Swings and a whole lotta running......

It's been pretty evident in my training lately that Kettlebells have taken a very drastic "back seat" mentality.  I can't believe when I look back over the last weeks how it's pretty much been a "one day a week" as far as putting my hands on a kettlebell.   And that's only because I teach a class that day!

Yesterday's class started off in the dark.  It starts at 0530 and now as fall is approaching the sun takes a little longer to rise.  The weather has finally taken a turn towards "my" direction!  Our class went like this....

Set #1:
10 2-handed swings + 1swing L, transfer, 1swing R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds
10 2-handed swings +2L, transfer, 2R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds
10 2-handed swings + 3L, transfer, 3R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds
10 2-handed swings + 4L, transfer, 4R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds
10 2-handed swings + 5L, transfer, 5R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds 
10 2-handed swings + 6L, transfer, 6R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds
10 2-handed swings + 7L, transfer, 7R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds
10 2-handed swings + 8L, transfer, 8R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds
10 2-handed swings + 9L, transfer, 9R + 10 2-handed swings
*rest x 20 seconds
10 2-handed swings + 10L, transfer, 10R + 10 2-handed swings
Total of 310 swings.

Set #2:
Same thing up to 5 1 arm swings per side, but this time NO REST.  Straight through for 130 swings.

Set #3:
Same as first set but did it backwards starting with 10's.  Once we got down to 4 reps per side we did it again straight through without rest.
Total of 310 swings
Grand total of swings was 750 swings.

Also for this day on "my" calender was my long run......I had prayed to God planned for the big one!  Breaking the terrible 2's.....

As soon as my kettlebell class ended I went back home to eat and get mentally ready for the biggest run of my life.  With not having anyone nearby to call in an emergency situation, I picked my basic 5 mile loop that I would do 4 times.  To do the same loop may sound like a major suck and I would somewhat agree, but running 20 miles, to me, is completely mental.  I don't mean that in a derogatory state, but just saying that running these long distances wreck havoc on ones mental state!  With doing this loop, I had my car at the end of each loop therefore I was able to load up with fluids, GU's and whatever else I needed.  At the 1/2 way part of the loop was my favorite "bush" for restroom issues!  In the middle of the loop is a gas station.  Perfect conditions to get it done!  The only bad thing of this loop is that it's a frontage road which runs along the highway, therefore it's WIDE OPEN, meaning NO shade anywhere!  The sun was out for the first loop and after that it was cloudy for the next 2 loops and just when I'm about to head out for the fourth and final loop, the sun comes out.  It's amazing on how with each of these long runs I find out, the hard way, there are more and more areas that need "Bodyglide"!  Halfway through the last lap I could feel the temps had risen.  It was to be a high of 80 degrees, but that means 85 or better by me.  And when I got to my car at the end, it was just that-85 degrees!  
So, I made it to the terrible 20's......this is some serious shit and definitely running a marathon is NO JOKE!
I also have to add that right at the 4.5 mile mark my MP3 player went completely dead.  WTH?  How am I going to run another 15.5 miles in silence? No disco, no rock, no nothing?  That did suck and made doing the same loop over and over a little tougher.  I kind of felt like this......

Just running out in the middle of a desert!  I heard nothing but the sounds of the highway.  And then the grasshoppers!  Holy crap-they were everywhere.  Good note.....NO snakes!

I've definitely run in all kinds of situations.  Wind.  Rain.  Snow.  With music.  Without music.  Cold.  Hot.  Humid.  Chafed skin.  Sweat in the eyes.  Snakes.  Cars almost hitting me.  Etc......

And I know I've had the "feet" issues in the past, but this time it's still.....

After the run it was right into an ice bath!  I ate lunch in the tub!  Ice baths are both wonderful and brutal.  Definitely took down some of the inflammation.  I had been sucking ibuprofen during the run, but with my stomach I have to be very careful how much or later will be rough on the GI system.  I took 600mg at mile 10 and another 400mg at mile 15.  I had lots of fluids though out the run.  4-20oz bottles of water.  1-32oz bottle of Gatorade.  5 GU's.  1 package GU chomps.  In the middle of the final loop it was a stop at the gas station for a quick snack-Power Bar.  Those are so gross and I normally don't eat "bars", but I was absolutely starving and to be honest, I could have picked up a dog turd and enjoyed it like it was a BabyRuth bar at this point!
I also had on my calendar planned for later in the afternoon was a "deep tissue" massage!  Another reason I wanted to get this run done this day.  That felt great and damn that girl is good as getting it done!  I like it hard!  

Today?  Yup....I'm sore as hell, but yet so thrilled that things seem to be going well.  Probably wasn't a real smart thing to do the 750 swings as a "warm up" to a 20 mile run, but....I don't like to hold a class and then just stand there watching people swing!  I like to participate and help inspire. Feet are doing well.  I will be getting a new pair of shoes, probably this week because I definitely feel the rocks when I run.  Kind of like the Princess and the Pea thing.....I know the soles are really starting to thin and I'm pushing my luck.  Time to get some more padding on my "fat-free" feet.

Until next time......