Friday, October 1, 2010

Flashback Friday: Recovery

I love defying age-old wisdom. My defiance paid off during my recovery from the Akron Marathon.

"Don't try anything new on race day"
--Running Proverb

Thursday evening, as I was rounding up my race supplies -- namely, that growler of Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence -- I spied a tub of chia seeds in the supplement section of Whole Foods. I've been wanting to try iskiate (aka chia fresca) since reading Born to Run. It's supposed to be good fuel for both pre- and postrun.

That night, the Enthusiast and I mixed up a batch to try. I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to gag on it Saturday. The simple mixture of lemon juice, water, chia seeds, and sweetener made for a pretty tasty -- albeit gelatinous -- beverage. Add a little gin and it would be perfect.

Saturday morning before the race I made a chia fresca for breakfast and prepared the ingredients for one after the marathon. Along with the drink that morning I also ate a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese, a banana, and Greek yogurt with honey -- by far my biggest prerace meal ever.

I only drank water on the race course and consumed four GUs, starting after six miles. I never felt hungry, which I think helped me stay alert throughout the race and recover faster.

After the race I also donned the cheap compression socks from CVS and wore them for most of the rest of the day, most of Sunday while attending a lecture on Byzantine relics and walking around the Cleveland Museum of Art, most of Monday -- after a two-mile run -- while traveling, and part of Tuesday as I walked around a conference and expo.

Aside from my postrace iskiate, my rehydration plan consisted of two Three Philosophers at lunch and half of the growler of Chocolate Indulgence on Saturday. I drank the second half of the growler Sunday.

I'm fresh and ready for some running this weekend. Thank you for all your kind comments on my race.

Back Talk
Wherein it's time to move on.

Mike A. wants some foreshadowing: "Outstanding job! When's the next one?"

Answer: My next marathon will be Akron in 2011, my fifth consecutive, which gives me "Legacy" status. However, don't count on a PR because the race will be shortly after the Enthusiast and I get married. Next race? I'm looking for a 10-K and/or a trail race to finish off the year.

Miss Zippy is in awe of my unintentional race strategy: "I am really impressed at your surge/recover strategy. That approach kills me--if I'm not steady, it's not happening."

Answer: Surge and recover was not how I planned it. My attitude is what made it work.

Paul is ready to worship me: "Did you do negative splits after mile 20? (i.e. do I need to build a shrine?)"

Answer: No need to erect any false idols in my name. My 18-mile split was right at my average pace for the race.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

6 comments:

Sun Runner said...

I am glad to hear all went well in the post-race arena.

Were the cheap-o compression socks not the best thing ever? You're welcome.

BTW, they ARE available at my local Meijer store for $5.00. You know CVS overcharges for everything.

And, lastly, I am pleased to hear your postrace imbibing was of the quality I have come to expect from the BHC (I'll forget about the Baltika incident).

I'm heading to Royal Oak, Michigan and the Bastone Brewery after work from some well-made Belgian-style ales! Only one more hour...

Sláinte!

Mike Antonucci said...

I think the post-race lecture on Byzantine relics is an excellent recovery technique. Could be a Runner's World article in it.

Nothing goes better with an iskiate than Constantine XI's greaves.

Spike said...

Mike is correct, post-race lectures about any former European (or is it Indonesian) relics is the best post marathon recovery tool.

Glad to hear the legs feel good.

Paul said...

BTW, you need to update your "Fastest Stumblings" 8)

Anonymous said...

so glad to have read your race report. Fantastic!!

MCM Mama said...

Great job on the race! Love your choice of recovery beers. Quite nice.