LSD

After each Long Slow Day run I am always amazed by how I feel. I don't always feel good so it's not about the endorphins or runner's high. It's mostly about how the body works, functions, recovers.

Yesterday's 22 miler didn't go as smoothly as last week's 20 miler. Granted I had been sick for the four days preceeding the run. I was weak, poorly nuritioned and tired. It was hard to focus on the task at hand but after going to bed very early I woke up at 3 am and made my trek to the gym for my four hour run.

I needed a nap after the run, whereas I hadn't needed one after the previous two week's run, I was actually hungry- when usually I am not, and I was in a lot of pain- again, a first in a long while. Every muscle I have seemed to scream at me and as usual my legs were drained and tired. I found muscles I never knew I had, my inner thighs hurt and my calves were cramping like no tomorrow.

It wasn't pain that made me cry out or cringe, it could best be described as my muscles were sore and tight. A very unpleasant feeling when all you want is to relax. After icing my knees and laying in bed for a couple hours I forced myself up to vaccumm. Hobbling at first and having to explain to my roommate that it looked worse than it felt and I needed to keep my muscles moving, I cleaned the house then took a nap.

They say, if you research this kind of running, that one of the best things to do for yourself is to sleep. Runner's need lots of sleep because it allows for muscle recovery in addition to mental recovery. Were they ever right!

I got up from my nap and walked confidently and quickly across the house feeling like a brand new woman. And this morning, you would never be able to know I almost ran a marathon yesterday. I am quite simply amazed how after a great run and I can just walk around like nothing extraordinary happened and I am even more amazed at how quickly the body goes into action of recovering even from the harder runs.

I continue to look toward the next week's LSD. One more stands in the way between me and the beginning of the goal I set for myself almost 6 months ago. Completing 26.2 miles.