It’s been over 7 weeks since the EPIC-ness of the Chicago Marathon, and all of the FUN that the weekend entailed! I cannot wait to go back to Chicago!! I’m still in awe at my body’s ability to rally & cover those 26+ miles in just under 4 hours & 10 minutes. A feat that seemed truly impossible months earlier. The human body—simply amazing.
Like I have recommended to running clients & friends alike, I thoroughly enjoyed a massage at the 48-hour-post-race-mark & rested for nearly a week. The massage I feel is crucial for post-race success & “bounce back” into running/working-out again. Sure, there are exceptions, but having run 2 marathons without a massage & 2 marathons with a massage… I’ve pretty much done my own research study on the importance of it. HA!
Aside from steadily getting back into the swing of things, I have done a couple 10K races since the marathon. I also ran the Norfolk Harbor Half Marathon Relay the weekend before Thanksgiving. And then the “regular” running, yep, some of that too with some pretty kickass gals! Love my tribe, you know who you are {insert all the cheesy emojis, ha!}.
The first race was the Wards Corner 10K. Since this race was 6 days after the marathon & sandwiched in-between two nights with adult beverages involved, I had zero expectations or plans for the race. It was simply a fun morning with my friends Sandy & Whitney, as well as a way to support the local Norfolk community. Together, we ran/walked the race, finishing in just over 60 minutes—including a few stops for a twisted ankle {poor Whitney, thank goodness nothing serious!} & candy from a friend whose house was along the course {thanks Erin!}. Pizza at the post-race party was great, followed by a fun-filled family day!
No pics from the Wards Corner 10K, so here’s a shot of hubby & I that evening at the Burning Man closing party!
The second 10K was an annual favorite in VA Beach—the Wicked 10K. Once again, Sandy joined me at this race; where we ultimately met up with fellow friend Megan. They both rocked their races & had PR times!! Woohoo BALG! There were also PRs in the costume department, for hundreds of the other runners that day—AMAZEBALLS! As for my race, my plan was to just go off of feel & run what I could. My goal was to make the miles progressive & to be smart if pain set in. Luckily, the pain stayed away & this race finished with 50:53 on the time clock {8:12/mile avg}. Although it’s nowhere near a PR, I was elated! Finally, I was able to run continuously again, without pain. YESSS!
Wicked’s Monster Mile with my little loves, the night before the 10K. Alexander (left) was so excited to run & HATES to be passed; Andersen (right) was much more nervous & held mommas hand most of the time. LOVE them!
Sandy, Megan & I at the Wicked 10K!
The relay was also super fun! I just adore running races in Norfolk, passing landmarks that have defined moments in my life. Leading up to race morning, I had made no qualms to the other 5 friends who were running the relay—I was ready to “push it” for my portion of the race. I wanted needed to see where my “fast” was at, after many months of zero speedwork. Ultimately, I finished my “half of the half”, 6.81 miles in 55:29 {8:09/mile}. Just like the prior 10K, I was stoked. I had kicked the run/walk intervals to the curb & was running {most of the time} pain-free!
A few girls from my Bad Ass Lady Gang (BALG) who ran the Norfolk Harbor Half. Every runner needs one of these groups!
What I hadn’t shared on social media or with many people, was that as the relay approached, I had settled on running a spring marathon. Although my “all-marathons-at-sub-4” goal had passed, I still have other marathon goals. And I finally felt ready to commit to another 26.2. I had even prepared the first 4 weeks of my training plan the night before the Norfolk Harbor Half Relay.
Sooooo, for those who have followed my 2017 injury journey, you’d understand my frustration when I rolled my foot in a silly freak accident during the post-race party!! Yep, so dumb {insert all the f-bombs!}. Because of the pops I felt & the swelling/bruising that came, I just knew I was done again. WTF?? Thankfully though, I did exactly what I learned in nursing school {R.I.C.E.} & it seems to have worked. YAY! After two days of COMPLETE rest, I was able to do a Pure Barre class, & then run PAIN-FREE the following morning. Whew! I really feel like I dodged a bullet there. And while I still have mild foot discomfort, I am 95% sure that the sprain/strain is healing nicely!
It’s a running blog. A foot shouldn’t gross you out. The aftermath of the foot roll.
So now that I am feeling more like my old self, what’s next? Well, a few things are lined up for 2018, but the first big thing will be the Shamrock Marathon. That’s right; marathon #5 is in just under 16 weeks!! I am elated to be back training, as my body AND mind is truly happiest when I am logging miles & in “my” best shape. I have no crazy goals, although in an ideal world I will not need to run/walk the Shamrock Marathon & I would LOVE to “race” it; but I am keeping an open & smart mind on training/racing. Although the occasional run has discomfort or twinges, I’m just taking them in stride {& listening to my body!} as gentle reminders that I am still in the year window since the moped crash, resulting in the tibial plateau fracture. Perspective—that’s been one of my many mantras of 2017!
Thanks for reading & I wish EVERYONE a VERY Happy, Healthy, & Fabulous Holiday Season!! XOXO
Happiest of Holidays, from my family to yours!
You’ve been busy! Shamrock is my plan for marathon number 5 also! See you out there and I look forward to following your training!
Good luck with your training & Shamrock too!! I just started following you on IG so I’ll keep up with your training as well!