Post-marathon depression. Those three words describe my past month since the Boston Marathon. It wasn't easy and it still isn't. I didn't want to run. Nothing felt as good as that day and I didn't know how to get that feeling back. That love for running, that love for training.
I ran Boston's Run to Remember on May 27th. My boss was there to join me in the race. We had a little duel going. I left him a note that morning on his race packet letting him know I'd be winning our race. Little did I know what was to come. I had so very little training in - it's not an excuse, just the truth and my own fault - and it was a very hot morning. I ended up finishing in 1:51:15 and averaging an 8:30 min/mi pace. This was 8 seconds off my previous half marathon pace. My boss however, came in 10 minutes before me and was nice enough to meet my exhausted self at the finish and walk me to the water area.
I was hoping for a PR that day, but it didn't happen. In hindsight, it shouldn't have happened and it was far reaching for me to expect it. I had no training in for it except for some casual whenever I felt like it general aerobic runs and a few track workouts. I was not ready for that race and my legs told me so. They were incredibly sore afterward and even into the next day. I was upset with my performance and doubted why I was even running.
Tuesday morning before work, my boss gave me a short therapy session. We went over the race - both mine and his - and talked about the ups and downs. He helped me rationalize what had been happening to me the past month and explained that it really wasn't that uncommon. After out talk, I felt much better.
Tuesday night I headed out for a training run on the Vision 5K course. I had been organizing a team from my company (Team Take C.H.A.R.G.E.) for the Vision 5K on June 2nd. We had 5 walkers and 15 runners signed up. All my coworkers new that I had run Boston and I did not want to dissapoint any of them in this race.
The training run went well because I took it very easy and ran with the Director of my department. He was ready to stop at about mile 1.8, but I assured him we didn't have much left and told him to keep going. I can be a real slave driver. I had a great time on this run. Seeing him complete the 3.1 miles running the whole way really inspired me and reminded me just how good running can feel.
The Vision 5K was just a few days away and was about to become the turning point of my post-marathon depression. You'll have to read more about this in my next blog post.
Showing posts with label Half Marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Half Marathon. Show all posts
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Reunion Party
Friday night, Jeff and his wife, Sara, hosted a Team BMC reunion party for all of us who went to the Saturday morning runs. It was great to see everyone again - yeah, I know it had only beem a week, but still.
We all sat around in the kitchen and discussed our battle stories and talked of our future plans while we ate lasagna and dessert. We all had different stories to tell - some good, some bad - but in the end we all crossed the finish line and that's what really matters. No one seems 100% sure on what the future will bring for running. Some are signed up for Chicago 2007, others will wait for Chicago 2008, while the rest of us try to find a fall marathon to BQ. I still haven't decided on one, but it's good to know that when I do, I'll have a group of people to train with.
And I'm finally done being sick! Yes! So tonight I start running again and seriously getting ready for the Run to Remember Half Marathon on May 27th. I think my training schedule has me doing 4 miles tonight, which I'm sure will feel great, considering that since April 16th, I've only run 3.5 miles. Ah! I hate saying that.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
New Bedford Half Marathon 3.18.07
The New Bedford Half Marathon was my first half marathon and my longest race to date. Needless to say I was nervous; I am before all races. It was all good nerves and I think made the race more fun.
The Friday before the race we got a Nor'easter, which dumped about 6 inches of snow and sleet in Quincy (more up North and less down South). The wind was blowing so hard my windows were shaking and I could hear the ice pinging against the windows.
By Saturday morning when I woke up to shovel at 7:30am the snow/sleet had turned to rain, which made the snow on the ground heavier than ever. I shoveled out my car and headed back in for oatmeal, hot tea, pyjamas and more sleep.
With all this crazy weather I had no idea what Sunday was going to be like for the race so I decided I had definitely better drive down on Saturday to pick up my number and scope out the roads. New Bedford received significantly less snow fall than points north so I wasn't too worried. The roads were clear and would be ready to race on Sunday.
The race start was at 11am and I was nervous about getting there. I found a place to park, looked up and Sarah was walking by. Thank goodness! A familiar face and someone I could be lost with! We found our way to the gym, which smelled of the post-race meal - fish sandwiches and chowdah, ew! During the check in/bathroom process we managed to run into Kevin and Stephanie, more familiar faces from Team BMC.
Sarah and I headed down to the race start and were not excited about the excessive winds, but didn't really have any choice. We knew we had to keep a 8:30 - 9:00 pace so we could reach our goal of 2 hours. The start was very crowded and we weren't really able to break free of the crowd until around mile 3, but we did and got into a good groove.
Mile 3... ugh, it sends shivers up my spine. That hill was tall and long and awful! I don't want to see it again (until maybe next year). After that though we had a very nice fast downhill with a tailwind. This turned into a long stretch of flat right next to the ocean to enjoy the ocean breeze. In the summertime I love that nice ocean breeze, but Sunday was not the summertime and I hated that ocean breeze. It was cold and smacking me right in the side of the face. Not fun! We had met up with Kevin around the 6 mile mark so we joined him for this stretch of "ocean breeze" that lasted from about miles 8-11. Somewhere after that time we found Stephanie who was doing great - and thankfully had no ice in her ponytail for once! After that I was really just looking for the hill at mile 12. We headed up a hill, but it wasn't the monster of a hill that I had expected. It was more of a long steady incline, which led me to think that that wasn't really the hill I was waiting for. All of a sudden we turn a corner and this guy says, "less than 250 feet to go!" and I realize it's flat and I will be done soon. Sarah and I kicked it in for the last stretch and were so thankful we finished.
This was a great experience. I learned that I definitely cannot come out that fast for my first marathon. I also learned the importance of hydration because at one point I was feeling kind of out of it and then realized that I hadn't really drank that much. I did have one GU packet, but I don't think that was enough to help me.
I treated myself to lunch at my favorite sandwich place and then tried to relax. I couldn't really though because I was so excited about the performance. I talked Dave's ear off for the rest of the day until I crashed at about 10:15 when I went to bed. Then I woke up Monday to talk off Steve's (my manager's) ear for all of Monday. I can't even imagine what I'll be like on April 16th and after! I feel sorry for those around me and apologize in advance for not shutting up!
New Bedford Results
Date: 3.18.2007
Age: 24
Bib #: 69
Distance: 13.1 miles
Goal Time: 02:00:00
Actual Time: 01:49:34
Pace: 8:22
Place Overall: 876/1827
Age Group (19-24) Place: 27/73
Cool Running Results Page
The Friday before the race we got a Nor'easter, which dumped about 6 inches of snow and sleet in Quincy (more up North and less down South). The wind was blowing so hard my windows were shaking and I could hear the ice pinging against the windows.
By Saturday morning when I woke up to shovel at 7:30am the snow/sleet had turned to rain, which made the snow on the ground heavier than ever. I shoveled out my car and headed back in for oatmeal, hot tea, pyjamas and more sleep.
With all this crazy weather I had no idea what Sunday was going to be like for the race so I decided I had definitely better drive down on Saturday to pick up my number and scope out the roads. New Bedford received significantly less snow fall than points north so I wasn't too worried. The roads were clear and would be ready to race on Sunday.
The race start was at 11am and I was nervous about getting there. I found a place to park, looked up and Sarah was walking by. Thank goodness! A familiar face and someone I could be lost with! We found our way to the gym, which smelled of the post-race meal - fish sandwiches and chowdah, ew! During the check in/bathroom process we managed to run into Kevin and Stephanie, more familiar faces from Team BMC.
Sarah and I headed down to the race start and were not excited about the excessive winds, but didn't really have any choice. We knew we had to keep a 8:30 - 9:00 pace so we could reach our goal of 2 hours. The start was very crowded and we weren't really able to break free of the crowd until around mile 3, but we did and got into a good groove.
Mile 3... ugh, it sends shivers up my spine. That hill was tall and long and awful! I don't want to see it again (until maybe next year). After that though we had a very nice fast downhill with a tailwind. This turned into a long stretch of flat right next to the ocean to enjoy the ocean breeze. In the summertime I love that nice ocean breeze, but Sunday was not the summertime and I hated that ocean breeze. It was cold and smacking me right in the side of the face. Not fun! We had met up with Kevin around the 6 mile mark so we joined him for this stretch of "ocean breeze" that lasted from about miles 8-11. Somewhere after that time we found Stephanie who was doing great - and thankfully had no ice in her ponytail for once! After that I was really just looking for the hill at mile 12. We headed up a hill, but it wasn't the monster of a hill that I had expected. It was more of a long steady incline, which led me to think that that wasn't really the hill I was waiting for. All of a sudden we turn a corner and this guy says, "less than 250 feet to go!" and I realize it's flat and I will be done soon. Sarah and I kicked it in for the last stretch and were so thankful we finished.
This was a great experience. I learned that I definitely cannot come out that fast for my first marathon. I also learned the importance of hydration because at one point I was feeling kind of out of it and then realized that I hadn't really drank that much. I did have one GU packet, but I don't think that was enough to help me.
I treated myself to lunch at my favorite sandwich place and then tried to relax. I couldn't really though because I was so excited about the performance. I talked Dave's ear off for the rest of the day until I crashed at about 10:15 when I went to bed. Then I woke up Monday to talk off Steve's (my manager's) ear for all of Monday. I can't even imagine what I'll be like on April 16th and after! I feel sorry for those around me and apologize in advance for not shutting up!
New Bedford Results
Date: 3.18.2007
Age: 24
Bib #: 69
Distance: 13.1 miles
Goal Time: 02:00:00
Actual Time: 01:49:34
Pace: 8:22
Place Overall: 876/1827
Age Group (19-24) Place: 27/73
Cool Running Results Page
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