Okay, so it’s a bit of a mixed metaphor, but since lately I feel like I have been “taking” a sunrise a day it fits. Yes, it’s been hot, yes, we’ve had some humidity, and yes I can’t wait for summer to be over, but seeing that beautiful sunrise every day makes everything seem, well, sunnier.
September is a pretty hopeful time in the desert. It sounds like fall is just around the corner, meaning cooler temperatures, shorter days, and the start of business gearing up. The reality of September is, though, it’s going to be pretty hot here for another month and many businesses, including the fitness center where I work, are still closed. That’s why I need that sunrise a day.
America’s Finest City Half Marathon
Here’s a weird thing. Yesterday I received a package in the mail from America’s Finest City Half Marathon, with a bib, race shirt, and a medal. Say what? While I had this race on my calendar, I totally forgot that I signed up for it! It’s not like me to sign up so early (before March/pandemic for a race. Because I didn’t remember, whenever I received an email from them I simply deleted it. After all, it didn’t apply to me, right?
So I searched my email, discovered that yes, I’d been informed that the race was switched to all virtual, and if I wanted to submit results they needed to be in by September 1. Um, that’s not going to happen. It’s been so hot the last two weeks, averaging about 92 by 5:00 in the morning, that I have barely run six miles at a time, let alone 13.1.
Since I figure that I’m not going to win the race, I won’t worry about submitting results and simply plan to run 13.1 miles at some point when it cools down. Then I won’t feel bad about having a finisher’s medal and shirt.
My First Virtual LifeStretch Class
Last Friday was my first online LifeStretch Class! Now I’ve been training a client on Zoom for about a month so I’m not totally new to this, but teaching a class is a bit different. One-on-one, I’m face-to-face with my client, I can see everything she does, make appropriate corrections, and get feedback from her.
In the class, most people keep their video off, and they are muted after we get started, so there is very little feedback. I play to the camera, which I’ve done before in exercise videos I’ve done over the year, but here I have actual live people on the other side of the camera. Are they laughing at my silly jokes? Are they moving correctly? I use a lot of cues to make sure that people know what they’re doing, but, while I’m doing the class I really don’t know.
My boss was online (from Colorado!) taking the class and she said I did a good job so I’ll accept that. Here’s a move from the class that I shared on Instagram the other day. It’s a great stretch for the hips. Slow it down, obviously. And if you want more LifeStretch moves, check this post.
Skirt Sports!
You guys know I love running in Skirt Sports! I’ve been a Skirt Sports Ambassador for five years, so when owner Nicole DeBoom decided she was ready to sell the company I was devastated! Fortunately, she found a new owner who will be true to the inclusional core beliefs of Skirt Sports. I’m so excited to announce that Sarah Ratzlaff, the race director for the Zooma Women’s Race Series, will be our new owner! It’s such an exciting pairing of two women-focused companies that I can’t wait to see what lies ahead. Keep your eyes out for the Skirt Sports fall line which will be coming soon!
Road ID
I’ve been a ROADiD Ambassador for a few years (since they started the program) and I’m a true believer in the importance of wearing a Road ID when running, riding, or really anything where someone might need to check your identity, healthy issues, and next of kin (yes, I’m serious about this). Check out the new limited edition high-gloss gunmetal and save 20% with the code Debbie_2020. You can thank me later.
The Weekly Run Down
There's a whole lot going down here! Check out my weekly run down plus find out how a sunrise a day makes Debbie run happy! #sunrise #runningClick To Tweet
It’s been a bit tough to stay on track this week. My personal training client, with whom I usually work out, got out of the desert for a few days and I was feeling a little unmotivated. The heat will do that to you. And, full disclosure, in spite of the title Sunrise a Day, I didn’t actually see a sunrise every day. Just those I ran on. Here’s how the week went down.
Running: Sunrise a Day
Sunrise is where it’s at in the desert in the summer. Any later and, honestly, it’s not getting done. It’s been so hot these last two weeks, but I have been able to get out early, get it done, and get the bonus of seeing a sunrise.
Tuesday is usually a day that Alan and I run together, without the dogs, for a moderately long run. The last couple of weeks though, we’ve instead headed to the trails with the dogs, for a shorter slower run. Which is fine. There is more shade up there on the trails! We ran a little over four miles.
Wednesday I was determined to get in a six-mile run. My Garmin Connect app says it was 95 degrees. The humidity was a little lower so it didn’t feel to bad. Yes, I may be crazy. I even spiced up the run with a few fartlek intervals. Why not, right?
Thursday I was back on the trails for four miles. I caught another sunrise, though! The only downside was that I turned my ankle a little (when I was doing a selfie!). That usually doesn’t bother me (I’ve done it so often) but I did feel a little stiffness after the run. I iced, took care, and was glad that Friday was a rest day.
Saturday I was still “aware” of my ankle, so I decided even before my run that I would cut it a little short and stay off the trails. I could “feel” the ankle from the very beginning, but it didn’t hurt so I managed six miles, on the road, and enjoyed another beautiful sunrise.
Sunday I dared to hit the trails with Alan and the dogs but I was really careful and watched my foot placement. I was fine, though my ankle felt a little sore and tired by the end of the 5.25 miles. Believe it or not I didn’t take a photo of Sunday’s sunrise!
Total: 25.6 miles for the week. Since I’m off on Monday I can share my total for August: 108.8. I’m pleased with that simply because it’s been so hard to stick with it when it has been so darn hot.
Body Care
In addition to my virtual LifeStretch class on Saturday, I also spent some time with my foam roller and Theragun. on Monday. Such a great way to recover!
I’m pleased with my mileage this past week in spite of weather challenges and I’m really looking forward to September. Please, Mother Nature, let’s cool it down, okay?
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Inspire Me Monday with Janet
Tuesday Topics with Kim and Zenaida
The Runners’ Roundup with Deborah, Lisa, Jenn, Laura, and Me!
The Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim
I hope it cools down for you soon! Thats some nice mileage considering how hot its been. That must be really weird teaching live to students who you can’t see of hear. It sounds like you are making it work though! Hope your ankle is ok and feels better for your next run.
It feels odd not to have feedback when you teach. Part of teaching is communicating with your students and not knowing if they’re getting it seems really weird.
Your hip stretch class looks great. I have been doing lots of those types of stretches lately in my yoga for hips. Will you be posting those or are you only doing it for your clients? I am happy to be a tester for you sometime! Have a great week and enjoy your beautiful sunrises
Unfortunately, our classes are only for members of our country club. I’m thinking at some point that I might just offer an online stretch class. It might be a good way to meet potential one-on-one clients. It kind of depends on what the pandemic brings. I still don’t know when our fitness center can reopen. California has new guidelines but since part of them depends on our rate of infection it’s hard to tell. Hopefully by October, but it could even be November. I might try to get more online clients if that happens.
Well, believe it or not, I’m a huge sunrise junkie, too. I know, total shocker 😉 That’s one of my favorite things about summer…being outdoors while the sun is emerging above the horizon. Although I can’t enjoy the sunrise on foot right now, at least I can wait a little later to hit the road and still catch it on the bike. Keep sharing those amazing desert sunrises!!!
Because I run early all year around I see a lot of sunrises and love every one. Not as early as you run though!
I’ve been enjoying a few sunrises on my runs, although I don’t get up early just to catch one! It just so happens that I have a few early mornings for work. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be doing my 4:30 wake up on Tuesdays–it’s pretty dark now and I don’t like running in the dark!
Nice week for you. I’ve got a few virtual halfs coming up–I’m an ambassador for a local race promoter. They have some very creative races coming up this fall as well. I’ll share them on my blog. Have a great week!
I don’t like to run in the dark either. I’ll always run early but just time it so it’s not super dark when I head out. I also have a couple of virtual races coming up, including the one I mentioned here. I’m really not feeling very motivated about it, especially since I feel like my fitness level has declined over the last few weeks when it’s been so hot.
This has definitely been a week for you! I have truly enjoyed all your sunrise photos this week – and I love how you have been making your video classes work.
I think ZOOMA and Skirt Sports make sense, and I’m glad they found each other! How fun!
I’ve missed “sunrise” season this year, b/c I WFH due to the pandemic I just don’t have to get up super early anymore…that’s I plus but I do miss the sunrise.
A lot of races where I live offer cheap early registration so I really loaded up my 2020 race calendar. I might end up in a situation where I have to run 2 virtual halfs within a few weeks, which is ambitious for my fitness level. So if it ends up being too much I’m going to double dip and submit the same 13.1 mile run for both halfs and then run a second 13.1 later on when my body can handle it.
I have a few virtual races coming up, including the one here that I forgot about. I’m just not that into it though. It’s been so hot!
I also love my Road ID and wear it all of the time. I have two. I need to replace the nameplate (I think that is what they’re called) because my sister is one of my contacts and she changed her number..again. This time I may leave her out. 🙂
I do cringe when I see the temperatures you post. Too hot for that early in the morning!
This has definitely been a week for you! I have truly enjoyed all your sunrise photos this week – and I love how you have been making your video classes work.
I think ZOOMA and Skirt Sports make sense, and I’m glad they found each other! How fun! Shamol Ray