I didn’t even want to write this post honestly. At the beginning of the week my training was looking absolutely beautiful. I recorded 35 miles in the first three days. My plan was to take the fourth day (Thursday) off and then come back for an easy run Friday, long Saturday and easy again Sunday. Following the 10% rule of increasing mileage my goal was to hit around 60-65 miles casually building back up my mileage.
Well considering nothing after the marathon has gone to plan that isn’t what happened.
Thursday’s rest day felt great. I needed it and it was a reminder that although I’m getting back into shape since the marathon but I’m not 100% there yet.
Then on Thursday night I started to feel sick. I went to bed early (not really a surprise). I wasn’t feeling the greatest on Friday. Instead of taking another rest day I made a short trip to the gym and did the elliptical for about 30 minutes. Honestly I felt about 7/10 and the gym didn’t seem to make me feel any worse. I chalked it up to traveling and being pretty tired.
Saturday I wanted to do my first long run of 15 post marathon. Around mile 4, I started to feel like absolute dog meat so I turned around. I swallowed my pride and turned around. Not that I really posed a danger but I was lucky that Tim was running with me. It sucked. It stinks having to cut a run short no matter who you are but continuing the run would have done nothing for me. It wouldn’t build some magical endurance but only continue to tire me out. I spent the rest of the day laying around and napping.
Today I was hoping to feel better (which I’m feeling good…not great) so I’ll probably wait to run until Monday or whenever I do feel better. I appreciate all the well wishes but I feel fine to function in society just not well enough to run…these things happen when you train.
Though the first few days of the week were great, the week quickly took a down hill turn. We all have these weeks though and it’s important to rest and not push through. I could have kept running yesterday and been 7 miles away from my car…then what?
Though this wasn’t a planned rest or recovery week that is what the last few days have turned into. I haven’t felt the need to go to the gym and overcompensate with workout classes, elliptical or other forms of cross training…just recover and rest so I can run. Every person needs full rest days whether they realize it or not.
Occasionally we all need a slice of humble pie. A slice telling us we are doing too much and burning the candle at both ends. Though this week was clearly not what I had planned, I’m hoping to feel better next week and have a more productive week.
Questions for you:
What is your favorite thing to do while resting?
Relax in a hot tub.
I hope you are feeling better! This training week has been a huge mess for me as well. I am just chalking it up to Christmas chaos.
Blah. I’m not a fan of the humble pie. Although I can’t relate to it interfering in my training (mostly because i”m not doing any), I’ve definitely been feeling off this last week. I blame Christmas and all the craziness that comes with it, and I’m not going to start stressing too much until the new year. Hope you feel better soon!
Given my 17 mile LR Saturday, I should have turned around at 4 too. Good for you for saving your legs to run well another day.
Hopefully next week will be my redemption week. What are you training for these days Gene?
I agree. The period between Christmas and New Years is always like a twilight zone. It’s hard to maintain a schedule and rhythm in life albeit a training schedule. I am positive that you’ll be back on track this week. A schedule does me well. It may be for you,too. Looking forward to seeing your training for your upcoming races.
I need to get my act together with that. I think I need to look for a coach but like you said I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to put my training back into someone’s hands.
Good for you! It’s hard to rest. I finished my 1000 mile goal for the year and will force myself to rest from “running” for two weeks. Focus on strength training and healing. Hopefully, the body will come back stronger. When I’m not running it’s Epsom salt baths and books. I sound so old!
I feel like 95% of my answers I normally sound like an 80 year old women 🙂
I hope you feel better soon and agree it is hard to rest. You know your body better than anyone else and you know when you need to rest, so kudos to you for doing it and not trying to push through. Sometimes it’s better to save your energy for another day and have a better run then anyway.
With the holidays I didn’t want to work out like crazy either. May as well spend it with family and enjoy it, spend time with those who sometimes get ‘jipped’ because of a Saturday morning race or run, etc.
Best rest activity: Laying on the couch watching football! That’s what I intend to do today.
With rest – planned or not – you come back stronger. My coach tells me that rest days are part of the training plan…as important as a tempo run, speedwork, or long run. I can empathize. I had big plans this week, too, and came up gimpy after 3.5 miles and cut my 12-miler to 8 with sore achilles (or something near it). Today, I rest. Monday, I’m back at it. Like I said, 2014 is going to be epic!
As for rest activity: It depends on the day. This day is dedicated to football. Go Broncos!!
Sunday is the best day for football.
2014 will be our year Kevin. What are your goal races and plans?
Dang right!!
I am running two marathons in 2014. The first one is all set – Boston in April. The second one in the fall is still to be determined. I am contemplating Twin Cities; Wineglass; back home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming: nearby in Utah; or a couple of other possibilities.
I have a couple local half marathons circled. Unlike 2013, I want to do more 5k and 10k races. Those distances were lacking in 2013, and I think I am a better marathoner with those faster races as part of my whole plan.
Have you decided on a fall marathon, yet?
No spring marathons but Wineglass in the fall. :-). I was between Chicago and Wineglass but I wanted a small marathon this time.
Run wineglass! How swell would that be?!!!
That would be pretty swell! Long trip for me, but maybe the Mrs. would come and we would make a vacation out of it.
Upstate NY has lots of nice wineries. I’ve heard the course is flat and fast and would be worth your travels. 🙂
You ought be a lobbyist! (Take it from a lobbyist) Either that or a travel agent. 🙂
I have talked to a couple of people who have run Wineglass. I have heard the same thing. Getting there might be a bit of a challenge…
I’ll keep you posted.
I *HATE* getting sick. I’m always like “WHY IS THIS SHITTING ON MY TRAINING FOR DAYS AND DAYS. RAGE.”
You’ll come back, but I know how hard it can be to see that from the couch. I hope you at least have good TV to watch.
No worries about an off week, lady. It happens to everyone. Next week will be better! Glad you are taking care of yourself. 🙂
Thank you Marci, that really means a lot!
Today I am blue because it is a rest day. I do not like rest days, but I am working on healing some IT band pain, so it was a must. I too am swallowing some humble pie today. I can’t keep running through nagging pain!
Boo! ITB issues are awful. I hope you are able to recover quickly!
Ah, humble pie. I know it all too well. We’re totally in the heart of sickness season, so do your best to rest up. (A handful of people are sick at work, and I feel like it’s only a matter of time before everyone catches it. I’ve been sneezing all day, so I’m totally paranoid!)
Im sorry you haven’t been feeling well. But I agree that sometimes our bodies just need to tell us to slow the f down whether we like it or not. At least you have your parents there the next few days for distraction!
This is so similar to what happened to me 2 weeks ago! I literally just published my blog post about it, saw your post, and had to laugh that we were going through the same thing just weeks apart. Actually, it’s not funny at all, but I can really relate and the timeliness was funny.
So, yes, I think you and I were both smart for taking it easy. Why push our bodies to do something so early into a training cycle? Spring goal races are much more important than exact distances on long runs at this point.
You were very smart to turn around, for the reasons you stated. And taking a cutback week isn’t a big deal right now, since you’re just starting back, better now, then when it’s closer to a goal race! I hope you feel better.
Honestly I’d rather have pumpkin pie than humble pie! However I like to just take a day and do other things I enjoy besides running in order to relax and clear my head.
I feel you on the humble pie lady! It’s awesome though that you didn’t push through and actually took the time and LISTENED to your body–much more than most people do.
You’ll be out cruising the streets in no time =)
Feeling sick is the worst. I actually got super sick on Sunday (stomach flu or food poisoning.. ugh) and was out on the couch for a few days. it sucks to take a break sometimes, but our bodies know best, and then when we get back at it, we appreciate it all more than ever!