Here we go; fingers crossed

[Rachel]

OK, I think I'm set. New shoes, check! I've walked around in them for about a week and I'm satisfied as to how they feel. Now, I just need the temperature to drop a few degrees and I'll be good to go again.       It's funny to me that I actually want it to cool off. Of anyone I know, I love the heat the most. But, it's not conducive to running outside. I can't run early in the day because my body just won't go. I'm too afraid to run later at night because I don't want to get caught out in the dark. It's easiest for me to run during the day. Going on my own time schedule, I find that I run in the noon to 3pm area the most. Given that it's been in the 80s and 90s here, that won't work without me either falling over or just getting nothing out of the run but feeling yucky.    In the interest of weather, I have a question about hydration. Obviously, I know that staying hydrated is vital. My problem is that I (almost) can't drink water. Water makes me sick. About the only time I can stomach it is during a long race, and even only a little bit. Other than that, even a small amount of water makes me sick to my stomach. I've tried flavored water but can't find one I like the taste of. Same for Gatorade and other sports drinks. I know it's bad from a hydration aspect, but I can drink pop in high quantities (mmm, Dr. Pepper...). I don't do that before running though. I'm still trying to find out if there are certain things I ingest that make me feel sick (I know the sub from Subway I had earlier went right through, yuck). I'm not a caffeine junkie by any stretch; if caffeine-free beverages tasted ok, I'd be just fine with them. Suggestions?    I know this is even more important for me because of the eating disorder. Recently, my weight has been stable, but I know that running may effect that. I need to keeo that in check; I can't have that become the next reason I can't run.    My "goal" race, if you will, is the Friday Knight 5k. I think this is the 3rd year that it's been run. My college XC team puts it on during Homecoming week. Since this years race happens to fall on my 30th birthday, I figured, why not? The thing about the race that could suck is that the entire campus is built into a hill. I believe the start and finish are around the same area, so while there isn't a net elevation gain/loss, it will be a tough course. If I'm not ready by then, I won't do it. I'm not even going to pre-register. The last thing I need is to show up, run horribly, and add to my former coach's voice in my head saying that I'll basically never amount to anything as a runner (yes, that still hurts me to this day).    So, I'm tentatively starting again. Hopefully, the weather cooperates and I can restart next week. Northeast heat wave be damned!    Rachel

[Ryan]

Here's hoping for the best with the weather. After doing a tempo run yesterday in 90 degree weather with a 73 degree dewpoint, I figured thunderstorms that dumped almost 4 inches of rain here last night might cool us down around here. According to the forecast, a whole 2 degrees today to 88.

I'm not much of a tea drinker but have you tried some kind of tea? I know at least a couple others here are tea drinkers so they might be able to make suggestions. Some types are supposed to help settle the stomach. If all else fails, don't rule out the soda. It's not ideal but it's better than dehydration.

[r-at-work]

several things in your post HIT me... water, okay, try many of the teas available (as Ryan said) I'm a big fan of Snapple, (okay, I drink the diet teas and don't mind their taste).. if you have a Safeway store nearby, they have a 'soda' that is clear and either regular or diet in various flavours, sometimes I just need the fizz... you might want to try some of the Crystal Light mixes (raspberry tea is yummy in my book)
 
racing without training (or not much training)... while lots of people get upset and (rightfully) worry that you'll do yourself more harm than good, I say 'go for it, with care'... sometimes 'jogging' through a race can get me revved up to get back to more serious training.
 
as to your former coach telling  you you'll never amount to anything... does he have a crystal ball? and yeah, you might never get to the Olympics, but for most of us that is a fact of life... you have to find your level of achievement and set your goals in that realm... maybe just making it to the end of the 5K and think about bettering that time for next year is enough. Maybe just getting out two or three days a week is a good goal. This makes me happy that both of my boys had great coaches who focused on being positive and their improvement not on negativity...
 
most of all ENJOY your running...
-Rita
 
ps- after reading those two articles on heat/dietary ideas.... WATERMELON

[Ed]

To calm an upset stomach try Mint tea.

[Rachel]

Let me start by saying how much I HATE library Internet. I've already lost 2 posts today...
 
I know that distance-wise, a 5k by September is doable. I have started back again. I saw my primary care doc this morning and she thinks that my feet problems are muscle cramps (as opposed to PF or other such nastiness). She suggested some stretching/heat and I'm to let her know if things still hurt or I can't help the pain anymore. When I get stabbing pain, the only thing I can do is grab the offending foot and put as much pressure into the arch I can. It takes up to a minute, but the pain does go away. This only happens to my feet at night when I'm lying down. I can reproduce the pain to a lesser extent by flexing my toes backward. Other than that, I can't replicate the sudden, stabbing pain (which I guess is good). Oh yeah, I did get new shoes; hence the return to the roads. I had to lace them a little bit different to get them to not crush my forefoot (skipping the set of eyelets closest to the toe). When I had them laced regularly, I felt pressure from the ball of my foot all the way across. It felt like the bottoms of my feet were being pushed on. Better now.
 
I had some other stuff written about self-confidence issues and whatnot, but I'm not re-writing all that stuff so the computer can puke again!