Disclaimer:  I received a free entry to the Missoula Half Marathon, the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago, and the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews! 

Maybe summer will be here soon or maybe it won’t.  In one day we can have 3 different seasons which is absolutely crazy.  Regardless of whether it is cold, rainy, or hot, I have a couple of races planned for this year.

• Missoula Half Marathon, June 30 – I signed up for this race on December 16.  That same day I also made my hotel reservation.  I’ve been training for this race since then.  At the end of May I realized that I didn’t have a flight reservation.  I looked and it was too expensive.  The cheapest from Midway was $619 (and it would take me 8 hours to get there) while the most expensive one was $1,060.  I almost decided not to run the race because I didn’t want to pay that much money.  Finally one day I found the shortest and cheapest flight.  I paid $557 for the flight to Missoula. <<<  In my opinion it is still too expensive.  Holy frijoles!  I am excited about it since many people have said it is a GREAT race.  It will also be state #41 for me.

• Elmhurst 4 on the 4th, July 4 – This is a race I’ve been doing since 2013.  I love the distance and the location.  I would really, really like to get a PR.  I am done and in my house with plenty of time to participate in the holiday festivities.  

• Human Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago, July 21 – I’ve run the half marathon before but every year the weather is iffy.  Last year it rained throughout the entire race (I was spectating) and it was scorching HOT in 2013.  Thanks to BibRave I have the chance to run either the 5k, 10k, or half marathon.  I asked my coach for her 2 cents.  She told me that if I don’t run 13 miles that day, I would still need to do a long run.  I guess the half marathon it is.  Isn’t the medal pretty cool?

• Center of the Nation|Mainly Marathons, August 21-August 23 – I have not signed up but I will as soon as I can.  The registration fee is $115 per race till August 1.  I just realized that $115 is a lot of money for a half marathon.  I don’t want to wait too long either because of the flight reservation.  My first race is in Wyoming and Southwest doesn’t fly there so I would need to fly to Salt Lake City, Denver, or Boise and then take another flight or rent a car to Sundance, WY.  The next races are in South Dakota and then North Dakota.  I hope I can find someone to travel with me.  I don’t mind traveling alone for one race but this is 3 races.  I could use the company.  Want to join me?

• Detroit Free Press, TCF Bank Half Marathon, October 20 – I am registered for the race, have airline and hotel reservation.  Whew!  If I end up doing the 3 races in August, this race will be state #45 for me.  I’ve never been to Detroit but am more excited to travel to both downtown Detroit and Windsor, Ontario and crossing the border at both the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

I might add to my schedule the Santa Fe Thunder in New Mexico on September 15.  Not sure how I would feel running another half marathon after running 3 of them 3 weeks before.  Someone did warn me about the elevation but she also told me that it is a fun and well organized race.  The race is point-to-point but with a 1,000 foot net downhill.  This race will be #46 and then a race in South Carolina in December (#47) will leave me with 4 half marathons in 2020.  Yes or no to the race in New Mexico?

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your Summer running plans and/or race schedule?  You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Well, Mother Nature hasn’t made up her mind because the weather has been crazy these past couple of weeks.  Or has it been months?  It was a long and cold winter.  Then Spring came along and it was still cold.  Then it rained almost every single day in May.  Now we occasionally have a warm/hot day but then sometimes it rains the next day.  Will Summer be here soon?

You know I enjoy running in the morning.  It is tough waking up early but I like to have my run done and then have the rest of the day to do other things that I need to do.  Now I am loving that it isn’t as dark at 5 am.  I don’t have to wear my reflective vest (which I still love) nor my headlamp.

Maybe Summer will be here soon or maybe it won’t.  Who knows?  However, here are some Summer running tips that work for me. 

• Run when it isn’t hot.  I know, pretty obvious whether it is running early in the morning or in the evening once it has cooled down.  I used to run in the evening and loved feeling the cooler weather and seeing the sunset.  I remember during marathon training in the summer our runs would start at 6:30 am in order to be done before it got too hot.  If you cannot make it in the morning or in the evening, then run on the treadmill.  I’ve done numerous runs on the treadmill because I would wake up “late” and by then it would be too hot to run outside. 

• Hydrate.   Normally I don’t carry water with me on a run less than 5-6 miles unless it is very hot or I am thirsty.  Two weeks ago I did a 6 mile run and took a water bottle with me because it was warm and I drank the whole thing!  I have a Nathan Hydration Pack and for my runs at The Arboretum, I fill half the hydration bladder with water and leave it overnight in the freezer.  The next morning I add more water to it.  Throughout my run the ice melts and I always have cold water to drink.  

• Listen to your body.  Running in the heat will make you run slower.  Nothing wrong with that.  If you start to feel awful and need to stop then do so.  If you need to walk then walk.  I remember one run in which I was shivering (despite the heat) and was feeling a bit delusional.  I took a long break and drank water with Nuun.  Eventually I felt better and ended up walking back to my car (about 2 miles away).  

• Wear a visor or hat.  I have a couple from Headsweats and love them.  They block the sun from your eyes while at the same time allow the heat to rise from your head (visors).

• The less you wear the better.  I love running in shorts and always look forward to when it is warm enough (after winter) to wear them.  I also wear a tank or short sleeve top.  My favorites are the Oiselle flyout tops.  They’re light, comfortable and sweat wicking – perfect for the hot summer days!  The best part is that they don’t stink with all of the sweat.

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are your Summer running tips?  You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!