Weekly Workouts and The Scariest Run of My Life

Hey, everyone! Hope you all had an awesome weekend!

As per usual, I’ll begin this post with a look at my workouts over the last seven days. But then, more importantly, I will paint a truly accurate portrait of my stupidity right here on my own blog and discuss the many, many mistakes I made with regards to this morning’s long run!

Tue., July 9: Cycling (10 miles)

Wed., July 1o: Woodbridge Run for Pizza 4-Miler

Thur., July 11: 3 miles

Fri., July 12: 5 miles

Sat., July 13: Thai Kickboxing class

Sun., July 14: Thai Kickboxing class and 5 miles

Mon., July 15: 9 miles

Total weekly mileage: 26 miles

This morning, I experienced what was truly one of the worst/scariest runs of my life. It all started when I didn’t get out the door early enough for today’s long run…which is something I know some of you have scolded me about already! My “I’ll head out for my long run by 8:30, latest” plan actually turned into lacing up my sneakers around 10am…you know, when it was already getting hotter and hotter out there. I figured I’d be just fine; last week’s long run also occurred in the late morning, and I escaped pretty much unscathed. Also, I had my sights set on a mini “Dumbo test run” today, and wanted to follow up yesterday’s 5-miler with a 10-miler today to help gauge my progress towards that 10K/half marathon goal in Disneyland next month!

I knew that New Jersey would be facing a brutal heat wave this week, but, like the intelligent person that I am, I chose to ignore it. I didn’t even check the weather forecast before I headed out (spoiler alert: our “feels like” temperatures today are soaring to over 100 DEGREES). I exclusively run outdoors and will do absolutely anything to avoid the DREADmill, so I’ve been running in the sweltering heat and humidity all summer. Don’t get me wrong, I hate every minute of it, but I AM getting it done. I figured I’d be able to tough it out.

Anyway, I popped in my iPod earbuds and started my runDisney playlist — yes, I’m a giant dork and am totally jamming out to Disney music to help get me through my long runs in preparation for Dumbo — and headed to the park for today’s scheduled 10 miles. I was pretty much drenched from head-to-toe in sweat by the second mile, but I still felt fine. I kept stopping at the water fountain every time I passed to make sure I was staying hydrated, and popped some Clif Shot Bloks between miles 4 and 5 when I felt my energy starting to take a nosedive. I was hot and sweaty and gross, but still, I felt okay, and ready to take on the second half of my run. I was definitely starting to crave Gatorade, Powerade, or (preferably) Nuun, but my fuel belt is currently on loan and I figured I’d manage with just water for today.

Felt pretty miserable after last week's long run, but still able to smile...NOT THE CASE TODAY!

Felt pretty miserable after last week’s long run, but still able to smile…NOT THE CASE TODAY!

But then I reached mile 7…and I don’t know what happened, but my legs suddenly felt as though I were trying to run through molasses. For lack of a better way to explain it…they just stopped working. I had to fight to get through every step after that, and found myself having to stop to walk constantly because I just couldn’t keep going. Meanwhile, it seemed as though the usual gallon of sweat that typically pours from my skin on summer runs was starting to completely dry up. I decided that this was not my normal long run fatigue, and decided to head for home. I knew that something was wrong, and didn’t quite feel the need to be scraped off the pavement today and delivered home in a body bag.

In mile 8, things took a turn for the worse. I could eke out about a quarter mile at a time before being hit by a wave of nausea and/or dizziness, and I kept having to find a shady spot to sit down and put my head between my knees until the feeling passed. When I was a bit closer to home, a woman called out to me from her front porch and offered me ice water, so I really must have looked like death warmed up by that point. I don’t even want to tell you just how long it took me to complete that final 9th mile to get home.

Fortunately, I did make it. And after sitting on the kitchen floor for a while sucking down Gatorade and my usual post-long run glass of 1% chocolate milk, I started to feel a lot better.

So, I learned an important lesson out there today. Even though I pride myself on being something of a “tough chick” (in those final miles, I can’t tell you how many times I told myself that I needed to just “suck it up”), I need to remember that I am not invincible. I know all about the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and the various other illnesses that come with running outdoors in this kind of weather, and I know that it’s not something to be taken lightly…and it is something that absolutely CAN happen to me.

I’ll always be the first person to give someone advice when it comes to how they’re training — I talked my BF out of registering for this insane 10-mile trail race in the middle of August out of pure concern for his safety — and yet when it comes to my own well-being, I’m a lot quicker to throw caution to the wind and assume that I’ll be “fine.” I need to be a little (okay, a lot) smarter when it comes to my training — especially when it comes to running outdoors in the summer — and my little performance this morning definitely proved that.

As runners, I think we all need to learn when it’s okay to tough it out, and when it’s time to listen to your body’s signals and not be stupid enough to do something that could put you in harm’s way.

Today, I was definitely stupid. And it scared the crap out of me. Never again!

Have you ever had a scary experience like mine during a run?

Comments

  1. yikes! Glad you are ok, I had a friend get pulled from a bike race when he stopped sweating, it is a good thing you made it home and rehydrated!

    • Jennifer says:

      Thanks, Kim! YES, feeling pretty grateful right now…and, also, pretty stupid! At least I learned a valuable lesson today, right? Won’t make the same mistake again!

  2. I hope that you’ve continued to take it easy today and stay cool and hydrated – you don’t want to mess around with heat stroke or dehydration and it sounds like you were dangerously close to both!!
    I’m glad you made it home OK and sorry that it was such a miserable run!!

    • Jennifer says:

      Thanks so much, Kim. YES, I’m definitely taking it easy for the rest of the day. That was not fun, and I certainly learned my lesson. I will NOT make that mistake again!

  3. Kelly H says:

    First of all, so glad you made it home okay and didn’t collapse on the way! Scary stuff indeed. All that said…. I think it’s a “good” thing this happened. Now you know what your limits are. I had a similar experience before I got serious about hydration and going out early on runs. I’ll never forget the feeling. It is awful! And like you, what helps me recover is not water but some other kind of electrolyte solution. I love the Nuun tablets. Take them on all my warm weather runs over 5 miles.But every once in a while I’ll start to get “that feeling” where I know I’m getting dehydrated on a run – and a few times on a long hike in the heat – and now I know what to do as soon as I start feeling that way. For me it’s a tingly sort of skin crawling feeling all over my body but mostly my head and arms and chest. My running partner knows that as soon as I mention that, we are DONE. Again, so glad you’re okay but… GIRL! COME ON NOW!! What were you thinking???!! ;)

    Live and learn, right?

    • Jennifer says:

      I completely agree! I’m sort of glad it happened, too, because I think I needed a little reality check. Believe me, I’m feeling like a MORON right now! It was definitely not a good feeling, but now I know the signs, and I know I will be much more diligent about staying hydrated and making better choices on WHEN I head out for a run in the summer. I am SO dumb sometimes, I swear…but, I suppose it’s how you learn, like you said. :)

  4. hamiltonmka says:

    I’m trying to set up a Word Press account so I can log in via that way to comment on your blog. Do you see me here with a picture now?

    Kelly H

    • Jennifer says:

      That is awesome, and YES, I do see your photo now. It’s nice to finally put a face to your name! :)

      • hamiltonmka says:

        Oh good! I figured all this time we’ve been “talking” that I can click a few buttons and get a picture with my bossy comments. LOL! That picture was taken at my 25 year class reunion last month. After I made Goal and Lifetime last year with Weight Watchers, it was my new goal to buy what I called a “Ha-cha-cha” dress to wear. The previous reunion I was 93 lbs heavier so… you see where I’m going here. :) I worked my TUSH off at boot camp twice a week and running and more running and more boot camp to rock that dress. Now I make everyone I know constantly look at this pic of me in THE DRESS. I’m sure you have moments like this too. Any way, I’ve taken way too much of your time and blogspace talking about ME ME ME…. you just continue to ROCK ON GIRL but this time with proper hydration. :)

        • Jennifer says:

          Hey, that’s INCREDIBLE, and you should be so proud! You look amazing! Believe me, I have several “ha-cha-cha” dresses, too (love it!) — I know the feeling very, very well. Also, I very much appreciate your comments, really! Honestly, your “bossiness” really did help me gather the courage to sign up for my very first 5K back in the day, so, really…my addiction to running is kind of your fault. ;) I’ve appreciated your feedback and guidance along the way, so I’m thrilled that you’re officially a WordPress member now! :)

  5. Ah, I am so glad you are okay. I’ve experienced something like this one time – even though it was crazy hot out and I had been sweating like crazy it all dried up and I wasn’t sweating anymore and I was thirsty as heck and my legs felt like they weighed a million pounds. I was a mile and a half away from home when I realized I needed to get there asap. I ended up walking most of that mile and a half while wondering if I would ever make it.

    I stopped taking that route because there is no place on it where I can fill up my water bottle or even stop to buy a bottle of water. I know most days I won’t experience what I did that day, but I’ll never chance it again because I was miserable and probably at a serious health risk.

    • Jennifer says:

      YIKES! I’m so sorry to hear that…it sounds like EXACTLY what happened to me yesterday. Glad you were okay. It’s really scary, and something that we need to be aware of…I definitely learned an important lesson yesterday, that’s for sure.

      That’s probably a good idea — I’m really lucky that the park where I usually run has water fountains, but I think there was just something “off” yesterday and I wasn’t properly hydrated prior to the run. Or, maybe it’s just these INSANE 98 degree days we have on tap all week. I can’t take it anymore, WHERE is fall? Haha.

  6. Um. Scary.
    I am SO glad you are ok.
    We all need water belts, Nuun, Road ID and COOLER TEMPS!!!!

  7. Oh my gosh that is very scary! I am so glad you are ok and that someone saw you and offered you some water! I haven’t had that happen to me on a run before, but last summer I was doing a boot camp class and I just about fainted from being over heated. It is definitely a bit of a wake up call because I am the same as you, I tend to tell myself that that kind of stuff won’t happen to me, but it absolutely can and does!

    • Jennifer says:

      Thanks so much, Lauren! Ah, that sounds awful, glad you were okay! It’s just so easy to become over-heated. I know exactly what you mean. Running makes you feel strong and tough and able to push past physical discomfort, which is great, but I know I need to be smarter about keeping myself out of harm’s way when it comes to training in these temperatures. It was NOT FUN!

  8. I’m sorry to hear about your terrible run! I actually had a very similar experience yesterday – I headed out for 10 miles at 7am and it was already 98% humidity and felt like 85 degrees. I ended up doing A LOT of walking and finished my water by mile 7, I cut it short because I was seriously concerned I was going to pass out! Stay safe and hydrated!

    • Jennifer says:

      UGH, yes, that sounds very familiar! Glad you made the choice to cut it short…I think I made that decision just a bit too late. It was horrible. When it comes to these kinds of temperatures, we all just need to do what we can and be smart…something that I was definitely not yesterday! I learned an important lesson, that’s for sure!

  9. Yikes! Glad you’re OK though. I know for a fact that I melt in heat, and after living up north for 15 years, I will readily admit Texas summers are too much for me. I am inside for the whole summer where I can enjoy some AC. I made peace with the treadmill for that reason.

    • Jennifer says:

      Thanks, Lesley! It was definitely not a fun experience. I think I am just NOT a summer runner, period, and maybe I should stop being a baby and deal with the treadmill on days like yesterday! You’ve definitely got the right idea!

  10. The heat is nothing to take lightly, especially if you are loaning your hydration belt to someone! Glad you were able to get home and drink up and cool down.

    • Jennifer says:

      I know it! I figured water fountains at the park would be OK just for that day…WRONG!!! Learned my lesson, for sure. Won’t make that mistake ever, EVER again!

  11. Super scary. I too hate the treadmill and will run in 100 degree temps before I get on that bad boy. Last year I had a run much like this one.
    I never really carried water with my because I hate those stupid fuel belts bouncing everywhere. I invested in a CamelBak Dart, was afraid I’d hate it and it would bug me, and instead it has become my summer running savior.

    • Jennifer says:

      It is the WORST! Totally with you on the treadmill!

      Thanks for the tip, I’m totally looking into the CamelBak! I’ve heard good things. I can deal with the fuel belt, but it’s really not the most comfortable thing in the world, so I’m always open to new options. :)

  12. christi in ma says:

    I had a bout with heat stroke/dehydration in July doing a 5K in 90+ heat and humidity. I stupidly forgot to eat lunch – it was busy at work! – but I had been hydrating. Had a banana and peanut butter before we left for the 6 PM start. Finished Mile 1 and my heart rate was in the 180/190 range and I was getting nauseous. Took a while walking to get my heart rate down. Powered through the ramps and the rest of the course. After the finish you have to climb a huge set of stairs to get back to the parking lot. I had to stop halfway up because I was getting the chills and dizzy. Not very smart on my part!! I’ve since discovered Nuun. I’ll also bring a water bottle next year because there was only 1 water stop.

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