Wildflower, Post-Wildflower

Ah.....the familiar 2-week funk! It has been just over 2 weeks since Wildflower, and they have not been my favorite 2 weeks. After any big race, I experience a period of "down" time where I usually eat bad food, lay around, and avoid workouts at all cost. It is similar to studying for a big test or writing a long paper - the last thing you want to do after all that prep (and accomplishing the task itself) is pick right back up again. This is probably not the best philosophy, but it's how these things go down with me. The post-race funk this time is much more complicated, since I didn't finish my race...

Wildflower: May 1

I remember this race experience in fragments, so bear with me...

Fragment #1 - Camping + triathlon = complicated

Fragment #2 - I LOVE my teammates. What a great time hanging out, enjoying the great outdoors, and reflecting on the past 6 months of hard work.

Fragment #3 - The swim was my favorite part - fun, challenging, exciting - and I felt strong. T1 was uncomplicated, and actually faster than I thought, given the hill from the swim finish to my bike.

Fragment #4 - Beach Hill was KILLER in the first mile, but I stayed on my bike and did not stop. All I could think about was throwing up. Or hyperventilating.

Fragment #5 - My lower back started hurting after Beach - REALLY hurting. Sharp pain. Distracting pain.

Fragment #6 - Stopping for sunscreen & Extra Strength Tylenol at an aid station early on in the ride. Realizing at this point that I might not finish.

Fragment #7 - Pushing through in the heat and wind to get to Nasty Grade. I made it halfway up before stopping (mile 43). Not worth the pain. At least in that moment it was not worth the pain.

Fragment #8 - I cried for the first time in a race - definitely not finishing and waiting for a ride. Thank God Sara D. came along. We both won't make the cutoff at this point anyway.

Fragment #9 - Seeing the coaches and other DNFers back in transition. NOT a good feeling, but we are definitely not alone.

Fragment #10 - Waiting at the finish line with the team. Waiting for EVERY last Ironteamer to finish. These people are amazing, and I miss them already!

So...I need to decide what to do next! I want to sign up for another half as soon as possible, and July 31st is an option. We shall see. Meanwhile, I need to try and harness that once unquenchable excitement for training, and get out there NOW!

The Best Laid Plans...

It has certainly been an interesting 2 weeks. Despite running 10 miles last Saturday, my midweek mileage = 0. My energy, motivation, and interest in running dove to an all-time low sometime around last Monday. The last week I haven't been feeling well, and given the fact that everyone around me has been sick, I've likely caught the bug. I planned to run 12 miles yesterday, but slept in instead. I had to force myself to commit to 5 miles this morning, which was a struggle. I can't remember the last time I felt sore after a flat 5-miler. During the run I felt extra hot and most likely had a fever.

The one question I've been asking myself all week: is this normal?? I had the best run 2 weeks ago. I fell in love with running all over again and felt so strong. The Dland half is a few weeks away, and at this point I am questioning my fitness/whether or not to participate. My ever-encouraging running buddies tell me I can pull it off without a hitch. My body (or just mind?) is telling me otherwise.

I suppose it is normal to have periods of lower motivation and waining interest in a sport like running. Of course, I feel better even after my short run this morning. My plan is to run at least 2 times this week before I travel to Lubbock Wednesday morning, and definitely try for a 12-14 miler next weekend. Perhaps it is time to really start committing to cross-training? I've been known to get bored easily, and it seems like some variety might be just what the doctor ordered.

Stay tuned...

Feelin' the Funk

When stressful situations occur at work or in our personal lives, activities we enjoy tend to fall away from our carefully planned schedules if we don't prioritize them. Running and writing tend to fall in that category for me. After my run (and fall) last Saturday, I've been reluctant to hit the road. First, I've been concerned about injuring myself post-incident. Second, there have been major changes/challenges at work. These changes have not impacted me directly, but definitely have contributed to my fitness funk this week. Tonight I am really hoping to get out and tackle 4 miles, regardless of how exhausted I feel now. The thing is- we all know we feel better after exercise especially if we are feeling extra pressure or anxiety. The difficulty lies in conjuring the motivation to get your shoes on and run those first few steps.

What do you do for motivation?

Post Marathon Reflections

It has been three weeks since the marathon, and in many ways, it seems like it never even occurred! I took about a ten day break from running, and since then have accumulated about 14 miles over four runs. It felt good to get my legs moving again, and I might embark on some longer mileage this Saturday morning. To keep myself motivated, I signed up for the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 6th. I've heard it's a great race, albeit pricey! I might also register for the local Village Runner 5k on the 4th of July, depending on travel plans.

The biggest challenge I have faced since running the marathon has been around my mental health. The physical soreness only lasted a few days, but mentally I've been up and down for the last two weeks. Things are much more stable now, but I was not prepared for this side effect. I read that post-marathon depression is very common...I just didn't think it would happen to me! Refocusing on my eating habits and frequent short runs has certainly helped.

This being said, I would not shy away from running another full. In fact, I am contemplating Las Vegas in December or Phoenix in January. Well see...

I had the chance to run in Spokane, WA last Friday, which was a welcomed change of scenery. This is my last week of work before a two week vacation, and even though I will probably stick close to home, my goal is to discover some new trails in So Cal. I will provide some pics and reviews based on what I encounter.