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May 12, 2006
Post-Marathon Funk
I am nearing the 4 week mark, and I can honestly say that I seem to be in some kind of funk. I don't want to run, but I cannot tolerate the idea of not running. A catch 22? My body is okay. My legs feel relatively fresh. But, for some reason, my mind is rusty and, like the tin man that used to give me nightmares as a kid, it needs some oil. Some motivation. Something!
Monday I took the day off and immediately regretted it because of Tuesday.
Tuesday is the day I ran 4 miles and wanted to walk!
Wednesday I ran 6 miles with B. and tried to progressively pick up the pace.
Thursday I got up at 6AM and willed myself outside for an easy 4 miles.
Friday: It's 9:00PM, I have a belly full of Starburst Jellybeans (BAD) and I am about to force myself on the treadmill for 22-32 minutes. I have to or I will go to sleep tonight with restless and jumpy legs.
The one thing I have been consistently doing is weight training for 2 hours/week. I have gained a lot of strength, but I almost wonder if my upper body is getting too bulky? Hmmm. I am the worst judge of my own body so I will try not to think about it unless my race times say otherwise. I have decided never to step on a scale again . . . I will let my race times and general feeling of well-being dictate whether or not I need to cut out the jellybeans :-)
Time to get those 4 miles in (thanks, Carrie, for motivating me!)
Posted by bridget at May 12, 2006 08:51 PM
Comments
i think you can call it the post-BOSTON funk. i went through the SAME thing and just didnt really feel right for months. well worth it, but i really think that course does a number on your body!
Posted by: katie at May 13, 2006 10:05 AM
Mmmm...jelly beans. I'm still on my rationed quota of daily jelly beans. Boston left me not wanting to do much for a while. It's sometimes a good idea to have something waiting in the wings to get over that funk.
I think that 2 hours of weights a week is a lot. My schedule seems to be 30-60 minutes a week depending on if I get in once or twice. I doubt that your upper body is getting too bulky. I'm like you, a terrible judge of my own body.
Running on a full stomach of jelly beans is a bad idea, been there.
Blondie
Posted by: Blondie at May 13, 2006 01:11 PM
not sure what to do about the funk except maybe run with me? my enthusiasm might be contagious. it's worth a shot!
ps. your upper body is NOT bulky!!!
Posted by: caroline at May 13, 2006 05:11 PM
I had a post-Boston funk -- my next race after Boston was among my worst ever -- and I dropped out 10 miles before the finish! It'll wear off eventually, I promise. It's normal to go through ups and downs regarding enthusiasm for running, I think. But I've found that no matter how badly I've lost it, it has always come back. Good luck!
Posted by: Alison at May 13, 2006 07:46 PM
Some thoughts. How about a couple of weeks of walking? Boston is such a beautiful city with so much to see. Great architecture. And the T which takes you anywhere. Even to Revere to walk on the sand! When you run with a workout in your mind (great) you miss a lot of stuff (shame). And walking around in my own city makes me feel like I am on vacation. And you have that great feeling "Gosh I am really burned out, we walked all day long..." You discover new views, stores, places... And walking is still a great exercise and calorie burner. Won't lose strength. And you can do it with a stomach full of jelly beans if that's what causing the Funk! :) They burn off, but don't bother you jumping around in your stomach. And after a good walk you feel re-invigorated but without the pounded-out feeling of a strenuous work-out and a bit more energy to go about with most daily routines. Suddenly, when you least expect it, one fine day you walk out the door and bam! Before you know it you are flying again... thoughts finished.
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at May 15, 2006 03:15 AM