Each Day Is a Gift

Lovely day for a nice easy recovery run with Beth, Wendy and Carolyn.  After dropping Beth and Wendy who only wanted to run 3, Carolyn and I ran another 3.5 to the hill on 3200N.  AP: 9:49

Crunches while watching 24.

It's now ONE week after Boston, Here's my post mortem thoughts:

What would I do differently next time:

1.  Run more hills.  My training program does not have nearly enough hill runs to help me prepare for all the hilly marathons I'm running.

2.  Take alternative carb besides gu.  My stomach could not absorb any more gu (I took 5) after 20 miles.

3.  Experiment w/ taking ibuprophen during race.   I have never taken drugs on any runs, except after a race to help me sleep/recover.  I wonder if it would have helped when I had a horrible headache and muscle cramp the last mile and half of Boston.

4.  Try to stay upright if charlie horse hit.   The few times that I got severe muscle cramps where the muscles constract involuntarily, I could stretch them out if I was standing up.  Once I collapsed, I could not get the legs to move.  The med tent experience was NO fun when they kept me down on the cot.

What I learn about myself:

The fortune cookie I got at Sat night's dinner said:  "You will receive your reward if you are not timid."  My hubby's advice to me the night before the race:  "You do best when you run your own race instead of worrying about others."   I see some truths in those two sayings; but to me, running and racing is more than what the race time shows.  I know it is very satisfying to PR especially when one has worked and trained hard.  But I also find that the memories and friendships I make outlast the numbers/race time.  True, the result time is permanent; but who I am and who I'm becoming is eternal.  This doesn't mean that I won't do my best or put "some umph in my try"; it just means that I will value people more than numbers/things, relationships more than awards, experience more than recognition.  That's why I love marathons...26.2 miles of humanity...it humbles me and teaches me soooo much about myself and my fellowmen!

Some fun findings for those in the veteran-master-older-than-dirt-runners-category like me dreaming of a faster time (aka *Age-Graded Equivalent Time*).

http://www.marathonguide.com/results/search.cfm

Apr 27, 2010

Marathon Results - Search  Search Results - 1 Result(s) Found Race Last Name, First Name (Sex/Age) Time OverAll Place Sex Place / Div Place DIV Net Time City, State, Country AG Time* BQ* Boston Marathon 4/19/10 Lew, Susanna (F54) 4:03:16 15995 5902 / 317 F50-54   Lehi, UT, USA 3:15:24 BQ *AG Time = Age-Graded Equivalent Time.

My friends are just so happy that I'm in recovery mode.  They rang my door bell fully expecting me to run with them.  Mary, Wendy, Carolyn and I cheerfully ran together.  It was fun chatting for 3 miles w/ Mary and Wendy and 5 w/ Carolyn; then ran 3.25 by myself.  Legs felt great.  Love the beautiful weather.  

TT: 1:17:40  AP: 9:24.  Splits: 10:06, 9:41, 9:28, 9:20, 9:03, 9:20, 9:18, 9:08, (0.25 @ 8:37)

Ab ripper X

BYU Women's Conference!   Lotsa walking.  Tomorrow I'm gonna wear running shoes.

Day 2 of BYU Women's Conference! 

Ran down 60 steps up 60 steps X 9 = 1,080 steps at portal J in the Marriott Center.  When I was done and took a drink from my water bottle, one of the sisters seated behind said:  "I'd go for chocolate instead of water ...."  :)  Felt good running stairs which were higher at the top and lower at the bottom.

AM:  Lots going on today!  Only managed to run 7 this am.  May do the rest this evening after Stake Conference!  Upper calves were tight from running stairs yesterday.  

PM:  4 very very slow miles.  Calves were sore!