Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Post-marathon

My body is a funny thing, I can never quite understand it's way of thinking or behaving, never fully comprehend what's going on inside, never grasp it's amazing capabilities or dysfunctions.  I'm still in awe that my legs ran 26.2 miles in record (my record) time and felt strong enough to yet run another 1/2 mile before retiring to bed that night.  I'm still basking in the endorphin induced coma that puddles your brain after a successful long run or race, still hanging somewhere between cloud 9 and 10.  It's simply wonderful.   The body is amazing.

Sunday night I turned in fairly early (that just means before midnight) and ended up waking abruptly at 3am to extreme nausea and hunger.  I tried to sleep it off, tried to ignore it's nonsense, but it wouldn't dissipate.  Carefully, quietly, I tiptoed down to the kitchen to make myself breakfast while trying to hide the aromas so the dog wouldn't go bonkers.  Two waffles, three eggs, two glasses of OJ, an apple later....I felt more satisfied but still unable to return to slumber.  I finally retreated by 6am only to have my alarm wake me up just 45 min later.  What then?  Yes, breakfast again.  Same amount, same thing, same nausea plagued me.  It was like deja vu.  I returned home after dropping off all three kids to school only to find myself back in the kitchen looking to make breakfast number 3.  How could I possibly be hungry again?  Ugh.  By 8pm I had eaten breakfast 3 times, 2 lunches, and dinner once by myself and once with the family.  It's a scary thing.  I can say that this entire week has been pretty much of the same, starting between 4-6am with nausea and hunger pangs waking me.  I hope this doesn't last too long, I simply can't fall asleep before putting the 2 yr old to bed!  

But, I am extremely content with the way my body feels after this 26.2.  I have to pinch myself to be reminded that I actually did just run that distance, otherwise I certainly wouldn't remember doing it.  My legs feel so great, my mind is so ready to run again, but the little voice in the back of my head is quietly whispering to me to hold back, recover fully.  So, Monday was a day off, Tuesday was a 20 min bike ride on the trainer, today was a pool run with Edie and Allie, tomorrow AE with Meredith, and perhaps Friday I'll venture out for a light jog on the trail.  Taking it slow, trying to hold back, taking it easy, all things I'm horrible at doing but I know are crucial to healthy running.  Just 25 days till Boston. 

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