Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Veterans Marathon. The end.

The pain of the marathon has all but disappeared.

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But the pictures will last forever!

I am walking like a normal person, my legs are free from soreness. The chafe marks from my fuel belt that once resembled tummy tuck incisions no longer sting in the shower. The days of 3,000 calories have been replaced with more moderate, mindful eating.

And, the dark cloud hanging over the day, seems to be blowing over. Or, at least I'm no longer acting like a complete and utter sassy pants when I think about how the day played out. (Reading all of your comments on my recap post is a big part of that - THANK YOU! I may or may not have cried while reading them. See above comment about a sassy pants.)

I've even stopped researching spring marathons for a redemption race. Rather, I'm focusing my energy on recovering like a boss.

Sunday: Mostly rest save for raking leaves
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 45-minute walk on the treadmill while watching "The Walking Dead"
Wednesday: 30 minutes on the elliptical + Bodypump tonight (at the new gym)
Thursday (plan): Short run + teach class at the YMCA
Friday (plan): Heated yoga
Saturday (plan): Bodypump + short run
Sunday (plan): Try to rally troops for easy run in the afternoon

I'm loosely following Hal Higdon's zero week plan, coupled with the constraints of Miles' new 5:30 a.m. wakeup and the cold front. I might have picked a crap day to run a marathon but I picked the right week to take off from running!

How do you recover from a race?

5 comments:

  1. I am happy your body is feeling good and your mind too! :-)

    How is teaching at the new gym? :)

    I am getting a massage as part of my recovery!

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    1. Yay for a massage! I was supposed to get a pedicure on Sunday as a treat/recovery but someone threw a wrench in those plans. And by someone I mean a T Rex loving, nap hating 2-year-old.

      Tonight's my first official night so here's hoping it's good.

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  2. Your recovery plan looks a lot like mine, post 50K this weekend. Yoga, spin class, did a super-easy 4 mile run today that made it clear that yes, I'm still tired. Probably a 2 easy hour trail run this weekend, because we just aren't going to have that many more weekends with temps in the 40s here. But now that the season is over, I'm planning a month of low run volume -- about 20 miles/week -- to rest and recover.

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  3. I think your photos look great! I am always dripping with sweat and covered with salt when I cross the finish line. Your hair looks great after running 26.2 miles in all that wind.

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  4. Great photos Kimberly! Congrats on completing the marathon--I haven't signed up for one since my last in May '11!

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