Ashley D /

Recovering After A Race

After Saturday’s rough half marathon, I’ve spent this week focusing on recovering. That can mean different things for everyone but for me, based on the plan and directions Gia provided for me, it revolves around a few key areas:

  • Protein
  • Rest
  • Selective workouts
  • Yoga

Protein is very important for muscle recovery by helping rebuild muscle fibers. Runners put their body through a great deal of impact every time their foot strikes the asphalt. Therefore, it is important to increase your protein intake the week before a race and after a race.  Below are a few of my favorite ways to sneak protein into my day.

  • 1/2 to 1 serving of protein powder mixed into my morning oatmeal
  • handful of almonds with my morning or afternoon fruit
  • add an extra protein into my salads (edamame, hard boiled egg, shrimp, chicken, nuts, cheese, quinoa)
  • top my veggie burger with an egg
  • eggs for dinner
  • chocolate milk after my morning or evening workout

Yes mom, I'll pour it in a glass next time.

Rest was the last thing on my mind last week. It was a very busy work week and blogging week due to multiple events. Therefore, I didn’t get to bed until 11 most nights last week, meaning that my body was only resting for six hours. This week I’ve made a concerted effort to be laying in bed by 9pm. This allows me an hour to read The Hunger Games and still get 7.5 hours sleep. In addition, I’ve cut out alcohol this week which seems to be helping me sleep more soundly.

Selective workouts are important to ensure that my muscles are able to truly recover and repair. I often push my body more than it deserves. Over the years I’ve realized that my body really needs one absolute rest day each week. However, until Sunday, my body had been going non-stop in yoga, spin, weight workouts, and running for 16 days straight. Oops! Therefore, in addition to last Sunday, I’m giving it another complete rest day one day this week. In addition, pushing my body during workouts that aren’t going to help me reach my end goal, has a tendancy to set me back in the more important, running workouts. Last week during two evening blog events, I pushed my body in the Refine Method class and The Daily Burn workout.
Even though I said I’d take it down a notch and follow in the back, that isn’t my nature. Therefore, by Thursday, my entire body was screaming. This week I’m giving my body some time by doing two focused runs (4.5 mile tempo and 4 mile at goal pace), 2 at home yoga workouts, and one personal training session which was primarily agility work.
Yoga is important during recovery because it can help lengthen the muscles, release tension, and relax the body. This week I’ve discovered a few new free YouTube yoga workouts which have helped me squeeze some relaxing yoga practice into my day, both morning and night. None of these are strenuous but instead slow, flowing, and focused on the key areas for runners: hips, hamstrings, and calves. Here are a few of the short videos I’ve done this week:

It’s also important to realize that regardless of how successful your race is, you’re still pushing your body. Even though Saturday’s race wasn’t the PR I’d hoped for, my legs and body felt the affects due to the hills, distance, and stress. It’s amazing how much better I feel after four days of focusing on these few things.  Oh and don’t worry, for those of you who have been asking, I will address Saturday’s “bonk” in tomorrow’s Friday Face Time.

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ashleyd /

2012 Rock ‘N’ Roll DC Half Marathon Recap

 

I could spend hours reviewing this weekend’s race in my head. I wasn’t expecting to run my second slowest half marathon on Saturday. In fact, as you all know, I’d trained for a PR of a sub 2:10. I could drive myself crazy analyzing all the things I did right, a few of the things I did wrong, and how frustrating it is to work towards something and not succeed. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t admit that it’s tough to see other friends finish a half marathon faster when they admittedly didn’t train properly.  (Picture compliments of Jess)

But, last year in one of my favorite posts, I discussed the importance of not coveting another’s run. Since then I’ve learned to support my friends and cheer them to victory, knowing that one day they’ll do the same for me. At the end of the day, one of my Twitter friends said it best

Chin up! Whenever I have a bad race, I think a couple years ago, a half- even a bad one- would not have been possible.’- Anne @rileduprunner

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ashleyd /

It’s Getting Real

Happy Thursday gang!

I can’t believe that the race is less than 48 hours away. This shit is getting real folks! This morning, before heading to work, I started packing and everything started setting in. My pace bracelet is printed, my Garmin is charged, and my playlist is made. My amazing friend and run coach, Gia, not only provided me with a suggested goal time, but also studied the course before providing my pace plan.

In case you’re curious, here is my plan for Saturday:

Mile 1-4 – 9:50 pace
Mile 5-7 – 9:54 pace (when the uphill climbs begin)
Mile 7-9 – 9:45 pace
Mile 10-13.1 – 9:40 pace (If I’m feeling good, this is where I’ll let the adrenaline push my pace. Deep down I know that these 3 miles are where I lost the race last year and therefore want to have gas in the tank to push it.)

Since I can’t seem to decide what my favorite song is these days, I decided to make a 52 song playlist so I can put my iPod on random for the whole race and just rock out. I love each of these songs for different reasons and believe that the random selection will keep me from getting bored. I mean really, who can pick and choose the best of  old school Brittney, Rush, Soulja Boy, Lady Gaga, and Ludacris?

I’m planning to rock my neon pink compression sleeves and my favorite Lululemon run skirt . My fuel plan is to stick to the water stations and take Pink Lemonade Honey Stingers  early and often. I’m a little nervous about the water stations but I’m more nervous about running with my Camel Bak after not using it on any of my training runs this winter.

Hopefully I’ll be smiling like this when I see my friends along the course!

Nationalhalfmarathon

I’m not going to lie, I’m a little worried about the race and my confidence going into it. I’m feeling stronger than I ever have, leaner, faster, and more excited for this race than any race I’ve run lately. But, instead of stressing about the race I’m focusing on the fact that I have super fun running roommates this weekend (Caitlin, Laura, and Theodora) who will be perfect to pre-game with over pasta and foam rolling. When you add that to the fact that green beer day drinking will be waiting for me at the finish line, it’s hard for me to not smile from ear to ear.

I’ll see you tomorrow from the Bolt Bus!

What is your race strategy?

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