Chicago Marathon Recap

I decided a few months ago to give the Chicago Marathon a try. I have been doing this crazy thing of triathlons now for almost 10 years. And living in Chicago I still have not checked off the box, Chicago Marathon. Now...Checked. And side not, never do again.
I have done a few marathons before. 2 in college, mistake. And one last December. This by far was the most boring course I have ever done. And WAYYYY tooo many people. I would much rather run somewhere pretty and less crowded. The only benefit I saw was sleeping in my own bed!
I really felt prepared for this too. I trained with my running partner and friend Janeth. I actually got my highest week up to 68 miles! That is a ton for this girl. I stopped biking and swimming just to take a break from the triathlon life. (I actually miss it!). About 3 weeks ago my heel started to feel sore after a 20 mile run. I went in to the doctor and yep, plantar fascitis! I was really proactive about taking care of it, icing and stretching. It never got any worse.
The first few miles of the marathon I was right on my pace but I could feel my heel already. I knew that couldn't be good. I think it was the faster pace and blacktop. I got to the halfway point at 1:30. Okay, not bad but boy did my heel really hurt at this point. If this was mile 25 than I could have sucked it up but I had 13 miles to go. By mile 15 I had changed my stride so now my opposite hip flexor was killing me. I couldn't even run! That is crazy for me. I always think of myself as having a really high pain threshold. I walked a few min then ran again. I was looking for a place to drop out and get a ride. As I walked and watched everyone run by all I could think about was Noah asking for the medal when I got home later. So off I went. NO dropping out for me. I can't quit. Not in my vocabulary. There are too many people out there that would love to finish in any time. So I walked and jogged the last 10 miles. It was a LONG 10 miles. Lots of self talk. But I finished and didn't cry. I was actually incredibly proud of my self for not quitting and sticking it out. That is a part of sport. Not all races will be PRs but all races are successes in different ways. I am still not sure what the huge draw is for the marathon. 40,000 people? I understand the sense of accomplishment. But to be honest I get that from running a PR in any race 3 miles or 26. Why don't people try dog sledding? It would be so much easier on the body.
Note to spectators: don't cheer for people that don't give you eye contact. I had tons of people cheer for me with, "You can do it!, Run!". I knew I could too but I was in PAIN! Just smile and wave next time. It is kind of like your OB telling you, "Come on Jenny, your almost at the finish line of a triathlon, PUSH!". I am serious, my OB actually said that to me. I wanted to punch him. Pushing a kid out is NOTHING like finishing a triathlon. I would do 10 Ironmans in a row before pushing a baby out.

So now it is the fall in Chicago and I need a goal. I ran the first half of the Chicago marathon in 1:30 and the second half in 1:50. Not vary fulfilling. I have to wait 6 months now before I can race again. It is like a drug. Competition is awesome. It feeds me. Anyone with an idea?

Sport is Cyclical

I need to update my pics of people. This is Noah heading off to school for his pictures. Seriously I could just eat him up! And yes, they were fighting. SHE is always the one to start it. Who knew a 1 year old could beat the crap out of a 4 year old. You should see some of his war wounds from Molly biting him! Watch out boys!
This is what I do when there are no triathlons to train for. Pull out the slip and slide. Yep, here in the midwest this is how we do it.
You better believe I was running so fast Bill couldn't even take my picture. LOL! But really with all of the marathon miles on my legs I feel like I have one speed, turtle.

While I was in the shower Monday after yoga with Adrienne (note to self, Yoga is WAYYY harder than I ever thought) I came to a conclusion. Sport is cyclical. For the last hmm, 30 years of my life I have been involved in competitive sports in some form or another. I think I have never gone a 12 month period without a swim meet, running race, triathlon, or rowing race since I could walk. No joke. But as far back as I can remember I have always gone through periods of my life where I just wanted to BE active not racing. It seems like these are all cycles. I can imagine a big circle that I go around. It is broken down into: training hard for triathlons, post season break, training hard, post season break, then realizing it has been two seasons with only a month or so break of No structure in those 24 months or so. I implode. I need to sleep in, I need to not have a fire just fun. I need to be with my kids not be tired with my kids. I need to be just Jenny not, OH that's Jenny the triathlete. I am at that point. I stopped racing triathlons early August and have thrown myself into marathon training. In my mind that is running 6 days a week and NOT touching a bike or getting wet in a pool. Unfortunately I have come to realize this really is no different than triathlon training. I am running hard, still waking up early, and still tired with the kids. I need a break! In 10 days after this crazy 26.2 miles of running I am taking a break. I mean workout when I want if I want. I feel fatness coming on and it is OKAY with me. I want the cycle to come again. You see that is the way it works. After this cycle is over I will come back to training hard and be even hungrier to race and get back into shape. You need to get out of shape to get into shape:)
I never understood how sooo many athletes can just go from year to year doing the same thing all the time with such intensity. And I don't mean a 2 week or 1 month break. Take a break! Don't talk about triathlon or think of it. There needs to be a cycle and balance. In the last 5 years my OFF times like this usually included having a baby. NOT this time, no worries here. Just a break for the body and mind. I need that fire to burn bright again when the gun goes off.
If I don't take a break I really believe the flame gets smaller and smaller each season.