4+6+2+2 = 14 (Kenyan Way Long Run)

Today's long run suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked!

I got to KW at around 5:15am (80deg/91%humidity) and met up with Brenda, so we set off down Memorial.  She wanted to do about 5-6 before group start, and I just wanted 4.  We ran together for about the 1st mile before she took off (still keeping each other in our sights though for most of the way until she veered off closer to base).

Todays route is my least favorite and every single time we have this route, mentally I just check out.  This I believe is why I had issues today.  Its the route Coach usually does on holiday weekends, because its easy to set out (the least amount of) water stops that give the runners the most bang for their buck.  This means running to Memorial Park, looping, back to base then a loop of the bayou.  Both places I dont care to do a long run in.  The bayou I can handle for a 5 mile run or for a portion of another long run...but Memorial?  HATE. HATE. HATE. 

When I hit Memorial I had every intention of doing the loop, but 1 mile in I knew it wasnt going to happen.  So I made a turnaround at the TC and headed back.  Once I got out of the park I felt a bit better, but it was still a bit of a struggle to get back to base.  The mistake I made was taking too long at base before heading off to do the short loop of the bayou (the part past Waugh was shut down due to impending 4th festivites; 2nd week in a row Coach made the route where there was an issue along the route and had to alter).  That 2 mile loop of the bayou really sucked.  I walked quite a bit until I got back on Memorial.  Instead of doing 2 more 1 mile loops at base I just packed it in.

I know I complain a lot about the heat/humidity, but yesterday was just beyond brutal to me.  Even after the initial first 4 miles, everything I had on including my socks were soaked.  And by the time I got into that first mile at Memorial it was to the point where I just couldnt deal with the shorts situation.  And suffice it to say I had major chafing for the first time in I dont know how long.

What ended up happening later on, was that I just couldnt let those last 2 miles go.  So around 6:30(still at 97deg) I headed out and ran to Lukes and back.  I know its not the same as doing all 14 at once, but it is what it is.  I felt better for having done those last 2 miles even though I am of the thinking that a mile or 2 difference short in this kind of weather is neither here nor there.  But with my head and the way I think just couldnt let it go.


So how did your running go this weekend?  Anyone race any 4th of July races?  Do you think its dumb I went out and did those last 2 miles?