Smoooooooke, on the Waaaater

Well, more like smoke EVERYWHERE! There are huge wildfires burning in Quebec, and the wind is blowing gobs and gobs of smoke into Vermont with no regard for the border between our two countries. Justin and I were at a campfire last night with Charlie, so when we woke up we assumed the smoke we were smelling was on his fur or in our hair. Then we stepped outside and knew it was something more; the morning news filled in the details.

I went 5 miles today on my run. The first and last half miles were warm up and cool down, but the 4 in the middle were actual running! I went out on a fairly hilly course, but my cardiovascular system felt really, really good, if you don't count the smoke burning my throat. I was about an 11:30/mile pace overall, but a little slower sometimes. But I felt so good!

I did have my first "dive in the ditch to use the bathroom experience". I have just been waiting for the other shoe to drop with my IBS; I hadn't had an attack yet on a run, but I felt it was only a matter of time. Last night I ate heavy food and drank alcohol and didn't get a full night's sleep. All those things make a perfect storm to trigger an IBS attack.

I had ran out my 2.5 miles and was on my way back home when my tummy started to rumble. The road I was on has quite a few houses, so when I felt the cramping start in earnest, I jumped off the road, pushed through some leaves and grasses, paused my Nike +, and found a tree to lean against. As I was attempting to get situated, I looked down and saw a tick on my pants. Justin had a tick in his leg last year, and Charlie has had several, so I knew what I was looking at. I was so freaked out and startled that I slapped the tick away and ran up out of the ditch and back onto the road. I guess it was the opposite effect of being scared shitless, because I made it back home without incident. MUCH to my relief, and, I'm sure, to the relief of the motorists on the road and the neighbors who may have been looking out their kitchen windows.

Justin and I then went for a hike in Johnson, which was fun and lovely, but I burned up my calves, hammies, and glutes powering up those hills. We'll see how that feels tomorrow, after also taking my body out on its longest run to date this morning.