Recovery from Boston can best be summed up in one word: humbling.
I have the whole recovery thing down to a system: no running 1 week post-marathon, ease back into running during week 2, increase mileage and maybe add some easy speed work during week 3, etc. Essentially…reverse my taper. This works for me.
Earlier this week, I set out to do a rather ambitious 8-miler. Keep in mind this was my first run post-Boston. Not sure why I wanted to do 8 miles but I guess I missed running?
8 miles turned into 6 miles with a walk break. My quads were screaming. Kinda like I went to barre class for 4 days in-a-row.
I know trashed quads are typical of the Boston course. But I never, ever thought my quads would be this beat up though. Why?
1. I trained adequately. After “experiencing” the course, I wouldn’t change a thing about my hill prep.
2. Umm, I certainly didn’t go out too fast in the beginning on the downhills. Hello, 89 degrees.
3. I was fine after running Steamtown, which was far worse in terms of downhills than Boston.
So what is it?! Time on feet. I haven’t ran a marathon in 4 hours 33 minutes since 2006. I certainly didn’t train to be on my feet that long. In fact, my 21-miler was my longest run and it lasted 3:04. That, coupled with the extreme conditions, is probably why I’m still feeling the effects of the marathon.
Humbling.
I’m happy to report that my quads felt much better this morning and I hope that trend will continue – very quickly – as we move towards the weekend.
I have Broad Street in a little over a week! I haven’t decided if I’m going to race it or run it as a tempo/progression run. I will all depend on how my quads feel next week.
Have a great weekend!
I’ve been sick all week so definitely nothing ambitious tomorrow 🙂
Just think how you’ll feel after your first 50K! Haha I’m just kidding. Trail running soreness is so much different because the impact is less. 🙂
I was so much less sore after my 50Ks then after any marathon. One more reason to do it.
Oh wow! Worse than steamtown?! That scares me! You know what happened to me there…
Interesting point about time on your feet though. I did my longest long run of 24 miles at a minute slower pace than I did my marathons so I ended up being on my feel much longer than I was during either of my races. I know there are different theories if this is good, but may there is something to it…
of course i know you didnt plan to spend that long on your feet!!
that’s a great point! And it’s awesome you are that in tuned with your body and how things affect it – sometimes I don’t think about the whole time on feet thing and it totally makes sense. I think it would take me 2195873985 years to recover from Steamtown…
Hope the quads are feeling better today!
Really good point, I think you definitely nailed it. Hope your quads feel better 🙂
Sorry….I had trouble getting past the phrase in your first sentence: “recovery from Boston.” :^)
Your quads will be 100% in no time! I think you’ve pretty much came up with the perfect conclusion on why you had to stop and walk for some of your run. No biggie. I’d probably be taking 2 weeks off. But like you, it’s so hard not to run.
Have a wonderful weekend.
My legs recovered fine. But I am EXHAUSTED. And I am attributing that to the fact that I was in the heat for so long. I hate it. This is the most different marathon recovery I have gone through. Good luck on Broad Street!
I am absolutely loving this post right now because I just got back from a 6 miler that felt more like a 16 miler and I’m exhausted. I didn’t even consider time on my feet – but considering I spent about 3 times more than I would in a marathon, maybe I should consider that. You totally cheered me up.
I kind of love when running is humbling like that. It makes the amazing, easy ones feel that much better! A big congrats on Boston!