Is this normal?

The day after the marathon I wrote a really long race recap.  I read it to my family, they said it was too negative and that I would scare people away from running a marathon.  That blog post unfortunately did not make the blog.

Here is the thing.  I did enjoy the race.  There were certain aspects I did not enjoy after mile 18, but as I read other blogs I realize most people don't have anything nice to say after mile 18…sometimes even earlier!  I read about the rest period after a marathon.  The suggestion was no running for 4 to 7 days.  They suggested doing cardio you otherwise would not do, something just for the fun of it.  I, unfortunately, did not even do that.  What I did do was strength training 2 days, and core/stretching 1 day this week.  I cleaned my house like mad and did a whole lot of eating.  Not because I was hungry, but because I was really wanting to indulge.

The thing that is troubling me is that I need to jump right into training for another Marathon in October (Portland Marathon), but before that I got tantalized by the medal for the Flat Half this year.  I run that every year and was going to forego it this year, but the medal was just too pretty!  Here's the problem.  I am not sure how to train with only two weeks in between.  I have my idea that I am going to go with, but am just a little nervous.

I have a five mile run tomorrow.  It has been 6 days since I have hit the streets.  Tomorrow I have five miles to run.  I am nervous about it.  I feel confident that I can do it, but just wonder if it will be easy like the five's I was doing before, or if it will be long and taxing.  ALSO, my client and I have decided to use the Galloway Method for the Marathon, so that's got me a little creeped out.  Taking walk breaks on purpose will be new to me.

I have heard of post marathon let down where people feel like they accomplished something big, then it's like "what next?"  I can only imagine that this is the lunacy that leads to more marathons then to, gulp, ultras.  But what I wonder is if it is normal to feel afraid of getting back into training, because I used to feel that way after running half marathons.

Jolene

Dear shoes

Dear Asics Gel Nimbus 17 (white pair),

You have been with me through the miles.   Taking the beating with every pounding step.  Never fighting, only absorbing the abuse of the road for me.  We ran over 300 miles together in preparation for our first marathon.  You were with me on mile 14 for the first time, you were with me when we had to walk and I had to face the fact that running is sometimes partial to walking.  And that I am not the bad mamajama I thought I was.  You talked me into continuing on when the side of the road was looking like a cool bed, or when the Llama looked so snuggly and comfortable lying in the cool grass…you reminded me that you were supporting me, and that I didn't need to stop or hallucinate as we would get our brake soon enough.  You helped me stay out of ditches, and never let me twist my ankle.  You propelled me up hills I otherwise would have been squeamish over.  Remember the time the birds were protecting their nest, and you helped me put my Speed Agility and Quickness skills into effect?  What about that time we saw those chickens doing things that should have been saved for night time?  What a time we had!  You took me in training farther than any other shoe…all the way up to 20 miles, and then a few runs after that.  Then... I began feeling like you weren't supporting me as good as you were at first.  I got nervous.  I bought a new pair of Asics Gel Nimbus 17 (blue pair).  I am sorry.  It didn't take me long (15 miles to be exact) to figure out that even though they supported me, they hadn't been through what we have been through together.    They didn't lace up as easy, they weren't as playable and comfy as you.  I am sorry that I humiliated you by putting you on the left foot and the new shoe on the right foot and paraded you around the driveway to test out which pair I would take on the race.   How could I do that to you? I had to realize the hard way that you had not lost your structure, no, instead you had turned into what a trained shoe should be! I hope you know that you are my true first marathon shoe and it is you who I will take to the race.  I know that you will cary me through just as you have all the other miles, so please forgive me and lets make our last huge memory on Saturday!
Sincerely,
Your deeply indebted non injured runner  

About my marathon training

Last week I ran my first 20 miles…ever.
I remember being nervous for it, and really hoping to be able to run the whole thing.  I can't figure out why running the whole thing is so important.  I have deduced it to two reasons.
1. I must think I am some sort of bad mama jama to be able to say I did it, which earns me nothing.  No special prize, no money, and certainly not the right to say I am the only one.
2. I can get it done faster, and it's easier than stopping and starting up again.

Neither of course are true, but number 2 you can train in a way that walk/run/walking will not only work, but will be the same speed and less stress on the joints.  Number 1, well that's just the craziness.

This week on the schedule was 12 miles today and I was up against a 4 am wake up, and a 8 - 9 am client, which meant I wasn't able to start my run until after 9:30, the temp was supposed to get up there too.  Considering that it takes 2 hours to run this thaaaang, I knew I would be running into some heat.

Things I have discovered.
When I first began training for races (mostly half marathons) I would be so careful to eat my gels every hour on the hour.  I would eat 3 of them each time.  I carried water with me and was sure to sip at least every mile.
Since training for anywhere from 1-2 hours on a midweek run, I have come to really dislike the eating during the run portion.  And don't even try to sell me on the GU (liquid snot)
I try to cut my water consumption off at least 1.5 hours before I am going to run, but before that time I try to get well hydrated with 16-32 ounces of water, then take that 1.5 hours to pee it out.  As for eating, I usually shove something in my mouth right before I start just to get rid of the hunger pang.
When I go for my run I fill up my water bag and try to sip every 1 to 1.5 miles.  Toward the end I get very thirsty, especially if it is hot, or if it's a run over 10 miles.  I drink so much and sweat so much out that I need to take electrolyte capsules, about 1 every hour, then one when I get home because I know I will be guzzling the water.

My route:
It doesn't vary much.  The place where I run most has lots of small and some big rolling hills.  I try like heck to avoid the big ones so I am never more than 2.5 to 3 miles away from home.  I do not, necessarily, run in circles either.  I have several out and backs in my course.  That's fancy runner talk for; running from point A to point B, then back to point A.  Sounds like fun doesn't it?

What to eat after a run?
I usually feel like I worked so hard that I shouldn't go off the deep end with my food after a long run.  Like today, I ate lots of red lettuce with about 1 tbsp of OPA ranch (only because that was all there was!), 1 Field roast Chipoltle dog cut up, 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 2 TBSP hemp hearts (theres that protein everyone's worried about) and raisins.  I know I added a lot of calories to my meal, but I also added ALOT of nutrients.  I am not gonna lie…after my 20 miler last week, it was straight pizza night.

So, tonight I have a well deserved rest coming to me, and possibly some chocolate :)
Thank you for reading.