Interesting how concern can change in an instant to relief, then optimism restored.
As of yesterday, my legs were still a bit sore from Sunday’s run. As yesterday’s post suggests, I was concerned about my ability to recover fully before CIM on December 4th. Actually, I was freaking out a bit. I woke up last night at about 2am and obsessed about the marathon for over an hour. “What if I’m not recovered by CIM? Would it be better just not to do it? Maybe I should drop out!”
Eventually I got to sleep again, and when I got up this morning, my legs felt better than yesterday. I eked out a 3.5 mile run going 13-minute miles and alternating 1-minute running, 1-minute walking (my first time doing this ratio). While my legs felt a bit tired, the run went off without a hitch. An encouraging sign!
It’s nice to be back in the saddle. Interestingly, I just read my notes from after last year’s Run the Parkway. I had “only” run 20 miles the previous Sunday, and on Wednesday of that week I did my first post-race run. This is what I had to say about it:
I struggled through… going I’m sure the slowest I’ve gone all year, if ever. Physically tired and out of it.
Notes from a run, Wednesday, November 10th, 2021
Today’s run, also three days after Run the Parkway,* was easier and more satisfying than that! Of course, I didn’t use walk breaks at all last year. Plus, I was pushing myself that day, as I often did throughout that program, trying to keep up with (or measure up to?) other fast runners.
I prefer today’s approach, and I am so appreciative that recovery seems to be on schedule, after all.
*This year’s Run the Parkway was actually a 27.5 mile running extravaganza in which I added 7.5 miles before running 20 miles with the other runners!