An interesting topic is recovering after a 100-mile race. The slower I do a 100-mile race, the faster I recover from it. This past race was a very slow 100-miler for me, thus recovery is going fast. Today I can already jog without any pain. The muscle recovery is fast because I didn't push the muscles extremely hard (except for the initial climb and final descent.)
However, there are other body systems that will take longer to recover. I was badly dehydrated for several hours and that really takes a toll on my system. I still cannot stand having sunlight hit me, I want to be in the shade. The endocrine system of the body can really be stressed. This is a system of glands that releases hormones. Sometimes after a 100-mile race some of my glands are swollen. (But haven't noticed that for many races). The stress put on this system can really effect endurance. While I can jog without pain, I couldn't go very far before I would want to quit.
Need for sleep is another interesting factor. Here are my sleep patterns
- Thursday night (before race): 4 hours of good sleep - very anxious
- Friday night (during race): 0 hours - never felt drowsy
- Saturday night (in lots of pain): 4 hours - very restless not deep, strange dreams
- Sunday night (after long drive): 8 hours - strange dreams (wife says lots of groaning, leg twitching)
- Monday night: 10 hours - very deep sleep
I woke up this morning feeling like I was hit by a truck, but after a few hours felt better.
Another recovery factor is appetite. Right after a race my appetite bounces back and I can eat plenty to recover as long as I'm no longer nauseous. But for the next couple days, my appetite is low. My taste buds rebell, and nothing tastes good with the exception of some salty foods. Today (Tuesday) is the first day that both my appetite and taste buds are back in order.
Weight: Usually I end up weighing more than when I started (unless I finish dehydrated). But typically during the night while running I retain water because I'm not taking in enough salt, but still drinking plenty. This was the case at Big Horn. I was weighed on the same scale, once around 6 p.m. - mile 30 (180 pounds including shoes, etc.), and again at about 9 a.m. next morning - mile 66 (188 pounds). Eight pound swing up from the night. I noticed swelling in my hands. I adjusted by not drinking as much and taking in more salt. By mile 82 my hands were normal again.
When I returned home, I was up a couple pounds compared to when I left home. For about 48 hours after the race, my body dumps fluid as it recovers, plenty of trips to the bathroom without drinking much. I drop a pound or two each day. Then when my appetite returns, I start gaining weight again. It is a strange process.
I expect by Saturday I will be fully recovered. In fast last year, the Saturday after Bighorn I ran in the tough Logan Peak 28-miler and finished mid-pack. I'm too busy this Saturday, but I expect I'll be out on the trails early in the morning feeling great.
How can I recover so fast? Through the past few years my body systems have got used to this stress that I put on it. It has adapted and now bounces back very fast.
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