Reflection.

Guadajuko
One of the sweetest pooches I've ever met.

Its been almost two weeks since I ran my 100k. Funny how my body was recovered almost completely by day two after the race. In fact, my whole body faired better after running 62 miles than it did after my last two 50ks and my trail marathon. "Crippled" is the descriptor I'd use to describe myself after my last two 50ks. You know? The kind of crippled where walking or sitting elicits lots of deep breathing, grunting and a few loud expletives. Trust me. Its not fun to relive labor and delivery two days after every race. But this race was totally different. I was tired and fatigued, but I wasn't crippled in any sense of the word. Even my right foot felt pretty normal the next day.

I attribute this to a couple things. The overall elevation change for this race was probably only around 6500 ft or so and well... maybe my body is getting into "ultra" shape. Since I don't log LSD (long slow distance) miles its taking my body a while to adjust. At this point, I'm unsure whether more mileage on my feet would help my right foot. I feel like more barefoot running (as in sans the shoes) is the way to strengthen it, but have to wonder if its more a bone issue than a strength and muscle issue. Funny how my left foot was fine. Overall, I think the flatter course helped with my knee and hip issues as well. The Born To Run Ultra Marathon was a good pick for stupid miles running.

And I'm a little embarassed to admit this, but I had a "moment" the Monday after the race. I think I've mentioned before I'm not a weepy romantic type. I don't normally get emotional about stuff unless its HUGE, like the birth of my boys (and even those tears were very fleeting). So I was a little surprised when merging onto the freeway while driving my little one to preschool the Monday after my race my eyes flooded.

The timing couldn't have been more inconvenient and I was trying to convince myself that it was all the whacked out hormones from all the running I did, but I guess I hadn't really had time to fully reflect on my experience and accomplishment. I was so caught up in finishing and hula hooping and drinking my post race celebratory beer... oh and sleeping... that I hadn't really thought about what I had just done.

I'm really, really, REALLY proud of myself. I never thought I would EVER run a marathon. I was just way too messed up. But I ran 62 miles. In one day.

I. DID. IT.

I get to keep that prize forever.
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