Countdown to Vegas Week 3: This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

While the thermometer showed temps in the 80s this week instead of 90s, it still felt really hot and humid, and I'm so salty and itchy by the end of even a short run.  I've been eating bananas and baked potatoes, and drinking coconut water, but I am still struggling with calf and foot cramps.  I'm going to keep working on finding a solution, so if you have any tips please share.  Here's how this week's training went:

Monday - Hills

At this week's hill training with BGRIndy, we split into groups.  Those who missed the Tired Legs workout from two weeks ago got to do that one, while those of us who were there for it did partner hills sprints.  We tackled that hill hard!  It was a short workout but a tough one.

Total miles: 2.7

Hot In The City: Countdown to Vegas Week 2

Holy heatwave Batman!  The temps this week have wreaked havoc on training plans and driven many of us inside to the dreadmill.  Here in the midwest, it looks like we will start to see a break from the heat by Thursday, but then we will be dodging thunderstorms as we schedule our runs.  I would still rather be hot than cold any day, so I'm just going to hydrate and try not to complain too much.  Here's how this week's training went:

Monday - Hills

Confession time: one of the main reasons I joined Black Girls Run Indianapolis was because I wanted to do these hill workouts on Monday.  I have no problem going out and doing a long run by myself any day - those are fun to me.  But putting in some of the hard work like hills, speed training, or cross training takes a group to make me accountable.  I'd been following these ladies on Instagram for a while and know they work hard and have fun together encouraging each other.  So I joined up and I'm really glad I did.  This week we ran suicides up Soap Box Derby Hill.  I never caught her, but I'm pretty sure Brandi kept moving those cones farther apart each round.  It was also Crazy Sock week, and you know I'm always up for wearing crazy socks.
Total miles: 4

Countdown to Vegas: Week 1

Team #MoHills - Pic by Brandi Nicole

Before I get into the wrap-up of training for Vegas, and some rambly thoughts that ran through my head this week, I first want to say thank you to everyone who's stopped by to read our blog.  We've been at it for a little over three years now, and I'm really humbled by the fact that so many of you are interested in what I have to say.  My most recent post - Independence Day - has vaulted over 2014's  Treadmills: Maybe They're Not That Bad to become our third most read post ever.  Wow.  So thank you to everyone who reads or even skims these rambly thoughts of mine.  You really have no idea what your support means to me.

Vegas

In November the #FBG and I will be heading out run to Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas.  There's a whole weekend of races of different distances, and I am planning to run the full marathon there.  It will be my second full and my first destination race.  Also my first time visiting Vegas.  I'm super excited about it.  I'm also trying to train for it a little better than I did for my first marathon.

Independence Day

FBG in Red White & Blue

I had been dreading the 4th of July weekend.  Last year it was really awful.  It was a little over two months after Kevin died, the shock was wearing off and I was starting to realize he's really never coming back.  Add to that all the memories of past 4th of July weekends camping, and the fact that it was actually the first holiday we spent together as a couple when we started dating.  I found myself really struggling and wallowing in sadness.

This year, as the weekend approached, I expected much of the same and I was feeling really down.  Side note to all my co-workers who wished me a happy long weekend: sorry for biting your heads off.  Sometimes I just don't have much patience with meaningless small talk.  I was expecting to feel lonely and pointless like I do a lot of weekends, and I just thought you all should magically know that and not be so cheery at me.