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Not my idea of fun

May 8, 2019 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Well, I started back up again 3 weeks after my marathon and after 2 solid weeks of rest (the first week after the marathon involved several runs since I was in DC and wanted to run with the team). My marathon fatigue has long since worn off so that's good. On the other hand, the right hamstring tendon in the back of my knee is still bothering me. Actually, it's been noticeable almost constantly when I walk or even straighten my leg fully. But since it isn't actually painful and since rest doesn't seem to be doing anything for it, I figured I might as well get back to running again. After all, if I could run a marathon on it, some light casual runs probably aren't gonna change things. If it starts to hurt I'll stop. I really do need to see someone about this once I get back to the U.S.

Used to be that after my post-season recovery period I felt either a) out of shape or b) really excited to run again (or both). Today I felt neither. That is to say, the run was hilly a, therefore, a bit challenging but I didn't find myself feeling really out of breath. On the other hand, I also wasn't really enjoying it. I can't say why exactly--maybe just too many weeks for forcing myself to run till it became a chore hasn't really worn off. My first run back has almost always been alone (even at GDS or Williams it would've been between seasons), so that can't be it. Perhaps I should force myself to stay cooped up until my legs are begging for me to take them for a spin. But I don't want to totally lose my fitness. If you're a high schooler reading this, you should expect your 2-3 weeks off to set up back to nearly to zero fitness wise and that's totally okay. The muscle memory will kick in once you start training again and your peak lung and heart capacity will have been permanently increased, even if you can't access that peak until after a couple of months of workouts. But the day you start up will be almost back to zero.

For those of us who've had years of training--Anthony, Mark, Julia S., Zeke, Katherine, Noah, Spills, etc.--it's different. There's a big difference between 2-3 weeks off and 6-8 weeks off. Our bodies have gotten better at retaining that fitness even in the absence of stimulus so it takes longer for us to get totally out of shape. And the point of a recovery period is not to get out of shape -- that's an irritating side effect. The point is to give your body time to bind up a thousand little wounds you may or may not have noticed, and more importantly, give you the mental space to recover. I can't emphasize this enough. Your mind needs a break from being focused on training. You need to rediscover why you love running so that it doesn't become stale. You need to start to miss it.

I'm not sure I miss it yet. I mean, I do miss it a bit. The first week off I was really happy to have more free time and not be making the effort to run. But halfway through week 2, I started to count down the days until I could run again. Yet when I finally put my feet on the pavement today, I just wasn't feeling it. So who knows, we'll see how this plays out in the coming days and weeks. I want to want it again.

So as not to finish on such a lame note, let me just say that I've been super impressed with all of you of your races these past few days. Your log entries are getting ever longer as well which I guess I'm partly to blame for (we all have our faults - Anthony talks and talks, I write and write).
This is a really impressive team and extended family of superstar college runners and I can't wait to see the grand finale this season. Run Good!