Day 10 Training

Today I did a three mile run up hills around my house. The first half of the run is a pretty good ascent, and the second half is part downhill & flat for the last mile. It was about 4 p.m. before I could get out for my run, and today the temperature jumped about 20 degrees, so it was 72 degrees outside with bright sunshine. When it is this warm I take a handheld water bottle with some ice and Gatorade. l was dressed a little warm; I had on a t-shirt and capri running bottoms. The weather called for a running tank and shorts, but that's what happens when every stitch of running gear I own is in the dirty laundry. (Dang!)
One thing that helps with the heat, is to try and run in the shade. It's a small thing, but it definitely helps. I was feeling the effects of increasing my running, cycling, & weight training; my legs were sore, and the knee was still bothering me. I had a pretty gnarly cramp going on in my left calf as well. The next few weeks will get better as my body adjusts to the increased training.

**GLOVES**

 

Choosing the right gloves

  It's starting to get really warm here in Las Vegas, but other parts of the country are still buried in snow, so I wanted to share some ideas for some great running gloves. I have four pairs that I like. The Pearl Izumi's are nice for cold, but not freezing weather; these are the ones I probably use the most here in the desert. The Nike's, which are polar fleece, are for colder weather, and I like to use them at races, because they have a nice little key pocket on the inside palm of each glove. The Asics mittens are my go to glove when it is really cold outside. The mitten flap folds back, and you have some nice fingerless gloves, this is great if you need to vent your hands if they get too warm, but that mitten flap also serves as a nice little pocket to put some chemical hand warmer packets in if it is really freezing out. I use these at night a lot during the winter. My secret weapon glove is actually not a running glove at all, but rather a silk glove liner for motorcycle gloves. I figured if they insulated my hands in my leather motorcycle gloves, they'd insulate in other gloves as well. They are awesome! They keep your hands nice and toasty, but are very thin, so you don't feel like you have bulky muppet hands. Sometimes if there is just a little chill, I'll put these on instead of a warmer glove, and they are just right! I love how thin they are and they breath.
Of course if you are needing gloves for a race, and you anticipate not needing them for the entire race--my recommendation is to get some of the cotton stretch gloves for $1.50 at Target or Walmart, that way you won't feel bad if you toss them during the race. Besides, the race directors usually donate leftover clothing to charity anyway, so now you've done a good deed.