After four months of painstakingly disciplined marathon training, I had big plans to throw caution to the wind this week and disregard everything I’d ever read about post-marathon recovery.
A tad hubristic, sure, but after 16 weeks of scheduled workouts and calculated nutrition and near-religious adherence to a calendar, I wanted nothing more when I crossed that finish line than to go off-book for awhile. Wise or not, I wanted to do recovery my way.
But the world had other plans.
Case in point: every trainer out there, including my cyber-coach Hal, told me to do nothing but rest in the first three days following the marathon. No running, no cross training, no nothin’.
Yeah, right. I laughed to myself. After four months without stepping foot in my gym, I’m going to start getting my money’s worth again this week. See you at kickboxing. And pilates. And in the spectator stands during the under-40 men’s basketball league practice. I mean, what?
Nothing was going to stop me from resuming my normal workout routine after Sunday’s race. And then, oh yeah, this happened.
Stranding me in Maryland and forcing me to stay off my legs and inside the house for three days straight? Well played, Sandy. Well played.
Likewise, most marathon recovery guides tell you to continue refueling your glycogen stores in the days following the race with a high-carb diet, but after a couple weeks of taper-induced weight gain, I had other plans.
Celery! Rice cakes! Vodka sodas!
Foiled again.
Putting me on the Halloween candy distribution committee was a clever way to force feed processed sugars back into this recovering body. You win this round, world.
How’s your recovery going? And any more tips to pass my way that I can arrogantly attempt to ignore and then end up accidentally following to a T?
Riled Up Runner 
I am sorry to say that Sandy disrupted my plans to sample the French Toast at the Metro 29 Diner. I made an early Monday ride north on a very empty route 95.
On Tuesday, I put my bike on my trainer and rode for 25 minutes. Nothing too hard, just a good spin. I feel so much better today.
And, I’ve already committed to running the MCM in 2013.
I can totally understand wanting to run that race again! It was so well organized and such a fun course. Good for you! I would sign up again, but I’ve got a spot in NYC2013… assuming my city is still there when I get back!