I am currently training for the Shamrock marathon and I do not feel like my training has been where it should be. A few weeks ago I was feeling good and did a random 13 miles. The follow week I did 12 and started to get this pain on the top of my ankle. I knew that was a sign to take some time off. As hard as it was, I took a few days off and then gradually started upping my mileage again. I knew I was due for another long run, but I wasn’t sure how it’d go since I haven’t been running.
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| A quote that I saw on my run. It was from the J &A racing/training team |
In addition to my pesky ankle, I have been taking on extra classes at the gym. After I am done teaching my classes in the morning, I usually have to head to my other job later in the afternoon, so needless to say my longer runs have been non-existent lately.
On days I do not work after my classes, my excuse is that I am tired. I may not be running, but I am still doing something. Good cross training, I’d like to think of it as.
Well the other day, I had no classes at the gym, nor a shift at my other job. Today is the day I thought to set out to do my long run. Not sure how far I’d go. I was hoping to do more than 13 since that has been my last long run in this training cycle. In my mind I was thinking somewhere between 15-16 miles. But since I have not done any long runs since my ankle started acting up we would see how it goes.
I woke up that morning and of course it was freezing out. Not even in the 30's. That is very rare for Virginia Beach, even in February. I thought about forgoing my run and just heading to the gym instead, but I knew if I did that, I would not go as long as I wanted to go on the treadmill. Also there are too many distractions at the gym when you need to get a long run in. So I downloaded some new podcasts and bundled up.
When I first started running, I didn’t think it was too bad out. Like I said I was bundled up and that helped a lot, even though it was windy, the sun was out at least.
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| Another quote I saw on my run. |
I was planning on doing my route I usually do throughout the state park near by where I live. I arrived at the entrance on the other side of the park where I usually turn around, but was feeling good so I continued out of the park towards the oceanfront and onto the boardwalk. It was very busy at the boardwalk on that day which I thought was odd, because it was so cold out.
I found out that was the day that the polar plunge was taken place. Brrrrrr! No thank you! I never understood that. I guess it is for a good cause, but I would not be doing that when it was only 30 degrees out. Between the many people I started to weave through, and the wind that was not letting up, I quickly turned around and headed back towards the park.
I ended up with 17 miles and felt great the whole time! My ankle did not hurt once. I came home soaked in an Epsom salt bath and made an appointment at a foot spa. It was heavenly. I went to dinner and thought I would splurge a little so I ordered shrimp and grits. After all, I did run 17 miles today. After dinner I came home poured a glass of wine and read my book until I went to bed.
That night, I slept for 10 blissful hours. I woke up and wasn’t as sore as I thought I would be after my long run the day before, so I wanted to do another run on tired legs to see how it went. I completed 7 miles and felt great. I even kept a decent pace up throughout my run. Its runs like these that make me excited to continue to keep training for my marathon.
Do you find yourself splurging on foods after completing a long run?
After completing long runs, do you ever test out your legs the following day with another run, or do you use that as a recovery day? -L