Tough Time in the Yoga Room

For the first time, I had to sit out a couple of postures (well, actually a posture and a half) in yoga class the other day.  I don't know what was different;  maybe I didn't drink enough water.  It could also have been the bath I took the night before that had epsom salts and baking soda in it.  After a bath like that, it's important to drink a lot of water, so I am back to the not enough hydration theory.  Either way, the experience was something that I don't care to repeat.  

It's terrible to feel as though you are going to pass out in a room that is 104 degrees with 40% humidity.  It was more than feeling as though I would pass out;  I just felt plain sick.  In fact, I could barely sit down, let alone stand.  I really just wanted to ball myself up on my mat.  I didn't even know how I was going to drive home or would be able to stand to take a shower.  Luckily, the second half of the class is the "floor series", which means that the class is doing a lot of lying on the floor.  The floor series is still pretty tough, but easier to fake it a bit in the postures, if you know what I mean.  In any case, I was feeling considerably better by the end of class, if a little nervous that it would happen again.  Luckily, I have taken the class two times since then and have been perfectly fine.  In fact, in the last class I felt a bit less sweaty than usual, and I didn't feel as tired afterwards.  However, I made sure to drink lots of water during the day prior to the class.  It seems to be a good system. 

It's Getting Cooler

I am glad that I ran this morning, when it was still a bit warmer.  After a 90 degree day yesterday, we are now down in the low 60s, with rain and clouds making it feel colder (at least to me).  This morning the temperature was still in the low 70s, and felt warmer with the sun.  In fact, I wore shorts with a long sleeved shirt and kind of regretted it as I was sweating more than I really wanted to.  In a way, though, I like to sweat because it feels cleansing to me, and it makes me feel that I am working hard.

Ever since I got my new Garmin earlier this summer, I've obviously been more aware of my running times.  This is a good thing, but I can feel that I am putting pressure on myself to increase my times.  It's also been making me feel as if I am not 'developing' as a runner.  Now, I don't know if it's really all that important that I develop myself as a runner, or if it's enough just to be running regularly.  In fact, I have been running longer distances during the last year, 7, 8, and 10 miles, instead of just running the 5 miles that  I have been running for the last 16 years.  That in itself could be considered 'development'.  To be honest, feeling this pressure has resulted in me feeling less joy about running.  I will have to decide whether I want to continue to put pressure on myself to improve, or just enjoy the run.