Reliving the moment again and again and again

Not content to have relived the marathon through yesterday's ubertense calves, I decided I'd be much happier reliving it by looking at a picture of myself crossing the finish line. So I ordered it from the folks at marathonfoto. I went (almost) all out -- bought Option B plaque -- the one where you get a photo, a finisher's medal, and your name/time engraved. Time is optional feature but I have nothing to hide with my 5:20:26 finish. It should arrive around Christmas.

Ouch

I woke up this morning feeling exactly as I had post-marathon. Not in a good way. No, as in legs were screaming. Both calves were supertender and when I rolled out of bed, I couldn't put either foot down without some serious wincing.
I hadn't run over the weekend, but I did go to high impact cardio class, followed by core strength. I'm guessing I may have overexerted myself there?
Well, took a bath with epsom salts and that seems to have relieved the pain somewhat. I'll do some stretches and take out the ole ice pack later on.

Jelly's 18-week plan

It seems that my performance this week suggests that I will need some structure if I am to go through with this winter training idea. Not that I have a spring marathon in mind, but if Yumke or Frankie push hard enough -- not that they've decided themselves -- they might get me to do the oldest road race in North America in March. A 30K race.

I haven't been very motivated lately, but I haven't been an absolute couch potato either. I just haven't been out there running, despite some pretty mild weather this past week, and except for that one outing earlier this week after work. But I've gone back to the gym a few times this week and I think I've come up with a fairly decent schedule to keep myself in shape.

Since I pretty much stuck to Hal for 18 weeks, I know I can adhere to a schedule if it is stuck to my fridge. So here's Jelly's 18-week plan:

Monday: cardio/tone class
Tuesday: Afterwork RunClub (min 5K), followed by ab class
Wednesday: Yoga
Thursday: Run
Friday: Rest
Saturday: cardio, core strength classes
Sunday: Longer run

Coincidentally, the aforementioned road race is 19 weeks away. And I'm on vacation next week (though not going anywhere exotic. In fact, not going anywhere at all. Just not going to work, and that is just delicious).
So, if I start and take this regimen seriously starting Nov. 20, then maybe I'll be ready for that road race. Though I really won't decide to register til much later. At least I may have something bigger than a 5K to work towards this winter.

Resolution Run

I'm not big into New Year's resolutions because I don't see the point in waiting til a new year to begin to set goals. It should be a constant and fluid thing, always under evaluation. So while I'm still mulling my 2007 race plans, I am holding onto 2006 by a thread. I signed up for the last race of the year -- The Resolution Run, which carries a tagline of "Start the New Year off on the right foot by establishing or maintaining an active lifestyle." Well, I guess I'm in it for the maintaining part.

So, this gives me something to aim for this winter. And I asked Afterwork RunClub Member No. 1 to register too. It'll give us something to work towards, other than general fitness, and she's pumped about it.

The bonus of signing up is the free run vest and running cap. That's got to be worth the price of entry (C$40).

Cheers to goals.

First post-marathon run

The past 10 days have been busy -- quarterly stuff at work, two weddings, people to see, and the resumption of trying to get the house together and that means unpacking a few more boxes (will this never end?) -- so running was put aside for a little while longer. And I didn't feel too badly about it. And didn't somebody say the body needs a day of rest for every mile of a marathon completed? That would mean I could wait til middle of next week!
But who can wait that long?

So put it in the books -- the first post-marathon run is complete, coinciding with a very excellent inaugral outing of the Afterwork Run Club. I admit that without anything specific to train for, I have been reluctant to run. I need a bit of prodding to go back out there. I have thoroughly enjoyed the sleeping in, and non-pasta meals (although, funny I say that because I did have spaghetti tonight! First time in weeks).

And so the RunClub is a perfect reason to motivate me. Although membership is apparently 4 people, just two actually made it today. It was raining -- and I guess that would stop any novice runner. I say that like I'm such an expert, but L -- my newest running partner -- says that if we can run in rain, we're in the right mindset for training through the winter. That's the spirit, I say. Let the weather not stop us. Let it snow, let it be windy, let it shine. Bring it all on. Anyways, it wasn't sheets of rain, just a steady drizzle today.

We headed out at 4:24pm. I drafted an almost-5K route, one that featured extra wide sidewalks (since anywhere we went we'd have to navigate the afterwork downtown crowds) that basically took us from The Office, up and around the provincial government building, and back. We had to dodge quite a few people, at times it felt like we were salmon swimming against the stream. We stepped in many a puddle. We were able to hold a conversation the entire way, catching up on things that have happened in our lives in the four or five years since we've worked alongside each other. And I thought about how running brings people together.

I was surprised at how easily I found my stride, partly because it has been a couple of weeks since the marathon, and I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to run well because I was a little stiff from making a grand return to the gym last night. I dusted off my gym membership card and did my pre-marathon days favorite Monday class. A cardio/toning class with the incomparable G. A class I have not been to in about five months. You know your disappearing act -- aka training for a marathon -- has done more to trim some pounds than your 3-times-a-week gym habit has ever done when people at the gym you haven't seen in five months, and only occassionally speak to casually in a hi-nice-to-see-you manner also notice you're lighter.

Overall, I'd say L and I run well together. At least we run the same pace and we have the same goal of maintaining our running fitness. She worked hard over the summer to get herself to comfortably run 10K. She doesn't want to lose it over winter and start from square one. And I would like to keep some kind of base, maybe 12-15 miles per week, building to 20 later on maybe. So we're going to do this again next Tuesday. It's on our Outlook calendars, every Tuesday til the end of time. I'm looking forward to it. I think I should get another run or two in before we go again next week even though I am trying to incorporate the gym back into my life. More on that another time.

By 5:02pm we were back at The Office. L had mentioned she wanted to run a marathon next year. With me. I said, "Great, you're coming to Chicago?"

.... now that's not a promise that I'll redo Chicago next year, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I didn't think about it everyday.

Marathon lore

Think weather helps your marathon? Think dehydration causes cramping? Think again.
See this article in the NYTimes.

Afterwork Run Club

Led by ME. Yeah, that's right. ME.

So, word got around work that I did this marathon. And so my former supervisor, who now works in a different department, found that really inspiring. So inspiring that she asked if she could train with me, though it's unclear if she's aiming to do one herself. But I'm not training for anything, I said. Then let's just run together, she said.

I'm flattered. I really am. And so we decided we'd choose a day and stick to it, and probably limit ourselves to 5K -- since it's going to get dark quicker and the temp isn't going to be so friendly as we approach the "real" start of winter.

Then she told someone else. And now that person is into it. And then there were three. I wonder if more will join.

I don't know what they're expecting. Part of me is a bit terrified -- especially after my Group Running experience early on. But I think we're all about the same level, which is a relief. I guess I'm going to be the pace bunny, and I volunteered to be the one to map out the routes. And I'll bring a stopwatch..though I guess we don't really need that. This is just for the pure joy of running.

Joy of running. Hee hee.....words I thought I'd never put together in the same sentence.
It starts Tuesday.