The trip home was exhausting. Got up at 3:30 Fri morning to catch my flight. After I finally got into cleve (after a layover in DC) I had to go get a new license (mine got stolen in GA...havent had one for 8 months). Then I drove to Toledo (almost 2 hrs) to go to my best friends goodbye party for her work. Finally got to bed around 1 (yes thats almost 24 hrs) and had to get up early to drive BACK to Cleveladn to go to the expo and pick up my race packet. After that, my parents had a party since it was the first time home in about a year. Good times...got to see family and friends and overall it was great.
The half marathon. Not good. I have learned that I am not immortal. I apologize for anyone I disappoint. Apparently two half marathons, a full marathon, a 5k, and a 10k are just too much for me to run in only 3 months. I've learned that you HAVE to listen to your body...and give it a rest when it demands it. I've been having major IT band problems after those MONSTROSITIES (aka hills) from the full marathon in Atlanta. Did I stop and let myself recover????? NOOOOOOOOO! I was running a mere 4 days after that race. I have battled and battled the frustrations of my knees while trying to prepare for the Cleveland half. THe furtheset I got on a long run was 8 miles....sad I know. I decided to run the Cleveland half for fun and to support my friend and family (That I roped into running this a long time ago), and that is exactly what I did. I finished in 2:26...which is bad. Very bad for me personally. My first half after 5 weeks of running I finished in 2:12...the half I did during the full marathon in Atlanta I finished in 2:20...and I still had another 13.1 to go. So yes...I wasn't too excited about my time. But I realized...that it is time for a break.
When I got home my mom said she could see in my face that I was in survival mode. She said it was written all over me. School has really taken a beating on me lately...and apparently I couldn't hide it. At one point on the course I almost broke down in tears because I literally felt like there was nothing left in me. I am taking this as a big sign to slow down a bit. I plan to take 4 weeks off running to let my knees heal. In that time I want to really focus on eating healthy (somethign I have ignored while running....I shove everything in my mouth because I'm constantly ravenous from training). I also want to continue biking and swimming and power walking. But not too intense....just whatever I'm up for. I realize I'm soooooo young and really an infant when it comes to this racing and training. I have a LONG career ahead of me...and sometimes you just really have to give yourself a break if you want to get better and faster. This is what I will do.
No fear...I can't wait for the full to start training for the Disney marathon. Still planning to do a few triathlons this summer...nothing too crazy. All in all the Cleveland half marathon was cool. I liked running in my home town...running by the Browns Stadium (stupid hill!!! killed my knees)..and there were quite a few spectators despite the horrendous weather conditions (50 and pouring rain). At the end the sun was shining, I had an awesome medal, friends and family, and was completely happy to be finished. It was a good weekend....plane landed and got home at 1 am, had to take a test at 7 am, and back to the grind again. God willing I will have the strength to get through this quarter of school without being too "broken" Thanks friends for bearing with me at this harder time in my racing career.
I am lucky!
