Today officially started week 3 of training, and it was a pretty rocky start. The plan today was to do a one mile run and a one mile power walk. It was absolutely disgusting outside today, and is only supposed to be hotter for at least the next week (heat indexes going up to 105+). As of right now (8:00pm), it is 84* out, with a heat index of 90*. The dewpoint is 73*. It's just gross. Again we went to the gym, and I decided I'd try to switch things up a little bit tonight and try doing the treadmill (aka dreadmill) instead of the indoor track.
I got on the first treadmill and did 1/2 mile power walk. My plan was to alternate a half of each. I did great up to that point even though even with just the walk it was so hot in there that I was already dripping wet. I then ran for a quarter mile, but my calves started to seize up, so I wanted to stretch them a little bit. The touchscreen monitor on the treadmill didn't work and I had to stop the machine altogether so that I could stretch a little bit. I ended up just wiping down the machine and then switching to the other side of Rich. I got on that one and did another quarter mile of power walking, and another quarter mile of running, but this one was directly in the light of the setting sun. That whole side of the gym is just all large windows. This lets in so much sun/heat in the late afternoon/early evening that there's no way that the A/C can keep up in there. I felt like I was going to die after I did that last 1/4 mile. Rich had already finished his 2 miles at that point. I was only at a mile and a quarter. I switched on to his machine which was directly facing the wall so it actually had no sun on it. I ran .20 once I got on that one but couldn't do the .25. I then walked until .35, then ran until .45, then walked, etc. until I got to .75 and had completed the 2 miles.
I was DRENCHED! Through almost the entire workout I could just feel the heat coming off my chest. I just felt so hot; hot like I had never felt before. I had my water with me but drank almost all of it. I just could not cool down. By the time I finished the 2 miles I thought I was going to vomit. I was scared that I'd vomit right there in front of everyone. Rich was doing some shoulder work over in the corner so I let him know I was going to the bathroom. I wanted to put some cool water on my face. It was an automatic faucet that I couldn't control the temperature of - and it was just hot. Also, there were no paper towels in there either. Ugh. I could also feel my start want to start to cry when I was there. I didn't really know what I was feeling at the time. I just didn't feel good. Nothing about me at that moment felt good.
I walked back out into the gym and Rich was on the machine for your back, and said that was his last one. I told him I was going downstairs to get some cool water & a paper towel, and my purse. Two out of three ain't bad I guess - no paper towels in the downstairs bathroom either. They did have some cooler water in there though and looking in the mirror as I poured it over my face, I just could not believe how red my face was. I started to fight back tears again while I was in the bathroom. I just wanted to get home and into some A/C at that point. I couldn't hold back any longer though once I was in the car. Rich was asking how my workout went, and telling me to just keep at it. And I just started tearing there in the car. I think I was just exhausted at that point. When I got home, I sat on the floor of the kitchen to do my stretching and I just started to cry. I know I had given my workout my all, and battled through the heat even when I wanted to stop. But I didn't complete the workout I was supposed to. More walking than running. And I was worried about how I'd do at the next workout because I know either the next one or two from now is supposed to be all running and my body just isn't there. And then I start wondering what will happen if the next 13 weeks all end up being workouts like today, where I feel like I just can't do anymore. And what if I just never improve past this point? Rich said that training isn't supposed to be perfect; it's just supposed to be training. I'm proud of myself for sticking with it though and giving it my all. I told him that I was at the point where I felt like I was going to vomit by the end of it and he told me that I should really give myself a pat on the back then if I was able to get myself to that point. I stretched, I hopped in the shower, and then I started to blog. On Wednesday at the next workout, I will put today behind me and let the new workout be a new workout.
Just keep swimming...
No comments:
Post a Comment