Running is learning experience saved for the one doing the running. Pacing for races and learning what a body requires after a long run or a race can be challenging to even seasoned runners. WTC took care of itselt somehow in terms of pacing. In hind sight, which is always crystal clear, the pace could have gone marginally quicker. Reasoning this involves a recap of the last section. A quick 1.6m from the last aid station with a gentle .7 to .8 climb proved to be a spot where the pace over the last five hours could be considerably abreviated. Good strong finish with the starting goals met. Strong finish to an even run without nausea or residual soreness. The finish was greeted with a big smile and even a chuckle, a big appetite and the ability to walk or even jog to and from my car. So part one is completed......Now what?
Sunday was spent estimating when would it be smart to try and run again. The major consideration involved active recovery without the joint pounding. Monday involved easy pool time. Basically, low level plyometrics and walking in circles ruled the pool. Tuesday was a perfect day for a very mellow, flat 5 miler. Everything was good. Wednesday was early morning cross training day. Early morning coffee wake up (5:30am) and a half hour of abs followed by some stretching. Thursday in the pool again like Monday except with a considerable increase in the intensity. Aqua aerobics in three to four feet of water for about an hour can be a good very low impact workout. The company was perfect on Friday so in the pool for round three. This person is very cool! This person was hungover but driven for some good work so we hit it for a good hour. Later that day my legs were feeling good so I went out for a run. An hour and forty minutes later and confidence was returned...maybe too much confidence. Then I thought about the run. Hills were a little labored and the pace was purposely slow and the goal of running that day was to be able to run again.
Saturday morning SLO Trail Runners were meeting at Stagecoach for a 20 miler. Thomas already suggested against running the full 20. Perhaps tagging along for a bit and maybe adding another couple hours would be good. Hmmm, then Saturday morning came.
There is no excuse, when the alarm went off at 4:30am it was quickly turned off and forgotten. At 6 my little girl woke me up anyway. Could have made it. Theresa needed to go to work worse than I needed to run and I was scheduled be to work by 10. Run postponed.
In my line of work, weather cancels/postpones outdoor events (tennis) thus making my day shorter or in some cases really, really long. Fortunately today it was shorter and a run had to get done. Driving toward Madonna I formulated a suitable strategy of how to get a worthwhile run out of her one more time. The best equation involved parking on the Marsh Street side and running up and around the skirt three times, up the fire road, down rock garden around the single tracks, through lemon grove trail and done. So, the plan unfurled and with a copious amount of rain, sparsely populated yet muddy and slippery trails and good body feeling the run was completed. Two and a half hours of good running. Legs good, mind good the only downfall so to speak was how cold and wet I had become in the two and a half hours. Luckily the parking lot turned into a bathtub due to the precipitation. I washed my legs, changed my clothes and headed home.
Sunday involved the weekly menu planning and grocery store trips...and Costco of course. For the old body, rolling and stretching ruled the day. There was a thought for running, however my kids took care of that and Theresa once again left for work early. The life of an accountant.
TAKE HOME:
My body needs to sleep after a 50K. Ice baths would have helped. Aqua-aerobics really help. One of CP's football players who we are rehabbing discussed this with me. He tells me he is getting stronger all the time without the soreness. Gains are expected, so is pain. Great thing about plyometrics in the pool, your body is still required to not only overcome gravity but when coupled with viscosity of water and friction from hydrodynamics you end up working very hard without the pounding on your joints. Tony Krupicka should think about this.
Great week, I am ready to roll!
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