Some of the proof of fitness has got to be in the recovery time. I went up to my college's Founders Day this Saturday with plans to jog the cross-country alumni fun run and when the gun went off, I just felt like racing. My poor old coach is probably still grumbling about how offensive it is for me to show up a week after a marathon and PR on the course that I could barely run in 23 minutes as a college student. It was hardly my fastest 3-miler, but it's the fastest I've ever done that course, which is fairly hilly. And it felt good! I was a little worn out towards the end, but I'm amazed myself at how quickly my legs have bounced back.
I'm still babying myself for the next few weeks and taking it easy with the mileage, but I have to admit to high hopes for a 10K in two weeks and even higher hopes for another one in a month. Ah, 10Ks...almost all of the gratification of a marathon with none of the mental anguish.
I've also completed a little vanity project that no one is even remotely obligated to watch, but I've justified it with the fact that I really do need to learn video editing for my next life as a photographer or a photo editor or visual communications specialist or whatever it is that I end up being. Below is my Kentucky marathon experience boiled down to a 10 minute YouTube video:
Comments (12)
that was really excellent on so many levels Chelle! kudos to Jack too, for the filming and lone-commentary.
and i can't believe you just ran another race this weekend. ok...scratch that
Posted by Yvonne | May 5, 2008 11:08 PM
Posted on May 5, 2008 23:08
It was just a fun run! So it wasn't at all like those intense NYRR scenes. But yeah, if I'd gone and injured myself by trying to run faster too early, I would be thinking in hindsight that it was a pretty dumb idea.
And thanks for giving credit to Jack there...he really did a great job of being all over the course and he was using the camera for the first time that morning, though you'd never guess that!
Posted by chelle | May 6, 2008 6:16 AM
Posted on May 6, 2008 06:16
Came across this
http://athletics.vassar.edu/index.php?action=fullnews&id=1935
in my news search today. Nice job! Were you really in the class of '92? You must have been a relatively young graduate, unless I'm just having a bad math day.
Posted by Alison | May 6, 2008 12:40 PM
Posted on May 6, 2008 12:40
Perhaps the black woman in fifth didn't understand Swahili because she's American.
Posted by Roslyn | May 6, 2008 12:46 PM
Posted on May 6, 2008 12:46
Hey, thanks for the link! Yup, that's me, but they got my class year off by a year...1993.
And Roslyn, you are absolutely corrent. That was sort of a joke we had going that people have a habit of assuming the only black marathoners must be African.
Being that it's a sort of sensitive topic, I probably should have edited it out. We were just so anxious to practice our few phrases of Swahili that Meghan taught us!
Posted by chelle | May 6, 2008 12:57 PM
Posted on May 6, 2008 12:57
Vanity project or not, that's a great video, Chelle.
Posted by Thomas | May 6, 2008 2:02 PM
Posted on May 6, 2008 14:02
And I should have edited my comment to say that, except for that little jolt, it's a marvelous video. It's as much fun to get a personal glimpse of the talented, dedicated sub-elite runner as to learn about the elites. Thanks.
Posted by Roslyn | May 6, 2008 2:16 PM
Posted on May 6, 2008 14:16
Oh I can't watch your videos, dumb dialup at home and no YouTube at work. Boo. I'm sure you're as cute as you are in the photos, though.
Okay, I have to know, do you have an orange flower in your hair while running a 2:56? Because if you do... Just kidding. It just adds to the adorable-ness factor of the photos.
Glad to hear recovery is coming quickly. I was -just- having that discussion with my friend who ran Big Sur and said she was recovered 2 days later. Our resolution, either she's fit or she didn't run hard enough. Ahem, which one are you?
Siku njema, bibi! Have a great day, girly!
Meghan
Posted by Meghan | May 7, 2008 1:45 AM
Posted on May 7, 2008 01:45
Someone told me I had to wear a big foofy hat since it was the Derby marathon, so I got the idea to try and wear the festive flowers. I'd just been about to throw away some old plastic flowers, so I distracted myself the day before the race by sewing them to barrettes. Once they were pinned in I hardly even knew they were there. It's too easy to get stressed out over these races, so anything to lighten things up is a good thing.
I'm not sure how recovered I really am. I haven't run in three days now, but I still had some weird, painful tweaks going on in my knees going down the subway stairs this morning. And knowing how competitive I tend to get during races, I can't imagine I would have let that woman beat me if I had anything left to catch her over those last few miles.
Posted by chelle | May 7, 2008 8:05 AM
Posted on May 7, 2008 08:05
Loved the video... your stride was so relaxed, it's hard to believe you were racing a marathon.
Posted by Alejandro | May 8, 2008 1:52 PM
Posted on May 8, 2008 13:52
Hi,Chelle, I just discovered this blog, but plan to read it more.
That is an excellent video of the Louisville Marathon.
Its real good to see what it looks like for a serious runner who is competing hard but still appears to be enjoying the race.
Congratulations on a great race.
Patrick McCarthy
Posted by Patrick McCarthy | May 8, 2008 9:32 PM
Posted on May 8, 2008 21:32
I just found your blog through some runners blogs-surfing, and wanted to say how amazing that video was. You are inspirational!
Posted by Monica C. | June 1, 2008 4:46 PM
Posted on June 1, 2008 16:46