Post - Marathon: Now what?!

Well, this is odd.
My perspective is so different because I didn't get to complete all my training..but I'm still kind of left with this weird feeling post-marathon. What the heck to do now? I know I am planning to do the Fargo Full in May (woohoo!), but that's a ways out. With winter coming, I am already dreading the lack of sunlight and warmth that I love about Michigan summer and fall. So, I know this is something a lot of runners feel post-race, and I think it's worth talking about.

So, first -- I eat. An emphasis on high nutrient foods will aid recovery and help you not gain weight, but I've had a combo of super healthy and super UN-healthy foods :) That's okay by me.  I also have been SLEEPING soooo much. The week post-marathon I felt like I slept like the dead, and I got a lot more sleep. I think my body needed it to avoid getting sick (as my allergies decided to attack). 

I got a book on running, reading about people's favorite marathons. It's fun to read while I'm enjoying some down time. I also got a "fun" book -- not related to school or anything, and by one of my favorite authors, Jonathon Tropper. Look out, THIS GIRL IS EXCITING.

Yoga. Spin. I love you. Do other exercises that you love, because you can :)

It's hard not to look straight forward to the next thing, but I think it's important to allow myself to settle into this, and really appreciate and revel in my accomplishment. Simply looking to the next thing isn't going to allow me to do that fully. 

I just stumbled upon this cool "Reverse Taper" guide that looks really helpful, and I'll start this next week on "week two" -- it could work for half marathons, too, just cut it in half. I'll do a follow up post on how I liked this plan.

I also just ordered Racing Weight by Matt Fitzgerald (the same guy who wrote the runners nutrition guide I bought). It talks about getting to your optimal race weight for optimum performance.

Tidbits I learned for next race: 

1. Put my phone in a Ziploc in case it rains (because for me, it usually does on race day). 

2. Prepare for rain just in case. Trash bags for your body (ghetto-poncho style) and trash sacks for your shoes. 

3. Pack and unpack and pack if you're traveling for your race. It will ease your mind and ensure you don't forget anything. Luckily my next race will probably be in my new home city.

4. Prepare meals and snacks in advance. Don't try anything new. 

5. After your race, you're going to want to eat and drink *whatever* you want -- but seriously, give it time. Or, if you don't -- stay at that restaurant a while so you avoid almost pooping your pants in your boyfriends car. Trust me on this one.  If you have a sensitive stomach, don't get crazy. Your stomach will get you. Also, walk. I think Michael parking far away forced me to walk and move that lactic acid out.

6. Body glide extra. And then some more. Chafing is NO joke. 

7. Pack extra running nutrition (Gu or chews or whatever you like). I almost ran out and luckily Kelly's mom had some more for her, which I used :) 

8. If it's going to be cold when you start, take throw away layers. This last race was the first time I've done it and it helped A LOT.

9. If you're sticking with a pace group, chat with those around you when you're getting tired. It will help pass the time and you'll learn about fellow racers. 

10. Don't rely solely on your music. Take in the course, the runners, the spectators. 

11. Say thankyou to the spectators when they encourage you or have cute signs. That's why we pay to run these courses, it's simply not the same without the crowd support. So what they're strangers. They help you get to the next mile.

I learn something new after each race, and this time I learned quite a bit, with it being my first marathon. I cannot get over it, still.
This time three years ago, had someone asked me if I'd be one of those early-rising runners, cold-weather runners, long distance runners, I'd have laughed and said, "Nope. Never"

But, after getting into running, running a marathon was a "maybe someday" ... then a "hopefully someday" and now...it's a reality. I really didn't think that running the race would be so special to me. But, it was. And will continue to be, my greatest accomplishment to date. Such a testament to listening to my body, my heart, my God. 

A hilariously accurate video on running a marathon for your viewing pleasure:

Living in the *Now*

Straying away from the usual fitness/food format to talk about something that is near and dear to me. 

A forever "goal" of mine has been to not be so anxious.
You mean that's an option?
It is. Although I don't "live there" often -- I think I've gotten much better over the past...6-8 months or so. HOWEVER --- since the school semester has started, everything's gone a little bit... haywire? off the map? to crazy town? yeah...you could say that.

Is this even possible? 

Where will I live after graduation? Shit, I'm going to have to move again? Who will help me pack? Wait...when's graduation? What color is my cap and gown? How much is it? What size will my diploma be? How soon do I need to study for the LMSW exam? What state will I need to be licensed in? Can I quit one of my several jobs? Speaking of jobs..what kind will I get? What kind do I want? I wonder how much I'll make? When do I need to start paying on my student loans...

This. Is. Exhausting. 

And you know what else it is? POINTLESS. There is NO way that worrying about all of this NOW is going to change the reality of it being done. I know that I'm a dedicated, structured person. I don't wait until the last minute. But planning 10 months in advance is a little overzealous.

So, how? How to I reeeeeeeel myself back in? Well, I exercise. As often as I can. Whenever I can. This was rough as I had a stress fracture and no gym, so my options were limited, but I made do. I am now back to running 3x a week and yoga-ing 3x a week. Running is honestly something that I can't ever imagine NOT doing. It's as soothing to me as a massage. With sweat.


Yoga -- God's most recent gift to me. While I've been doing it since I moved off and on, I have just really started to benefit in a more emotional way. This is the body I have. I'm learning to be kinder to myself, love and accept myself the way that I am *right now* I'm seeing my body change in great ways, but my favorite change is the change I have on the inside. Practicing self-compassion is not something I've ever been very good at.  Also, forcing myself to lay still and think of nothing for at least 3 minutes before and after practice helps quiet my loud-mouthed mind :)

Pray.  Now I will admit this is something that falls by the wayside from time to time, but I am typically ever-aware of all of my blessings, and try to focus on those instead of what I think I want or need. This helps keep me grounded and appreciative of this little life of mine.

Hold myself accountable. I have a few great friends who will tell me when to snap out of it. Who pray for me. Tell me when to get off that thought train, as I refer to it as after a wise woman said it. Another fun thing I tell myself is,"welp, that's a thought that will take me places..." Because honestly, half the nonsense we think that grows into fear/worry/anxiety/whatever....it's grown from something so small.

Self-help aficionado. Yeah, that's right. I'm a lover of self-help, feel-good, mindfulness type books. It doesn't work for everyone, but I also use these things at my internship, and hell...if I can't practice what I preach then I'm in for a realllll treat when clients start calling my BS. So, don't be scurred. Pick up a book. Or an audio book, for those of you who do that. Listen to it on a commute, on a run, wherever. They aren't as cliche as you think. Ok...they are, but you might like it :)

These are actually for my internship, but they're also self-help-ish.

Be. Silly. Man this is so hard for me. 

This was me actually trying to match an iPhone emoji...but it totally fits here. 

I am SUCH a serious person. The phrase "lighten up" or "live a little" should be written on my gravestone. Except that's not very sensitive...so maybe not. But, taking the time to laugh and appreciate the feeling it brings to my face, my body, my stomach...is not something I do often enough. But, it's hard to be anxious when you're laughing. Just try it. It's a little like sneezing with your eyes open. AKA impossible. 

Lastly, ENJOY. ENJOY. ENJOY. Any little thing. It doesn't even matter.

Sunflowers. Giant ones.

Lazy days. He's a pro at these.

Fall. Scarves. All things pumpkin and cinnamon.


Until next time -- I'll be trying to relax :) Probably by the time I blog next I will have been to Texas and Minneapolis -- so expect some fun photos :) 

Mix it up Monday & New Music Tuesday

Ok, second go-round! 

MIX IT UP MONDAY: I tried ThinkThin protein bars. Since starting My Fit Pal (or should I say, re-starting), I really need to reduce my sugar intake -- all my sugars are gone early in the day due to my morning fruits. Anyhow -- I wanted to try the ThinkThin bars because Mama Laughlin loves them, and they are one of the few that have 0 sugar -- and 20 g of protein! I will be upping my protein as soon as I up my mileage in preparation for "running season" (see upcoming post about this) so I like that it has a higher protein content (: I had it with my afternoon Spark! It was tasty! The Spark and the ThinkThin bar (: Additionally, I did two workout's today! Not necessary a first-time thing, but definitely not the norm! Every bit counts!

Easy E and I had a little mani/pedi sesh -- so fun. Except getting an almost-two year old to not move her piggies or fingers is impossible. Just not gonna happen. Ever.

*TADAH!* Look at those little toes!

Hot yoga -- R-O-U-G-H. 90 minutes in a hotter-than-hell (although I won't ever know this for sure haha!) steamy room doing yoga is not easy.  Apparently I burn between 800-900 calories in there (according to this website that seemed legit, but who knows). EL Hot Yoga has awesome intro offers ($20 for two weeks of unlimited classes and student discounts). It's really helped me beat these February winter blues. If you're interested in the benefits of hot yoga just click the link. :) 

So Tuesday -- class. Every week. Except next week -- Spring Breakkkkkkkk. Too bad it's still going to be cold, and I'm not going anywhere. Or doing anything. Adult Spring Breaks are NOT as fun as freshman/sophomore/junior year SB. *sigh* Onward...

NEW (to me) MUSIC TUESDAYYYYY

So, new to me is Alt-J. OMG. Why have I not been *on* this train before now? I heard it on 88.9 The Impact (MSU student radio = bomb), and immediately downloaded it on Rhapsody.  So, currently, I am loving:
Alt-J's song Breezeblocks. His voice is so unique. He's featured on the Silver Lining Playbook soundtrack, so some may know of him already.

Another new-to-me song found on The Impact: The Lower 48 - The End. I love it. It's cute and folksy. 

ACTUAL new stuff out today:
10,000 Maniacs - Music from the Motion Picture. Sweetsy-acoustic sound. Never heard of this group before, but they've been around since the '90s and were a big part of the Lillith Fair school of music (fun fact). Some of the songs I don't like, but I DO like I Don't Love You Too and Gold. Mellow sound.
Atoms for Peace - Amok totally different than my typical style, but i like it. Kind of...Thom Yorke-esque.
Ivan & Alyosha - All The Times We Had - indie-pop, I like it. Reminds me of summer tiiiime. Enough said.
*******
Other news: I have an interview for my internship on Friday at 11:00 AM with the MSU Counseling Center. Prayers would be appreciated :) I am nervous.

Until next time,
Enjoy your day, wherever you are and whatever you're doing.