No more training logs for now, simply because there has been no training in the two weeks following the Miwok 100K. I should be enjoying this break, but I’m a typical runner, addicted to euphoric hormones released during exercise, so I admit to feeling fleeting moments of inexplicable grief… followed swiftly by moments of thinking, “I should go to the grocery store and buy a Sara Lee pound cake. And eat it! In the parking lot!”
But of course I don’t. In fact, I’ve been adhering to a pretty strict no-sugar, no-wheat low-carb regime in my recovery. Four eggs and a bit of spinach for breakfast. A salad, avocado and turkey for lunch. Veggies, meat, and generous cheese for dinner. Generous wine, too. (I didn’t marry a French man just for the accent.)
I was immobile after Miwok. Really can’t walk properly the morning after. At the hotel, Little Boy and I went to the pool while Mr. P got his training miles in. I stood in the spa, angling my right knee on the jet. Everything was intense soreness, as was to be expected after completing one of the hilliest 100K races in North America. But my right knee region was pure pain, especially behind the knee. When we walked through the San Francisco airport later that morning, my right knee would sometimes buckle from weakness. No mystery why…
Typical Miwok uphill
Our flight home was a nightmare: delayed 3 hours due to aircraft maintenance, then finally cancelled. We expected to fly home at noon, and wound up leaving San Francisco at 11pm. Little Boy had fun romping in the Kid’s Area with a 6-year old whose flight to New Orleans was delayed. Instead of flying direct to Boston, we took a red-eye to Chicago, then a 6am shuttle to Boston with a bunch of joyless business travelers, none of whom would switch with us so we could sit with Little Boy. We all had middle seats. “Oh, I don’t do middle, I’m so claustrophobic,” one woman lamented when we asked her. The other passengers echoed her sentiment. Screw you all. It was two hour flight, so I could somewhat cope with the fact my 5 year old son was sitting with strangers. But still, screw you all. I’ve given up my aisle seat so husbands and wives could sit together… and you won’t let me sit with my 5-year old son?
We eventually arrived home. I was sore for about three days. I wanted to swim, but my elbow was in pretty bad shape, still weeping pus. No swimming. I went for a couple walks. I had a bit of tendonitis-like pain behind my right knee that lingered all week.
Mother’s Day featured awesome weather and roses. I spent a total six hours at the playground with Little Boy. We made new friends and romped with dear friends. My highlight was this:
My job is working! I peck away happily on my Mac! Yeees.
It’s now been two weeks since Miwok and I’m starting to feel normal. The skin on my elbow healed enough that I could enter the pool. I ran 5 miles and felt no pain. I’ve renewed my commitment to engage in regular bursts of yoga and Pilates. I lost 4 pounds since the race. I’m not sure if it was abating muscle inflammation or my body using all of its energy to recover and repair all of the missing skin.
The linchpin in my recovery was a visit to my Chinese masseuse. He pulverised my back muscles; he grinded away at the scar tissue in my hips and knees. I really couldn’t do ultras without this man.
I have no races scheduled until August, though there’s a couple local 5Ks I’d like to support. I do plan to take it easy this summer and ramp up for the fall. Summer is actually my least favorite times of year to train on trails — I’ll take snow over the heat/humidity, ticks, mosquitoes, mountain bikers, and sunburn. In the summer I’d rather do 8-10 mile road runs and spend the rest of the day at the pool/beach.
And spend time with my Little Boy. What a prince! The dogwood tree in our yard is blooming, and so is he!
