I am training for the Milwaukee Marathon on October 2nd.

Day 638 | July 18, 2011: rest

A visit to Urgent Care thwarted my plan of running in the evening! Wah.

Day 639 | July 19, 2011: 5 m run

Even though we had a million-degree heat wave, I was itchin’ for a run and decided to get out on the Ohio River Greenway in Clarksville, IN.

Most of the run was in the sun on a levee with no shade:

I was dripping so much sweat it was coming off of my watch. But I kept going! Eventually I made it to the river and got a nice view of Louisville.

I didn’t know how far the trail went so I (stopped and) asked another runner who helped me out. I ran out to some bridges, stood in the shade a (long) bit then slugged my way back.

When I returned to the hotel, I immediately changed in to my swimsuit and got in the pool! Ahh!

Distance: 5.0 | Temp: 92° | Dew Point: 78° | Time: 54:54 | Avg Pace: 10:58 | 1: 10:24 | 2: 10:54 | 3: 11:19 | 4: 11:20 | 5: 10:53

Day 640 | July 20, 2011: rest

Day 641 | July 21, 2011: 8 m run

The running gods must have been looking over me for this run! It was 96° when I started, but the dew point was only 60° (I know. “only”). It felt so much cooler than it has, so I ventured out for eight miles and completed them all. Without stopping. Without walking. Almost without running out of water (took 32 oz). And my average pace was under 11:00 minute miles! I will call that a success my friends!!!

Distance: 8.0 |  Start Temp: 96° | End Temp: 89° | Dew Point: 60° | Time: 1:26:19 | Avg Pace: 10:47 | 1: 10:54 | 2: 10:44 | 3: 10:46 | 4: 10:41 | 5: 10:46 | 6: 10:56 | 7: 11:02 | 8: 10:26

Day 642 | July 22, 2011: 3 m run

I woke up to a thunderstorm, but was able to sneak in a 3 mile run before the bouts of pouring rain. The temps were lower, but it was humid!

Distance: 3.0 | Temp: 72° | Time: 30:23 | Avg Pace: 10:07 | 1: 10:42 | 2: 9:57 | 3: 9:41

Day 643 | July 23, 2011: 15 m run

I met Tracy in Central Park for one of the New York Road Runner’s organized long training runs. I am so happy I did this long run this way – it was one of the hottest days of the year, but the course was entirely supported – water tables every mile or so and a few misting stations. It was excellent! I’ve never been so perfectly hydrated during a run (I have NO idea how much water I drank, but I had my GUs at 4, 8 and 12)! I would like to do EVERY long run this way!

I had never run through Central Park before, and was surprised by how mostly shaded it is. And I knew it was going to be hilly, but I managed pretty well on the hills.

Tracy and I tried to take the first 6 miles nice and slow, but we kept speeding up by accident! That is what happens when I get all caught up in conversation. Not so good when you have more miles to go and it’s super hot! But at least I was having a lot of fun and the miles were flying by.

As we were nearing mile 5.5 (and the end of our first loop) another blogger named Tara called out to Tracy – she recognized her from her blog (how cool!). We ran the second loop with Tara (another 5 miles) and she just added to the fun (me, Tara and Tracy below). How cool that I got to meet another blogger by accident!

I loved running with these two and they got me through the first 11.5 miles easy! I finished the last 3.5 on my own, nice and slow, and took a long, smelly (me) subway ride home back to Queens to eat my bagel.

Distance: 15.0 | Temp: 90s? | Time: 2:54:10 | Avg Pace: 11:36

Day 644 | July 24, 2011: 3.25 m run

I went out for a quick run in the am to the river and back (in Queens). Boy, was it humid, but there were a lot of other runners out!

Distance: 3.25 | Temp: high 80s | Time: 33:40 | Avg Pace: 10:21 | 1: 11:11 | 2: 10:20 | 3: 9:50 | 4: 2:18

Week Summary: 34.25 miles

Ugh… not my most balanced week, but I got a lot of miles in!