The run last Saturday started out like any other summer run. Hot and humid. The route we were taking with the group was 6 miles and we were thinking about doing it twice. I really didn't want to, but knew that I probably needed to. About halfway through I started noticing some dark clouds. It was sunny when we started and I forgot to check the weather forecast before I left for the run.

About ten minutes after we saw the clouds it started sprinkling. It wasn't long before it was a downpour. Now I've run in the rain before, but this time there was lightning and thunder. And it was pretty close. A few cars stopped and offered us rides, but we only had about two miles to go (I think) so we stuck it out and just ran a little faster.

We ran by a fire department in Homewood and the firemen told us we were dedicated. It wasn't raining when we started, I think if it had been, I would have rolled over and gone back to bed! But we got thoroughly soaked.

I went to the YMCA to shower and change and made the mistake of leaving my wet shoes and running clothes in the trunk of my car for 2 days which was not a good idea! It was pretty rank in there when I took them out and washed them. I washed them twice just for good measure!

New shoes

Blogger ate my post! That's what I get for trying to update while at work. So let's try again.

Probably no one cares about this, but I've been on the search for a running shoe that I actually like and I think I found it. My last pair was New Balance, the pair before that was Saucony. I don't remember what was before that. But this time I got Mizuno Wave Alchemy 8. If I still like them in a month or so, I'll probably get another pair!

As promised, pictures from Eric's first 5k race:

Race to the Courthouse

This past weekend was the Race to the Courthouse 5k. It was my husband's first 5k race. I ran the race too and had a PR (personal record). It was a hot and humid morning already at 8:00 am so I'm surprised that I was so fast (for me).

My official time was 31:59 which is about a 10:45 pace per mile. Slow for a lot, but lightning speed for me since my normal pace is a 12 minute mile. Eric's time was 36:38, which was faster than my first 5k race time of 37:13.

All in all it was a great day. I headed to the beach right after the race and Eric went to the post-race party and then I think he went home and took a nap. I've got pictures, but will have to wait to post them tonight.

I'm healed!

Whatever the doctor gave me for my jaw helped whatever was wrong with my leg! I just realized that I haven't had any pain there since Saturday, which was when my jaw stopped hurting. The TMJ was pretty awful, but I'm kind of glad I got it now in a weird way. I have a follow up appointment with the doctor today to see about getting a mouth guard for night so that I won't grind my teeth.

I didn't meet my usual Tuesday morning running partner since she had to be at work early today so I'm going to spin class after work. I used to absolutely hate spin class, but now I get sad when I miss it!

I should take painkillers before running more often!

This past week was a little rough on the running front. I apparently have TMJ and it was really bad this week so I was hopped up on painkillers for a couple of days. I wanted to go to a 5k in Fultondale on Saturday morning, but it didn't happens because I was still kind of loopy. I did get up Sunday thought and met a few people to run 10 miles. I took a painkiller the night before to make sure I would be able to sleep and therefore be able to run the next day.

We met at 6:30 at the Brownell building near Brookwood Mall. The first four miles were pretty hard on my shins. I haven't had shin pain like that in a long time. I'm thinking it might be time for some new shoes. But after mile 4 they were pretty warmed up and felt good. I experimented this run with having some gel before running and during the run. I get pretty bad stomach problems during a run if I eat beforehand, but this seemed to work pretty well. I might have to start investing in Gu. We started the run at the Brownell building and ran by Brookwood Mall, all the way down Lakeshore trail, then back to Brownell and a little bit of the Jemison trail. I was feeling really good at the end of the run and was even able to pick up the pace a bit, but stopped at 10. I've got at least two runs planned this week, and will probably need to fit in another two.

My husband and I are running the Race to the Courthouse 5k on Saturday morning. It is his "graduation" 5k from his Couch to 5k running program. They are going on to a 10k after this and he says that he's going to stick with it. Maybe he'll get obsessed with running like I am! After the race I'm going to be headed to the beach with a friend of mine. I haven't been to the beach in forever so I'm pretty excited about it! I'm also supposed to run 13 miles that weekend, so we'll see how that works out!

I went to the doctor about my leg, and he doesn't know what's wrong with it. They took x-rays, and there are no stress fractures so that's good. It's some kind of muscle thing, and he said that I could keep running, but if it got worse to come back in. My running coach suggested a massage to see if that would work out a knot or whatever is causing the pain. I was at my mom's yesterday and had her massage it for a bit. It hurt like crap, but I guess that's a good thing.

As far as running, I had a group run on Saturday morning that I slept through. I went to bed at 9:00, set my alarm for 4:30 am. I woke up at 6:15 not having heard my alarm at all. My husband didn't either, so I'm assuming I turned it off in my sleep. I was so mad that I missed the run!

I tried to run yesterday, but only got 4 miles in. We ran in the middle of the day with the sun right above us. I got a little burned too, which isn't good.