Down, set, HUT!

So last week was a week of lounging; no running then, and still none. Thursday through Saturday were social obligations that I gleefully went with instead of running. Saturday held a bit of exercise though, as I participated in Leon's football team's practice. I don't think I'm really on the team (more so a backup) but it was fun getting out there and partaking in some 5 on 5 flag football practice.

Though 2.5 hours of football isn't, aerobically, too crazy of a challenge for me post marathon, the cutting, digging, sprinting ... that was new! Softball and running have been my main activities for a while, and those are basically straight-line endeavors. In short, all the muscle above the knee that help your hip dodge, dip, duck, dive and dodge, well, they were insanely sore Sunday and Monday. I can honestly say I hurt more on those days than in the post marathon days! That pain convinced me that I really, REALLY, only want to be a sub on the team.

Since then the weather's basically been nasty, and I've spent my time in the gym or riding the stationary bike in an effort to work out the pain in my legs. Tomorrow I hope to get back to running (though Mother Nature seems to be in a bit of a wet spell, so we'll see) as I have the Rocket's Run 5K on Sunday. The Rocket's Run is where, in 2006, one week before the marathon, I set my PR with a 23:52. I surprised myself that day, as I really only wanted/expected something right under 25 minutes. As I would go on to set a marathon PR one week later, I think I was as fast as I have ever been, or probably ever will be.

I've signed up for the Austin Half Marathon in February. Good run, good city, fun time; glad I'm doing it for the third time. In the back of my mind though is the Lucky Trails Half Marathons in March. Yes, that's half marathons, with an s. If the body is willing, I want to run their half marathon on Saturday, and then their half marathon on Sunday. It seems like an interesting thing to do, and all in all, I think I've recovered well from the marathon (just got to avoid football!). For training, the plan is to pull as many Saturday and Sunday, back to back runs, as possible in the next six weeks or so. If I can work up to 8 miles on each day, I think I'll be able to pull off the feat. Right now, I would say my time goals for those runs would be to break 2:15 on Saturday, and then 2:45 on Sunday. Hopefully I'll sign up before Austin, because the pain the morning after that run might scare me off!

In theory, I'm still going to London for work toward the end of February. I think it would be neat to find a run to do while I'm there; half marathon maybe??? Something I'm going to look into.

Stay dry.