After a gorgeous morning, I got to running a bit later than I wanted and guess what…by then the temps were creeping up a bit too quickly and while I got out the door before they hit 80*F, by the time I got done running it was definitely close to the mid ’80s. A little warmish, but I got the run done.

The Run

Planned run and focus: 4-5 miles down to Pepin and maybe chase the Pepin segment in my first run in the Skechers GoRun Razor 3 Hyper size 8.5s. I just wanted to see how they did at a faster pace.

• Course: Pepin 5.0 Miler
• Weather: Bright sunshine, 79*F, humidity 51%, calm winds 2 mph from SW
• Distance: 5.04
• Time: 45:33
• Pace: 9:02

Splits:

• 1.0 – 8:50
• 2.0 – 8:42
• 3.0 – 9:25
• 4.0 – 9:17
• 5.0 – 8:58

What did I do well?

Being smarter than usual in the hot weather!

When I got down to Pepin, I was already overheating and decided to simply run versus trying to fly down the unshaded road to the end of the tar. Sometimes I do have a bite-sized bit of common sense and running hard/fast in 80*F weather just didn’t seem too smart to me.

I did okay coming back up Philbrick, but every so often I did find myself looking more at my feet than at where I was going and quickly corrected it.

What do I need to work on?

Figuring out the sock, toe spreader and fit on the Razor 3-8.5s, by the last half mile the right shoe was killing my tailor’s bunionette – not what I wanted.

Shoes:

Skechers GoRun Razor 3 Hyper size 8.5 – This was my first run in these shoes and it went fairly well until the last half mile when the right foot started to complain – pretty damn loudly. I probably do not need the toe spreader in this shoe and will find out more the next time I run in them. Otherwise they felt a lot like the 8.0s only a little more room in the front. Which I think I need.

The heat might have played a small part in the run too. I wonder if my feet swell a little more in the heat and where the Razor 3s are not the most ventilated shoe – gotta run more in them in the heat to find out.

What was I thinking?

I was thinking that it was damned hot during the run!

When I turned onto Pepin, I thought about picking it up to see how the shoes performed, because that was my plan. Just as I was about 2 steps in, something clicked upstairs and I thought “that would be so stoopid!” It is over 80*F, no breeze to speak of, no shade at all and you still would have 2-3 miles of running left. It would be a lot smarter to simply keep a decent pace and get back home in one piece versus walking back up Philbrick because you overdid Pepin.

Yeah, Philbrick Hill was no picnic and I kept thinking this is where I want to be. Out here running up this damn hill in 80*F weather, it will make me tougher and as long as I don’t croke will help me get in decent shape.

When I was coming out of Howard Circle the first time I had to fight with myself to not turn right and make that left turn to get in 5.0 versus 4.0. I really, really wanted to shut it down at 4.0.

It would have been so easy to turn right and the body was more than willing to get out of the hot sun and shut down to a more comfortable walking motion. I kept saying to myself that is too easy, you would be wimping out and we will be in the shade sooner once we get around the corner and turn left.

I really think that the idea of getting in the shade sooner was the deciding factor today. Even just walking in the sunshine was pretty miserable, but once I got in the shade the temps were about 10*F cooler. Once I got in the shade, I moved from survival shuffle to more of a stride and picked up my head to look up the hill versus that 10 foot in front of you stare.