Wednesday Wellness: Hot Weather Running

I live in Wilmington, NC.

It. Is. Humid.

And therefore whether it's 70 or 100 degrees, you simply must accept the fact that you are going to sweat if you are outside. 

I sometimes love to run when my knee isn't aching like I'm 80 years old.

But if you're running in the heat, you'll need to remember a few things to ensure that you don't pass out overdo it.

Tips for Hot Weather Running:

1. Water is your friend.

I used to say that I drink water like a camel...buuut that doesn't make any sense at all since camel's don't drink that much, they just store water in their humps.

Anywho, drink water. All day. Every day.

Get a refillable bottle and take it with you everywhere.

2. Beat the heat.

Run early in the morning. 

(Running at 6:27 am is not a regular thing for me...I just don't normally take pictures of the times that I run in the morning.)

 If you try to run between 10 am and 6 pm...just don't.

3. Or run in the evening. 

Or don't because my dad hates when I do that.

4. Go slow. 

Especially if you're running long distances (not that "long distances" is subjective or anything), you are more likely to get overheated and tired faster if you push yourself in the heat/humidity.

5. Know when to stop.

I have to preach this to myself.  If I don't finish a run or if I have to stop mid-run I feel like a failure.

But then I realize that it's disgustingly hot outside and, well...I'm running. And I could be doing a lot of other, sedentary activities.

I would rather stop and walk for one minute than have to cut a run short because I am so overheated.

What are some other great hot weather running tips that you use?

Thankful Thursday.

I am prideful.  And because I struggle with pride, I am highly susceptible to self-pity.  Class work, readings, projects, emails, leadership positions, babysitting, struggling to be an attentive and emotionally engaged daughter, sister, friend, small group leader, and girlfriend...

Momentarily, I think my life is hard. Certainly I never verbalize it nor does the explicit thought run through my mind, but my heart is satiated with self-pity.

So focusing on some of the bajillion ways God loves me is a discipline in which I need to invest.  

Things I am thankful for this week:

1.  Farm time last Friday.

2.  I realized am verbalizing the fact that I want to control not only my life, but other people's lives.  AKA I distrust God and want to sit on the throne.  So incredibly dangerous.

3.  Beautiful NC weather!

4.  Worshipful, sanctifying lunch dates with some of my favorite girls :)

5.  Starbucks date with Laura & Morgan on Sunday afternoon.

6.  Powerful runs this week--such a release.

7.  Late night texts from Daddy :)

8.  Small group on Tuesday night since we all went home Wednesday!  We met at Royal Bean Coffee instead of my dorm room for a change of pace :)

9.  Dwelling on God's glory / Being sobered every time I read the Word.

10.  Trey & Ashley (my younger siblings) are on their spring break this week--which means hanging out with them during the day, not just when they get home from school/practice.  Words cannot express how happy I am about this and how God has already used this extra time just by being at home less than a day. 

Dorm Life.

Living in a dorm, as we all know, has its drawbacks, but it really can be a wonderful place to temporarily reside.  Case in point: NC State University.

Sitting on trash cans with the twins…

this re-enactment is WAY cuter than the original.

Discovering sweet, surprising notes from precious suitemates : )

After M borrowed my hair dryer

Discovering sweet, surprising notes from precious Bradley : )

And oatmeal, no less…he’s good.

Eating Oatmeal.

Heaven on earth.

Eating Junior Mints from my Educational Psychology professor for perfect attendance.

Oh happy day.

…I promise I do more than eat.

Being reminded…

I made this for Bradley for Christmas!

Returning to school after Christmas break to find Lean Pockets literally frozen over…

Oh, Laura.

Playing Mario Cart in Bradley and Christian’s room.

Reading good books.

Figuring out how to use cheap vacuums (speaking of cheap vacuums…)

Studying/struggling to apply Jesus’ Word.

Finishing journals.

Discovering just how disgusting the water is…

Lord knows what those black things are…PTL for my Brita.

Losing toenails…

Still looking for that thing, Laura.

Making/receiving Valentines!

all 36!

When did conversation hearts become so hip, self-centered, and aggressive?

Early morning runs.

emphasis on the "run"--not on the "early".

Intense studying.

except when the font on our self-made study guides is too small to read...

Not pictured:  So. Much. Laughter. It’s great. Small group meetings (by far my favorite thing about my dorm room), March Madness, movie nights, letting my artistic suitemates do whatever they want with my hair (& loving it), actually studying, dancing (& lots of it), delirium, sleepovers, light-hearted conversations, deep discussions, agreements and disagreements, encouragement, tears, hurt, forgiveness and grace.

Grateful for the place God has me. He is in all and through all—I pray I continually let Him into all corners.

I am excited about NOT living in a dorm next year, however, to live with these three wonderfully fun, humbly gifted, absolutely beautiful girls who love Jesus:

taken yesterday : )