Recovery

This has to be the most difficult period of time following a marathon.  Nothing hurts, in particular, and some days I feel just great when I run, but when I reach a certain point (three miles on my first day back running), I feel EXACTLY like I did in mile 20 of the marathon.  I hit the wall, hard.  There is nothing left in my account,and I realize that it will take time for it to build up again through the slow process of training, rest, and good nutrition.

Monday I went six miles before beginning to wear out - can I go seven today?

Kiawah Island Marathon and Half-Marathon

Martha and I had a good race at Kiawah Island Golf Resort this weekend.  She ran the Half Marathon and I ran the Marathon.  We thought the course was a little tougher than expected for “flat” and “sea-level” – perhaps it is true that a flat course really does fatigue the muscles more.  But I was happy to run more than 30 minutes faster than my last marathon, and Martha came within seconds of a new PR.  I was 4:23:04, and Martha ran 2:05:53.   Beautiful island, though!  And perhaps the nicest place we have ever stayed – runners rates at the Villas, very nice, high-end condos, convenient shuttle to the start, and the quietest place I think we have ever stayed the night before a race, although of course we got little sleep.  The food was also delicious and plentiful, and the organization was superb. 

I was pleased that one runner at the shuttle pick-up, when I pointed out to Martha that I was the oldest runner on the bus, said I was "experienced," not old.  Another runner made me feel even better during the race by saying I looked "seasoned."  That must have been in the first half!  In the second half I was way over-seasoned!  But now, two days later, my legs are still sort, and I began to wonder this morning, "Is it worth it?  Shouldn't I be old enough to know better than to insult my body this way?"  Four or five months of training, all gone in a single four-hour spending spree, and now I begin all over again.  But our yoga instructor, Rebecca, sent me this timely quote:

“May all of your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view, where something strange and more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you.” - Edward Abbey