Learning to run like a penguin...

I made all of my runs this week and once again opted to bust out my long run on the treadmill due to the horrible heat and humidity that characterized this weekend's weather. To make up for it, I completed two of my runs this week out at a hilly area I have affectionately named the "bowl". The nickname was given because the area is a one mile stretch of side walk that starts downhill on one end and goes uphill on the other end. The hills are roughly a quarter mile in length, tough and never provide an easy workout.

For Saturday's five miler, I decided to run at the "bowl" and extend the run all the way down to Highway 98. What a bad idea. That run was one of the hardest I have ever had to complete due to the combination of heat and the fact that the uphills heading towards 98 are so long and steep. At one point it felt like I was running up a 45 degree incline for twenty minutes.

I also ran at the "bowl" for Friday's three miler, and ran my regular course out in downtown Daphne for Thursday's six miler. Nothing really eventful occurred during the runs, except for a further progression of a little injury I picked up during last Sunday's 8 miler.

I never ran 8 miles before that Sunday. I also did not realize that running on a treadmill required me to run with a narrower leg spacing than I normally do while running outside. After I finished last Sunday's run I noticed that I had chaffed a tiny bit. This tiny bit turned to a lot after yesterday's run. I guess this occurred because of the distance and because I foolishly decided to wear regular workout clothes, not running shorts, to the YMCA yesterday to work out and then complete my run. Bad mistake, cotton underwear makes chaffing worse, not better...oops. The latter half of my run was spent with me doing my best impersonation of a penguin for four miles.

I have also discovered that none of the stores in Baldwin County sell Runner's glide. For a laugh, go up and ask someone at a grocery store where body lube is located without having them laugh at you for being a pervert. "No, I swear, all I am looking for is some lube to help me run"....them, "okay, try the warming sensation lube over by the condoms...its great". A quick google search yielded me with a possible solution in the form of Vaseline. Now all I have to do is explain to the wife why I left an opened bottle of Vaseline on the counter after I came out of the locked bathroom.

This week breaks down pretty nice with no trails and a long run of 9 miles. Today I head out to meet the coach at the track, and am hoping that the workout is nothing like the trails. Fingers are crossed.