OMG LOL LMAO ROFLMAO BRB BTW TTYL and now HNY? WTF! An acronym for every expression due to the texting and the new fast and furious way we communicate now? FYIHUBT...can you figure that one out? I can't even remember what it means!
So I haven't journaled anything since October at the tail end of my training for the marathon. I think mostly I was disappointed, depressed, and just plain ole sick of running. Wow, they aren't wrong saying that the marathon blues hit you as soon as you cross that finish line. Just could careless about even the marathon itself. Overcrowded and one day after weeks of training, and no goals for the day after.
The marathon and the days prior. Let me reflect in a positive light. I was all nerves, couldn't sleep, felt like I was getting sick, skipped the flu shot. Tapering was hard but welcomed. I was tired. I have realized now that feeling exhausted is normal. I was averaging more miles than ever. Now I am struggling to up my mileage but just have no motivation. Back to the days prior. I joined a friend and her racewalking team on a drive following the "blue line." To Staten Island we headed to the start, then through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, into the Bronx for a second and then back down. I got out before the finish but it was fun, and nice to have a few people to hang with and meet up with Sunday morning at the ferry.
Long story short, Sunday was the marathon. Overcrowded, lines and delays everywhere but start was exciting...gorgeous warm day. Brooklyn was exciting, the crowd support was amazing. Stopped in and visited with a friend for 15 minutes. BIG BOO BOO...I shouldn't have stopped when the momentum was good! But in my head I kept saying "enjoy the experience, just enjoy it" by mile 23 I didn't have that in my head....it was "just finish, a few more"..and finish I did, a disappointing 5:45:11 but I finished. I was tired, my legs had enough and my head was done but I finished. I felt okay, disappointed but I finished.
Now that it's two months behind me, I am still trying to run longer with not much luck but stamina is much better. I don't feel compelled to stop, keep going and it feels great. The marathon has gone up in fees this year. I have decided to run 4 out of 5 of the half marathons to qualify for the New York City half in 2013. I will do the NYC Marathon the last time for 2012 since I will be 50 and want to improve upon 2011's time. Time isn't everything, that's for sure but I know in my head that I didn't do my best, I didn't train efficiently enough, especially nutrition-wise. I put on some weight and I plan to take it off, do more strength training and continue the higher mileage so the marathon training won't take such a physical toll on my body. Fixing my feet for 2012 is a priority and perhaps I will find time to start yoga, once and for all.
Now that I have some definite goals in mind, I feel better about everything. I am going to be 50 this year so my goal is to enjoy running from now on and not to do strictly NYRR races, they are overpriced and so not worth the effort. Did their MidNight Run for the New Year again this year. $45 and they ran out of shirts. We got a shirt from a different race, which is bullshit...BS, if you ask me. No one is asking.
I am going to journal more to be accountable for my training or lack of...my weight loss, or packing of pounds. Off I go to the gym for the first time this year or maybe I will run to see my mother instead. Baby, it's cold outside!
