Mile Markers: Post Marathon
Hi there! How was your weekend? Ours was spent outside in the snow – both Seattle “snow” and real mountain snow!
Last week was my first week back to running post marathon. I took over a week off after the California International Marathon – especially since I hiked for about 2 hours the day after the marathon in Yosemite.
I had a minor post-marathon cold for a few days after the race (which I blame on 3 hours of sleep Monday night because of a flight cancellation), so I didn’t exercise at all except for hiking at Yosemite and one Pilates session that week. I just took advantage of some extra rest and recovery – and plenty of eating, especially since my mom was in town and we had a mini-Christmas celebration.
This past week (starting 8 days out from the marathon), I resumed light running. Nothing fast – most miles were 60-90 seconds per mile slower than my marathon pace. I ran mostly on hills and my less common routes to avoid even the temptation to compare my pace.
I could still feel the toll of the marathon during those first few runs back. My muscles simply lacked their normal power – which is to be expected, since it can take up to 14 days after a marathon for muscular strength to return to normal.
Running eclipses other workouts during those final weeks of marathon training, so it feels good to resume a variety of activities: strength training, Pilates, and winter sports such as snowshoeing. And running with my boys is also part of my post-marathon training!
Monday: 25 minutes strength training
This was my first strength training session in a few weeks…and lifting weights definitely felt harder because of that. I did squats, bench press, walking lunges, rows, core exercises, and injury prevention exercises.
Tuesday: 3 mile easy run
My first post-marathon run was an easy run with Ollie. He and I are still working on running together (he’s almost 50 pounds, so he can drag me along when he sees a squirrel!) and teaching him to pace. Ollie tends to have one speed and that’s fast.
Wednesday: 3 mile easy run
Ryan and I ran 3 easy miles in the dark and cold. Seattle experienced a cold snap, which I sort of loved. It wasn’t easy to get up early for a run in the 20 degree temperatures, but I really enjoy those cold weather runs once I’m out there.
Thursday: 3 mile easy run
Charlie’s turn! Charlie and I ran 3 miles and he had such a happy look on his little puggle face the whole time. The cold weather has been causing wheezing for Charlie, so we started our run short and easy for him. But once he warmed up, he was ready to run!
Friday: 3 mile easy run
Another early morning run with Ryan! Even when it’s dark until 7:30 AM on a sunny day, I prefer morning runs over any other time of day. I love starting off the day with a run, I enjoy having the evening free for relaxing, and I savor the quiet stillness of the morning.
We saw Rogue One on Friday evening! Even though we bought our tickets in advance, we had to stand in line. Rogue One was such a good movie – and so different from the family-friendly Star Wars movies.
Saturday: 3 mile easy run
There was snow in Seattle on Saturday morning! It wasn’t as much as the 2 inches we had last week, but this still is more snow than we had all last winter. By Midwest standards, this snow would have been nothing – but it was such a treat to have some snow briefly on the ground here. So of course we headed out on a run! Ryan, Ollie, and I ran 3 miles as the snow lightly fell down on us.
Sunday: 2 hours snowshoeing
My parents spoiled us with several early Christmas gifts, including snowshoes and Patagonia down jackets. We opted for a groomed snowshoe trail for our excursion out on our new snowshoes, so we went to the Nordic ski area in the mountains.
A thick layer of snow already covers the mountains, so we had plenty of fresh powder for our snowshoe adventure. We trekked for 4 miles in the snow at a comfortable pace. Snowshoeing is so much fun! It indulges my endurance junkie needs but is so relaxed.
[Tweet “Returning to running after a marathon and snowshoeing via @thisrunrecipes #optoutside #running #snowshoeing”]
What’s your favorite winter cross-training?
Is is snowing where you live?
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21 Responses
Looks like a great way to ease back into running! We had a little snow on Saturday, but it fell on top of ice, so it wasn’t enjoyable. Not sure what its gonna be like out there today because it rained alot yesterday and the temps dropped below freezing again last night. I can already tell its gonna be a long winter! I don’t mind moderately cold temps and a little snow, its the ice and the refreeze that drives me crazy!
Thank you! That’s already a lot of ice you have for so early in winter! The ice and refreeze is the worst part.
What a great week!! I love that you get to do early morning runs with company – either animal or human 🙂 And, of course, I love that Charlie was so happy to be running with you.
Awesome snowshoeing too – what a great gift!! I love snowshoeing and it’s one thing my husband and I actually can do together, although our “mountains” are a little smaller 🙂
Thank you! The company was so nice after weeks of mostly solo runs. And Charlie loved being out on a run especially on his favorite trail with all the bunnies and squirrels! I love how you and your husband snowshoe together!
I kinda wish we had snowshoes for around here. Though I guess I should say it really isn’t THAT bad. The running trails are mostly clear, but the air temp is just so unforgiving. They are saying that you risk frostbite for 20-30 minutes of your skin being exposed. I’d still run if I was doing it more during the day and not as much in the morning, but killing myself doesn’t seem tempting enough…
There were times living in NW Indiana that I wish I had snowshoes just for walking around campus! But I heard in the news that Chicago is colder than Mars right now. Please stay safe!
I love that you are easing back into it post marathon. So many jump right into it. Why? Glad you got out and enjoyed the “real” snow. We had a snowstorm on Saturday and spent the day in it. Later that night we took the kids out snowshoeing on the trails. They loved wearing their headlamps and the element of mystery of being in the woods in the dark. I love it too!
Thank you! Snowshoeing in the dark sounds so fun – and a little spooky!
I went snowshoeing for the first time this winter this past weekend and loved it! Great being out in the mountains and fresh air.
Isn’t it so fun? It’s a great winter alternative to hiking!
Sounds like a perfect week back! I would love to try snow shoeing some time.
Thank you! You should try – I know that some REIs rent out snowshoes!
You totally took advantage of the weather with your workouts this week! Glad you had a great “comeback” week from the marathon, too. Don’t blame you to take it easy and recover from the race AND the weeks of training you put in for it.
It does not snow here, thankfully, and I’ve never been snowshoeing. Really, I don’t like snow, so if I were somewhere snowy I would probably just hybernate all winter. My favorite cross training is probably the Arc Trainer machine… and netflix.
Thank you! I don’t miss living somewhere with lots of snow (where we used to live would get several feet per winter – 88 inches the year we moved!) but I do still like spending time in the snow.
Looks like a great workout to trek in the snow. PS – Congrats on your marathon finish!! It took me two weeks to start running again after mine.
Thank you! It was a great workout – not high-impact or hard at any given moment, but my appetite definitely was revved afterward.
Yeah, we got the same snow as you guys did. It’s still here, even though it started raining last night. The sidewalks are a mess and I haven’t been able to run outside in over a week! I looove your Pantagonia down jacket. LOVE IT. When you do strength training, do you go to the gym or do you have some stuff to use at home?
That’s crazy that you still have the snow! Our Saturday snow melted by mid-afternoon. I strength train at our apartment’s gym because it’s included in our rent and two dogs can’t climb all over me there, but I used to strength train at home all the time and still have my kettlebell. I used to have a stability ball as well but Ollie popped it!
How fun, I’d love to try show shoeing one day! We got several inches of snow this weekend, but it was also bitterly cold outside. Yesterday’s high was 1 degree, and this morning when I went to work the actual temperature was -4. Don’t like to be out in that, especially running and getting sweaty: if something were to happen that could get very dangerous very quickly.
That’s too cold to be outside! Even in our mountains, it rarely is very nasty cold during the daytime, which makes snowshoeing easier. Although in the desert on the other side of the Cascades it can be frigid!
I love that you have snowshoes! looks so fun! it’s not snowing at the moment but it snowed over the weekend. I am praying for a mild winter here!