MCM Week 1: Dog Days and Heat Waves

After months of anticipation and hours of mapping out my training plan on my Big Ass Calendar, it was time to start officially training for my third 26.2 and first Marine Corps marathon in Washington D.C.

Over the course of the next 18 weeks, I will be following the Hansons First Marathon plan again with a few tweaks to accommodate ocean swim days and when I have access to my preferred strength equipment for heavy lifting days. Although the Jersey Girl Triathlon is not happening this year (which I’m so bummed about), if I find a sprint tri that piques my interest and fits into our busy summer plans, I’d like to be race-ready for that event as well. The main event this year is the marathon again and anything else is just a bonus!

The seemingly endless rain and cold weather at the end of May and beginning of June created a late start to the summer season at the shore, so when the weather reports expected a heat wave during the week of 6/22, I knew it would be a rough start to marathon training. I’ve been keeping up with running about 20 miles per week along with my lifting and other activities, but I was not yet acclimated to the high heat index and poor air quality. Less-than-ideal conditions plus the added responsibility of taking care of my “fur-nieces” for the week created an imperfect start to the training block. If you expect perfection, you’ll be disappointed in any outcome that isn’t what you imagined. I embrace the unexpected.

Here is what was mapped out on my plan:

·       Sunday – 6 miles Easy

·       Monday – 6 miles Easy

·       Tuesday – 6 miles Easy

·       Wednesday – Crosstrain

·       Thursday – 6 miles Easy

·       Friday – 6 miles Easy

·       Saturday – Crosstrain

Here’s what actually happened:

·       Sunday – 4 miles Easy

·       Monday – Heavy Lifting, 3 miles Easy

·       Tuesday – 6 miles Easy

·       Wednesday – Heavy Lifting

·       Thursday – 6 miles Easy, 7.1 miles of dog walking (a distance worth noting!)

·       Friday – 6 miles Easy, 9.5 mile bike

·       Saturday – Yoga, 3 miles Easy

The training plan technically starts on a Monday, but for my calendar’s sake I set everything up for the Sunday long runs to be at the beginning of the week. For this first Sunday, I aimed for any mileage that I could fit in before the dogs were dropped off at our apartment. I had a migraine and did a loop over the bridge to Sandy Hook and back on pavement. The humidity was rough and I felt like I was running through soup, so I was glad to keep it short. I expected plenty of dog walks ahead of me for the day to keep me on my feet.

I awoke Monday at 4:45 a.m. fresh and motivated and wanted to immediately run to one of the docks for the sunrise, but I had a few things going against me for the day. I got to see the sunrise, but it was at a walking pace frequently interrupted by the dogs’ bathroom needs and curiosity over the stray cats that roam our small shore town’s streets. What would normally be a quiet and peaceful morning was noisy thanks to the yelping, ear-splitting bark of deaf Dixie (mini pinscher mutt), who is oblivious to the chaos she created in the neighborhood because she cannot hear you tell her to stop. Even her sister, Barb (beagle mutt), tries to distract her by walking ahead at a faster pace with their shared dual leash as if out of shame for her sister. They are all bark and no bite; when they’re not hyperfocused on alerting us of the city commuters walking to the ferry, they love cuddling on the couch with us.

I would have run immediately after taking the dogs out, but I had my 62-year-old running client late morning at the office, which isn’t an issue in the winter without sunlight, but now that the UV rays freckle my skin within minutes of being outside, any time that isn’t right when I wake up is a tougher run. It was already 90 degrees by 9 a.m. and I purposely didn’t go the extra mile on our run to the soccer field. I needed energy for the rest of my busy Monday client schedule, so I only clocked in 3 miles.

I was able to work from home Tuesday so the pups wouldn’t be left alone for an extended time yet. Barb and Dixie love cuddling, begging for treats, and walking with their human aunt and uncle, but they were still anxious that they haven’t been around my family in a few days. They’re not used to all the people, cars, and other dogs that walk near our apartment. Working from home allowed me to get my run and extra work done that would have been interrupted if I was at the office. I got their quick walk out of the way, then immediately started on my excessively slow 6-miler. It was over 80 degrees at 6 a.m. and I could feel the air quality affect me. I ran the quarter mile out-and-back streets that lead to the bay to stay close enough to bail out of the workout if I needed. My pace was sluggish but consistent, my hands and other joints were swelling, and I mentally fought the discomfort to run the prescribed mileage. I thought about how I would make up Monday’s mileage later in the week. I contemplated what to make for dinner. I didn’t play music today to keep my pace light and easy, but I had a really annoying song stuck in my head that to this day I cannot recall the name of it or where it came from. It was on repeat for at least 3 miles. When I finally got back inside, even the dogs thought I was too sweaty for them to move from their pillow forts on the couch to greet me.

Although Tuesday was the roughest, reaching 110 degrees in the afternoon, Wednesday was still pretty bad so I was glad to cross-train and do something in the air conditioning. On my drive to the YMCA near work, I debated if I wanted to swim or lift and went with the latter. Everyone decides to take up swimming when it’s hot outside and I had no patience for amateur hour in the pool. My neck and back felt out of alignment and I knew a few mobility drills and strength exercises to help with the pain. I squatted heavy with the barbell, which I knew I’d regret later in the week, but I don’t want to lose the strength I’ve built all winter. If I’m going to get tired during the marathon, I don’t want it to be from weak muscles.

I had a lot of time on my feet on Thursday. It significantly cooled down and the dogs were motivated to sniff everything in the whole town, so we started our sunrise walk with 2 miles. Later in the morning as I was about to go out for my run, they begged to be taken again so we did another mile. Once they were settled on the couch, I ran my 6 miles to Sandy Hook and back. The back squat DOMS were already in full force, so my legs felt heavy. I mentally wanted the extra few miles under my belt, but I had a feeling I’d be outside a lot today. An afternoon walk plus an evening walk with the dogs totaled over 7 miles for these small old fur ladies. If I didn’t bring them back, they probably could have walked the entire Henry Hudson Trail. They were basically me in dog form; always moving or napping (no in-between).

On Friday my body felt good, even with sore legs. It was a cool, overcast day and I was mentally motivated. The plan called for 6 miles and I stopped after the prescription because I knew I’d have a very active day with my niece and nephew. We ended up cycling 9.5 miles on Sandy Hook together. My legs had another dose of challenge when the kids wanted to walk up to the top of the lighthouse, which was 95 stairs and 9 steps on a ladder. If it was the heat wave day, I would not have been able to walk on that tight spiral staircase. The close quarters of the old lighthouse made me claustrophobic and overheated. The panoramic views at the top were worth it, which makes me glad that I stay active.

Saturday was a jam-packed day (pun partially intended). I slept in because it was overcast and drizzly, went to beach yoga, ran 3 miles to make up for Monday’s sweltering heat, and then we headed up north to my old urban jungles. I saved my energy for my friend’s bon voyage and then to see jam band Goose perform their first concert at MSG. Had I run longer, I would have no energy to see my friends in JC or NYC and stay up late for the show, especially in the heat.

This week wasn’t a typical one and despite the fiery heat, adjusting my schedule based on the dogs’ bowel movements, and extra social time I ran my miles. I’m only just getting started on a fit summer.

One of my fur-nieces begging me for my protein-filled bowl of homemade fried rice after my run. After more than a decade, she’s mastered the puppy eyes.