The thermometer in Central Park said 73 degrees, but about an hour later my Weatherbug says it’s 85 degrees, so, since the CNN thermometer has been known to stick, I have to wonder if today’s very humbling run was partially the result of a much larger spike in temperature than I realized.
The run started out a bit on the slow side because I decided I wanted to keep this run “slow and steady,” to see if I’d be up for Great Hill and something above a 10K. Just after mile 2, I was re-routed to the bridle path because of an event, and I was spit out onto the 102nd St. Transverse so I just stuck with that.
Around mile 3, things took a tumble for me. I suddenly felt I couldn’t really maintain my pace, so I actually took the unlike-me step to walk some. I walked for maybe about 90 feet or so, then took back to running. But my running didn’t last long as I felt consumed again, so I took back to walking again. I did this the rest of the run–walking some, running some–a kind of running I don’t think I’ve done in my years in NYC.
Why did this happen? Some of it was because of the heat, but not the heat alone, but the combination of the heat and my current body. Today my body was not performing. My heart seemed the most inimical. I couldn’t get to a comfortable pace and felt belabored. Around mile 3 is when I was even feeling tension in my chest and upper back–maybe you’d call them chest pains, but nothing very scary. I attributed this condition to a poor cardiovascular system I currently have and need to train. It just couldn’t take on the load.
I ran out of Redline Ultra Hardcore earlier in the week and I switched over to regular Redline that I had remaining. I felt chills this week on many occasions, possibly from these pills but perhaps from my digestive ails this week. Whatever the case, I had 3 ArginMax before the run but no Redline so I got to wondering if my switch to salad-based lunches on set has diminished my regular protein intake throughout the week, or if I wasn’t enough carbo-loaded. Suffice it to say, I want to have a pasta dinner with chicken tonight to see what effects, if any, they have on tomorrow’s run.
And this week was a nightmare week for running. One day I got a rush call to work, which didn’t let out until 12:30am. That same morning I had a 6:30am van. I ended up with 2 hours of sleep that night, and had to play ketchup. I worked 4 days this week and while I could have managed runs in some of those slots, I was priding my rest a bit more.
On the horizon for next week, I understand I’m being considered for regular work on a television project. If I get that gig, it could be a blessing for my training, though it could also be a curse. I want to think more blessing than curse. Let’s see how this week unfolds!
P.S. I went to the gym after my run and did arms, abs, and back.