Time: 1:56:51
Temperature: 75-85 degrees
Mood Report: Generally well – glad to be out trying distance again.
Body Report: Low. Exertion through the roof, yet HR and split times very slow.
It’s been a long time since I have felt I was running 8:30 splits and have discovered that it was absolutely not the case. This was the experience today over 12 miles at Peasquitos. I was slugging through the course a full minute slower. The trail is not particularly hilly, and I can only surmise it was the heat taking its toll since this was the first hot run I’ve had in several months.
Runs like these are perfect occasions to practice mind play. Because really, your mind is the only tool you have complete control over (and this can ultimately be used to influence the body). I listened to my body’s requests to stop by inserting some stretches of walking on the return route, reminded myself that this was all in my head (the perceived “bad experience”) and did my best to disappear into some music so to release focus on the tightness in my legs, the struggle in my stride, and the millions of possible reasons why this run was not a stellar run (I’ve been too lax in training, I burned through that smoothie too quickly, my cleansing supplements are jacking up my system, I’m allergic to corn and it’s probably hidden in the vitamin C, my immune system is suppressed, the cleanse is not “hearty” enough to exercise (even though it is), there is too much emotional stress right now……) God forbid I should have a crappy run because I have a crappy run!
I will, however, need to alter my fueling to include some water diluted juice so that I can maintain decent blood sugar. Of all possible scenarios, low blood sugar from the excessive heat seems most probable.
