My spring racing season is in full swing, which means I have lots of things to fess up to for this edition of the Runfessions linkup that Marcia hosts for us every month.
Since we’re still in Lent, I am going to be brutally honest, but still focus on five transgressions so I can join the Friday Five 2.0 linkup hosted by Rachel and Lacey and Miranda for hosting the new Friday Five 2.0!
I still think half marathons are 5k too long. I met my goal at the NYC Half Marathon, but it was hard. (Did you see my recap yet?) I’m sure if I were better at pacing myself I wouldn’t have hated the last 6 miles as much, but I’m not, and I sort of did. Even though there are many more half marathons to choose from, I’m sticking with 10 milers as my favorite distance.
I plan to get my money’s worth out of this picture!
I’m still recovering and my next race is in two days. As I was pushing through the last few miles of the NYC Half, I couldn’t get over the fact that I would be racing again in two weeks–and now that two weeks is two days. While my quads recovered quickly from the NYC Half, my calves are still complaining about the Reston 10 Miler. (Did you see my recap for that hilly race?) Even though I don’t plan to chase a PR, I know I will push myself. (This is what a PR looks like for me!) The fact that I head to Europe the evening after my race for the first of two back-to-back international business trips is just making me more apprehensive.
I signed up for the Denver Colfax Urban 10 Miler in May. Yes, I know I just said I was apprehensive about my next race, but the Denver Colfax Urban 10 Miler sounds so cool! And, I haven’t seen my daughter since Christmas, so I definitely need to go to Colorado by May. At least I decided not to go for the half marathon option, (This is one of the reasons I think racing is like having a baby!)
I won’t join you for post-race brunch. One thing I didn’t do after the NYC Half was go out to brunch, and I’ve never attended the post-race VIP brunch after the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. While I don’t have GI issues during a race (knock-on-wood), and my post-race GI issues have gotten better than they used to be, my usually iron-clad stomach is still unsettled after a race. I’ve found that I do better when I eat something simple right away–a soft bagel and banana are best–and avoid anything more substantial until mid-afternoon, or even dinner. So, go on to brunch without me!
I’ve added another studio class to my schedule. If you’ve been following my Weekly Wrap posts, you may have noticed that I’ve been going to Core Power Yoga for the past few Fridays. I really love Ann’s classes, and am having fun trying some of the basic balance moves. So now I’ve got Orange Theory Fitness with Brandon on Mondays, Revolve indoor cycling with Aimee on Thursdays, and CPY2 with Ann on Fridays. That leaves Tuesday and Wednesday for strength training and/or running, Saturday for my long run, and Sunday for a bike ride. Phew!
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We promise not to prank you if you join us for the Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up tomorrow!
Post-race brunch — yay or nay?
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I’ve never done a 10 miler. I usually do start tiring about mile 8. If I had your speed, though, I think I’d definitely try a marathon. And although I’ve never had kids, I totally think racing is like having a baby!
CO in May should be beautiful.
I don’t know how you do it with all the travel! Except for my trips to my parents & MIL, my trips are for fun & it’s still tiring!
I usually eat an early dinner after a half, because it does take me a while to find my appetite again. And Mr. Judy is tired from spectating. But I do eat some snacks & I really MUST remember to eat something salty!
I am 100% in love with brunch after running! I definitely understand the GI issues though. Once I went to Mexican following a race and suffered greatly…
The last thing I can thing about after a hard run is food!
I’ve only done one 10 miler race. I’d like to participate in more as I enjoy that distance too!
I am with you on 10 miles being my favorite race distance! I wish there were more!
I agree with you: 10 miles is the perfect distance. That final 5k of a half pretty much blows. No brunch for me either. I need some time to settle!
Although I have not done one in a while, the 10 miler is certainly my preference over a half. The weather looks good for CB this year. I hope you have a great time. See you for coffee tomorrow 🙂
That Denver race sounds fun! Hope to see you Sunday 🙂
Sometimes I deal with post-race tummy troubles, so I totally understand what you mean.
I agree with you about the half marathon distance. Sometimes once I reach mile 10, I’m ready for the race to be over and cannot believe that I still have a 5k left to run!
Ten miles is my favorite distance – but I don’t run nearly enough! Maybe next year should be my year of 10 milers! You’ve got a busy weekly schedule – I need to incorporate more classes into my schedule, I love group fitness classes.
Wow, that is a busy work out schedule! But it’s great that you have all that variety with the different studios 🙂
10 milers are awesome. I have to say I do love the half marathon distance but the last 3KM (we are always in KM here) are usually mental torture (and for the marathon it’s usually the last 10KM that’s torture…). While I will still run a marathon now and again, I would definitely love to do more 10K’s and 10 milers and get more enjoyment out of it in general.
post race brunch – yay! I could eat (and do) anything after a race, generally. sometimes I need a bit more time to feel like eating but yes, bring on the brunch.
where will you be in Europe? anywhere near me? (I’m in the Netherlands, close to the German border)
I so agree. 10 miles is perfect. When I run a half, I am so done by 10 miles.
I more often have stomach issues right after a race. So I do wait to eat a big meal or post-race refreshments.
My stomach is also unsettled after a long run. I did a VIP tent at Disney for my first half, and I couldn’t really enjoy the hot food they serve. After that, I stick with the snack box until I’m actually hungry.
I agree too. 10 miles is so much better than 13.1 No brunch for me either.
Hope you have a fun week!
I’m so with you on 10-milers being the preferred distance! You’re so lucky to have as many 10 mile races in DC as you do – they’ve become scarce around here. Maybe I need to take a trip to DC 🙂
I love your picture from the NYC Half! We don’t have a lot of 10 mile races close by and I’ve only run one. I am enjoying the 10k distance right now. It looks like you have a great line up for spring races!! Best of luck at all of them!
I usually eat something easy right after a run like bagels and a banana. I feel I could probably eat a meal pretty soon after a race though.
I really like the 10 mile distance- not too long but also not a ridiculously fast pace. Sometimes after a race i have trouble eating. I usually prefer to do something small and then eat a bigger meal a little later.
Good luck with your race! You’re so funny signing up for more races. You got this, girl. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have you raced in Colorado before? I’m doing the Colorado Half in Fort Collins on May 7th! I’m pretty excited! Have fun!
I have ZERO appetite following a race or long run. Even after my marathons, all I wanted was Gatorade or chocolate milk…the thought of biting/chewing/swallowing simply made me want to gag LOL
I haven’t run a 10 miler for a couple of years now. I wish that there were just as many to register for as there are half marathons. Even though I like the half distance, it is nice to vary things up every once in awhile.
I like the 10 mile distance too- it is more than enough to feel like a conquered a big challenge! I do love brunch but I do like to wait a bit maybe an hour or two then I am starving!
I’m with you on post race food. I usually just want a bit smoothie. And a coffee.
The first and only race I’ve ever run was a half marathon, hehehe. Ever since then, I kinda just went back to lifting, although one o’ these days, I keep telling myself I might go back into interval training periodically (we shall see…).
I’m looking forward to your recap for the Colorado run! I’ve never been to Colorado (unless you count sleeping under some chairs at the airport, which I don’t), so I wanna live vicariously through you! 😛
I love half marathons they are my absolute favorite distance. I do see why 10 milers appeal to you though and happy you have found some races to sign up for, good luck!