Recovery

But first, the big question- would I do another one?

Well, on the way around (finding it so tough) I decided that I would never say never, and that I probably will do another marathon, but when I am a bit faster. Mainly because then the pain would last for less time! I have the Great South Run booked in the Autumn (10 miles) and I think this sort of distance, some 10k’s and maybe a few more half marathons are what I need to up my speed. Plus this year I missed a lot of races that I had previously enjoyed because they did not fit with the marathon training plan. So I am going to spend time doing those shorter races (it’s all relative- I am not saying they are short, just less than the marathon), hopefully speed up again, and then maybe do one later on (e.g. Autumn 2012 or something like that). It is funny because already, less than a week later, all I can remember are the good bits (the finish line!) and the hard parts (eg 3/4 of it) seem to have faded away in my memory! Plus now I can walk properly again it does not seem to bad!

I have been thinking about recovery a lot these past few days!

I think the walk from the stadium to the hotel was a good thing, as it did mean my legs did not seize up straight away. I did think I had a blister, so I made use of the free compeed plasters, but actually nothing has come of that.

As the marathon finished late in the day, we had time for a shower and then a very slow walk to dinner, and that was it. I used the ice gel after my shower and that also helped, but I did forget to have a cold blast with the shower that day.

During the night I remembered my compression socks (duh!) and put them on- they actually gave me calves immediate relief and I wished I had some kind of compression things for my thighs too. Ah well. In fact I was stiff all over- my shoulders must have totally tensed up near the end, despite me trying to roll my shoulders and wiggle my arms.

On the Sunday (after enjoying the hotel breakfast- how I love rye bread and muesli- and also a shower with some cold blasts at the end) we decided we should not stay in the hotel all day, so braved a trip on the underground to the old town (Gamla Stan). Going down stairs proved difficult- I was going down sideways one step at a time. Not so good. As we got to the platform the train came and Andy ran to the train, so I had to as well. It was only the length of a few carriages, but I actually felt like crying when I got on the train- so painful! We walked around for a few hours, but that was all I could manage. Β I was even getting the lift in the hotel (even though it was only 2 flights of stairs! I felt so lazy!).

We had decided that we wanted to do some proper sightseeing, so on the Monday we left the hotel at about half 10. We walked (slowly) to the park where there are a lot of museums. It was a beautiful sunny day, and it was so lovely to be outside and enjoying the city. We went to an open air museum (it had buildings from all over Sweden in it- to preserve them, and also animals like reindeer, elk, and also rabbits πŸ™‚ Β )- this was great but the park was on a steep hill and going downhill was painful. We sat for a bit to eat our lunch (we are very well prepared and had packed some bagels in our suitcase!) and then walked to another museum. It was a shipwreck that sunk after sailing for 25 mins, from the 1600’s, and it was so well preserved. Worth a visit for sure. But my legs were getting more and more stiff. The museum shut at 5pm (so we had been walking for a long time- we watched a 25 min film in that museum, and sat for 10 mins for our lunch and that was it) and so then we walked back to the old town, looking for some dinner. In the end we found an Italian, and boy did I enjoy my pizza! By then my legs were actually hurting, so we got the underground back to the hotel instead of walking. Not sure if a day of walking and sightseeing is the best recovery, but we did not want to go all that way and not see anything.

Walking around was good, and we kept seeing parts of the marathon route, so we just chatted about how we felt during those parts of the race. I was still going down stairs sideways.

I think we got back to the hotel at about half 8, and then I did a lot of stretching.

Tuesday we came home- our flight was at lunch time so we took our time getting to the airport (no expensive taxi this time, which by the way cost Β£50!!!- we got the bus instead!), and walked up and down the terminal for a bit before getting onto the plane. Exciting news- I could walk down stairs properly again- hooray!!! My left hamstring was bothering me the most, but the front of my ankles was also hurting while I was walking.

Wednesday I had my sports massage- I walked up and it took me longer than usual. She found so much tightness in my back and hamstring, and I am still sore today from it, but actually my hamstring is no longer tight. She said I might have minor shin splints from the pressure (as I have a sort of tight feeling near the side/front of my right ankle when I walk), so I am not going to try a recovery run just yet. I was thinking that I might have a gentle jog today (Thursday) but because I still have soreness when walking I do not want to make that worse. I can see I am not recovered yet- I suppose it will take a while.

Hopefully I might manage a short one at the weekend, maybe Sunday. I am not going to body pump tonight either. I did think I might go and just use light weights for the squats and lunges, but I tried going a squat and lunge in the living room and it was not very easy! So I am going to be a good girl and recover some more. Hopefully!

Last night I went out for dinner with some friends- a few of us walked back to the car park together and mine was away from the other cars (it was dark and creepy)- I contemplated running to my car, took 2 steps and realised it was not so good. No pain or anything, but not quite right just yet.

Exciting news– I downloaded my Nike+ today and got a video from Paula- saying welcome to the 0.1% of the population who have run a marathon! Not sure if that is the UK population, or the world, or what, but it was exciting! I didΒ calibrateΒ it after the 20 mile run, but it still thinks that I did 27.93 miles (although I let it run on for a few mins after)- Andy had his Garmin on and it tracked a few km over (46 instead of 42), but there was no line to follow down the centre of the course, so I suppose you must run a little over the actual distance. Β I was most excited by the video anyway!

Anyway, I have been feeling a little more tired than usual, and so I am trying to take it a little easier this week. Being half term is good timing. Usually I would be taking advantage and going out running in the mornings, but I don’t feel like doing that, which is good, as I should not be doing that! So instead I will take advantage of the extra time to do some other stuff (gardening, shopping, cooking, seeing friends etc). Yay πŸ™‚ I spent this morning doing work (boring), popped to the shops and then did some gardening this afternoon (nothing too strenuous- just planting out veggies into the vegetable patch).

So, I think the recovery is going well. For a few days after I felt really sore, and I was a bit worried, at times, that I might have actually done some damage. But now, later on, I think that my muscles and tendons and joints and everything were just so worn out, so hopefully with a few more days of rest I will be back out there again.

Question- next Sunday (12th) is the St Albans Half marathon. No I am not contemplating that, but there is a 5k, and the PTA from my school try to get people to enter- I did the half last year and it was nice to support the school. But the deadline for entries is 6th June. Does anyone think I would be able to do that?

Thanks for all the congratulations and wishes from you all- love you guys πŸ™‚

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17 thoughts on “Recovery”

  1. Yay – I’m glad you went to the Skansen open air museum – I love that place!! Did you see the bears??

    I hope that you continue to feel less sore by the day and well done again, x x x

    1. Yeah saw the bears too- they were very active getting their food from the trees and swimming around.

  2. It all depends on how you feel with regard to the 5K and whether you’re wanting to race it or run/walk it. Logically, that should be enough time to recover for the distance if you’re not injured and taking things easy in the interim (it made me laugh when you said you were lazy for taking the lift in the hotel: you just ran a marathon! I think you need to carry that medal everywhere to remind you…with the size of it that would be a workout in itself). If the entry fee isn’t too high you could enter and see how things go? Really, only you can tell whether it’s viable or not.

    Actually the walking about will probably have aided your recovery: muscles tighten and stiffen up so badly when people literally sit around all day after a long race. It’s better to keep things moving.

    *hugs*

    xxx

  3. As you know, I don’t know much about running, but just wanted to pass on second hand advice. When my Mum did London Marathon this year, she gave herself a week off running to recover. After that she felt fine so started doing gentle runs again (nothing much & she’s a really slow runner so not like she was doing speedy runs or anything) anyway, even now she is getting pains in muscles around her knees, so went to see a sports physio & he said that even if you feel better you should give yourself min of 2 weeks completely off running after a marathon. Obviously this is just one person’s opinion, and sure other people will be along soon with other experiences, but there you go.

    Glad you got to see some of Stockholm after marathon anyway, and glad you’re feeling a bit better πŸ™‚

    1. Thanks for that. I will bear it in mind as I do not want to halt any recovery by running too soon I suppose.

  4. Sorry I can’t offer much running advice, but I’m running the St.Albans half marathon on the 12th and I’m nervous! How did you find the course last year?

    1. how exciting!! The course was good, but you run up Bluehouse hill (do you know that?)_ our of the park, up into and around Batchwood, then down and all the way up that hill. Then it was a lot of country lanes (not sure where, it went past Butterfly world at one point), then into Chiswell green where there were loads of people supporting (and spraying with hosepipes etc), and down into the park to finish. There were a few hard hills, but most of it was shaded (lucky as it was a hot day).http://runningcupcake.co.uk/2010/06/half-marathon-report/ that was my race report.
      Enjoy it πŸ™‚

      1. Thanks for that, I’ll definitely check out your race report πŸ™‚ It sounds like a nice, varied route… I just hope it’s not *too* hot as that’s when I start to struggle with hills. I’ll let you know how I do πŸ™‚

        1. Yes please let me know how you get on! Last year was a hot day, but there are water stations on the route, and a lot of it was in the shade. I was worried about the heat but I think it was not too bad. And you get an ice lolly at the end!

  5. I think walking probably did you you good, and even if it was a little taxing, we have to remember that we have lives as well as training programmes. There’s no way you could go to Stockholm and not see some of the town!

    Hmm, the 5k. My instinct is to say no. A lot of people feel a bit of running malaise in the weeks subsequent to a marathon, and I think it’s important not to push yourself to run (or workout) during that time if you don’t want to. It will just prolong the doldrums. But it depends on how strongly you feel about supporting the school I suppose.

    As for running another mara, I think the idea of concentrating on shorter distances and a variety of races for the foreseeable future is a really good one. It’ll stop any mental fatigue setting in, and it keeps the focus on what you enjoy doing. You really have got your head proper screwed on Maria!

    Hope you’re enjoying the rest of half term πŸ™‚

  6. Oooh ouch! The post-marathon sounds more painful that running the actual thing haha! But good call on BodyPump! I find it painful enough as it is! πŸ˜›

    Recovery-wise you should be fine to run it, so if you’re feeling good then there’s no harm! πŸ™‚

  7. I agree with the other commenters, perhaps see how your feeling with regards to the 5k. Sounds like you have some great plans for future races! Oh, and re your comment on my blog about the spirulina – I think it depends on the size and other ingredients in the smoothie. I use a tsp but my smoothies are massive and also usually have a protein powder in there which could help hide the taste. I think the ‘fishiness’ of spirulina varies from brand to brand too!

  8. It’s a long time since I ran a marathon (1998 – aaagh) but I do remember how proud I felt and despite all the tiredness and soreness it’s the exhilarating and fun bits that stay in my mind. Wonderful. WELL DONE! The Great South Run sounds like a good idea …

    1. Thanks πŸ™‚ Yeah I think you are right the good bits are all that stay with you after the event!

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