I survived my first 60 mile week, and boy was it brutal. Up until this time I had only ever done up to like 56 miles, but never all the way to 60 … I know you’re thinking ‘its only 4 more miles’, but those miles really make the difference. I’m really beaten up at this point, and have one week to go until a badly needed stepback week. As I wrote on Friday, my sinuses have been acting up and feel that i have a sinus infection working since its been almost 4 days now with my head being stuffed, and stuff coming out of my nose. I’ve pretty much ruled out the allergies. If I don’t feel any better tomorrow, i’ll probably head to the doctor, its time for some major medicine.

So the weekend was just as brutal as the rest of the week, I planned very well for Saturday since the forecasted temperature was going to be over 90 again. I figured I was going to take the advice of what I wrote a few weeks back when I just about died of heat stroke … well, i’d like to say that it worked, but I can’t say that it did. So all day Friday, friday night and well before the run Saturday I hydrated continually .. I even stopped on the way to my run and got a 1 liter of water to carry with me, so in full I had the 1 liter (about 34 oz), my fuel belt (22 oz + 8 oz gatorade), and a bag of Sport Beans and money to stop if I needed more. I was smart and headed out before the sun even came up (yes, on a saturday, i’m a psycho!) at around 5:50am. I knew it was going to get hot fast, so I figured this was the way to go.

I started out with a pretty good pace … taking 2-3 ounces of water every 15 minutes .. I did have to use the bathroom in mile 2 and even dropped a deuce in a port-o-potty (hey, had to go) .. but then got on my way. Things were going fairly well all through the west side here as the sun came up, and the good thing was that the sun didn’t come out immediately because of the haze, so I didn’t have direct sunlight until later on.

Finally I worked my way back to the Dyke in Kingston which was around mile 15, and suddenly just died, I mean, just died. Its something about that Dyke that gets me every time (its where I dies last time). I’m not sure if its the constant direct sunlight (no trees) or what, but it was a struggle from there. I made it almost to Edwardsville without doing a walk break, and then started the walk breaks. I started to feel my heart rate increasing and I felt overwhelmed (really dehydrated). I have to question how dehydrated I was though because at mile 18, I had to pee (in a bush), so I’m not sure what that means ….

Regardless, I cut the course short a little bit because I was struggling and started the habit of walking every half mile or so for a few minutes just so I can make it back. My time overall didn’t turn out so great due to that, but it was more about survival and getting the miles in at this point, which I did. I imagine it was dehydration since when I got back, and got back to house, I weighed 186 pounds … now remember I was at 192 last week (give or take), I took in almost 60 oz. of fluid, plus half a large gatorade (another 32 oz) … so I would estimate that I lost almost 10+ pounds of fluid during the run due to the heat (note that it was 81 degrees at 9am when I got done).

So what did I learn? NOT TO RUN IN THE HEAT ANYMORE IF I CAN HELP IT! I probably could’ve been smarter and done my long run today instead when its much cooler, which I failed to do. I need to continue getting quality runs in because the marathons are getting closer and closer …. I hope this is the end of the heatwave for now and temperatures will regulate a little more. I think the fact that I took the precautions I did, and the hydration that I used, kept me from dying earlier, but I do have to remember that even hydrating well, you will eventually lose the battle with hydration …. you’re body will just lose more fluid than it will take in. (thats from the article I quoted a few weeks back). I’m not sure how much the head-cold played into the whole thing, as i’m sure it had some effect on me.

Today I headed out for 10 miles, plus to make up some of the difference from yesterday that I missed, so i was shooting for about 10.5 miles or so … which i accomplished. It was brutal because I’m so banged up, and still sick with the head cold. I took water with me, but still my time suffered towards the end. Not a great day, but I have to remember that my goal was to get through the week. Its been brutal since Monday, something is challenging me and I have to step up to the plate.

So right now i’m nursing a sore left hip, sore hamstrings and a sore shoulder (dunno why). I am also tore up terribly from the fuel belt around my waist (with no shirt) .. thats probably the worst thing. On top of that, the head cold and being tired (haven’t been sleeping great) …. only 7 more days until a step-back week. Can’t wait!