A Slower Rhythm

Since running the Tunnel Marathon several weeks ago, I’ve been in recovery mode. I had read and heard many times that after running a marathon, recovery can take four weeks or more. I have to say I was a little skeptical and disbelieving, but not without reason either. For all the ultracycling I did, recovery came pretty quickly, and really it had to be quick because long events were sometimes just two or three weeks apart. The difference is the intensity – I raced the marathon, whereas the cycling was paced and also knowing there was another ride coming.

This has been another new phase of learning and patience. My body really has wanted to slow down, and even sleep a lot. I’ve had a couple of massages since the marathon as well and both really moved a lot of soreness out of my body. Even the desire to go running is reduced. There is still desire and there’s also my body quietly speaking its own voice of ‘not today’.

I have been out for a few runs, probably just two a week. For the first couple, I felt like I had someone else’s legs. My stride was awkward and stiff, armswing was shortened, I felt like I was running flatfooted. Forget about any kind of pace either, it was just simply slow, or at least slow by my standards. Still I could appreciate that I could still run. The runs the past couple days have finally extended to over an hour again. Still quite slow, or at least they seem so. I’m not running with a watch because right now it’s not a focus. What I’m finding again is simply the need to listen to my body and what it needs, and certainly speed is nowhere on that list.

With a slower flow of the run, I’ve also had the chance to again find the meditative quality of the run when there’s no particular focus like pacing. Even on this morning’s run I was really able to find a deep peace in the run, I even stopped for a few minutes in the middle of the run on the top of a hill, faced the sun, and meditated soaking in the new day.

The marathon was amazing, and even intense. Recovery has been another surprising journey as well, even with its own concentration on a slow, easy rhythm. So despite the usual fullness of summer, I am quite enjoying a relaxing beginning. That beginning will surely lead to more running joy as well.

A quiet week

It's been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, my hometown. Oops - wrong channel.

It's been a couple of quiet weeks in Boulder, my hometown. Let me see if I channel a little Garrison Keillor.

The snow is long gone in Boulder after a record month of warm temperatures and almost no rain. Even the mountains are losing their snow. It's not melting, it's evaporating, the streams are mostly dry already. We all hope and even expect a few more snowstorms to come through, but for now we'll enjoy this amazing spring.
Boulderites are embracing spring already. Runners out in shorts. It seems like opening day has happened up Lefthand Canyon with all the cyclists testing their legs on this popular ride. Pearl Street was especially youthful with students on spring break roaming the walking mall.

The trees and flowers are noticing too. There's already flowers blooming in my yard and up and down the block. Neighbors are out doing yardwork already. Trees are full bloom with incredible arrays of flowers, colors, and scents. Yards are starting to turn green, I've already seen a few sprinklers. The Gunbarrel Open Space and foothills are starting to show their green as well.

How do I know? I've been out running and up in the mountains. Not as much running as I'd like, but I'm getting out a couple times a week. They haven't all been specatular runs, nor have they all had great flow, rhythm, or speed. But they were runs. With fewer runs the time to be in that state seemed a little more precious and joyous from the inside, despite the outer looks.

I'm grateful for a body that's so capable - and so wise. I just have to listen. I'm glad spring is here and I can run in shorts again. I'm enjoying the rest and sitting on my west-facing deck taking in the splendor of the Rockies. I'm reminded to stay humble.

Spring has sprung, at least it has here in Boulder.

That's the news from Boulder. Where all the ... you know the rest.

Stopping

Tonight I started listening to a radio program by an astrologer, Debra Silverman. She started by talking about the earthquake in Mexico and how at times of crisis is when we ask for help. She was going to use the idea of asking for help as the theme for her program. I had been thinking about calling in for a reading, but went for a run instead. I wasn’t sure what I would ask for help for.

It’s been a little more than two weeks since my big weekend of running with resulting strains and sore muscles. Very slowly the legs are recovering, but it doesn’t help that I’m still running 35-40 miles a week. I’ve had some amazing runs in the past two weeks, but more than enough that were less-than-comfortable. The first miles of my runs are always my warmup; tonight was no exception, except I wasn’t warming up.

My legs and hips were sore, my breathing was choppy again, my mind was charging along on its own. I was wondering about my 50k coming up in 6 weeks and if I’d be ready. I was wondering how my legs were going to recover. I was wondering how I should structure my the next weeks to deal with my soreness and still train.

And then I had enough. I just stopped, turned off my watch, and turned around to walk home. I knew right then I was not going in the right direction and I didn’t want to keep going that way.

What my body needs is true rest and recovery. If I can still run 40 miles a week, I clearly have enough energy to focus on active recovery.

What my mind needs is to stop ‘training’. I’ve spent years training and structuring, planning out months in advance what I’m going to do. Right now I don’t want to be there. I still want to run faster and farther, but not at the expense of a settled mind.

What my soul needs is to enjoy running fully. I’ve still enjoyed my runs the last couple weeks, but with my body and my mind off in different directions, it hasn’t been the same.

This blog is supposed to be about running. Life happens though and we have to adjust, just like on any run.

So I’m asking for help – something I’m usually not too good at. I don’t know from whom I need help, or even what that help might look like. I’m putting it out there that I’m asking for help. I have faith that whatever comes will be perfect.

In the mean time, I’m going to slow down.