Sleepless Week

I didn't do well in the running/ working out department this week. That's okay. I worked so hard from September through December, maybe my body needed an easy few weeks after the marathon. (Or at least I would like to think that's the case). The truth is, I haven't been sleeping well at night. Last night I was wide awake from 12:30-3:30. So when the alarm went off at 4:26, it just wasn't happening. That's part of the problem with not having a goal or not being exhausted from training. When I was training, I got up no matter how terrible I slept the night before. I was dedicated to following my plan. Now, that I don't have a plan that I have to follow, it's allowed me to press snooze one too many times. In addition, my rib is still in a lot of pain when I try to lay down. Finding a position that doesn't cause a terrible pain in the rib area has been quite a nuisance. I only wonder how much longer can this last?

I am hoping to get back into a better routine next week. It's quite tricky to balance a full time teaching job, two kids and trying to fit in workouts. For me, they have to be done before work (at 5 AM) or there's a 99% chance they won't happen at all. Teaching is exhausting. Then it's round two when I get home: playing with the girls, fixing their dinner, baths, stories, and bedtime routine. By the time that's all over, the only thing I can thing about is laying on the couch and mentally tuning out.

Perhaps I need to come up with a plan for next week. I like having goals or plans to keep myself accountable. I am fairly self-motivated when it comes to working out/ running because I enjoy it and I pretty much have done it my whole life.

Things I'd like to add to my running routine: spinning, strength and maybe even yoga (maybe!).

What Next?

The feeling after finishing a marathon is strange. It's a little bit of emptiness and a little bit of freedom. I feel a little lost now that it is over because it seemed like other than thinking of my kids/family, scheduling in runs was next on my list (oh and that work thing was somewhere up there). I don't have to wake up at 4:30 AM to get in a run before work. I don't have to rest up on Friday night (abstain from a glass of wine even) because I have to wake up at 5:30 AM to run 12, 15 or 18 miles. I don't have to do a darn thing when it comes to working out. That makes me feel a little disoriented.

On the other hand, there is something nice about the freedom of it all. Three miles is all I could fit in this morning and there is not any guilt that I didn't do five or six. I am going to take it easy on the miles over the next couple of weeks and see how things go. I am going to try something new- go with the flow. Maybe I should try something new- like yoga- or hit up a few spin classes. I definitely would like to add a bit of strength training to my workout, which I have neglected, mainly due to lack of time with training. I have toyed with the idea of running a half marathon in February. (In fact I even toyed with the idea of another full marathon in February). Anyway, I think I will not just make a plan yet. I will enjoy just being able to workout without any pressure or plan for a couple of weeks and see how things go.

This morning's three miler started at a 9:22 pace and ended the last half mile at a 7:53 pace. I finished in 26 minutes and then cooled down until I reached 30 minutes. That's nice and speedy for me. Working on speed is definitely something I will do, if anything, just for fun.

The Loop

I am glad I rediscovered "the loop" this past weekend. I have mixed feelings about January in Naples. I am one of those people who misses the snow. I loved the snow. I loved waking up to a blanket of white and hearing those words (as a teacher) "no school today". A day of relaxing, walking or running in the snow and hot chocolate. I love the cold, too.

Anyway, this loop goes across the bridge where you see the bay and boats on either side and follows a pathway alongside the bay- just a few steps from the ocean. It passes right by Ben and Jerry's at the halfway point (as my daughter will never forget) and crosses back over another bridge and back around to our house. It is just 3 miles.

We did the loop twice on Sunday with the girls (walking). One of those trips resulted in dinner at Ben and Jerry's (you only live once!).

Yesterday, I did an easy 3 miles on the treadmill in the morning. It was a recovery run. By the time dinner hour rolled around, I had this strange urge to do the loop. It was 5:30 PM and just an hour from Caroline's bedtime. I put them in the stroller with a little urging and began to so some speed walking. I did the loop backwards this time. By the time I reached the first bridge about a mile away, I found myself running. It was tough- my body didn't really want to run and those girls are not lightweights in the stroller. Once I started running, the three-year-old did not want me to stop. She liked the speed (not sure there was actual speed involved though).

So, we ran the rest of the way, worked up a little sweat and this morning I woke up sore for the first time since the marathon over a week ago.

I like this little loop. It's short and it forces me to try and appreciate my surroundings more. Beautiful palm trees lit up, the ocean, a breeze and sunny weather all around me. I will try and do this loop- whether walking or running- more often. I will try and avoid stopping at Ben and Jerry's too often.

Disney Marathon 2012 recap Part I

Let's start with the fact that Disney is "the happiest place on earth" so no matter how sick, injured or fatigued you are during the 26.2 mile stretch, you better have a smile on your face.

So, for memory's sake I am going to recap the weekend. The morning we left was a bit of chaos. Gigi and Poppi were in town and we were enjoying our last minutes with them while trying to pack and prepare for our races and a fun time with the girls at Disney.

Things we forgot:

One camera charger (what's the point of an uncharged camera?)

One prescription which was going to help me survive the race with my wheezing/coughing/etc.

One gift card to the Disney store (where oh where did that go?)

Regardless, you have to move on and remember you will survive without these things...other than the prescription. That missing item was vital to my 26.2 miles and resulted in a call to the doctor. The doctor than called a pharmacy in Orlando, which for a "small" fee would deliver my prescription right to the hotel room. Fantastic!

We arrived at Disney, had our first meal at the ESPN Zone and headed over to the expo. All went smoothly, we fought through the crowds with our two antsy girls and bought a few Gu's along the way. Then, as we were leaving, I noticed my bib placed me in the walking coral. I knew I wasn't going to rock it, but I did not plan on walking. So, back to two more lines, a couple more computer print outs, and another 45 minutes in the Expo and I was all set. Coral B.

Off to the Swan, settled into the room and down for a great sushi dinner with Uncle Casey and Aunt Val. I was feeling pretty badly with my cough and congestion, so I settled for tea while everyone else indulged in their beer/wine. Wes was going to run his first half marathon in the morning and thus we were off to bed. His alarm was set for 2:45 am and mine was set for 5:30 am to be a spectator.

The next morning came quickly and Wes was off and running. I tried to be a dedicated and supportive running wife (after all it was I who convinced him to run in the first place)--- but major bus problems (waiting over an hour for a bus and another 45 minutes on the bus) and I missed him cross the finish line. I felt terrible! However, I managed to catch him getting on the bus to go back to the hotel just as I arrived and jumped in line with him. Bummer that I missed his first big finish, but he was happy and smiling!

More to come...

Post Marathon Redemption Run

My first post of my "running journal" will not yet be a recap of the Disney Marathon, but instead be about my "punishment run". I probably shouldn't call it a redemption run- it wasn't outstanding or anything like that. I am not fast. I might not even be average. I only measure against myself when it comes to running. So "fast" for me might not be fast for anyone else.

Needless to say, I was not thrilled about my marathon on January 8th. I know I should have been thrilled just to have trained for it, run it and crossed the finish line! I should have been smiling, happy and proud! It was quite a journey that I barely had time for, but in the end, I was not feeling very celebratory. I had hoped I would at least tie my PR (is that even fair to call it a PR when it happened 10 years, one husband and two babies ago?).

Anyway, I took most of the week off. I ran the marathon recovering from bronchitis and some other respiratory issues (carried the inhaler for the journey). On top of that I had popped something in my rib area, or tore a muscle or something obscenely painful in that area and redisturbed that injury around mile 17. So, it was time for a little break. I ran 3 miles on Wednesday. Then, on Saturday I set out with no plan. And by "set out" I mean I hit the treadmill at the gym, planning on a few easy miles. Here is the run recap:

Miles 1-3 @ 9:22 min mile

Mile 4 @ 9:13 min mile (this is when I started rethinking all of my marathon failures)

Mile 5 @ 8:57 min mile

Mile 6 @ 8:49 min mile

Mile 7 @ 8:34 min mile

Mile 8 @ 9:30 min mile (cool down)

That's might be an easy run for someone else. For me, those miles under 9 minutes just 6 days after the marathon were not easy. Not really hard - but definitely made me sweat a little- particularly mile 7. I felt like I got a little less angry after that run. I felt like I reminded myself that I am capable of running faster than I did at Disney. It was a good run.

On Sunday, I ran another 6 miles. I went out fast (oh, flashback to the marathon!) and lost my juice at mile 4. It was outside and it was beautiful and I didn't care. I was not training for anything. I was just plain running.

Somehow we fit in two 3 mile walks with the double strollers (one of which had a pitstop at Ben and Jerry's for an ice cream treat!)--- so I hit the 12 mile mark on Sunday which was nice.