My knees are feeling much better after taking a week off running. There is improvement each day. They're not 100% though so I'm just going to take it easy for the next little while to make sure they are feeling good before the Ogden Marathon.
I had lots of fun volunteering at the finish line of the Hurricane Half Marathon this weekend. I decided it would be a good time for the hideous bright orange pom-pom hat to make its second appearance at a race (click here for the first).
Right after a guy crossed the finish line, he walked past me and proceeded to barf all over the place. My first reaction was that it was pretty disgusting. But my second reaction was that it was pretty darn awesome. When was the last time you REALLY pushed yourself to this point during a race? For me, never. (It seems like other achy body parts start acting up before I can really push to exhaustion.) I thought it was cool.
The best part of the race was when my co-worker Melinda Caron crossed the finish line of her FIRST half marathon! I issued a challenge to co-workers last year to start a training plan to prepare for this race and she took up the challenge. She has worked hard for many, many months. It was great to see her cross the finish line and it reminded me of my first half marathon two years ago. Way to go Melinda!
THE BAD
I was at a conference all week for work. It was inside the MGM Grand Casino conference area. I was sitting in cramped chairs for days on end. I was breathing lots of smoke. I drank much more Diet Mountain Dew than water. And the food options were very limited. No fruits, no vegetables. I did not eat good. Case in point: this nasty hot dog combo:
But I discovered a glorious morsel straight from heaven: the chocolate croissant. I pounded six of these big muthers while I was there.
By the end of the week I felt utterly disgusting. I had no energy. It felt like high fructose corn syrup and trans-fat were flowing like sludge through my arteries. I'm no health food nut (obvious if you've read this blog longer than 1 week), but this was the extreme of crappy eating.
THE UGLY
I'm certain that a few more weeks living like this would have had a drastic effect on my appearance.
I am so thankful to be back home and back into my normal routine. Long meetings + crappy food wore me out. If I never eat a hot dog again, it will be too soon.
It was cool seeing you at the finish line, that was one mean brutal course and I think I have sworn off the Hurricane half forever (ok knowing me I will likely change my mind sometime next March when I will be going oooh it would be cool to do another half and see if I can pr on that course again). You should have let me borrow that hat to protect me from the wind, I looked like some crazed homeless guy at the end from all the wind. Oh well I set a 7:05 pr on some drunk person's funny idea of a course.
ReplyDeleteI am glad the rest is doing you good, it's always good to listen to your body. Are you planning another rest week or going to start easing back into it, I am trying to get into the 10k out in Ivins next week with the ironman even though it closed on Thursday, I emailed my sob story hopefully someone listens.
"If eating a hot dog is wrong, I don't wanna be right." -Doug Heffernan
ReplyDeleteTime for a fruit and veggie cleanse, I say. Personally, I love the orange hat.
Please dont hate me for saying this but uhhh. that hot dog kinda looks good. HAHAHA! Really :), worst part is that I'm digging a half eaten hot dog!
ReplyDeleteI love volunteering!
So, guess who was able to jog down the hallway at the gym today?? ME! Future's looking so bright, I might have to wear shades!
Woo hoo for happy knees! It's annoying howany of our body parts have to be in tip top shape to run! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the last pic of you. Too funny! And the bright orange cap is a nice touch for a race volunteer! Way to go Melinda - and way to go you for inspiring her to start the journey!
ReplyDeleteI feel so special that I made it on your Blog! Thanks for inspiring and encouraging me along the way and for being there at the finish line!
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