Thursday, May 13, 2010

Recovery and Guess That GU for a Prize

I can’t thank you enough for taking time to read my race report, to comment and to travel the marathon journey with me through the peaks and valleys, the emotions, the squirt and the distance. See? I can talk about things other than farts and poop. I really do have a heart just like the tin man or scarecrow or whoever. I never liked that movie much anyway. I found it a bit creepy.

I am still basking in the glory of my BQ. I wish strangers would ask how I am so I could tell them about my race. Maybe I will go to the grocery store naked wearing only my medal and see if anyone asks (or calls the police).  I’d even like it if the slow guy at Target who gathers the carts and tells me daily about the time he went to New Mexico on a Greyhound bus, would ask about my race. Lord knows I’ve listened to him enough over the years. Can’t it be about me just this once? Can’t it??

Coming down from this high is like the day after Christmas. So much build up, such a great day, then status quo and the thought, “What’s next?”

Truth be told, I never thought much about recovery. All of my momentum was towards race day and after that, there was a blank space.

Recovery so far for me has consisted of coffee, Jodi Picoult, vet visits, Modern Family, wine. Some experts suggest recovering one day per each mile run. That would be 26 days and 4.8 hours (yeah, just did that off the top of my head) of recovery depression. No way am I doing that. Hell, I’ve got a triathlon in 24 days.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m going to go out today on a long crap-inducing run or hit the track for my ten Yassos (which, by the way, kind of worked. I did my 800s at 3:30-3:42 and ran a 3:42 marathon. That Bart is a genius. And I’m not talking about the one who says “Don’t have a cow, man” and, “I will not draw naked ladies in class.” If you have no clue what I’m talking about, google Yasso 800s).

My plan is to do a reverse taper, build back up slowly, incorporate lots of swimming/biking and start 16 weeks of marathon training on June 27 (not that I have it planned out or anything) for the Denver Rock ‘n Roll on October 17.

Yesterday I had a post-race massage. Do you get naked for your massages? I got naked and wore my medal (just kidding). Yes, I strip down, but I only go to women. You see, in Mexico at a resort (five years ago) I had a Latino masseur who took some liberties. Let’s just say he got close to the honeysuckle, if you know what I mean. He didn’t officially cross the line, but he was in the ballpark. I came back to the room and told Ken I thought I might have just cheated on him, but I didn't mean to. Since that time I’ve gone to women in the United States.

Today my massage therapist told me my legs felt great (I don’t think she was hitting on me. If so, that would be two possible lesbian hits in one week. A first for me!). Anyway, she said the legs were loose and amazing. I’m taking this as a fine recovery sign. Other signs of a good recovery?

  • I can sit on the toilet with no pain
  • My appetite has returned with a vengeance (I couldn’t really eat the first 24 hours after the race). Hello Jelly Bellies!
  • I took a huge dump yesterday. My first one since those awful hershey squirts on race day
  • I can think about running and not be totally repulsed
  • I laughed again at Ashley falling off the treadmill on the Biggest Loser (okay, this is not about recovery, but they showed it like 95 times on Tuesday and I can relate because I too fell of a treadmill. And, what is up with Michael’s headband?)
  • I’m not sick.

What do you do for recovery?

So…Outside PR just sent me their newest flavor of GU*. I am one of the first to try it. Guess what the flavor is and I’ll send you one (first 3 to get it right):

P1060521

*This product was provided to me free of charge by Outside PR.

74 comments:

  1. My next marathon is OCt 17th, too! And I start training June 27th. Fun! Swimming helps a ton during post marathon recovery. Biking, too. I would not do any track work for a couple of weeks though, the body is most vulnerable post marathon! I take at least a week off of running post marathon, no matter how much I hate it!

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  2. Nice post! I'm running the Chicago Marathon and hadn't even thought about recovery yet - yikes!

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  3. HAHA, I had a great race on the weekend and I'm still basking in the glory. I know exactly how you feel when you say you wish people would just ask you how you're doing. I think I've worn out all friends and family and they're getting sick of me talking about it.

    I never got that 1 day per mile recovery thing either. WAY too much. 1-3 days, at the most, then build up slowly with pace and distance.

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  4. Whoa never heard of this Yasso thing but I HOPE it's true. I've never done 10 800s but 8 or 9, all around 3:50 or little less. My goal is sub 4 hour marathon so that would work well. I'm gonna go run some 800s.. next week. I'm glad your digestive system is behaving better now and I can't offer any advice on recovery but good luck!

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  5. I can totally relate to the post race, "what now?" thoughts. But, since you already have another race on the horizon, I think you'll be fine :)
    You sound like you have a good build up planned - just listen to your body, it will tell you :)

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  6. I have never run a full. But..I did my first half 2 weeks ago and had the same post-race let down. I just signed up for a 5K next month, which has helped.
    I ordered a cute "13.1. One tough mama" necklace and have worn that hoping people would ask me about it. But...I vote for going out naked with just your medal!

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  7. so glad your recovering well! congrats again and you shouldn't wait for people to ask you how you are to brag...i sure as heck didn't! haha

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  8. I can relate to the post-race let down. my first half is on Sunday (Colfax) and I already sense that I'll need something else... so I went ahead and signed up for the RnR Denver. We shall see if I live to regret that!

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  9. Haha..."hersey squirts." You never fail to make me laugh!
    I always take a few days off from running..no way I'd take 26 days off!

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  10. At the moment, my post-race recovery plan doesn't extend beyond copious amounts of wine and junk food, from which I have deprived myself completed for almost 4 weeks!

    Glad you're doing so good and enjoying that BQ after-glow!

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  11. My recovery from my first marathon 2 weeks ago consisted of ice cream, hot yoga and a 90 minute massage. In that order. I also scheduled a 20 mile trail run two weeks later, which is now 2 days away. I'm thinking the massage might be a better idea.

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  12. Howard = Stalker.

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  13. Recovery after my last marathon included getting pregnant; I'm not sure I recommend that for you! Now that Shelby is here I can't wait to start running again. I'll see you at the race in October (if not sooner); I'm registered for the half.

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  14. Post-marathon blues ARE a drag, but you're on the right track w/ Modern Family. Dear Lord that show is just the best. Did you see last night when they left Lilly on the elevator? That big guy screaming is just priceless...

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  15. Oooh, mystery Gu!

    Jet Blackberry 2x Caffeine ??

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  16. Nevermind, Jet Blackberry is not new in the U.S. (though it seems to be here in CA).

    Can I change my guess? LOL

    Peanut Butter Squirt! (I added the 'squirt' just for you...)

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  17. I am guessing chocolate peanut butter!

    I like that idea, mystery gu!

    PS: Jodi and Modern family are my two favorite things!!!

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  18. Recovery is hard...not as hard as tapering, but tough. I like the wine idea! But seriously, the reverse taper is probably smart.

    The Gu flavor? How about mango?

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  19. So far, Motrin and The Stick work for my recovery, but then again the longest I've run was 2 5K's (duathlon).

    For the GU - cran-raspberry!

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  20. I'd guess they go with Mango-Peach. Or something with the word "Smoothie" in it...

    And congrats on your awesome run!

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  21. That whole honeysuckle comment really drew a picture in my head. Sorry, I swear I'm not a les.

    I don't want the GU but I'm guessing the flavor is Hershey Squirt.

    No..?

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  22. Reverse recovery sounds like the way to go! Glad you are feeling better and back on track with the pooping. I thought of you as I ran to the bathroom after my 11-miler on Saturday =)

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  23. i'm guessing chocolate peanut butter.

    glad you're feeling good!

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  24. Wait Blackberry has been out...hummm, creamcicle? for summer?!

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  25. I like your idea of a reverse taper!

    Your hubbs better watch it with all those ladies hitting on you! ;-)

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  26. I, like you, and doing a half ironman tri in four weeks to recover (followed by the San Fran Nike Women's Marathon in the fall). Are we both nuts?

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  27. hmm with about 3 races a year I don't have the same issue as you :) I am just not that interested in racing, this whole following a plan thing is sucking all the fun out of running for me

    let's see flavor.... mango

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  28. I am guessing chocolate peanut butter too... and I swear I'm not copying.
    I had the SAME masseuse too close to the honeysuckle incident. In Canada though. THoguht I'd need to administer a roundhouse kick to somewhere tender.

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  29. Sounds like recovery is going great!
    Coffee flavored??? with extra caffine???

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  30. Maybe watermelon!!! Sounds yummy for summer!

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  31. Grape gu? Bet that would be good on a peanut butter sandwich.

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  32. So you're at Target every day? Are you some kind of weird Target stalker?

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  33. Reply: OK - going to Target daily as kind of a stretch. Let's say weekly and call it good. No I'm not a Target stalker, Char.

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  34. Just found your blog and LMAO at the "huge dump" because dang, that's so true.

    GU flavor...ooh, chocolate pb sounds SO good and something I would definitely try. My guess is peanut butter.

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  35. FLAVOR: "Hershey squirt"? I mean chocolate kiss?
    I guess, I'd need to know ....how well do these people KNOW you? ;)

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  37. Blackberry?

    I laughed out loud when you said you wore your medal for your massage. Dad Wonder thought I was losing my mind and when I told him the reason he still thought I was losing my mind.

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  38. Recovery for me is just a bit of the same thing just at a less intense scale. I do have a massage the day of the marathon (also after each of my long runs 16+ miles). Workout wise, I am usually back at the gym two days later, usually swimming first, then I add a little bit of cycling. A week later I start running again.

    Flavor: Mandarin Orange

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  39. Ok so I would gladly ask you again, how did the race go? Why are you wearing only a medal? Did u poop ur pants? Did you cry? Did u sign up for boston yet? What color underpants did u wear? Leopard print? Ahhh!!!!! :-) thanks for the laugh! I'm still so so so proud of you!!! I want Boston toooooo!!!! <3

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  41. I'm going to guess Peanut Butter... If that's not right, they definitely need to work on that one! :)

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  42. OK - GU guess number 1 - Pinot Noir

    GU guess number 2 - Cosmopolitan

    Hey a girl has to wish and hope . . .

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  43. GU guess....Pomegranate

    Glad to hear your doing good.

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  44. ok-blonde here thought the numbers next to the comments were ages. I'm so freaking stupid sometimes.

    Thank goodness I saw mine and was like , "hey, wait a freaking minute - I am NOT 37."

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  45. About the questions, 1) not naked for massages and no prior honeysuckle incidents, 2) recovery= short slow runs for a week or two, 3) flavor is coffee with chocolate syrup.
    About that marathon, I know this is late, but I just read the race reports, twice, really! You didn't just BQ, you kicked BQ's butt and in an amazing and inspiring way!! You should bask in the glory at a rate of one hour per race mile, I hear that's exactly 26 days and 4.8 hours! You rock!! Thank you for sharing your journey with the rest of us!

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  46. I am guessing Mandarin Orange.

    As for recovery, I go shopping! Really! It helps with the lactic acid build up! My plan, though, is to not stop moving after a race, though. Glad you are recovering well, sounds like a good reversal in place!

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  47. Honeysuckle, too funny ;)

    For the GU I say a fruity blend.....maybe blueberry/pomegranate

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  48. I just read your race reports! Congrats on your BQ! AWESOME!

    Good luck training for you triathlon!

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  49. Margarita flavor!
    I know you have recovered because you are back with your humor!

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  50. if the flavor is shut up and run squirts than I don't WANNA win any..... except, damn it, I really like free stuff!!

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  51. Chocolate orange?? I figure it needs to be fruity for summer but chocolate for, well, the chocoholic runners.

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  52. I'll be in Denver too!

    Recovery for me is always chocolate milk & peanut butter M&Ms! Right after my ice bath of course!

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  53. My guess is peanut butter and jelly!

    Good job on the recovery, it sounds like you're doing what you need to be doing!

    Can I ask what marathon plan you're following? I'll be starting my marathon plan soon and I can't decide which to do. Any help/advice of what plan to choose would be much appreciated! :)

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  54. Mandarin Orange!

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  55. I think it's green tea pomegranate.

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  56. I'm going with orange for the Gu. For some reason orange sounds good. Like the orange Flinstone push up popcicles. YUM!

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  57. Recovery is sometimes worse than the taper, but I like to use the entire week to just eat crap, so jelly bellie away, girl!!! You so deserve it. I saw blackberry GU the other day at REI, so not sure if that's one of the NEW ones or if this is "not released yet" new. What I'd love to see (well, if I could eat GU, which I can't) is peanut butter GU. Is it peanut butter flavored????

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  58. You are hilarious. Love that recovery is going well for you and that you have a plan for the next race...I'm still debating on doing a full marathon myself!!

    As for the mystery Gu flavor...hmmm. I am going to guess Mango. (Though PB flavor sounds delicious!)

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  59. Bacon, cheez-whiz and eggplant.
    Tinfoil.
    Tequila shooter (this might sell!).
    Wet dog fur.
    Latino masseur honeysuckle. ("masseuse" is feminine)

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  60. I have decided that recovery is that hardest part of training. I didn't think about recovery at all until I was running the race. I'm doing an awful job at it. I like the idea of doing a lot of cross training, good luck on your Tri!

    Glad to see you are recovering well! Can't wait to follow your training for Dallas and then Boston!! yay!

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  61. I'm guessing what I want that flavor to be: chocolate peanut butter.

    I HOPE I'm right!

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  62. you can obviously tell by the packaging that the new flavor is chocolate peanut butter. obviously.

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  63. Left you some linky love in my post today, "Twice in one day"

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  64. I leave the undies on for messages, but yes, women only.

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  65. How fun!! a Gu tester! geez! that rocks.

    uh, okay, cherry...or acai...it's all the new rage;-)

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  66. If I got a vote, I’d agree with your reverse taper idea. That seems to make the most sense to me. Is the GU corn flavored? Mmmmm corn.

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  67. Your BQ was well deserved. I have heard from a 60 something man though that the BQ he attempted as a young runner was about 10-20 minutes harder than it is now. Seems like they surely let the mens slack; I wonder what womens used to be.

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