I'm still adjusting to my post-marathon running life. It seems really weird to be able to run whatever distance I feel like, to let my schedule and mood dictate.
Usually on weekends during training, I'd take Saturday off and do my long run on Sunday. This weekend, I opted to run on both days. Neither was a long distance, but both of them proved challenging.
Today, I did a run I've been itching to do for a while. I drove to Blackhawk State Park and found some trails to run on. It was a beautiful fall day, cool but not too cold, with a perfect breeze to rustle the leaves in the trees. It was quiet, and hardly anyone was out on the trails.
It sounds idyllic, doesn't it? Well, it was, but holy Yoda in the swamp, was it tough! I was constantly up and down steep hills, racing over rickety wooden footbridges, dodging big rocks, and hurdling over fallen tree branches. It was not easy... but it was fun!
Yesterday's run should have been an easy one. I did one of my simple, flat, neighborhood three miles. A great recovery run, one I could probably do in my sleep. The difference is that this time around, I took Jack with me in the jogging stroller. I believe I was pushing at least 40 pounds of Cub and stroller, which made me realize that there are inclines on that route that I'd never noticed before!
But again, it was cool. Jack kept up a steady stream of chatter, noting houses with pumpkins in front of them, remembering where we went trick or treating, and occasionally singing "Pupmky Pumpkin" to me. Every once in a while, he'd also just turn around and grin at me.
Jack informed Steve before we took off, "I going running with Mommy in stroller. And later, I get out of stroller and run with Mommy." Okay, I figured. I can accomodate that. So, we ran as far as the neighborhood park, and I let him out of the stroller so we could run around the baseball diamond together. You can see a huge dip on my Nike + where my pace slowed for that part of my workout.
I hope that I can instill in Jack a love of running. I can't think of a better activity for a fall day like we've had the past few days. When we got home last night, I had to think that he was on that track. He walked into the house, grinned at Steve and said, "That was good run," just like I've done so many times before.
And it was. It was a good run.
5 comments:
I'm finding my post-marathon no training plan situation to be sort of frustrating. I need someone to tell me what to do! Great job on what sounds like a challenging run and for planting the running seed in your son. I'm sure he'll want to run just like mommy someday!
That's awesome!
I really need to get back into regular running. I was doing pretty well before my vacation, but recovering from jet lag and then picking up this food poisoning has left me a big slug. I AM going to run tomorrow though, I need to get back on schedule. I'm not training for a race yet but I just want to feel great again.
Here's to "good runs."
I had to sign up for a half marathon, just to keep a schedule for myself.
Post marathon is always a little tough right off the bat. It just takes time for those legs to forgive. That sounds like a really nice run where the scenery kind of makes you forget your running... and that is always a good thing.
You are doing what you can. He is seeing you and how much you love it. That is so great. And so much more than most kids get!!
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