the weird weeks (and 8 weeks out from Race day)

I'm 8 weeks out from Kiawah and I think I've finally managed to get myself somewhat back on track - at least I'm getting in my long runs and three other runs at this point. I haven't gone back to speedwork yet because it's been so hot and the I'm trying to get used to the treadmill. 

Also, this week was just weird. More on that in a minute, but first my workout summary.

Workout summary

Monday

What I planned: BodyFlow
What happened: BodyFlow
Man, I have missed BodyFlow. It's been so long since I've been to a class. I'm so glad I didn't cancel the gym membership that has these classes, though, because I plan to frequent them again. 

I was also happily surprised that even though I haven't been to a yoga, barre or BodyFlow class in a while, my flexibility remained intact and in some ways (specifically my back), I'm even more flexible. I'll go ahead and credit Stretch Zone and the sports chiropractor for that. 

Tuesday

What I planned: Speedwork - 6 mile progressive (treadmill) 
What happened: Nothing
It's been so long since I did BodyFlow, I woke up with some crazy DOMS, and decided to skip my run. Plus I had a really busy day at work, too, and just got sucked into it all and a lost track of time. 

Wednesday

What I planned: Easy 3 (treadmill) + BodyFlow
What happened:  Easy 3 (treadmill) at 8:32 pace + BodyFlow
I still wasn't quite used to the treadmill at this point. All things being equal, I'm generally slower on the treadmill than I am outside (not so much right now with the crazy humidity, though), but I think that's also because I rarely run on the treadmill and I'm not used to it.

But anyway, this was a good run and I followed it up immediately with my second BodyFlow class for the week. It's so, so, so good to be back to that. 

Thursday

What I planned: Easy 3 with my running group
What happened: Easy 3 @ 9:18 pace with my running group
The humidity and dew points were crazy, plus it was dark and we had no flashlights (fail), so we took our good old time on this one. I mostly go for the beers on Thursday nights anyway. 

Friday

What I planned: Speedwork makeup day
What happened: Nothing
Instead of getting in that speedwork that I missed earlier in the week, I spent the day dragging. I got an allergy shot on Thursday afternoon and ended up having an allergic reaction to the allergy shot (seriously). This is the second time that's happened and the last time ended up being way, way worse with full body hives, facial swelling, numbness, throat and tongue swelling, etc, etc, etc. 

This time, it started with throat tightness and difficulty swallowing and then my tongue started to feel all cottony. So knowing what happened last time, even though it started last time with hives, I headed to the ER. And I spent a few hours there getting straightened out. 

Needless to say, since I was up half the night combined with the reaction, I was exhausted. No run or any other workout for me.  

Saturday

What I planned: Easy 3
What happened:  Easy 3.09 @ 8:36 pace
I was feeling alright by Saturday, but still a bit wheezing because my asthma was just set off from the allergic reaction plus the still ridiculous dew point and humidity. So, I don't have much to say about this run. It was what it was. 

Sunday

What I planned: Long run - 9 miles with my running group
What happened:  Long run - 9 miles (all over the place) @ 9:02 pace
So as if the allergic reaction wasn't weird enough, this run was probably one of the weirder runs I've had. 

I started out with my running group (it was 100% humidity and a raging dew point of 67). We ran our first two miles nice and slow at 10:00 and 9:34 respectively, but my asthma wasn't having it.

So, I turned around and ran two miles back to my car with the intentions of driving to the gym to finish the run. I ran those two miles back at 8:38 and 8:39 respectively and they felt much easier than the first two miles. What? 

I ended up running leg 1 of my 9-miler at a 9:12 overall pace (4.09 miles).

Then I drove 10 minutes to the gym, parked and realized I didn't have my headphones. There's no way I'd last more than one or two miles without music on a treadmill, so I decided to give it a go outside again. I ran another 3.14 miles at a very steady 9:04 pace (out and back to the gym).

Back at the gym,  I decided to just run the last 1.77 on the treadmill and call it a day. My last mile in there was a 7:53 pace and I think I'm finally used to the treadmill (overall pace was for the treadmill was 8:38 because I was trying to find my bearings). 

So...weird, right?

I have no idea what's causing this, but I'm consistently slower when I run with other people, but I actually feel worse. I have no idea what's going on here.

This isn't the first time I've run with a running group. I've trained for a marathon with one, as well as several half marathons and I have never had this weirdness occur, no matter how fast or slow I've been going.

Maybe my pace has actually picked up more than I think it has and I'm being overly cautious? I did notice that my gait and cadence really change when I run with my group, and that's not been a problem before at a slower pace. A lot. Perhaps this is throwing off my whole body and my breathing? In any case, it's weird. 

But on the bright side, I'm feeling good about my overall fitness, especially considering my long run pace in the heat and then my pace on the treadmill in my last mile of that run. And I had no soreness or tiredness after the run on Sunday and no DOMS the following day. My body is remembering this running longer distances thing.

I feel like my training is getting back on track and I may actually be able to have some goals for Kiawah (maybe not my initial goals, but at least some kind of goal beyond just finishing). I've certainly pushed through a lot of adversity and illness over the past few years, so at some point, it has to have made me stronger and I should start seeing that soon, right? (I hope.)

Now I need some decent weather, and I think it actually may be coming this week!

How was your week? Have you ever experienced any of that running with others pacing weirdness? Do you run alone or with groups? Which do you prefer?  

This week, I'm linking up with HoHoRuns and MissSippi Piddlin' for their Weekly Wrap series.