Strong (and tired) - Physically fit?

[fitfool]

I've only gone running once in the 3.5 weeks since the marathon. At first I basked in the sore muscles and creaky joints and didn't mind not running. After about a week I started looking at the schedule of local races for the next 2-3 months. After 2 weeks I ran a quick 4-mile run but found my ankle and knees still protested. So I figured I'd rest some more and run over Thanksgiving. Nope...just lazed about and cooked, ate, read, and slept.

Now I'm itching to go for a run but am reluctant to run in the cold and dark. So tonight I decided to run the stairs in my apartment building. Up to the 4th floor. tap tap tap tap back down. Up-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-Turn!-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9...winding around and around until I felt kinda dizzy. But I did it. 20 times up and down.

Felt so good to get back in my body that I gave myself a mini-physical-fitness test. So for all you military people, would I pass? Or do I need to try again? I'm a 30-year-old female.

2 minutes push-ups	36 (regular kind, not modified)
2 minutes sit-ups	59 (if toes were hooked under the couch) 40 (with toes not anchored under anything)
2-mile run	18:00 (estimated by taking the times of the first 2 miles in my marathon training runs)

It was nice to feel strong but now I'm tuckered out and will go to sleep at a decent hour.

Comments

[lispsugrl.livejournal.com]

It is *completely* normal to have a tough time getting back into the swing of things after a marathon. You're doing the right thing by at least getting your body to do something....all that running is good but sometimes a break can be a very good thing. The winter time is a very good time to work on fitness level and getting stronger...I think that can be a huge factor in running. Last offseason I did a lot more weight training/cross training and come spring I felt revived and ready to run.

As for running in the cold, it can be a very good force too. I ran last winter in the coldest of the cold (8 degrees!) and while it was ridiculous at the time, I think it helps make running in the optimal weather that much easier. You tend to work a lot harder in the cold (since you have to stay warm as well as work to run hard). Start soon to run in the cold and your body can become a bit more acclimated...:)

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the encouragement. I might cave and join a gym again for the weights and even those monotonous treadmills. I'll run in the cold if I have to (7 degrees for me!) but there's really only a 2.5-mile loop that's lit at all well at night. I don't mind doing 3-4 of those loops but the thought of that being my only route is depressing. My other routes include lots of stretches where there isn't really any shoulder to stay out of the way of cars. I don't mind it when it's light enough to see branches and holes to dodge but it sucks in the dark.