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Thursday, August 5, 2010

Longish run and why I love Google Maps

What the heck, two posts today. I'm off work :)
Today was a step-back week in marathon training, and boy was I glad to just do ten miles. For some reason my quads have been KILLING me lately, and I rarely get sore muscles. I was also pleased to have a shorter run because I didn't get out of bed. It is SO HARD to roll out of bed at the crack of dawn knowing that it's a day off! So I didn't. I slept in. Then it looked stormy out, so I postponed my run. I made muffins while I waited for the rain to start. That way, I'd be out of the house running while the deathly hot kitchen cooled down (my kitchen A/C is out, remember?). Cle-vah!
Well, I finally got all my gear together at about 10:45 am. I planned to do this route:

only it would be over ten including the run to and from my house. Never fear, Google Maps to the rescue! I always use Google Maps to calculate my actual distance because I don't have a Garmin or other fun toys. This route is amazing because it covers a gigantic section of the city. There are a few problems, though. It goes through high traffic areas with hot cars, construction, and lots of stops for one. That bites. It also has a few blocks of slightly shady areas...crime shady, I mean. Not tree shady. This is a really sunny route. My last problem was water. There are no public fountains along the way. I fixed this by carrying a bottle and sneaking my sweaty self into a Walgreens and a Rite Aid on the route. Tip for other NOLA runners: Rite Aid on St Charles and Louisiana has a cold water cooler by the pharmacy!
I was enjoying my run until I hit the tourist-y section of Canal Street. The weather was surprisingly cool and breezy - not sure the temp, but definitely under 90 (at mid-day!). The sun- and people - came out on Canal, and then, um, I got lost. Somehow I missed St. Charles! I ended up running all the way to the river, then doubling back in confusion, then making some big loop... and finally finding St Charles. Then I promptly ran the opposite way on St Charles until I realized my error. After I hit St Charles I felt like I was almost home (although the stop at Rite Aid was most welcome. My water was all hot by then).
After the run I used trusty ol' Google Maps AGAIN to find out how far I actually went. I really ran 12.2. So much for a ten miler.
Since it's summer, talk to me about your water stops. How often? Do you carry a bottle? Are you insane, like one of my friends, who never drinks on the run (even ten miles)?

7 comments:

  1. YAY for two posts Thursday's!!

    And double yay for REALLY RUNNING 12.2!! Awesome!!!!!

    I drink two powerades [32oz each] during a 12 mile run ---- but [heee heee] I just stash them on "ed" no carry needed. Score: outside running 0 / treadmill running - 1!! ;)

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  2. I've missed turns before and ended up running farther then I meant to. Awesome job on your run!! We have a loop called the booty loop and you see water bottles and gatorade bottle along the route of people who loop back for their water/gatorade. I carry a water bottle with me for runs over 7. If I don't I fear I will pass out

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  3. Argh! Getting lost/confused blows! Luckily when I got lost last week, I figured out where I was in time to not make it a longer run than it needed to be... Which is good because 15 miles is far enough...

    I either run w/ a fuel belt that carries 20 oz, or for my long Sunday runs, I run w/ one that carries 32 oz. I usually drive every 2 miles. I carry gatorade if I am running further than 5 miles. Otherwise my runs suck and I feel zapped for the rest of the day.

    Usually I run in an area that has water fountains so I can alternate between drinking gatorade & drinking water... i feel like i need quite a bit of water/gatorade on my long runs. Esp right now when it's so hot/humid...

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  4. I do loopty loops of audubon and the fly and stop at almost every water fountain. I hate carrying bottles!

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  5. I got lost the other week too, luckily it was a bit early in the run so I didn't tack on too much extra time. I've been wearing a hydration belt on the long runs because I run on country roads with no water or places to stop in sight. I'll probably have to start double loops so I can stop back by the house because I can't carry enough for the really long ones. Good luck on your long run next week!! Looking forward to reading about it!

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  6. Ha...getting lost sucks, but hey it got you some extra mileage. Nice work lady!

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  7. a runner!!! oh i'm so glad you found my blog, gracie! i am going to enjoy getting to know you!

    xo
    termite. :)

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