90 Degrees Ain't Got Nothin' On Me

So if you leave in, near, or around Chicago, you'd have to be an Eskimo living in some wonder-of-technology igloo to not know that it's mighty warm this week. I'm talking it's so hot, that you have no choice but to learn how to drive with two fingers because your car steering wheel is so hot. It's brutal.

Yeah, that's the kind of day that I decided to do some track runs at the local high school - out of doors. I got this grand idea on my drive home from work, for some reason, and fueled it by looking up some different types of workouts one can do on a track. Here's the one I decided to 'go' with:

1) Walk one, warm-up lap
2) Jog three laps very easy
3) Walk one lap
4) Run two laps at a fast pace
5) Walk one lap
* Repeat entire thing twice
6) Walk the curves and sprint the straights
*Repeat for two laps

So this routine looked mighty good on paper when I was sitting in the comfort of my home, but once my feet hit the track and sun beat down on me, things kind of changed. Here's what I ended up doing instead...

1) Walk one, warm-up lap
2) Run 3 laps at a pace faster than I'm used to (since I can't run a steady pace outdoors)
3) Suck down some water
4) Walk one lap
5) Run 2 laps at the same pace as #2, maybe slower
6) Walk one lap
7) Down more water
8) Run one lap
9) Walk one lap
10) Walk straights and "sprint" curves (for 3 laps)
11) Run one lap at 7.5 mph
12) Drink more water
13) Stumble to car and drive home
14) Take freezing cold shower

Ok, so maybe things didn't work out as I had planned, but I was glad to do something different for a change. Running on the treadmill day in and day out gets a little monotonous after a while, and apparently running in the comforts of a building with AC was getting old too.

This was also the first time I synced my Nike+ GPS app to Facebook and had friends 'cheer' me on as I ran. It was kind of cool that whenever someone commented on my post online, it played applause and cheering into my headphones - so thanks to those who did so!

Also, I made a stop at the local Jewel and scored some protein powdah (Boston accent). Looking forward to seeing what benefits I can reap from using that!

I know some of you have been braving the heat to get some runs here and there - more power to you! I now know what that all entails - whew!