof to back up my claim.

Two weeks ago I did a 13.2 mile long training run where the morning weather was about the same temp but there was only about 60 to 70% humidity. I finished this long training run in 2 hours and felt great. However, after today's 11 mile run which lasted 1.75 hours, and when I finished I sounded so bad that my wife came out of the house and asked if I was alright and if I was puking. I, of course, was not, but felt like I probably should have been. The last long training run was also a lot more challenging route than today's.  The only major difference was the humidity.  All I can say is that I am so done with this stupid heat and humidity in the early morning. It is not fun anymore. It needs to go away.

On a more positive note, the glutton for punishment that I am decided that an afternoon ride in the heat of the day would be a wonderful way to push myself and work out all of the lactic acid that was building up in my legs. Sometimes I am not too smart, but it was just supposed to be a nice easy pace hill ride. Well, being competitive I some how managed to turn it into something a little more than easy. Actually, it was down right hard, and by the time I arrived back home I wasn't sure I was going to be able to stand up let alone unclip and get off my bike after we had come to a complete stop in the driveway.  Luckily both of those things happened in the proper order at the end of my ride. As I didn't end up laying on my side clipped into my pedals with small chunks of rock embedding themselves into my flesh. Yeah for that! You can read more about the ride here. As for this epic day of duel work outs I am throwing it out there in honor of those that TRIed today and hope that all of your races went well and you had a great time rockin' them. I will be joining you as a triathlete next year.