But this feels weird
Here’s the deal. I was supposed to run America’s Toughest Road Race, the Blue Ridge Marathon, the other weekend. And I did. Well, sort of.
The race was canceled due to severe thunderstorms about 6 miles into my race. We made it 9 miles to the stop where buses would pick us up and return us to the start. And then my race was over.
I fully expected to still be recovering this weekend, just over a week past my race. But I didn’t need to.
I expected to take the month of May off from running, devoting more time to essential strength training and cross training, giving my body a break from the relentless miles from my spring marathon season, as we begin the fall training season in June.
As expected, then, I’ve done absolutely nothing for two weeks! It was really weird to sleep in on my long run day.
I’ve worked. A lot. Census is up at the hospital with multiple admissions nearly every day, making me in high demand.
I took a day to go visit my older daughter who won an award at school. A nice ceremony followed by dinner out. A whirlwind tour of central Virginia.
My younger daughter needed a prom dress. We got lucky and scored a bargain at Ross. A beautiful dress in a size smaller than she has been wearing. She’s losing weight like crazy.
I’ve been cuddling with my fur babies in the morning with no need to get up early to run. I think they love it.
Letting myself heal, both physically and emotionally, is important. I know this. But I also need to find the motivation to get into my garage gym and do some work.
I’m also struggling to find the motivation to write right now. There was a time that my mind spun with all kinds of ideas. I don’t know where that part of my brain has gone.
The Richmond Road Runners Club held their annual banquet. It was so much fun watching my friends win awards, especially those we recognized in our community for their important contributions to the Richmond running community. It felt like giving perfect gifts at Christmas! And the speaker was phenomenal.
Part of me feels guilty for not running. And I feel really guilty for not running a marathon or finding the motivation to finish the one I started. I need to get over that. But I’m also feeling a bit burned out from an exhausting training season that led to nowhere.
Coaching for the fall marathon training season begins next month. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And I can’t wait to usher in a new group of first-time marathoners. Surely running with my team will inspire me to fall in love with running again.
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I’ve dealt with post-marathon blues before. Maybe this isn’t much different. Post-almost-marathon-melancholy? Maybe that’s more accurate. I did all of the work without the big, triumphant finish. Has this ever happened to you?
As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.
Anne the Vegan 