Post-Marathon

If ya'll remember from like 2 posts ago, I ran a marathon 10 days ago? errr, yes, 10 days ago... and while you think I would be past my "post marathon blues" ...I feel like it's just started.

I'm attributing the delayed onset to my busy week last week.... between an ochem midterm, my best friend from home visiting, my alien brother occupying wall street in NYC and making my sister's halloween costume... there was no time to be in a funk....

Then the weekend came. With no plans and no commitments and no roommate.

I went for a premeditated 4 mile run Saturday morning that turned into a miserable 2 mile limp due to excrutiating pain in my hip... not a happy camper.
Despite my failed run, I tried my best to stay positive and busy for the rest of the weekend and week... I cleaned, I organized, I dusted, I spent time with one of my best friends.... but still felt, and still do feel, like something in my life is missing.... blah.

It's crossed my mind more than once this past week(end) that I should devote my entire life to running marathons. You know... so when I'm done with one I can just jump on the training schedule again and run another one, and just all together skip the whole post-partum running depression gig.... but then I realized that I look forward far too much to weekends full of friends, laughing and oops, alcohol and pizza...

hello friends....  :)

.....and that's probably not condusive to running multiple marathons in a year.

I'm hoping thinking that a weekend of potential halloween excitement, new fitness adventures and possible future job opportunities will jumpstart my mood.

Now if my body would just get to normal ... I could start running again!

Back At It

Alright, so enough of the lazy lifestyle. It was great for a few days while I was taking a break and recovering from my marathon, but it's time to get my ass off the couch.

The good thing about loving exercise is that you don't have to schedule, or even force yourself to do it - you just do it.
And that is exactly what I did....

I woke up early yesterday morning  and hit my gym's Friday morning spin class with my favorite instructor. It was the perfect class to end my exercise hiatus and show off my marathon t-shirt...I even managed to throw around some free weights after class..... 

• 3 x 12 overhead shoulder press
• 3 x 15 chest fly on exercise ball
• 3 x 12 front/lateral raises
• 3 X 12 bicep curls
• 3 x 15 triceps extensions
• 2 x 12 dumbbell rows (ran short on time!)

It felt good to back in the gym and add some variety to my exercise.
But it's also going to feel good when I head out for a 5 mile run this morning...


What can I say.... it's a running thing :)


Have a great fall Saturday!

2011 Nationwide Columbus Marathon

Well. I ran the marathon yesterday, and I finished. 
errr.... I mean....


I ran the marathon yesterday and I finished!!!!
Woo!
It seems silly to be excited about running my second marathon when SkinnyRunner just completed her 20th marathon AND was the first female finisher.... haha awesome job girl!


I went into this race with no time expectation, or at least that what I was telling people...anyone who is a runner knows that they go into a race yearning to beat their previous time.  I'm a little disappointed I came in 6 minutes slower than my first marathon, but I keep reminding myself that I completed a 26.2 mile run before several of my friends even woke up to the lovely Sunday morning hangover.


But enough with the coulda shoulda woulda's .... I ran a marathon yesterday and through my favorite city. It was awesome... well, the first 21 miles....


Marathon Highlights:

• Pre race dinner:

• My running group reserved the downtown YMCA for us to all meet up before the race... which was a PERFECT idea... gave me time to relax in the warm indoors with my running buddies... not to mention use flushable toilets. 
• First 6 miles I ran with my friends... we had an awesome, comfortable pace... they stopped early to use the bathroom but while I was waiting I got impatient and decided to venture on
• Got to run through my old college stomping grounds
• Saw my parents 4 times throughout the race
• Around mile 12, I got secretly pissed off at the crowd when they started screaming "1 more mile! You're almost done!" .... I think they forgot there were a few thousand badasses in the race doing the whole sha-bang. 
• Saw my roommate's sister and her husband at about mile 14 which totally brightened my mood.... the race pretty much died after the half marathoners finished so it was so great and uplifting to see some familiar faces - Thank you 4's!!!
• Miles 15-20 seemed never-ending.... I was feeling okay but it was tough - lots of long, rolling hills
• After mile 20... I kiiiind of wanted to shoot myself. 
• 21-25 was rough... the usual suspect thoughts ran through  my head... "F&*$#%@" "Why the hell am I doing this" "This is my last marathon" 
• Luckily, I got a temporary mood boost when I saw my roommate and her boyfriend holding these signs:

• I got another little surprise 2 minutes later when I saw my parents.
• Then. I got knocked in the face with a lovely little hill.... why. why race director. why. I know it wasn't big, but it wasn't flat and it wasn't fun.
• My spirits took a turn for the better when I saw the "1/2 mile to go" flag
• I'm pretty sure I had to ran 10 miles to the flag.... and another 15 to see the actual finish line
• Fortunately, the last 0.1 mile was all downhill so I pretty much just had to let my body go
• I crossed the finish line with a little fist pump... 
• I was in pain, but was on cloud 9.
• My ankles were barely functioning. 
• My thighs were dead. 
• My back was beyond tight.
• I just wanted to sit down.
• BUT I spent the next hour walking around trying to find my parents. I finally gave up and decided to walk home, until I FINALLY saw them... who were, for the past hour, waiting back at my apartment. Apparently they thought it'd be okay if I walked home alone after running 26 miles... rookies. 



reunited and it feels so good

The rest of the day consisted of me trying to keep food inside of me, relaxing, cutting out felt shapes for my sister's Halloween costume, eating Tim Horton donut holes (from my parents) and catching up on my Real Housewives of Beverly Hills trash. 

Final Time: 4:14.10

Final Thoughts: I love running. I love my family and friends. I'm pumped I finished. I'm satisfied with my time. I think I might do another one. 

I called off work today. Oops :)

I need to study for a chem midterm anyway.....

Keep Running,

3 Cheers For....

....Friday!
.........marathon weekend!
...................blogging twice in one week!

Hi Friends! Surprised to see me so soon?
I decided take everyone by surprise and throw in a rouge blog post this week... partly because I have pointless pictures to share and mostly because I literally have nothing to do right now all day at work......shall we begin?

HUGE thanks to my friend Jackie over at And So It Goes for sharing her apple orchard apples that her and her new husband picked up:

I have yet to try one, but I'm anxiously awaiting lunch hour to test them out!

On another delicious food note:

Overnight oats in an almost empty peanut butter jar!

Breakfast is was served!
Topped with a crumbled up apple cinnamon muffin:

Once I'm done with this whole 9-5 job glitch in my day, I'm in official relaxation mode until I starting running 26.2 miles Sunday.
Well, now that I think about it... I do have a chem midterm to study for and a halloween costume to make for my sister.... but that all can be done while eating lots of pizza and orange leaf :)
have a quick Friday!

Oops, I've Been Lazy

Alright. It seems like my last couple posts have started with me apologizing for my lack of blogging, and this post has no exception. 
I would totally use the whole "I'm running a marathon on Sunday and going to class at night" excuse... but since most of the blogs I read are doing the same thing.... and posting 2 or 3 times a day... I might just have to go with the "oops, I've been lazy" excuse. 


But now that we have all that cleared up.... nothing too exciting has been happening in the life of Erin...
I'm in my last week of taper before my marathon on Sunday. 
I still start everyday thinking I'll meet my future doctor husband so I'll never have to work again.
I still hope that whenever I walk into a grocery store, Edy's Pumpkin ice cream will be on sale.
I'm LOVING the fall colors starting to pop up all over central Ohio:

So, unless something SO exciting and SO fantabulous happens in the next day or two... I shall report back after my marathon on Sunday - hopefully with news of finishing... I'm a little worried that when I pass my apartment at the 24.5 mile mark I might get confused and run home...... that would be bad.... 


Happy Hump Day!

Quick Marathon Update

....Sounds about right!
Just kidding.... I prefer to hydrate with beer :)


Okay, okay, anyway....Marathon Update.


I'm in the 2 week taper before the big day.
I ran 20 miles a week and a half ago with no problems.
I ran 14 miles on Saturday and the marathon injury leprechauns decided to have an early St. Patrick's Day celebration on my body....
Ugh!


Huge blister on my little toe pad.
My poor peroneal tendonitits is back... back in a big way. 
I didn't run Sunday. I just got back from trying to run this morning... no good. Sharp pain all over my foot.


Plan of Attack?
1. Heal my blister ASAP
2. Go see my main ankle dude and pray I'll be able to run 26 miles in 12 days... 


EEEK! 
Wish me luck!!!!

Marathon Training Update

Hi Guys! Hope your week is going great, and more importantly, fast!

So jumping right to the point: I got a facebook newsfeed from the Columbus Marathon the other day, announcing that there were only 500 spots left for the October race.... when I read this, I immediately to-do list  jumped, and made signing up for the marathon my #1 priority of the day - I've already put in too many long runs and have gone through too many bathroom emergencies to not do this thing - so as of Tuesday, I officially have my spot on October 16th for 26.2 miles. 

Random Thoughts on Training

(in no particular order, of course)

I did my first, what I like to call, big kid run last Saturday - 16 miles.

My ankle is holding up well. It looks a little swollen but 

causes me no pain or hinderance in my runs.

I ran 8 miles on Tuesday morning and have 17 miles this weekend.

Things are getting serious, lol

I am feeling totally awesome during my runs, although I need to concentrate on more mid-run fuel and hydration during my weekday runs.

I am constantly starving.

I am eliminating all nights that wind up with me consuming more than 4 alcoholic drinks and climbing into bed after 3:00am.... at least until after the marathon :)

I am starting to feel pressure on my race time. I ran my first marathon in 4:08. My running group thinks I can do the Columbus in under 4 hours. At 20 pounds heavier and with an actual social life.... this seems like a stretch. Running is my stress reliever...
I am not going to let this get to me.

I think my thighs have doubled in size.
Sorry Abercrombie, jeggings just aren't in this girl's wardrobe options. 

My running group is awesome. 

I'm sticking to my speedwork schedule and my pace has been great.

 

I'm knee deep in training. No turning back.

No desire to turn back. I'm pumped for this.

Happy 3 Day Weekend!