Mississippi Summer Running 2023!

 If you by chance live in the South..... then you know what I mean when I say... Mississippi Summer Running is.... NOT my favorite thing!  

This summer has been a strange one..... EXCESSIVE heat warnings every day popping up on my weather app...  going on for a solid month now.   We can't seem to get a break in the heat or get any rain.  It's so dry that we are also under a burn ban.  When you walk outside first thing in the morning you are hit by HUMIDITY and HEAT... it will take your breath away most mornings!  We've had over 100 degrees for many days in a row and the weather app is still showing the next 10 days to be over 100!  When will it end??????? Some believe the massive (biggest) under water volcano that erupted in January is one of the reasons we are having so much heat.  You can find more info about this on the NASA website.  It's interesting to read about it.  

Typically I don't sign up for long distance races in August, nor in September.  It's just too hot here in the south.  Back in 2019 when I did Ironman Chattanooga in September there were a record number of DNFs at that race due to the heat.  Then last year in 2022, they had amazing weather at the race.. I was so jealous.  Every year is different and this year (2023) has been a record HOT summer.  

But somehow.... I let my running friends talk me into a marathon in September 😝 They said it would be FUN 😕😜 The race is in North Alabama... so maybe just maybe we will get a heat break by then! 🙏

So what does that mean when you sign up for a marathon in September???......... LONG, HOT, RUNS in AUGUST 😦 Last year when Penny and I trained for our Europe marathons in September / October, we survived the August runs... but this year... I'M NOT surviving them!  This heat is doing a number on me.  For the last several weeks, I've struggled with cramps and just feeling awful by the time we are getting close to the end of our run.  I've had no energy and just felt drained completely.  I use to run 10-15 miles, go home and clean and do all sorts of things.  Now I just want to go home and crawl in the bed.  

We've even changed our scenery as to where we run to try to break up the monotony.... Which has been great and we've had a blast....  We spent one Saturday running in downtown Hattiesburg.  We stopped and took pictures and had so much fun.  Our goal that day was 18 miles.  I only made it 11 and had to quit due to cramps.  The rest of the group finished the 18 miles.   Let's just say I was so sad and upset I had to quit.  I HATE quitting and normally I can push through anything... but not this HEAT..  Here are a few pictures from our downtown adventure:

This past weekend really took a toll on my legs.  We had made a plan to go down to the coast and spend the night so we could get up at 3am and start our run early hoping to beat the heat.  We then all had massages booked for the afternoon, so we could relax at the SPA and revive ourselves after a 20 miler.  The weekend all started out great.  We all meet up on Friday at the IP Casino.  We had a fabulous dinner and were all in bed around 8:30pm.  We had 2 joining rooms and felt like we were teenagers on a slumber party.  So much FUN! 😍  We literally know each others spouses, children and grandchildren.  We talk about everything and it's like a Therapy session for me! 

 It was already 87 when we started running at 3:49am, but to me it didn't feel that awful.  It was HUMID.  Within a mile we were all soaking wet with sweat.  We ran across the Biloxi bay bridge to Ocean Springs and back to the Beau where we were at mile 12.5 of our 20 miles.  We just had to go out around 4 miles and back and be done.  We took a break at the Beau and all went inside to the bathroom, got fresh water, and even got cups of ice.  I felt a tad refreshed and figured I was going to be fine for another 7.5 miles.  BOY was I WRONG!  

Heading out the hotel at 3:40am

We love to have a shirt with a bible verse to remind us who is in charge of our runs. 😍

With the Biloxi Bay Bridge we had crossed behind us in the picture. 

We started out for those last 7.5 miles and within a mile my foot started to cramp.  So I decided to switch to jog / walk intervals.  Janis stayed back with me and the others went on.  Janis and I jogged / walked off and on, but as each mile progressed on, I felt worse and worse.  When we hit mile 16, both my legs cramped up.  It literally stopped me in my tracks!  I could not move! Janis came running to me asking what she could do and I told her I had no idea.  All I could do was whine, trying to rub my calves, and pray.  I've never hurt so bad in my life.  I wanted to cry so badly.  

I told Janis maybe I would be alright if I just waited a bit before trying to go on.  I was thinking I could at least walk the last 4 miles..... WRONG!  My cramping would not stop! It kept getting worse.  I was literally on the ground on my hands and knees and could not stand up!  We ended up calling an Uber.  The lady was there in like 3 minutes..... but then it took another 5-10 minutes before I could even get in her car.  And man I feel so bad!!! we were both soaking wet with sweat and she had cloth seats! I know her poor seats were soaked and I know I smelled like a wet billy goat 😞  She took us back the the IP and then once again the cramps hit hard and I couldn't get out of her vehicle.  It was just a nightmare!  After several minutes, I was finally able to get out, but could barely walk.  I asked Janis to go find me a Gatorade.  I was totally out in my water bottle.  By this time the whole group was worried about me.  They were all saying I needed a hydration IV.  All I wanted was for the pain to stop!  

Soon all the girls were back at the IP and we all sit thinking and wondering what I needed to do.  They asked if there was a doctor at the casino and some manager came over and said he could call an ambulance for me.  I was like.. NO.... Don't do that.  I thought maybe I'd start feeling better after I drank that whole Gatorade that Janis was so sweet to get ... but I wasn't.  We had even made it to the pool area where I finally got in and sat down thinking the water would help, but it wasn't.  They all said I was white as a ghost.   I then heard Janis on the phone talking to her son.  He's a VP at Forrest General Hospital back in Hattiesburg.  He told her he was going to send her a phone number to a place that gave hydration IVs there in town.  Within minutes he sent her a number and she was on the phone calling.  I heard her saying.. so you are open today... oh you give house calls... you'll come to us at the IP...  and then she hung up and told me they were coming to me within the hour to give me an IV.  She also smiled and said... oh I didn't even ask how much it cost... I was like I don't care.. if they'll come to me.. bring them on... 😁

In the meantime while we waiting on the IV, we called downstairs to rearrange my massage (heck at this point I had no idea how I'd get one..) they said they would change mine for 2 hours later than the original time so maybe I could make it because if you cancel less than 24 hours out, they charge you the full fee!

  

By 11am a nurse showed up at our hotel door.  I was so glad to see her!  She told me it would take around 45 minutes for the IV to go into my arm and that if I didn't have to pee after that first bag, she would have to give me a 2nd bag.  Luckily after the first bag, I had to go to the bathroom and felt like a new woman!  Yes, my calves were still extremely sore... but man I felt so much better.  I am so very thankful Janis called her son and got all that arranged for me.  What a blessing! 

While I was getting my IV, the others went on down to the SPA to start their massages, facials and whatever else they were getting done.  When the nurse was finished I asked her how I could paid her.  She told me that I didn't pay her that I would have to run by their clinic before 6pm or call and pay them over the phone.  So I decided I need to tip this lady for coming to my rescue.  I'm known for being a big tipper.  Maybe that comes from my years as a waitress.. anyway, I gave her $100.  She tried to tell me that was too much, but I insisted.   BTW the name of the place is Rejuvenation Station.  This whole time prior to the nurse getting there, we were all guessing what we thought it would cost.  I was thinking maybe $150... BOY WAS I WRONG..  When I called the guy told me it was $370! When I told the others, they were like OMG.. When he texted me my invoice, I texted it to all them to show them I was not kidding.  😊 So by the time I tipped her and paid for the service... $470!

I was also then able to make my massage later which cost me another $250 (I had facial also).......... so now my girls are all calling me "EXTRA" 😂😂😂😂😁  The cheapest thing I paid for this past weekend was my room fee of only $53 😅 Rooms are cheap when you split with friends 😍

Sunday when I was back home, I was still pretty drained and my calves are SO SORE!  Everyone has been so nice checking on me.  I had a follow up check up at my doctor on Monday that was already preplanned so I told them I would tell her about Saturday and let her do blood work or whatever to see if I was ok.   I'm happy to say that all my blood work turned out good.  My doctor blames it all on this HEAT.  She says some people just sweat more out than others and once you are behind it's hard to catch up ... especially when you are running for several hours.  She also fussed at me and reminded me how dangerous it is running long distance in this EXCESSIVE heat.

  So I guess you can say I had a wake up call this weekend to be more careful! and I'm known to be one of the most dedicated ones in our group that always hydrates and tries to do all the right things to prepare my body for those long runs.  Sometimes you can do all the right things...and things still go wrong... 

I guess I'm writing all this down to remember and also remind anyone that is reading this to take this HEAT seriously!  And don't be afraid to go get a hydration IV.   They are worth it!  I can only imagine how much a trip to the ER would have been if I had let them call an ambulance..  yes, my weekend was expensive, but it was better than what I could have paid with an ER trip.  😍

Here are also a few tips... 

LMNT has 1,000 mg sodium, Liquid IV only has 500 mg.  Don't drink just water.  Make sure it has electrolytes in it.  I was scared to drink more than 1 packet of LMNT.  I thought I could get too much sodium.  My doctor told me I needed to keep drinking it in every water bottle when running several hours.  My body needs that sodium.  

Liquid IV

They say when running in the heat, (doing long distance), you should drink 24-32 ounces every hour.  My 2 water bottles I carry are only 8 ounces and I was only drinking 2-3 every hour.  I should have been almost double that to maintain hydration in that heat.  

So lesson learned... HYDATE... AND HYDRATE THE RIGHT WAY... LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.. DON'T BE AFRAID TO STOP AND GET HELP.  😀  I thank God for watching over me and not letting it be any worse. 🙏

AND I thank everyone of my girls... Janis, Penny, Felicia, Be, Ann, Candy, & Michelle for checking on me.. getting me food... and just making sure I was OK.  You girls are the BEST! 💓💖

Dear Lord,

I ask that you bring us rain and relief from this heat soon. In Jesus name, Amen 🙏💓