It’s the last Friday of the month, so it’s time to runfess the sins of October. Since the Marine Corps Marathon is fresh in my mind, all of my runfessions are related to that (or at least to the marathon distance).
I runfess that within hours of finishing the marathon, I was considering running another one as a redemption race. I know I can do better than that under different conditions. Luckily, I very quickly realized that “Nah, I’m good” and signed up for Rehoboth Beach as a half marathon.
I runfess that at the end of the race, I realized I’d done the whole thing on about half a gu, multiple half cups of Gatorade, and a mini Coke. No wonder I was dragging from about the halfway point. I run most of my half marathons without fueling, but I obviously need to practice eating earlier and more often for marathons. Or I need to find a good liquid source of calories. Pretty sure filling my handheld with Coke wouldn’t be a good idea.
I runfess that I just can’t quit MCM. You’ve heard of “one and done,” but have you heard of “5 and done”? I keep saying that as soon as I get into Runner’s Club (5 MCMs), that I’m taking a break. The thought has crept into my head lately that I may not stop. At least my addiction is healthy???
I runfess that put off getting my full body skin check until after the marathon, just in case I needed something removed. Luckily, everything looks good. Same sun damage as usual. My dermatologist was actually surprised that I didn’t have worse tan lines from training this summer and then running in the full sun at the end of MCM. Guess I did a decent job of putting on the sunblock.
I runfess that I’ve got a stockpile of the Altra One 2.5. The pair I wore for the marathon had fewer than 10 miles on them when I started MCM. I have two more pairs that haven’t even come out of the box yet. Why? Because the model has changed, and while I like the new One and I love the Escalante, the One 2.5 is still my favorite for the marathon distance. Yes, I will be saving these shoes for runs greater than half marathon length.
As a bonus runfession, I runfess that I have been eating all of the things and running very few of the miles since I finished MCM. At some point, I need to stop using the “I just ran a marathon” excuse. Today is probably not that day…
I’m joining Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five 2.0 linkup! I’m also runfessing over at Marcia’s Healthy Slice.
I am SOOOO envious of your MCM conquests!! That race is high on my list, thanks for just reinforcing how much I really need to do it now 😉
I runfess if I lived closer, I might very well be running all the MCMs. Love that medal progression and that race! It needs to not be hot anymore though. So done with hot races.
I just don’t understand how people run without fueling! Maybe my runfession should also be that I use running as an excuse to eat more — on the run, that is. 🙂
I’ll be interested to see your Rehoboth Beach recap. I actually did consider adding that on this year . . . I think my husband would’ve killed me, though, and quite frankly I knew I was ready for a break from serious running!
DE is one of the last states I can “easily” drive to for a half, though.
I think we under estimate the power of hydrating and eating for training runs and races
Totally understand what you mean about needing a “redemption marathon”. Originally I was going to try to find another race for later this year but have decided to focus on a Spring Marathon instead!
I also need to work on my fueling for races – sometimes I get it right and sometimes I get it really wrong.
It’s amazing to me that you could complete that distance on such little fueling! I think my body would literally shut down. MCM does sound like such an amazing experience that I can see how it could become an obsession.
I trained with Sports Beans for my upcoming 10k. I think I was dragging at my last 10k because I needed some sort of fuel.
I’ve been eating everything in sight. I’ll slow down this weekend. Ha!
We totally should have run together. Sounds like we would have been quite the duo!
Yikes on running MCM with no real fuel. I know Tailwind is a popular option. Only you would think doing the Rehoboth Half is a reasonable thing a few weeks after a full!
Hey take as much time off as you need after your marathon! Those shoes are really stylish.
Congrats on your marathon – I need to read the full recap! Joining the MCM Runners Club sounds amazing…definitely a healthy goal to shoot towards!
I always forget about Rehobeth, I need to set on my calendar when registration opens so that I can actually sign up – I always remember it when the prices are sky high!
I was very happy with this last marathon and not using splurging on food as an excuse. I treated myself to chic fil a spicy chicken sandwich and waffle fries. An then have been eating super healthy this past week since I wasn’t running. For sure not the worst thing to eat but I added an oreo shake which I never do and that thing was delicous! Did not feel an ounce of guilty drinking that thing!
I always finish a race or a long run after drinking all that Tailwind and think how ironic it is that we eat so well when we are training and then fill our bodies with sugar when we run. LOL!
How crazy are we? I’m STILL considering running Chicago again next year, just to do it. Even though running hasn’t been good for me at all lately. Ayyyy!
What are the benefits of being in the Runner’s Club? I keep telling telling myself to sign up and run MCM. One year I will actually do it.
I runfess… I signed up for Disney immediately after falling in Chicago. That fall robbed me of the time I trained for and I used Disney for redemption. I rarely drink a soda, but a Dr. Pepper at mile 83 of a century ride was the best thing I could have hoped for. Too bad we can’t fill our handhelds with soda!