Longest distance so far

I just completed my long run this week and went for 5 miles.  I felt like I was cheating a little bit though since I hit traffic lights on my route and stop to wait for the light to change.  My balls aren't big enough to try to out run the cars especially on the large streets like Venice Blvd.  Actually big balls probably would get in the way....nvm.  Even with all the short stops, it was still kind of a challenge to go 5 miles.  My calves are still pretty tense. 

Today was also the first day I tried out my heart rate monitor watch I got as a Woot! deal for really cheap compared to what it actually costs.  I have a Mio Energy Pro watch with a heart rate chest strap (see below).  I read online that it's good to have one of these monitors to optimize your training, but I haven't quite figured out exactly how to use it yet.  Supposedly it's best to stay around 80-90% of your maximum heart rate while doing aerobic exercise.  However, it seems like there is no good way to figure out your maximum heart rate except by doing a 'stress test' where you basically go all out for 20 mins and measure your heart rate after that.  All the other ways are sketchy formulas that people don't really trust.  The watch is pretty cool.  I have two options to take my heart rate, either continuously via the chest strap or I can touch the metal ring on the watch so that it takes it at that point in time.  As far as the watch is concerned, I am apparently working too hard during my runs.  I am at about 95%+ of my maximum heart rate as determined by the watch somehow.  I'm not sure that this is totally correct because even though the watch says I'm about to die, I feel fine...like really okay.  This is why I hate all those heart rate monitors attached to the treadmills or ellipticals at the gym.  They all start flashing red and beeping at me when I touch them.  Ah well, one of these days I'll run up a giant hill for a 'stress' test and properly calibrate the watch.

The heat is ON!

Literally in Los Angeles: The heat is on....  It's been heating up into the 90's these past couple of days here.  This means I've been running in heat similar to the Texas summers.  I've also been going out later these days which means I don't get out on the pavement until 8 or 9AM.  By then, the temperature out side is already well in the 80's (86F yesterday morning to be exact).  I forget how terrible it is to run in the heat.  The last time I ran in such uncomfortable heat was over 6 years ago when I was still living in Austin, Texas.  I nearly died during the 3 miles I ran yesterday.  Normally I try to push myself a little bit and run an extra half mile or so, but when my Nike+ program said I hit 3 miles, my body just stopped.

Today was no picnic in the park either.  It was hot and as soon as I stopped running, my calves cramped up causing me to feel a whole new degree of pain that left me sitting in the middle of my living room with tears streaming down my face while pressing ice packs to my pissed off calves.  It's a good thing I'm temporarily holding onto a couple of adorable kittens for a community foster friend of mine.  They're like two little reminders of why I'm putting myself through this kind of physical torture.  Two little reminders that rip through my apartment knocking all the things off the shelves.  At least my cat, Mao, is teaching them how to chill out occasionally:

They're really good and amazingly cute kitties overall and they're ready for adoption.  Tell all your cool friends looking for cats!!!


On a high note, I'm being featured on Team Kitten Rescue's blog today!  You can go take a look at the feature here.  My interview video is here: